Practicing double bass without pedals

[ThisSpitefulSnake]

Since I can't play very much, would it be effective playing double bass on the floor to songs and doing exercises? I've tried an electronic set and that's still too loud and doesn't fit my taste and I've tried mute pads. So I'm thinking I could just play my feet on the floor until I get older and move out of this house. Thanks.

[razorx]

well that's how i learned. practicing on the kit was just too much horrible noise when i was first learning double bass

[Unevil]

Wow, that's gotta be rough....personally my parents give me no issue with playing drums, so I totally can't relate there....if mute pads dont work, do you figure you could try practicing with mute pads that have like....pillows on them? Not sure what to tell you, playing on the floor can get you better to some extent, but with the weight of the pedals, playing bass is a whole different thing. I hope it works out for you, though.

[Therma lobsterdore]

Try the hansenfutz feet practice pads, I use them all day at work, there not great but are probably better than just drumming on the floor.

[dairyairman]

it definitely helps to drum on the floor, quietly so you don't piss everyone off. it's not ideal, but you probably know that already. i do it all the time, and i'm sure it's helped me.

[caddywumpus]

I've had students with the same noise/parent problem. Working on your heel down and heel up double bass technique on the floor is definitely better than nothing, but make sure you get a chance to actually play your instrument and learn how to control your dynamics and other techniques (burying the beater vs. not, etc...).

I have my students who are pretty set on bouncing their sticks for doubles practice with their hands on their legs. It's a pretty good workout when you're used to bouncing the sticks a lot. Maybe you could work on your "quads" while you're at it (quads are hand/foot combinations/patterns that use all four limbs in a linear way...for example, "RH, LH, RF, LF, repeat..."). Also, practice your singles, doubles, triples, paradiddles, and flam and ruff rudiments between your feet, and also between your hands and feet as well. There's quite a bit to work on so it won't get boring anytime soon. Plus, it's easier to hear the metronome over your hands and feet than it is to hear it over a drumset.

Have fun with it. Good luck!

[ThisSpitefulSnake]

Yeah, I'm getting pretty good with double bass, I can play quads and go decently fast, I just want to get faster and I don't get much time to play so I was wondering if it would help playing on the floor because then I could get a lot more practice time in. Thanks for the replies guys.

[ThisSpitefulSnake]

After looking around on the internet about those Hansenfutz pedals, I think I might give those a try. They are very silent from what I heard in the video on the site, and with all the free time I have, I'll be blazing on the pedals in no time. Just not sure if I want to spend the $80, I already wasted money on an E-Kit and mutes.

[Unevil]

Well I figure until then, you could take JUST the bass pedals, and 'hit air' with them. It probably wouldn't be as great as actually playing the basses, but I am pretty sure it would be better than playing on the floor, @ least you get the experience with tension on the pedals.

[Therma lobsterdore]

After looking around on the internet about those Hansenfutz pedals, I think I might give those a try. They are very silent from what I heard in the video on the site, and with all the free time I have, I'll be blazing on the pedals in no time. Just not sure if I want to spend the $80, I already wasted money on an E-Kit and mutes.

They are very silent indeed, I have a pair under my desk at work and nobody hears me blazing away on them, though they do feel the vibration somewhat. But yeah, they seem like the best solution for you.

[IneptDrummer]

Get some kind of practice pedals. Or bounce on the balls of your feet on the floor. lol, I do this in the van when we're on the road so I don't drive everyone crazy. It won't help your technique much, but it will help you build the required muscles.

[ThisSpitefulSnake]

Well I figure until then, you could take JUST the bass pedals, and 'hit air' with them. It probably wouldn't be as great as actually playing the basses, but I am pretty sure it would be better than playing on the floor, @ least you get the experience with tension on the pedals.
Only thing is, doing that would probably damage the pedals because the beaters stop almost at a 90 degree angle when hitting the bass drum and playing them without anything to stop them would let the beaters go forward too far. Think I'll get those Hansenfutz pedals once I have some extra money.