A while ago i posted a comment on double-bass playing... it was about my view and experiences on how to get started for some nice speed as result. I don't think many of you have read it so here is it again:
I've tried to explain it as plain as I could, (because English is not my first language)
This read will take 15 minutes I think !! (what is 15 minutes compared to days of practicing =)
First of all when I say “I can play double-bass” then I mean playing 16th notes continuing for a long period (like it is used in most death metal songs). Because playing those 16th notes at a nice/high speed requires a different technique (for me) then the technique I use for a quick RLR or RLRLR with my double-bass for example. The difference between those two techniques for me and I think for a lot drummers is that with the normally used technique we play a lot/for the most part with our leg and we use its weight(so our whole leg goes up and down and the strength is coming from you upper leg muscles because you lift that part). And on the other hand, with the technique to play those continuing 16th notes I (have to) play a lot more with my ankle, but of course I use my leg also. You have to find the perfect balance between those two. Sitting a bit higher makes it sometimes easier to play with that ankle motion.
OK if you do understand what I am talking about you’re doing a good job =)
But to practice I used a few methods.
In general when you have problems with a foot when you are beginning (for most of the drummers your left one), then compare it to your right. Very often you can “learn” from your right foot.
AND get a metronome (metronomeonline.com)
- First of all I was not capable to accept the rebound of the pedal of my left foot/leg. So it simply didn’t function as my right leg/foot did. I couldn’t play a rhythm with my left foot at the same volume and power of the bass-drum of my right foot. Just put your metronome at a slow speed (80) and play 1 bass-drum every tap of the metronome, then double it, so play 2 kicks every tap(8th notes). Now you are creating some power and control(accepting the rebound) over your left foot. When you are comfortable with that try 90, ok with that? then try 100. I got problems around 120. At 120 it is enough I think. (you are still using your old technique so you play with all the weight of your leg). When you are comfortable with this and you can play stable at 120 on the metronome and play 2 kicks per tap you are doing nice. Also do it with your right foot, you’ll notice that you are probably automatically using more your ankle than your left foot.
B.T.W. when you try to play with 1 bass pedal(right foot) at your fastest speed, then you can probably play pretty fast (you use the ankle motion, a different technique then when you play normal). You can’t cut it to a roll of 6 probably(still with 1 foot), just that max speed is going good for a longer period(maybe not so loud). In the end we want to be able to control that technique, (only a bit different I think), at different speeds and with 2 feet !
OK, so you’re ok now with playing 120 on the metronome with your right and left foot separated. Now put the metronome back to 80 and play again 2 kicks per tap of the metronome (8th notes) with you left foot, then integrate your right foot, then you have the result that you want in the end AT A SLOW…slow speed. Put it to 90, to 100 and maybe to 120. (STILL USING THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF YOUR LEG). When you are comfortable with playing at around 110 with 16th notes so both legs at the same time, your doing a nice job. But there is a limit to this use of the whole weight of your leg. So now we want to integrate that other technique which allows you to play faster, with a lot lesser effort.
Now we are going to use that other technique. Now I will exaggerate it, but then you know what to do. You sit down and put your feet on the pedal, heel on the ground, then put your heels up, higher then you normally do(so almost only your toes are in contact with the pedal). Then play really, really slow, just every second (60) a kick. R L R L, really slow yeah. But you only use your ankle, this means that your knee height is almost at the same level all the time. Just do it really slow. Ok you don’t have to do it @ 80, 90 and 100, because we want play those double-bass faster. Set your metronome @ 120. play RLRL every metronome tap (those 16th notes) Now you can put your heel a bit down and try to get the perfect balance between the use of your ankle and your leg.
OK now stay on your drumthrone, turn 180 degrees, put your feet on the ground and put your heels up, so you are mostly only in touch with the ground with your toes. Then you try to tap 16th notes (you must have done this before =). The strength is also coming from your heel and toes, “pushing” your leg up. The same way you want to do this on the pedal, but on the pedal you have to accept that rebound of the pedal, so try to find that balance between the “pushing” that ankle motion and that leg strength.
When you’re trying to play like this your bass-drums WILL undoubtedly hit your bassdrum head at the same time. This is normal, you don’t have to get back and slow it down to a speed which you are capable of playing this to. At 120 or 140 is ok to practice with. You have to correct yourself every time again and again, so that means don’t continue playing when the beaters are hitting at the same time. You have to force your leg/foot etc… to play that 16th notes correctly. There will be a day it will work, maybe not perfect but you can get it constant and it going nice. (all this practicing should be relaxed, that’s also the way you want to be able to play alike, so no tighten of any muscels which are not needed.) You will tighten some muscles sometime just to try something, or maybe because it is frustrating =) But try not to do it. Maybe you are tend to put your left foot lower on the pedal at first because that’s easier, but try to play the same as your right.
Comment: you have to practice a bit heel down to, like a lot drummers say. Maybe you can’t play very loud, fast of whatever, it just helps you to create those muscles for that other technique.
I played stone stick control exercises with my feet(not even at really high speeds), it’s a very good way to develop that foot coordination, but once you get used to that left foot accepting that rebound of the pedal, I stopped that practicing, because my goal was to play those 16th notes at a nice speed, constant and relaxed.
That day or hour when you have “forced” your legs etc… to play that double-bass at a cool speed, you will be more than happy. Your not capable yet of playing this double-bass very quickly without forcing things or first practicing 5 or more minutes, but that hour will give you energy, strength, power to go on with practicing and above all belief that you can and will play that double-bass correctly in a few months. The satisfaction will be f00king good.
I hope that all of you beginning double-bass players understand my words, and maybe things develop totally different in your situation, but maybe you got only 1 useful thing of knowledge out of this read. And as I said what is a read of 15? minutes compared to days of practice =) And these are my experiences, it’s one way of practicing double-bass you decide what you do with it. And above all double-bass is practicing, practicing, practicing.
C ya !! go practice NOW !
Jeroen