Left foot playing pulse

[Deathmetalconga]

I've always kept my left foot going, since day one: keeping the pulse, quarter notes, eighth notes or, more rarely, whole notes on the hi hat, or moving between the hihat and foot percussion, either alternating notes or playing hats pedal/percussion pedal in three while the rest of me plays in four, etc. I have also taken to trying clave beats with the left foot, but that's pretty tough.

But there are a few times when I want a washy, splashy sound from the hat and now I can't seem to turn my left foot off. The left foot has to be the most neglected limb in drumming (unless you play bass with the left foot, but you get the message).

Anybody have this problem? Do most of you keep your left foot going, or keep it still? My drum teachers always taught me it should keep going all the time and never vary, except in some exceptional circumstances. I play left foot heel-up when on the hihats and bounce the toes and ball of the foot when playing ride.

[maddrummr]

I wish i had the coordination to keep my left foot going. I usually have to concentrate on putting my left foot on the beat. Maybe you should do the opposite and concentrate on your hands or right foot to make your left foot stop. If nothing happens then maybe move your foot off the pedal for a while : )

[texdrumr]

I started out never really using my left food except during swing or jazz passages with the ol' 2 and 4 standard, but in HS my lesson teacher really got me into laying on the up beats of shuffled grooves and generally straight rock grooves... it seems to add a lot of movement and swing into the most boring of beats. I change the left foot pulse either to change feel or to add a hi-hat splash accent with my foot.

Sometimes I have the problem of it going haywire however.. say in the middle of a fill. If I find that happening, I'll usually just take my foot off of the pedal and tap the ground. That way I still have the pulse going in my foot without the constant *chuck* sound.

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

I keep my left foot going on the hats a lot. It's kind of natural. The other day I was playing compound meters and my left foot kept wanting to play twos... and I almost got it until I started thinking about it.

Have you checked out the book, "Four Way Coordination"? It's all about that.

[Wavelength]

I don't know whether you've read this already or not, but here's a little something to get your left foot going.

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24461

[khanedeliac]

I keep my left foot going on the hats a lot. It's kind of natural. The other day I was playing compound meters and my left foot kept wanting to play twos... and I almost got it until I started thinking about it.

Have you checked out the book, "Four Way Coordination"? It's all about that.

Hey Sleepy, who is this book by? Is it ok for rookies?

[k3ng]

My left foot does work whether I want it to or not. I think it's kind of natural for drummers...alot of vids I see, the drummer usually has the left leg bobbing up and down.

The way I stop the hi hat from actually hitting all the time was to use heel up and just get the heel bobbing up and down so the hats don't really chick. But the leg still keeps going.

As for the washy splash sound, I find it easier to do heel down... Though I'm used to playing heel down for pretty much anything. Another thing you can try doing for the splash sound is to ram the heel down on the heel plate. Don't do it too hard or you might hurt yourself, but the weight of your foot will usually knock the hats together just nicely to get the clang.

[jonescrusher]

I'm lucky in that i'm left handed and left footed playing on a right handed set up, so left foot work isn't as tricky as it may be. If you haven't done so (and everyone here should have by now) have a look through some of the pdfs on www.nufusions.com. There are a couple that are excellent for developing left foot independence.
Don't know how keen you are on jazz, but working on broken time exercises is another excellent way of developing the left foot - Beyond Bop Drumming by John Riley is an essential text.

[mr_hayward_99]

i would say the 4 way co ordination book is not that good for hi hat independence ( obsiously it is a good book) i would say its more for double kick. Gtreat book anyway

the gary chaffe book rock/jazz ostinatos from the patterns series adresses hi hat idependence.

great books

[parser]

I've got the left foot thing too. Sometimes way more than I should though. I catch myself getting to exited and doing this heel and toe up thing. I call it "catching air" or "Deliverance Foot" (just need a banjo and a front porch).

I've been driving a car for close to 20 years now, and since my right foot is usually busy with the pedals, I've always played air kick with my left foot (and who doesn't use the rearview as a crash?). So when I started playing drums about 2.5 years ago it was instantly engrained. It really helped me out with odd time sigs, keep the hats going on quarters as the measure inverts every other one. This tought me how to hit the ride bell on quarters too, I love doing this.

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

Hey Sleepy, who is this book by? Is it ok for rookies?

The book (http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-Coordination-Development-Complete-Independence/dp/0769233708) is by Marvin Dahlgren. It's an awesome book and anyone can use it. It's not specific to hi hats, or kick, or anything other than your hands and feet. You could be hitting any part of your kit, or practice pads, or even just tapping your hands and feet. The exercises help you learn independent control of each limb. The book starts off very simple, and ends in polyrhythms. It's a great book. I think it will keep me busy for quite a while.

Another thing you can try doing for the splash sound is to ram the heel down on the heel plate. Don't do it too hard or you might hurt yourself, but the weight of your foot will usually knock the hats together just nicely to get the clang.

If your hi hat stand has adjustable tension for the pedal, you could loosen it up to make that a bit easier. I like keeping mine with low tension.

