How to keep my balance?

[sciomako]

Hi,

I play heels down. Recently, I practice using my left heel for timekeeping. i.e. bouncing my left heel up and down at each 8th note. When it gets to fills, I will open and close the HH at each 8th note. Because I'm doing the heel bouncing, it feels more natural to do the "heel-up dancing" to open and close the HH than switch to heel-down. But my problem is, when I start doing this, I don't feel myself stable on the stool. I tried to lean in different directions and this didn't help.

EDIT: mis-typed "left heel" as "right heel"...

[Wavelength]

Just give it some more time.

[Abstsbtsb]

Just give it some more time.

Yeah, your balance will come with time so dont worry too much about it.

[British Boy]

Just focus on keeping your back straight, and really just sit on your ass. It's really not something that takes long to adjust to.

[crdirtRider856]

Like the other guys said, It ll come in time. Keep in mind that your stool height, drum/hat/cymbal heights all contribute in a way. Experiment with different heights and positioning of different parts. You d be surprised how much of a difference you ll feel after an inch or 2 of change is implemented. Takes some time to feel the difference though.

[sciomako]

Thanks everyone. That's reassuring.

[rootheart]

Hi,

it feels more natural to do the "heel-up dancing" to open and close the HH than switch to heel-down. But my problem is, when I start doing this, I don't feel myself stable on the stool. I tried to lean in different directions and this didn't help.

EDIT: mis-typed "left heel" as "right heel"...
my tip: do not use a drummer´s stool. Practise to use an average chair. Quick test: Take your drummer´s stool to your dining table and have dinner. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, compared to an average chair, there is something wrong with your stool height and design.. Also: drummer´s stools are kinda expensive, and they are traditionally something that belongs to a drumset...but they do not make any sense, because any gig you will ever play, in any situation, there will always be an average chair available..no need to carry along a dummer´s stool.

[Drummertist]

I disagree with not using a drummers stool. I have tried to use a chair and not only does it restrict let motion, but it also causes my butt to hurt more than a stool after long playing periods.

I love my drumstool, however, i wish I had a cusion comfort one with a backrest.

[rootheart]

I disagree with not using a drummers stool. I have tried to use a chair and not only does it restrict let motion, but it also causes my butt to hurt more than a stool after long playing periods.

I love my drumstool, however, i wish I had a cusion comfort one with a backrest.

I used to play 4 gigs a week, each gig up to 5 hours. I am not a low rider, I sit very high. After 2 hours the rim of my (round) dummer stool started to cut into my tigths. extremly painful. I used to make weird faces because of this pain, even stood up and played standing up...and the audience thought I was a cool drummer digging the music. I solved the problem by using a drummer´s stool which is kinda designed like a harley davidson bike sattle. Also: drummer stools are plastic surface that does not breath. After 3 hours of a gig, my levis went stiff, causing me extremly pain, but there always was 2 more hours to go...
meanwile I understood that an average chair went through the evolution of chairs, such providing the most common ergonomics, while a drummers stool does not.
Just my lousy opinion about stools.

You spend 85% of your live sitting on a chair, writing, eating, whatever...All those chairs have the same height, and you never ever wonder about the chair or it´s height. Just feels natural and comfortable. But when it is about drumming, you need to sit on something that does not make any sense other than it is foldable.

[Zumba_Zumba]

To improve your balance, whether sitting or standing, you should challenge your balance as well as improve strengthening of postural muscles (for sitting balance). Prolonged activity while unbalanced can lead to a multitude of aches and pains (back pain, shoulder and neck pain for drummers).

Here are some tips:

Get yourself a Swiss Ball (the big inflatable one NOT a medicine ball) that is about the height of your stool.

Sit on the ball while trying to play your drums. Be careful though as people tend to lose their balance backward. The constant challenges and shifts in weight will strengthen postural stabilizers. Incorporate this in a practice routine. When you play while sitting on a more stable surface (stool) you will realize better balance.

Shore up some weaker postural muscles by performing abdominal strengthening and low back strengthening with the swiss ball. There are a number or exercises to Google but I would concentrate on twisting abdominal exercises since those type recruit more muscle fibers and are realistic for drummers. Sit on the swiss ball and try marching in place to build balance and hip flexor strength.

Good luck to you.

[rootheart]

To improve your balance, whether sitting or standing, you should challenge your balance as well as improve strengthening of postural muscles (for sitting balance). Prolonged activity while unbalanced can lead to a multitude of aches and pains (back pain, shoulder and neck pain for drummers).

Here are some tips:

Get yourself a Swiss Ball (the big inflatable one NOT a medicine ball) that is about the height of your stool.

Sit on the ball while trying to play your drums. Be careful though as people tend to lose their balance backward. The constant challenges and shifts in weight will strengthen postural stabilizers. Incorporate this in a practice routine. When you play while sitting on a more stable surface (stool) you will realize better balance.

RShore up some weaker postural muscles by performing abdominal strengthening and low back strengthening with the swiss ball. There are a number or exercises to Google but I would concentrate on twisting abdominal exercises since those type recruit more muscle fibers and are realistic for drummers. Sit on the swiss ball and try marching in place to build balance and hip flexor strength.

Good luck to you.
cool... very scientific...cool practise idea..I still suggest to use something everybody is used to balance on without any practise or theories :just a f+++ average chair. ..GRIN

[Zumba_Zumba]

cool... very scientific...cool practise idea..I still suggest to use something everybody is used to balance on without any practise or theories :just a f+++ average chair. ..GRIN

I wasn't trying to down play your suggestion. I think you have a valid point with practicing on what you typically play on. I was just offering a suggestion to help some people with nagging back pain or postural issues/balance while playing drums. I am not suggesting that my ideas will work for everyone but they are based on some very current evidence in improving balance and postural control. Not entirely sure, but I think I read a little attitude coming from you, rootheart. Careful who you challenge.

[sciomako]

Get yourself a Swiss Ball (the big inflatable one NOT a medicine ball) that is about the height of your stool.

Sit on the ball while trying to play your drums.

Wow, never thought of that. That's innovative!

My wife used one when she was pregnant. Now all i need is to find out where it is after moved house twice...

[Zumba_Zumba]

Wow, never thought of that. That's innovative!

My wife used one when she was pregnant. Now all i need is to find out where it is after moved house twice...

Glad you like the idea. It should help.

Rootheart, sorry for my rude tone. I get cranky when I don't drink good coffee at work and I see a lot of patients. Still had time to get on Drummerworld though and troll around for "drummer aches and pains" threads. I feel its important for everyone to feel 100% when doing a potentially very physical and repetitively damaging craft. The swiss ball idea may be what you need to play like JoJo, Virgil or Vinnie. Well, that and 10 hrs of practice per day.