Left foot strength

[BassDriver]

Okay, is there any exercise/thread/routine out there that would help me develop strength, speed, co-ordination etc. for my left foot while playing double kick. (I have double pedal not two kick drums).

Please...something that doesn't involve buying anything!

[SEVNT7]

I posted this years ago.

This is a long term exercise that was givin' to me in college, that I then modified to make it harder and more effective.
The original exercise was. Using pg. 5 in Stick Control, play each ex. for 1 minute with your feet. It takes 24 minutes.Start at 60 bpm and increase tempo 1 beat per minute each time you do the exercise. Play with heal down to isolate calf muscle.

My version is this- HANDS & FEET together.
Day-1. part 1. Pg 5, (ex. 1-24 ) 60 bpm (24 min). Part-2.-pg's 5-7. (ex.1-72) straight through no repeats.( @ 60 bpm it takes 9 min.). Part-3- Ex. #1 pg.5, double time (or 16th notes).1 min. heal-down. 1 min. heal-up. 2 min. heal-down. 2 min. heal-up. 3min. heal-down. 3 up. 4 down. 4 up. 5 down. 5 up.(part 3 takes 30 min.)
Day-2 Part-1 pg.6 Parts 2&3 same as day-1 ( 61-bpm). Day-3 part-1 pg 7. Parts 2&3 same as day-1 (62 bpm).
Each day you do this exercise keep rotating pg's 5,6 & 7. Entire 3 part ex. should be played nonstop. @ 60 bpm it takes over an hour. (63 Min.) If you can't make it through the entire exercise don't increase tempo.
( note's on technique. All ex. should be played w/the B.D. beater coming fully back to the resting position. Off the drum head. Just like the free stroke w/ the hands.
As an added hands technique, Part-3 only, when playing heal-down, hands play w/ fingers only. Heal-up play hands w/ wrists only. I also like my pedal tension to be as loose as possible, so I'm depending on bounce to return the beater to resting position. I also set my pedal up so the resting position of the beater is 90 degrees away from the drum head, like a full stroke position for the hands. Not like most factory pedal settings at around 45 degrees.) Good luck ....T

There are no short cuts. Hard work and perseverance are what you need to get things down. The BIG SECRET is: there is no big secret.

[BassDriver]

I also set my pedal up so the resting position of the beater is 90 degrees away from the drum head, like a full stroke position for the hands. Not like most factory pedal settings at around 45 degrees.) Good luck ....T

Beater 90 degrees to head is too much. You should judge the beater distance by how far it is from the head, not angle, around six inches for mine fine, too far becomes uncomfortable, no exercise should place undue discomfort on what is being worked.

I don't have the book Stick Control (in fact I don't have any instructional drumming books)...

...This was previous exercise routine:

Single Stroke Roll RLRL & LRLR:
Right-leading and left-leading 5 mins each

Double Stroke Sixteenths (same speed as single stroke roll) RRLL & LLRR:
Right-leading and left-leading 5 mins each

Paradidle: 3 mins

Triple Stroke Roll: RRRLLL (often forgot this one)

Triplet Exercises: RLR, LRL, RLL, LRR, RRL, LLR, RLR, LRL
All eighth note triplets, 2 mins each.

Double Paradiddle: 3 mins

Triple Paradiddle: 3 mins

Paradiddle-diddle: Right-leading and left-leading 2 mins each


...those were my exercises...

...I think my exercises were okay, but my practice routine was not...

...I would do all these exercises (starting at 70 bmp to a click) then when it felt right (could play patterns in time) move up in intervals of 10 bmp (70, 80 , 90) etc.. Unfortunately this made me struggle when I changed tempo.

...I like your 1 bpm up a day routine...

...I already consciously allow the beater to come back to the resting position (keeping both beaters moving the same distance and keeping both beaters of same dynamic)...

...I practice heel-up so I can do heel-toe technique and for another reason...

...When I do heel-down the right footboard "sticks" to my right foot but this doesn't apply with my left foot, have to replace the driveshaft, it's faulty and interupts the mechanism in the middle of the beater's swing (the u-joints engage and disengage (let go and catch, loosen and tighten) right before the pedal goes to it's reset position. Heel-up de-sensitises the motion from this faulty joint...but only a little. Should replace the faulty parts soon (Axis UDS is an aftermarket driveshaft that can fit brands other than Axis).

What do you think?

[Dave_Major]

You might want to try the Weaker Side exercise from Don Famularo's book It's Your Move.

I would seriously recommend investing in Stick Control. It cost £10 in the UK and you will find your self getting loads of use out of it for years to come.

Dave

[SEVNT7]

"Beater 90 degrees to head is too much. You should judge the beater distance by how far it is from the head, not angle, around six inches for mine fine, too far becomes uncomfortable, no exercise should place undue discomfort on what is being worked." posted by Bass Driver

On what do you base your opinion?

[BassDriver]

On what do you base your opinion?

Don't tell me having the beater at 90 degrees to the bass drum is comfortable.

The beater will slam into my foot, the footboards will have to be steep, have to plant foot down a lot to move beater roughly 8-10 inches, takes too long to get the beater back in motion for another strike.

Currently the beater is positioned at more than 45 degrees and that's enough.

[veggo32]

Off the kit I highly recommend a stationary bike set at low resistance, pedal fairly swiftly (not mad) about 2-3 minutes per day. It will translate to the kit, you'll notice a difference right away.

[BassDriver]

Off the kit I highly recommend a stationary bike set at low resistance, pedal fairly swiftly (not mad) about 2-3 minutes per day. It will translate to the kit, you'll notice a difference right away.

Good idea, but I already ride my bike every week day (almost 4 kilometres).

[Toza]

Thomas Lang "Creative coordination and advanced foot technique" has cool exercises for developing your left foot

[stabmasterarson]

try alternating singles between your left leg and left hand for a long period of time, it has helped me some.

but now I'm playing axis pedals and it's like learning how to play again so I gotta do a lot of these!

[SEVNT7]

Beater 90 degrees to head is too much. You should judge the beater distance by how far it is from the head, not angle, around six inches for mine fine, too far becomes uncomfortable, no exercise should place undue discomfort on what is being worked.

I don't have the book Stick Control (in fact I don't have any instructional drumming books)...

Don't tell me having the beater at 90 degrees to the bass drum is comfortable.

The beater will slam into my foot, the footboards will have to be steep, have to plant foot down a lot to move beater roughly 8-10 inches, takes too long to get the beater back in motion for another strike.

Currently the beater is positioned at more than 45 degrees and that's enough.
(Above are quote from Bassdriver)

#1- I've been playing w/ my 90 degree pedal position for years and I never slap my foot w/ the beater ball. That only happens if you play sloppy or with loose contact w/ the pedal board. All my strokes are'nt Full strokes either. I practice all stroke types (ie full, half, low etc...), just like my hands. 90 degrees is the position of a full stoke. I can get to that position without the need to swing the beater back. No Tension in my leg.

#2- I don't move 8-10 inches up and down because I don't play at the top of the pedal ( top or outside of arc). I play down the pedal board on the "Sweetspot" so the beater bounces. The stroke type matches the speed and volume I need. Lower for soft and or fast. Higher for loud and or slow. But not exlcusive for eiher.

#3- Get Stick Control

#4-When you ask advice about technique then slam a suggestion, your lucky to get an answer back. Good luck......T