[dea]

My left foot is going constantly, and changing as well from 8ths, to quarters, to swing style 2 & 4, 6 over 4. I especially love bouncing from my hi-hat pedal to the second pedal, which houses a jam block. I only think about it when I'm specifically working on something. Otherwise, I just let the music take my left foot as well as the rest of my limbs.

Ah... Theres nothing like total submission to the music. At that point, I don't even care what I'm doing, just that I'm doing.

[Fat Elvis]

i can do the ol' 2 and 4, but thats about it. This is something i want to work on though because i do think keeping the hats going can add a lot to the sound of a groove.

:( so much to learn

[Deathmetalconga]

My left foot is going constantly, and changing as well from 8ths, to quarters, to swing style 2 & 4, 6 over 4. I especially love bouncing from my hi-hat pedal to the second pedal, which houses a jam block. I only think about it when I'm specifically working on something. Otherwise, I just let the music take my left foot as well as the rest of my limbs.

I'm the same way. My left foot never stops. It's great for the hi-hat, as heel-up playing changes the tension between the hats ands adds to the texture. You can get a really great driving triplet shuffle like that: th-th-THHH, th-th-THH, th-th-THH.

When I'm on ride, I like going over and hitting the open hats once every measure or every other measure, at odd places, for accents or to accompany/resolve the melody. I also have a percussion pedal which has either a tambourine, LP Jam Block or cowbell. I also like playing in 3 with the left foot, so that every third quarter note is on the percussion pedal, while the rest of me is playing in 4.

If my left foot stops, I feel lost. There are a few times, however, I wish I could shut it off.

[hauk]

if i'm on the ride, my left foot usually doesn't keep the pulse.. i've tried it before, but never taken the time to develop it
if i'm just messing around solo-style rather than playing a beat though, i like to have the hats keeping eighths

[Deathmetalconga]

if i'm on the ride, my left foot usually doesn't keep the pulse.. i've tried it before, but never taken the time to develop it
if i'm just messing around solo-style rather than playing a beat though, i like to have the hats keeping eighths

You might want to give it a try with keeping your left foot going even when you're playing the hats. When you play heel-up, you are changing the amount of pressure between the hats, although not making any sound. When you start playing the hats with sticks, all sorts of neat textures emerge.

When you have the hats going toe-bouncing and you're playing ride, you can play the hats on or off the downbeat. It's good not just for keeping time, but to have a neat sound on tap when you need it.

[Mapex589]

My left foot used to be soooo lazy, other than double bass it never moved. For the last 3 years I have concentrated on keeping time with my left foot and now I do it pretty much all the time. I find it just plain helps me keep time. It has helped my playing and greatly improved my independence.

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

Inspired by this thread, I am trying to be more conscious of my left foot hat work. We worked on a new song yesterday that uses a lot of left foot hat. During the mellow 'verse' I am playing the ride lightly, and closing the hats on the 4 with my snare. The last half of the verse I'm closing them on the 2 and 4 with the snare, and during the wild chorus I'm closing the hats (sometimes sloshing them) on all quarters. It's a really nice subtle effect.

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

i've been using my left foot a lot more in recent months. i especially like keeping the hi pulse off beat (although i'm not incredibly comfortable with it yet.)

and, if anyone doesn't realize, keeping a steady pulse on the hats is very beneficial during fills if you tend to speed up.

[jonescrusher]

Great track for LF development - Chameleon by Headhunters, particularly Mason's groove later in the track with both hands on the snare playing 8th notes with the hi-hat foot.

[dea]

I like the shuffle deathmetalconga responded with. The open sound of the last beat of the triplet is cool. You know it when you nail down that swing feel. I mean, that last strike just slams - yet remains open and creates a wonderful drag feel. Gotta love that!!

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

Great track for LF development - Chameleon by Headhunters, particularly Mason's groove later in the track with both hands on the snare playing 8th notes with the hi-hat foot.

That's actually by Herbie Hancock (Headhunters is the album). Great album. Great song. One of my favorite albums of all time.

[jonescrusher]

That's actually by Herbie Hancock (Headhunters is the album). Great album. Great song. One of my favorite albums of all time.



Ok, splitting hairs, wanks for that though ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Headhunters

But agreed, one of the few true musical masterpieces.

[thecraponline]

Left foot hi hat playing is definitely useful. One way I like to do this is beat-for-beat on 8ths with a ride or X-hat (a la Jimmy Chamberlin). Not only is this a cool sound, it allows for quick off-beat accents by hitting the open hat with the left hand.

Example: Chamberlin fill from "Geek USA"

R x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---
H p---p---p-x-p-x-p---p---p---p---
S x-----------------x-----x---x-x-
B --x---x---x---x-----x-x---x-----

- 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

[Deathmetalconga]

Left foot hi hat playing is definitely useful. One way I like to do this is beat-for-beat on 8ths with a ride or X-hat (a la Jimmy Chamberlin). Not only is this a cool sound, it allows for quick off-beat accents by hitting the open hat with the left hand.

