Question about my kick drum technique.

[Artisover]

Hi, i have been drumming for a little over a month now and my only struggle i really find myself having is my kick technique. I play mostly fast punk and rock and thats what my friends play too so they naturally told me to play heel up for that power and punch. My problem is i really have found it more natural to do the flat foot technique with my ankles and calves. Is it ok to use this kind of method for punk and rock?

[Nickropolis]

Use what works. You've been playing for a month, don't rush things. You'll get better with time and practice.

[The Black Page Dude]

Originally Posted by Artisover

Hi, i have been drumming for a little over a month now and my only struggle i really find myself having is my kick technique. I play mostly fast punk and rock and thats what my friends play too so they naturally told me to play heel up for that power and punch. My problem is i really have found it more natural to do the flat foot technique with my ankles and calves. Is it ok to use this kind of method for punk and rock?

It always comes down to what works for you. However I would try some heel up techniques just to see if you can broaden your horizons .. you never know. You are early in your development ... if I may impart some wisdom ... never limit your playing, try everything once. And find a good teacher ... Youtube is great but nothing can replace what a one on one session can do for you. Here is a resource for you, it is a list of top educators across the world - http://www.theblackpage.net/global-educators-database

I would take a book called Stick Control and do some foot exercises from that book heel up and heel down. Dom Famularo talks about this all the time. It really does help.

You can also do a warmup technique that Dave Weckl talks about in his Back to Basics DVD. Do a bar of quarter notes, followed by a bar of 8ths, followed by a bar of triplets, followed by a bar of 16ths ... all at the same tempo and keep repeating ... don't stop between each subdivision and do the exercise for about 20 minutes on each foot every day ... again try heel up and heel down.

[ageadm]

Well, heel up is what works best with heavy genres, because you can surely put more power into your kick, but you can also do powerful kick heel down.

Although, I suggest you to do some heel up exercises, you'll need it in future.

[mikeyhanson]

If you're only a month in, I wouldn't give up on heel-up just yet. It's probably going to help you if you keep playing that style of music. Once you have worked on your technique it'll come easier. Be patient.

[slowrocker]

I actually naturally starting playing heel up, and did for several years, but lately I have been doing heel down a lot more. It doesn't seem as fast but it works for me.

[KingAlbert]

the first two years of drumming I played heel down.

The first lesson with my new drumteacher he told me to do heel-up. I found it really difficult. But after two weeks of practice it started to work. Now I only play heel up and find it much more relaxing and more responsive.

Recently I started the dom famularo exercise with the heel down, but while playing the kit I keep using heel-up. I think it's really important to learn the both, and If you really want to choose one technique I would recomend heel-up