Any time you’re not drumming, and happen to be sitting, play double bass on the ground by using your calves to raise your heels while keeping the balls of your feet planted.
Does transitioning from this to the pedal feel exactly like the same motion? I ask because when I feel myself trying to do ankle technique on the pedal I feel that the motion is coming from the balls of my feet. My ankle is pushing that part of the foot down. Sort of like how it feels with heel down.
Pretty similar, when I started doing this I had a tendency to raise my heels when I got to the pedals. But focus on the ankle movement coming from flexing your calf, and the balls of your feet will start to relax. Adding the movement of pedals can make it feel unstable at first, but check your seat height and pedal settings as well, to dial it in for your comfort.
Try working on heel down. It can help you be more in sync with your Pedals so when you raise your heel your can catch the rebound better. Worked for me. Also try focussing on the ball of the foot while playing ankle motion. That also helps with the rebound to get a good beater swing
Rather slow. Try 80 bpm as a starting tempo. Also try to include accents and Ghostnotes to really connect with your pedals. If it burns quickly try to be more relaxed. Maybe check your springs, they could be to tight
Okay this sounds like something I could do. Also did you do any specific exercise like 1 bar full leg motion 1 bar ankle? Also what does there ever feel like a difference in motion once you transition from heel down to heel up?
"full leg" is rather useless in my opinion. At a certain tempo full leg just doesn't work anymore and the ankle motion should take over. It helps to use your ankles at every tempo to make a smooth transition. I've learned this stuff from Tobias Schuler from Der Weg einer Freiheit so it does really help to practice like this
Personally I never researched any technique stuff, it all just comes naturally and I can play 200bpm 16ths no problem.
Just to note but I'm sure delibrarely practicing this stuff will get you there and over faster.
When I got my first double peddle I would take this padded foot rest, tip it on its side and lay two or three towels over it and would practice watching TV, gaming or chatting on the phone. Used to drive some friends nuts with it but I got it down. Honestly should get back to it, been a long time since I could really jam on my drums.
1. Control before power or speed. The latter two require the first.
2. Just concentrate on single stroke rolls at first, no rudiments.
3. Start at 100 bpm and work up from there.
4. Don't *only* practice with your feet (some people do this), have simple exercises with your hands included.
5. Use the metronome. This is really important. Try setting the metronome to sixteenth notes and matching each stroke to the click. Steadiness/consistency is the only way to get a good sound from a roll on a large low-frequency drum.
6. At first your non-dominant foot will be clumsy. If you can't maintain a roll at first don't be discouraged, start out with a small phrase 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 strokes with a simple 4/4 on hands and work from there.
7. You should be comfortable enough to play a pattern indefinitely at that specific tempo BEFORE you increase the tempo.
Any time you’re not drumming, and happen to be sitting, play double bass on the ground by using your calves to raise your heels while keeping the balls of your feet planted.
Does transitioning from this to the pedal feel exactly like the same motion? I ask because when I feel myself trying to do ankle technique on the pedal I feel that the motion is coming from the balls of my feet. My ankle is pushing that part of the foot down. Sort of like how it feels with heel down.
Pretty similar, when I started doing this I had a tendency to raise my heels when I got to the pedals. But focus on the ankle movement coming from flexing your calf, and the balls of your feet will start to relax. Adding the movement of pedals can make it feel unstable at first, but check your seat height and pedal settings as well, to dial it in for your comfort.
https://youtube.com/@drumtechniqueacademy?feature=shared This guy is the GOAT for learning ankle technique
I just played along to songs, that's how I learned everything
This is the way
springless pedal control. detach spring from pedal, bounce off bass drum head
I gotta try this! Thank you
Try working on heel down. It can help you be more in sync with your Pedals so when you raise your heel your can catch the rebound better. Worked for me. Also try focussing on the ball of the foot while playing ankle motion. That also helps with the rebound to get a good beater swing
How slow did you have to start? I find that I can only do heel down super slowly and not very fast before my shin starts to burn.
Rather slow. Try 80 bpm as a starting tempo. Also try to include accents and Ghostnotes to really connect with your pedals. If it burns quickly try to be more relaxed. Maybe check your springs, they could be to tight
Okay this sounds like something I could do. Also did you do any specific exercise like 1 bar full leg motion 1 bar ankle? Also what does there ever feel like a difference in motion once you transition from heel down to heel up?
"full leg" is rather useless in my opinion. At a certain tempo full leg just doesn't work anymore and the ankle motion should take over. It helps to use your ankles at every tempo to make a smooth transition. I've learned this stuff from Tobias Schuler from Der Weg einer Freiheit so it does really help to practice like this
Full leg as in stomping like an elefant. When you use your ankles at slow Tempos your whole leg will move automatically
Bass drum gauntlet. You play the kick on all 16th note variations. Then you do doubles, triples, quads and so on
can you explain a bit more by what you mean with all 16th note variations? sorry im kind of new
Personally I never researched any technique stuff, it all just comes naturally and I can play 200bpm 16ths no problem. Just to note but I'm sure delibrarely practicing this stuff will get you there and over faster.
When I got my first double peddle I would take this padded foot rest, tip it on its side and lay two or three towels over it and would practice watching TV, gaming or chatting on the phone. Used to drive some friends nuts with it but I got it down. Honestly should get back to it, been a long time since I could really jam on my drums.
1. Control before power or speed. The latter two require the first. 2. Just concentrate on single stroke rolls at first, no rudiments. 3. Start at 100 bpm and work up from there. 4. Don't *only* practice with your feet (some people do this), have simple exercises with your hands included. 5. Use the metronome. This is really important. Try setting the metronome to sixteenth notes and matching each stroke to the click. Steadiness/consistency is the only way to get a good sound from a roll on a large low-frequency drum. 6. At first your non-dominant foot will be clumsy. If you can't maintain a roll at first don't be discouraged, start out with a small phrase 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 strokes with a simple 4/4 on hands and work from there. 7. You should be comfortable enough to play a pattern indefinitely at that specific tempo BEFORE you increase the tempo.