Example: Chamberlin fill from "Geek USA"

R x---x---x---x---x---x---x---x---
H p---p---p-x-p-x-p---p---p---p---
S x-----------------x-----x---x-x-
B --x---x---x---x-----x-x---x-----

- 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a


Cool! Thanks.

Yes, hitting the ride and getting that closing "sssip" is fun, especially throwing it unexpected places.

[tomtom]

Check out Chad Smith´s groove on the RHCP song "Tell me baby". He actually plays all eights on the hi-hat with left foot AND right hand at the same time. Sounds cool.

It´s become a habit to let the hi-hat keep the pulse, usually 8ths, so much that I find it difficult not too. Now I´m experimenting with playing sixteenths on hi-hat w/foot against eights on the ride. You can really create nice grooves and different feels when using the hi-hat in various ways.

[Fat Elvis]

Check out Chad Smith´s groove on the RHCP song "Tell me baby". He actually plays all eights on the hi-hat with left foot AND right hand at the same time. Sounds cool.

It´s become a habit to let the hi-hat keep the pulse, usually 8ths, so much that I find it difficult not too. Now I´m experimenting with playing sixteenths on hi-hat w/foot against eights on the ride. You can really create nice grooves and different feels when using the hi-hat in various ways.

I dont think i am hearing the same thing as you -- on the verse is is playing open, sloshy hats and on the chorus he is playing quarters on the hats going back and fourth from hitting eighths to quarters on the off-beat (aka Disco Beat).

But maybe i am missing something. regardless it is a cool song with a great groove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ee7FQ-LOUQ

[Deathmetalconga]

Now I´m experimenting with playing sixteenths on hi-hat w/foot against eights on the ride. You can really create nice grooves and different feels when using the hi-hat in various ways.

!!!!

That would sound insane if you could do it with any speed. It would be cool to hook up a Vruk to a hihat or percussion pedal - basically view the hihat in a similar way as the bass drum pedal. I have been tempted to put my Duallist on the left foot for a percussion pedal.

[thebrza]

!!!!

That would sound insane if you could do it with any speed. It would be cool to hook up a Vruk to a hihat or percussion pedal - basically view the hihat in a similar way as the bass drum pedal. I have been tempted to put my Duallist on the left foot for a percussion pedal.

I think I knwo what you guys are getting at, and it's a technique I've been practicing as well. I won't necessarily keep my foot going, sometimes my left foot bounces as my left hand hits the snare (depends... if it's really syncopated or odd time signatures, etc.) so it makes it easier now to throw in a little hihat hit (you know when you hit the hihat just as you close it for a 'kish' sound with a short sustain) without losing my pace

[tomtom]

I dont think i am hearing the same thing as you -- on the verse is is playing open, sloshy hats and on the chorus he is playing quarters on the hats going back and fourth from hitting eighths to quarters on the off-beat (aka Disco Beat).

But maybe i am missing something. regardless it is a cool song with a great groove.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ee7FQ-LOUQ


Actually I saw him do it that way (eighths w/foot & right hand) so I´m sure. But you´re right about the chorus. And it´s great groove, absolutely

[d.c.drummer]

i wish i could keep my foot going like that. If you position your foot so your toe is at the base of your hihat, the auto-chicking shouldnt be as much of a problem

[Deathmetalconga]

i wish i could keep my foot going like that. If you position your foot so your toe is at the base of your hihat, the auto-chicking shouldnt be as much of a problem

Do you mean to keep you toes near where the pull rod connects to the footboard? That's a good way to get a solid chick sound.

[ECVail]

My left foot is sort of spastic - it goes all the time, usually in time. Somebody mention car-drumming earlier and having to use the left as the kick drum. I am guilty of that also.

The left is always going on the hats. I've started trying to be more aware of the hats and will bring my foot off of the pedal and put it on the floor so I can keep it moving without extraneous hi hit "floppping." My wife comes to every show and some practices and it was her ear that caught the "too much going on with the hats."

[Fat Elvis]

well last night i worked on "body is a wonderland" with my lounge band and listening to the song, it was apparent the drummer was on the ride but had the hats going as well. I managed (with some concentration) was able to play quarters on the hats, eights on the ride, the kick on 1 and 3 and the snare on 2 and 4.....

im pathetic.

[Deathmetalconga]

well last night i worked on "body is a wonderland" with my lounge band and listening to the song, it was apparent the drummer was on the ride but had the hats going as well. I managed (with some concentration) was able to play quarters on the hats, eights on the ride, the kick on 1 and 3 and the snare on 2 and 4.....

im pathetic.

Cool! Did you keep the left foot going heel-up when you played the hats? That adds a lot of texture to the sound when you keep the hats closed but vary the pressure between them.

[Fat Elvis]

Cool! Did you keep the left foot going heel-up when you played the hats? That adds a lot of texture to the sound when you keep the hats closed but vary the pressure between them.

i cant remember -- i dont think i thought about that too much -- just trying to not scew up at this point. But it did sound great. Something I am defenately going to work on.