How to Set Up and Play Bass Drum Pedal

You want to play the bass drums in a band, but you aren't sure how to start. Follow these tips to set up your bass drum pedal. Once you have the pedal in position, you can practice two methods of playing, heel up and heel down. Follow these tips to set up and play a bass drum pedal.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Setting Up the Bass Drum Pedal

1. Gather all the parts you need to build the bass drum pedal including the bass drum beater, the radius rod, the attachment clamp, the beater key bolt and the pedal.
2. Attach the radius rod to the drum pedal's base. There should be one on each side.
3. Find the slot on top of the base drum pedal. Insert the bass drum beater into the top of the slot so that the drum beater is pointing up at about a 45-degree angle over the bass pedal.
4. Use the drum key to tighten the bass drum beater in place. The drum key goes into the key bolt and turns to the right to tighten.
5. Locate the hoop on the back of the bass drum. Insert the bass drum pedal onto the hoop. Place the base pedal flat beside the drum.
6. Tighten the attachment clamp to secure the bass drum pedal to the drum.

Playing the Bass Drum Pedal

7. Use the heel down method to play the bass drum pedal. This method uses your ankle to move your foot and the pedal. Your foot controls the beat and the tone.
8. Place the heel of your foot on the base of the pedal. You will use an ankle motion to move the pedal.
9. Move your foot up and down by using your shin to move your foot and the pedal. If you are doing it right, it looks like you are tapping your toe.
10. Let the beater come back to its original position instead of staying against the drum.
11. Try the heel up method which uses your whole leg to move your foot and the pedal. This method is more powerful because you use your whole leg muscle to move the pedal.
12. Lift the back of your foot right off the pedal as you move the front of your foot up and down to move the pedal.
13. Rest your leg between each beat. If you are doing it right, it looks like you are tapping your whole foot.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay a little more and most of your bass drum pedal will already be assembled.
• Learn both ways so you have more choices when playing different kinds of music like jazz and rock.
• You can use two bass drum pedals instead of one.
• Never take your foot completely off the pedal.