Kick! Double, or single?

[sirslurpee]

Well...? Polls are fun!

But seriously, I am thinking about switching back to a single pedal... at least untill I can save up enough money to order another kick drum and a couple of new pedals. (in otherwords, a year or two)

Also it seems like my right foot isn't conditioned for fast double runs. It's wierd, like I am 3 times as fast with my left foot than with my right foot, even though I started playing single kick about a year and a half before I ever got a double pedal...

[RezN8]

Interesting. Your faster left foot just might be a matter of balance and muscle memory conditioning.

I would focus on single pedal for now so you can retrain your right foot while you save up some money.

For me personally, I typically play single pedal with bands but I practice with double pedals on my own time. I like the double pedals (or two kicks) for the workout, but the type of music I play these days really doesn't call for it much.

[sirslurpee]

Haha sorry I forgot to add the poll. Dumb me.

Yeah it seems like I can get my left foot in just the right spot where I have more control and my right foot I can only slam it down and I can get quick double-hits with the right but cannot keep a constant meter with it.

[Ironklad Audio]

it depends

if you're a jazz drummer, then no

if you're playing death metal at 220bmp, then it's an absolute requirement

[Farview]

I use single pedals with two kicks. I'm going to change that with my next kit and go with a single kick double pedal. Less crap to move and without the other kick in the way, more setup possibilities.

[sirslurpee]

I wish I could do double runs at 220bpm. I mean shit I am real bad when it comes to double kick...

[peritus]

I'm all for a single pedal.... Sounds more pleasing to my ear and seems to require more skill, in my opinion.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by peritus

I'm all for a single pedal.... seems to require more skill, in my opinion.

Why would that be? I play the same way with on pedal as I do with two. I just don't play the same things.

[peritus]

Originally Posted by Farview

Why would that be? I play the same way with on pedal as I do with two. I just don't play the same things.

That's what I mean.. If someone can play "the same things" with a single pedal, they're pretty good...

[sirslurpee]

If someone can play "the same things" with a single, and then add a second pedal and be able to play twice as fast/complicated/much whatever, then that's where the bad ass of a 2nd pedal comes in....

Also, with 1 pedal you can't do paradiddles

[peritus]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

If someone can play "the same things" with a single, and then add a second pedal and be able to play twice as fast/complicated/much whatever, then that's where the bad ass of a 2nd pedal comes in....

Also, with 1 pedal you can't do paradiddles

Right on.. just saying.. I think young drummers abuse double pedalling...

[Farview]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

If someone can play "the same things" with a single, and then add a second pedal and be able to play twice as fast/complicated/much whatever, then that's where the bad ass of a 2nd pedal comes in....

Also, with 1 pedal you can't do paradiddles

That's what I was getting at. There is no way to do certain things on just one pedal...Death metal, for example.

[Minion]

I"m a Double Kick Guy but I can play just fine with a single Pedal it just isn"t as Fun nor does it sound as good for the type of stuff I play (Mostly hardcore Punk/Metal).....


Cheers

[jaykeMURD]

Originally Posted by peritus

Right on.. just saying.. I think young drummers abuse double pedalling...

I'd agree with you for the most part.

I suppose I'd fall into your group "young drummers", yet I leared early on that double-bass is limited. It's fun and good for practicing (and death metal) but for all-around rock, it's just not that promanent. I meet and see a lot of young players that only play solos with double-bass tapping the whole way through. Just gets old.

Heck, I have a double pedal, but I tend to use the slave pedal in 15% of my playing. Too much of a good thing if you ask me.

[sirslurpee]

I took the left side off of my iron cobra and I'm just playing single foot for a while. I am sort of getting to where I can do triplets w/ right foot at about 140bpm..
I also found a really cool fill I can do fast something like: R-L-K-K-R-L-K-K-L-R-K-K and switch back and fourth from leading right and left...

[Elton Bear]

I've just bought a double pedal, but I'd only really use it in metal - most rock/pop stuff doesn't call for it, and two pedals often just makes people lazy - listen to Rob King or Jon Bonham for single pedal action!!!

I voted single btw, despite owning a double

[Berberman]

When you take a look at what Jojo Mayer is doing with only one pedal you'll think to yourself why in the hell would i need two?
I personally play a cow bell with my left foot, a-la akira jimbo, and i try to get better with my right.
Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQxlEj1ibk

Sorry for the cheap camera crapy sound...

[funkydrummer]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

I took the left side off of my iron cobra and I'm just playing single foot for a while. I am sort of getting to where I can do triplets w/ right foot at about 140bpm..
I also found a really cool fill I can do fast something like: R-L-K-K-R-L-K-K-L-R-K-K and switch back and fourth from leading right and left...

that's one my favourite techniques. playing it in groupings of 6 is a great bonham lick: k-k-r-l-k-k r-l-k-k-r-l. also, play with right hand only, left hand only, and left hand lead.

[sirslurpee]

That's kick ass... Bonham is the man!


..And so are you for posting that :-D

[peritus]

Originally Posted by sirslurpee

That's kick ass... Bonham is the man!


..And so are you for posting that :-D

Agreed!

[sirslurpee]

Wow the poll is really close! I'm surprized...

[sk8bobby10]

i like double bass drum for fun, but really, unless the music really needs it, leave it at home for shows and stuff, because alot of times, the double bass pedals get messed up at shows, and they take awhile to set up, i dont know how many times Ive seen drummers going "WTF?! My double bass is broke or sliding everywhere..."

[Lomas]

Yea I wouldn't want to play double at all. But then, recently I've been into limiting myself a lot. Only having two toms for example (one floor and one "regular"). I seem to play a lot more creatively like that.

And I'm not into death metal, so...no need.

Oh, and I always prefer a drummer who knows what to play rather than one who is technically amazing but don't.

[TragikRemix]

im pretty sure that most double pedals allow you to take one foot off and play single...

i could be wrong though.

i like double for some stuff and single for other things. i like to play double because i suck and double makes me sound better, to less experienced musicians anyway.

[dkerwood]

Single pedals require more skill and subtlety, IMHO. The only thing that double pedals can do that singles can't it play those crazy metal sixteenth notes. But if you can't find some way to cover that with just a single pedal, you need to step away from the kit.

Yes, double pedals are abused a lot. A friend of mine once had me over to his house to show me how he could play two 32nd notes on his new double kick, leading into the snare backbeat (you know, "boom... bika DAT"). I then plopped down at his kit, put my left foot squarely against the wall, and played the same thing single.

I get a lot of students who "learned" double kick that way (leading right or just using the left as a flam)... and they spend years unlearning that crap and relearning how to put the left foot exactly where you want it in time.

Personally, I do too much with the hi hat to justify taking my foot away from it. The thought of just letting the hats fly open and losing all control over them is not my idea of fun.

To sum up, adding a double pedal to your setup is akin to the guitarist wanting to pick up that Zepplin style double neck guitar. Sure, it brings something new to the table, but it's not necessarily anything good... lol...