How to Buy a Bass Drum Pedal

The bass drum pedal is like the gas pedal of a drum set. If it takes a lot of abuse, it can break. If you want to do some fast double hits, ala John Bonham, a bad bass drum pedal is really going to slow you down.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Around $50-$100

1. Buy in-store. Sure, buy a pedal online, but only after you’ve tried out the pedal yourself. Even if a friend has a pedal you like, you should still try out other pedals.
2. Check the spring action of the pedal, the durability of the frame, even how tight the beater fit into the base. Check if the spring tension can be changed, as well as the beater angle.
3. Play with the pedal with a full drumset, not just by itself. See if your foot slips off or if the pedal shifts around. Some pedals are designed for fast action, so keep this in mind. The smoothness of the hit and return is also important. Some use a chain drive, some have a solid drive.
4. If you really want speed, go for a double pedal. Keep in mind though that there are more things to break on a double pedal, and they take more abuse, so durability is important. Check user ratings to see if anyone’s had problems with the pedal breaking down.

Tips & Warnings

• A plastic head will give a louder, punchier sound, while a soft head will give a softer sound. Some beaters have both.