You guys want to see a killer drummer?

[Tim Brown]

Go check out Marco Pitruzzella from Vornagar.
Remember his name, because this kid is going to be a star within 10 years.

http://www.vornagar.com/

Here's a Video of him while they were recording their CD. He freaking SHREDS! He's got Johnny Rabb's Freehand technique down pat.

http://www.vornagar.com/videos.html



Tim

[sirslurpee]

Holy shit. I've never actually seen someone play fast like that. That is amazing! Any idea how he double basses like that? It looks like hes using his feet only and no leg power. When you said this kid is good you were not kidding around!

[Cult_Status02]

Me, I'm naturally shit with double bass, so I wasn't thinking about that, and then all the hand stuff I could do so I was just like "Eh, he's ok" and then he did that one handed roll shit and I must say....damn he's good

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

Holy shit. I've never actually seen someone play fast like that. That is amazing! Any idea how he double basses like that? It looks like hes using his feet only and no leg power. When you said this kid is good you were not kidding around!

He's using the Heel-Toe technique. It lets you do a double-stroke roll, by striking the pedal first with the heel, and then rolling your foot forward just like when you walk, and you hit with the ball/toe of the foot. You have to be able to put almost your whole foot on the pedal to do it.





Tim

[fritzmusic]

OMG! I've never seen anything like that in my life....and I thought I'd been around the block a few times. Awesome technique this guy has. Thanks for that link, Tim.

[sirslurpee]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

He's using the Heel-Toe technique. It lets you do a double-stroke roll, by striking the pedal first with the heel, and then rolling your foot forward just like when you walk, and you hit with the ball/toe of the foot. You have to be able to put almost your whole foot on the pedal to do it.





Tim

Wow.. I've theorized about being able to do that but I don't have enough power or control in my left foot yet to pull it off. Looks like I need to practice more...
Thanks for the link and thanks for the advice!

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

Wow.. I've theorized about being able to do that but I don't have enough power or control in my left foot yet to pull it off. Looks like I need to practice more...
Thanks for the link and thanks for the advice!

You have to tighten your pedals as tight as they will go. It's basically a modified heel-down technique, and with the pedal tight, it will build your feet extremely quickly. Most drummers have weak feet - that's why they are playing with their pedal's springs loose. The tighter the spring, the faster the mallet returns back to center.

If you are right footed, your left foot will adapt to the technique faster than the right, because you have to retrain your right foot.

It's an awesome technique. it will take about 90 days or so to get it down, due to muscle memory, but once you have it, you'll be freaking out at how fast you can actually get with it.

And even more important, is how much control you will have over the pedals.


The only thing Marco does that I question, is if you watch the video, he kind of hunches his shoulders at times, so he needs to work on his layout of the kit just a bit.

I'm sure he'll be getting endorsements any day now, because the kid is just amazing.
I really need to quit calling him a kid - he's about 20 or so I think and has been playing around 10 years, but to me - he's still a kid. LOL

But he's smoking man.

Tim

[mjm620]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

He's using the Heel-Toe technique. It lets you do a double-stroke roll, by striking the pedal first with the heel, and then rolling your foot forward just like when you walk, and you hit with the ball/toe of the foot. You have to be able to put almost your whole foot on the pedal to do it.





Tim

So he's alright...but he has small feet

[Drummyjoey]

I love the end of that video.

Now I have to try that heel/toe thing. I will be working on that...

How did he do the single handed roll thing that somebody mentioned? Is that just pure practice and speed? It kind looks like there's a technique to it....

[noisedude]

That was pretty impressive. Damn. It would take me a million years of practicing to be able to play that piece ...

[fastprof]

Head on over to the Pearl Drum Forum and check out this thread: heal and toe vids Heel and toe takes a while to learn, but it is worth the effort.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by Drummyjoey

I love the end of that video.

Now I have to try that heel/toe thing. I will be working on that...

How did he do the single handed roll thing that somebody mentioned? Is that just pure practice and speed? It kind looks like there's a technique to it....

It's called the Freehand technique. You strike the head and rim at the same time, and then for the second strike, you rock the stick across the rim, then raise the stick and repeat it. You have to make sure the stick connects with the head and rim at the same time, or you get a clicking sound that is really annoying from when the stick hits the rim - if you hit both at the same time, it's covered up by the sound of the snare being struck.


Tim

[Drummyjoey]

Awesome. Thanks, Tim...I will be trying that as well.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by Drummyjoey

Awesome. Thanks, Tim...I will be trying that as well.

