How to Get Faster on Bass Drums

With all the energy most drummers put in to practicing stick rudiments, many put surprisingly little effort into developing bass drum speed and control. Drummers tend to think of the bass pedal as a button--you push it and the drum goes boom. In reality, developing masterful speed on the bass drum requires every bit as much discipline and technique as it does with sticks. Follow the steps in the first section to get your fundamentals solid, then use the advanced technique in the second section to develop even faster bass playing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Double bass pedal
• Drum kit
• Sticks

Building Strength and Coordination

1. Get a double bass pedal. By playing bass with both of your feet instead of just one, you can quickly double your bass drum speed.

2. Practice both heel up and heel down bass playing. Play something simple and repetitive with your sticks to keep time, then play intricate lead patterns with your heel down. Then, do the same thing with your heel up. Start with the left foot, then move to the right.

3. Increase the speed of your bass playing gradually, keeping the stick patterns simple. You should be able to add speed and gain more control through focusing on the bass drum every day.

4. Throw in some double bass moves. Once you become proficient playing both heel up and heel down with both feet individually, try using them together. See what sorts of complex, quick bass rhythms you can come up with. You can practice double-stroke rolls, paradiddles and other stick fundamentals, as well as syncopation and improvisation.

Learning the Heel-Toe Technique

5. Hold your foot above the bass pedal, with your heel angled downward.

6. Drop your foot down, hitting the back of the bass pedal with your heel. The power comes from your leg as in the heel up technique, but you are striking with your heel instead of your toe.

7. Raise your foot and lower your toe to hit the front of the pedal as your leg goes up.

8. Tilt your heel down and drop your foot again. At the beginning, try for a slow even heel toe. As you get better, you should be able to get incredible speeds using this technique.

9. Practice this technique with each foot individually, then throw in a double bass pedal for even faster speeds.

Resources

• Watch a video of Heel-Toe technique at Drummer World