Derek Roddy here!

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Bamadrummer88

Junior Member
Hi Derek, got a question I'd like to ask your and the others opinion on. I’ve been playing for several years now, but only in the past year have I started playing double bass. I should probably also mention I’m a lefty playing openhanded on a righthanded kit. Anyway,I noticed on double bass runs, be it straight 16ths, triplets, or any kind of patterns, if I led with my right foot, the runs would be choppy and uneven most of the time. If I lead with my left foot though, usually it’s clearer and smoother. It works the same with 16ths on the hihat.Choppy starting righthanded, smooth starting lefthanded. My question is, should I just try to become entirely ambidextrous, switch my kit to lefty, or something else?

P.S. you're badass and an inspiration dude
 
Derek Roddy

Derek Roddy

DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
Bamadrummer88 said:
Hi Derek, got a question I'd like to ask your and the others opinion on. I’ve been playing for several years now, but only in the past year have I started playing double bass. I should probably also mention I’m a lefty playing openhanded on a righthanded kit. Anyway,I noticed on double bass runs, be it straight 16ths, triplets, or any kind of patterns, if I led with my right foot, the runs would be choppy and uneven most of the time. If I lead with my left foot though, usually it’s clearer and smoother. It works the same with 16ths on the hihat.Choppy starting righthanded, smooth starting lefthanded. My question is, should I just try to become entirely ambidextrous, switch my kit to lefty, or something else?

P.S. you're badass and an inspiration dude
Click to expand...

Cheers man,

I've always been of the opinion that drummers shouldn't "change" their approach, etc. Just be yourself and work with what you can do.
So, changing your kit, righty, lefty...really all irrelevant to actual playing and getting better.
I've found that a lot of time drummers spend too much time on 'researching", "changing", etc takes time from actually doing the work.

Which in your case seems to be a balance issue in which your weak leg has been a human kickstand for the strong side of your body.

I would practice using your weaker foot/side more often. Like when you're playing a long to CD's etc....if you can execute what you need to make the song work with your weaker foot......you should be doing it. Same with your hands.

Should help a lot.

D
 
GetAgrippa

GetAgrippa

Platinum Member
Damn dude you're like a hummingbird. I also note it doesn't look like you are even building up a sweat. You must be a runner or into some kind of regular exercise to have the stamina and endurance without a sweat? I use to be a 10 mile a day runner man (I thought I was Forrest Gump-I got addicted replacing another addiction)-I went on a mountain climb with my wife and a group and I was the only one who made it to the top dry-everyone else was soaking wet.
 
B

Bamadrummer88

Junior Member
Derek Roddy said:
Cheers man,

I've always been of the opinion that drummers shouldn't "change" their approach, etc. Just be yourself and work with what you can do.
So, changing your kit, righty, lefty...really all irrelevant to actual playing and getting better.
I've found that a lot of time drummers spend too much time on 'researching", "changing", etc takes time from actually doing the work.

Which in your case seems to be a balance issue in which your weak leg has been a human kickstand for the strong side of your body.

I would practice using your weaker foot/side more often. Like when you're playing a long to CD's etc....if you can execute what you need to make the song work with your weaker foot......you should be doing it. Same with your hands.

Should help a lot.

D
Click to expand...


Thanks a lot man I really appreciate the help!
 
B

beyondbetrayal

Platinum Member
B

Bamadrummer88

Junior Member
Hey Derek I know has been covered before, but I thought I'd ask anyway and get your advice, because I really need help. My max range on double bass is 16ths is about 110 bpm. I can hit 120, but I'm all over the place when I do. Accidental flamming, my feet are sliding all over the pedals, and it's just really hard to keep the tempo for more than a couple of measures. What is your opinion on this? Basically, I need to increase speed and control, but I'm not sure of the best way of doing it. I would eventually like to get up to extreme metal speeds, at 200+ bpm, plus broken double bass patterns as in Lamb of God and Meshuggah. I know this can take months, years, etc., to get up to, but I want to at least get on the right track for it. Thanks for any and all help
 
T

Trigger

Senior Member
Bamadrummer88 said:
Hey Derek I know has been covered before, but I thought I'd ask anyway and get your advice, because I really need help. My max range on double bass is 16ths is about 110 bpm. I can hit 120, but I'm all over the place when I do. Accidental flamming, my feet are sliding all over the pedals, and it's just really hard to keep the tempo for more than a couple of measures. What is your opinion on this? Basically, I need to increase speed and control, but I'm not sure of the best way of doing it. I would eventually like to get up to extreme metal speeds, at 200+ bpm, plus broken double bass patterns as in Lamb of God and Meshuggah. I know this can take months, years, etc., to get up to, but I want to at least get on the right track for it. Thanks for any and all help
Click to expand...

I'm not anywhere near Derek's skills but something I heard always stuck with me: You're only as fast as your slowest foot.
 
lefty2

lefty2

Platinum Member
Bamadrummer88: Have you been reading the earlier pages in this thread? On page 2 there is a lot of discussion about technique. All through the pages of this thread, is a lot of good info and links to Dbl. kick playing. But you'll need to look for it.
 
bud7h4

bud7h4

Silver Member
Trigger said:
I'm not anywhere near Derek's skills but something I heard always stuck with me: You're only as fast as your slowest foot.
Click to expand...

That seems obvious enough, yet it wasn't until about 2 years into my double bass playing that it occurred to me to practice one foot at a time, rather than always practicing alternating LRLR. By working intensely on one foot at a time, my double bass speed increased dramatically. It just suddenly felt like much less work.
 
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