I was never that good at it so it hasn't changed my approach in that it wasn't really a huge part of my approach to begin with. If I end up improving my double bass skill it will be purely for my own satisfaction and maybe to do some recording of metal ideas I have.
I have a thought-provoking comment for all of us here. When I see phrases like "the slave pedal can be fit into just about any genre", I get nervous because there are actually very few genres in which double pedal actually works. Certainly not most jazz, country, pop, blues, latin, hip hop and R & B songs. I mean, just listen to the music that most people listen to and try to find the double bass.
The same can be said about the cowbell, but how many people have one of those that they almost never use?
The same can be said about the cowbell, but how many people have one of those that they almost never use?
I disagree. I can think of a number of popular songs that use cowbell, but I can't think of any that use double bass. (I'm talking specifically here about the genres I usually play - pop, country, classic rock.)
I stopped using a cowbell a loooooong time ago. I don't like the sound of it, and I feel it belongs to the domain of the hand percussionist.
Pop, I dunno, don't really listen to much pop anymore. I don't listen to country so again I can't say.
Classic rock: Deep Purple-Fireball, Guns N Roses-Paradise City (on and off after the 5min mark), Van Halen-Hot for Teacher is a 2 bass off step pattern, Primus uses a ton of it, lots of it in Whitesnake and numerous hair bands (now considered classic rock, as is Metallica for that matter), STP had fills with 2 kicks, and when I saw them live Eric Kretz used it a lot actually, Man-O-War, Judas Priest, I seem to remember a Triumph song or two, Ginger Baker used both kicks as did Bill Ward at times. I wouldn't consider Tool metal either. It is there, not a big part of mainstream music, but it is there.
Just because double bass has a stigma of being only for metal is really a poor reason to disqualify the double pedal. You don't have to use it just for running your feet.
In truth, I'm not dogmatic about any of this stuff, and I really don't care what other people play. I just like the single pedal, it's all I need right now, so that's what I play. To each their own.
I agree, to each their own, use what you like. Just seems to me that the double pedal gets a bad rap, and I think that is unfair. It is a piece of equipment, not a religion.
Do rudiments with it. There is more to the feet than just RLRL.
What you play with a double pedal is going to be dictated by the music and by the sound and feel of the bass drum. I'm not going to play a rudiment just to play a rudiment, whether it's on the bass drum or snare drum or splash cymbal.
Generally, you're going to use the double pedal to play figures you're unable to play with a single pedal. This means you're probably only playing quick ruffs or fast ostinatos. With the size of your leg and muscles being what they are, playing accurately and controlled at anything but fff will take considerable skill.
Let's face it, double bass drum work is anything but subtle.
I realize that you don't know me from Adam, but I never said I had trouble playing the double pedal. I've been playing drums for over 40 years, and double bass (or double pedal) for most of them. I'm just saying that I'm tired of it.
How about you post a video of someone (or you) playing something interesting using a double pedal?
I feel that the stuff that "moves" me the most, usually has nothing to do with two bass drums (or a double pedal) anymore. I think the last time I got excited about two bass drums was when the record "Danger Money" came out (Terry Bozzio with UK).
All I'm saying is that it can be used for more than RLRL. Put a felt beater on one side and a wood beater on the other. Now you have 2 different sounds from one drum. Take the driveshaft off and get a Gajate Bracket. Now you can add a cowbell, tamborine, electronic pad, jingle kick, whatever.
I disagree. I can think of a number of popular songs that use cowbell, but I can't think of any that use double bass. (I'm talking specifically here about the genres I usually play - pop, country, classic rock.)
I take it back - La Grange has a double bass fill, but I learned to play it with a single pedal.