Here's a video of Johnny Rabb playing and explaining the Freehand Technique on 3 snares.

http://www.tigerbill.com/media/Rabb2.wmv



Tim

[Drummyjoey]

Thanks for posting that, Tim. That makes it much clearer. I can only imagine what kind of possibilities something like that would free up on the drumkit.

So how long did it take you to learn the hand technique? (If you can do it)

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by Drummyjoey

Thanks for posting that, Tim. That makes it much clearer. I can only imagine what kind of possibilities something like that would free up on the drumkit.

So how long did it take you to learn the hand technique? (If you can do it)

Well, I learned it a few years ago.

It all depends upon how much quality practice time you are willing to throw at it.

I mean, it might take me 20 minutes to pick it up, but it might take you weeks. Part of this is going to be because I started playing almost 30 years ago, so I've spent a lot of time with the drumsticks. I mean - When I was in High School, The Drumcorps had pre-school practice, and we would be there at 6:30AM doing rudiments.

After a while, you'll find that you reach a plateau, and then you'll have this period where it just seems like you're not getting better, and then BAM! You will have this huge leap because the mind/muscle memory and coordination finally connect.

It all depends upon YOU. How much time are your willing to put into QUALITY Practice? That's it really. Sure, Natural ability and talent do play into it, but you strill have to be willing to put in the time.


Tim

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by Tim Brown

It's called the Freehand technique. You strike the head and rim at the same time

I'm with you...

, and then for the second strike, you rock the stick across the rim

Lost me. I keep reading variations of this advice, but I can't figure out how turning my wrist is supposed to make a stroke. Of course, I am not a drummer.

[DALtune]

Well he has the heel/toe thing down. The one-handed roll is good. I felt like I was watching a loop, however...same thing over and over. Kid has his shit together, just not my type of drumming.

Props to them for putting out a video with their drummer playing a 4 piece kit. Amazing how many folks think that drummers (metal/shred types in particuliar) record with the monster sets they use at live shows.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by ermghoti

I'm with you...



Lost me. I keep reading variations of this advice, but I can't figure out how turning my wrist is supposed to make a stroke. Of course, I am not a drummer.

Okay, when you stike the rim and head at the same time, the back of the stick just drops down. While it is sitting on the rim, you just raise the back end of the stick up, so that it rocks across the rim, and strikes the head, sort of like a "see-saw" motion.

Watch the video I posted at the "tigerbill" website. Johnny Rabb totally explains it, and shows you how to do it.

Tim

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by DALtune

Well he has the heel/toe thing down. The one-handed roll is good. I felt like I was watching a loop, however...same thing over and over. Kid has his shit together, just not my type of drumming.

Props to them for putting out a video with their drummer playing a 4 piece kit. Amazing how many folks think that drummers (metal/shred types in particuliar) record with the monster sets they use at live shows.

Yeah, it does get a little repetitive.


Tim

[Me78332]

Wow!!! Does he have any endorsments yet!!!!he does slump at the shoulders but none of us are perfect, i might learn that heel toe technique!!!!

[spitfire909x]

It says unedited/unmixed scrath track? His drums sound pretty damn good for being un touched in the recording....

Btw, what is that on his kickdrum?

And.. how do you avoid shin splints when doin heel-toe?

Thanks

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by spitfire909x

It says unedited/unmixed scrath track? His drums sound pretty damn good for being un touched in the recording....

Btw, what is that on his kickdrum?

And.. how do you avoid shin splints when doin heel-toe?

Thanks

That's a small Kick Drum Tunnel.

As fas I know, I haven't heard of Shin Splints being a problem with the HT method.


Tim

[spitfire909x]

Thanks Tim, not trying to be a nuisance but I have a final question.. guy on Pearl forums recommends lowering his pedal so its almost flat with the ground, I have an Iron Cobra double pedal.. how would I go about doing this so I maintain power with the pedals? I want that extra speed for HT but I don't want to sacrifice power on my single strokes, and his tutorial vid isn't working for me If you know of any good websites showing some different adjustment techniques or something that'd be awesome.

Thanks bro

[fastprof]

Hi Spitfire, I will chime in. I don't find the flat as possible footboard works for me, but it is always good to try new adjustments for your pedals to find what works for you. The key to heel and toe is to get the whipping motion between the heel stroke and toe movement. Some (like in the video link) use only the ball of the foot instead of the heel. It takes time and practice, but once you get the movement, you will see what I mean.

I start the movement with the beater against the head and then drop my heel followed by a quick whip of the toes back to the beater again. Do a search on the Pearl Drum Forum, there are a ton of threads on heel and toe and Iron Cobra adjustments (sorry I don't have an IC).