foot technique

[monster]

I been noticing as I've been practicing/playing lately that my foot technique is most lacking. I need more speed, better timing and more independence. I only play a single pedal currently. Does anyone have some tricks or know of a great book/video to help out? I've been playing for 6 mo.

hope your hot evening is going well....

[Jblount]

Mine is going pretty hotly. But, then again, its always hot here in Ga. As far as technique on the foot, to me thats something you have to work out on your own. There are hundreds of books and videos you can research. What helps me on speed is playing with my heels up just a little bit. I keep the ball of my feet firmly 3/4 of the way up the foot boards. My legs slant down just about 10 degrees. This is what works for me, you may be different. And if you dont have double pedals, try getting some and working on them. I dont play speed metal, but the doubles come in handy all the time.

[Rimshot]

Yeah, what he^^^said.

Practice, practice, practice.

There are no quick fixes, you can't direct input a download into your brain like in "The Matrix". If you've only been playing fo 6 months, you're on the beginning steps of a lifetime goal to keep improving...and you will, but it only coms with practice.

Try playing patterns with just your feet. Gradually make them more complicated and then start using your hands just to play accents against what your feet are doing. Then start trading off between your hands and your feet. After a while you will start to becme more secure with your foot skills and you can start playing different patterns with your feet to counterpoint what you are doing with your hands. That's when it starts to get exciting, but remember, you will never completely master it, you will only gradually get better at it.
It is a lifetime goaL. Never be satisfied with your skills.Always try to improve. And don't forget to have fun with it.

[PsyCoNo]

encyclopedia for the double bass... get through even the first couple chapeters and you will be amazed... ive spent 2 weeks on each.... it doent take long to get them down, but just build them up in speed as well.

[Jblount]

Thats a good one, psycho. I have worked through a few of the exercises in that one. It will improve your skills quickly. And just practice everyday.

[PsyCoNo]

do you know of any other good double bass books? im not nearly through this one, but i like to find others.

[Jblount]

This one is more about control
And this one looks cool, I havnt read it yet
Or this one
This one just looks hot
Or this one
Or this

[-passenger-]

Actually,

If you take the book stick control written by stone and apply all the same techniques and patterns to the feet this works fantastic. All of your limbs should be equal. This book helps acheive that.

[fenix]

the best thing to help with foot technique is a GOOD pedal.

[Rimshot]

I think that for learning foot technique, a "not so great" pedal is a good learning tool. Once you get good results there, then put on your good pedals. It's kind of like doing your pad practice with heavier sticks.

[rushfan33]

So you wanna faster foot ay?
Alright... here's my take on it. Forget the equipment playing a roll (no pun intended) in your techinque. You will not always have the same equipment and playing on a cheap pedal to help you train might also get you started on bad habits. If that's all you have, that's a different story. I understand what Rimshot is saying and to a certain extent, I agree. But that shouldn't be a training tool.
In my opinion, one of the best ways to approach a problem like this is to find the problem first. If you feel you're slow, zero in on what you're slow at. When you're practicing, watch your foot and study its motions to see what it's doing. If it's starting to creep down the pedal when you do double strokes, concentrate on that control. Before you learn "tricks", learn "proper" technique.. meaning whatever feels best for you.
Foot techinque is very subjective and varies drastically from player to player. Some play with control and attain lightening fast speeds, and others rely on tensing up their muscles to get speed that's just as fast. Find what's slowing you down and you will then have the tools to fix your problem.
Good luck...
RF

[Jblount]

For those of us who dont have a kit at home, and cant go to the practice space everyday, I sudgest building your own practice pad for your double pedals. I built one from 2x4, small piece of plywood, and a piece of rubber from the bottom of an old shoe. Use your imagination. If you cant, I will post instructions on building the "hobo engineered double pedal pad." (And that is the official name for my design)