Double bass drumming contribution thread

zildjianguy3345 · Sea Monkey Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 11

i just wanted to see if there are any SPECIFIC excersizes (on and off the drumset) that i could do to get my double bass going real fast.

There is a perfect example of what im talking about in the song "Tulips Are Better" by Atreyu

listen to the song from 2:50 and on, you'll see the speed that i want to play at.

random white person · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject:

theres no way to just magically achieve higher speeds over night... just try pushing your limit little by little until you get where you need to be. its really the only "exercise" there is to accomplish this. make sure you can keep it together and not get sloppy before you try to step up the speed, because the faster you get, the more obvious your sloppiness will be.

it also may be some help to practice your double kicks on the floor any time youre sitting down. might help a little bit, might not. who knows.
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WL-13 · Not So Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 6

Yeah, there's no magic or shortcut to increase your dbd speed. Practice and determination is most important. I have had a double kick since November 2005, and that time I was on the internet searching for secrets and stuff too. But then I realised the real secret is just to practice and be determined. I started to practice everyday since February 2006, and I have gone from 110bpm(16th) to now, which is at 132bpm(16th). I can play at 132bpm for 10 minutes straight. I reckon control is more important than speed. I recommend starting at a comfortable speed, then move up 1bpm each day.

I play heels up, and I don't use my quadraceps or my thighs. I try to use just my calves. I use ankle weights when practicing. It helps alot, and when you take it off, your feet feel so light! Working the left foot up is a hard one. I just went through all of my drum exercises with my left leg. And I try to use it as much as possible. I also practice parradidles with my legs.

RLRL RRLL LRLR LLRR RLRR LRLL RLRLRR LRLRLL RRRR LLLL

That is what I do for 5 minutes. After that, I play basic beats, with hi hat on 1 2 3 4, snare on 2 and 4, and a constant 16th bass drum going 1e+a2e+a3+ea4e+a.

Playing to a metronome is really good. I recommend playing to a metrnome whenever you're practicing.

Dorian · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject:

Dorian · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject:

Dorian · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject:

SketcHyRollin564 · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:23 am Post subject:

ok i only read about half the first page, so somebody inform me if im repeating somthing, but anyways.

heres some things i would recomend:

first of all, use single pedal for a while to get comfortable with at and know many techniques, like one of my favorite , the slide technique. i have yet to apply it to my double pedaling cuz im just learning it with my left foot, but when im at a friends house or playing a gig with a single pedal set WOW does it help to know. not to mension, its fun and yep, comes in handy.

one of the first things you should do when you get your double pedal, is leave your hi hat stand closed, and play as you normaly do, and practice all your beats with your other foot. this will make playing with your weak foot a lot more comfortable and easyer. so, sure when you get them, play heavy double bassing dadadadadada joey jordison stuff if you want, for like half an hour, just to get the excitement and urge out, but really dont do that untill youve had them for like a week and can play normal stuff with your left foot.

another thing you should do right when you get your double pedals,
only play heel down. why? it seems like playing heel up is a lot easyer and comfortable when playing double bass. the only time i ever see my self playing heel down is when im playing single bass, so when you get them, for like two weeks, only play double bass with your heel down. correct me if im wrong, but i think this would probably help out a lot

another thing, practice singles, doubles, and parradiddles with your double bass, now that you have two "sticks" wrather than one. just as with your wrists, it will build your chops and increase your speed with your legs. practicing with a metronome isnt a bad idea either (good idea). and this would be an easy and fun thing to do if you lets say broke your arm and couldnt play drums for a while. this is when you simply practice your double bass.

also, dont just use double bass for heavy straight through 16th notes and really fast stuff, explore

triplets with the double bass sound in my opinion better sometimes, and less boring. use them for fills, acccents, one last thing... just like a splash cymbal.. dont overuse it.

anyways,i hope this helped some of you, happy drumming everyone!
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By Tor · Little Guppy Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 31

great stuff here like

just want to ask at what point or temp to your ankles start doing most of the work instead of your legs

any ideas on how to practise developing the ankles for double bass

ive been stuck @ about 110 - 115 bpm for about a year and i cant logically see how it is possible to develop beyond these tempos

cheers

Dorian · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject:

funki_chunki · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject:

hey guys,
sore awesome stuff here. i dnt have a dbp yet but i have been practising the slide tech etc on my single pedal. i dont know if this will mean anything to anyonem but i have been working n this and it sounds pretty sweet.. if you wanna check it out click this link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ZUPEgbzu0

its good old youtube...

thanks.

jdcaples · Big Pit Bull Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 375

funki_chunki · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

i thought so too. it is just a bit hard to build up the speed but i guess when you get it it stayes with you.

sbowman128675 · Big Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 967

im lefthanded so i got my ride on the left side right above my 1st tom...so i have the tom stands foot stoping the pedal from moving, but some times i got my jazz rig and thats just withotu my 1st tom so u do also put a weight infront of it,

my friend made a custom rig around his drum kit, kinda like a rollbar cause he's the marlon manson type guy, so he jumps on his set, but part of the rig is a smal pin that rams into the back of the slave pedal, kinda kool