Want to kick the kick

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leavings

leavings

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This isn't a recording thread, so you meter junkies out there can tune out.

I just bought a drum set a three weeks ago. I've been practicing fairly regularly, about an hour a day (broken into three 20-minute sessions). I'm having a lot of trouble with fast kick beats and I can't figure out why. Other technique problems I've had since I began have gradually disappeared with practice, but this one persists.

I've tried tightening the pedal spring, and loosening it...I've tried generating the motion predominantly through my ankle, my knee, and my hip, and combinations of those...I've adjusted my position relative to the pedal...nothing seems to make a difference. I'm frustrated because in all other aspects I can handle the book exercises I've been working on. This is all that's holding me back.

Can someone explain to me the 'right' way to play the kick? Is it typical of being a novice to struggle this much with it? Anyone have suggestions for what I can do to work myself out of this? Any good tips, exercises, or stretches?

Thanks,
Peter
 
Speed on the BD

Hey, how are you sitting on your throne?
Make sure your riding up on the balls of your feet if you play that way.
I like to position myself just up above a 90 degree level.
As far as the pedal goes I think it's a science!!!!
I remember the old Camco pedal that would rock forever when you'd kick it! :) Too bad the Iron Cobra isn't like that.
Hope this helps...If not get some lessons from Virgil :D
 
When I started, I had problems doing quick kick-beats, especially if youre talkin double pedal stuff. It is something that takes time so dont get disheartened. Three weeks is still a very short time, despite how much you are practicing.

I tend to sit with my leg like a slightly bent shelf bracket. I also find that the choice of BD head usually has a great deal to do with the feel. Heads with coated strips for wear and tear and more click sound or whatever, are harder and feel much different to a usual head.

I think you should give it more time, your body and brain are still adjusting. Play along with your favourite records etc to keep you interested. As my old drum teacher said... Rome wasnt built in a day, or something.

Look up heel-toe technique too, switch between both,
Stephen
 
Just keep playing along to music, I swear after a while it'll come more naturally. Now remember, you won't be able to do some crazy fast double bass stuff if you only have a single kick pedal and you're just starting out, so don't try to go with anything over the top. The basic ways of playing is heel up and down. Heel up is where the front part of your foot sits on the pedal, and the rest of your leg and foot is off the pedal. When you hit the kick you move your whole leg downwards. Heel down is just when you keep your foot on the pedal and use more of your ankle and such...which is how I play. Practice, practice, practice...
 
When you say bought a drum set 3 weeks ago, does that mean you have only been playing drums for that long? If so, be patient!! It takes years of practice to be fast and quick. I have been playing drums for 35 years and always played single bass. On my new set i got about 6 months ago i went ahead and got a double bass pedal and it was like starting over. It is very frustrating, but with daily practice, you will improve! Good luck.
 
I'm no drummer, but I've been to a couple drum lessons with the drummer in my band. The guy giving the drum lessons is VERY good (he's endorsed/sponsered by Yamaha and has a degree in music performance/drums).

Anyway, the drum teacher said that you should work the kick pedal towards the heel of the pedal. Don't put your whole foot on the pedal. Your toes should be about halfway up the pedal. In other words, the half of the pedal closest to the kick drum head will not be covered by your foot.

He said this gives you much more control. I guess because the distance the pedal travels is smaller towards the heel... so you can hit the kick drum with less foot motion/action?

None of that probably makes any sense (I need more coffee) and you probably already know this stuff (also, I'm sure there are other "proper" techniques".

Good Luck!
 
OK. first comes first. how badly do you want to be a good drummer?
If you want to be able to play then dont read on.
If you really want to play and excel at your instrument then this is the perfect time to start so read on.

There are two types of playing the kick pedal and both take time to become comfortable and natural. These are called heel up and heel down. This means you can play accented kick patterns and no-one will quite know why but your grooves will be twice as good as anyone else - even if your playing the same thing! ;)

Heel up - you play with the ball of your foot. You use this to accent a pattern. you lift your heel up of the footboard. you then press down with the ball of your foot. once you've hit the kick your foot and the pedal will stay down. With this technique you can get fast but it isnt as reliable or easy to play properly (but it's easier to learn quickly if you want to go fast - but its VERY easy to not get even hits.)

Heel down - your foot is resting fully on the pedal, this will be used on the majority of strokes. This is the non accented stroke. You lift your toes and ball of your foot into the air keeping your heel down. once you've struck the pedal the beater will rest just aff away form the batter head ready to pull back and strike again. With this technique you can play fast and once your comfortable with it you can buzz roll with your feet so your letting the beater bounce repeteldly. this takes a long time to use properly but once learnt you can play triplets etc on one foot! :cool: this enables your left fot to be free for high hat use.

If you want to be a compotent drummer that takes it seriously this is the best technique. It takes a while to get uses to it; but as your starting then this will be perfect as you wont just give up and carry on how you normally do it (which many drummers do). Rememebr its important your posture is correct, NEVER have your knees higher than your stool when playing. Either play so its a right angle or higher as this will seriously damage your back and calf muscles.

If you have any more questions just ask. :)
 
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm still not really sure what to do. The most frustrating part is that I wasn't having any trouble with it for the first 2 weeks. Now all of a sudden I can't hold two sixteenth notes down.

What I'd like to know is if there's a preferred technique or style that I should use as a beginner. Is there any one method that's easier to learn, or should I just pick whatever seems to work best and practice only that?
 
I dont really know what you mean, but picking whatever seems to work best and practicing only that will only get you into bad habits. I think it's important to push yourself to do things you cant already do.

I think a good drum teacher would be a good idea, well worth the money. Working from books is fine, but a teacher will push you and can answer questions like you've posted in a flash.
 
Practice. Bottom line. I remember when odd time signatures were so intimidating, but over time I developed a good sense of timing, and now (years later) I can improvise and play fills across changing signatures. Just practice your kick, and focus on it, and play songs that sound like you want to sound until you can reproduce it and maybe improve on it. No amount of advice or instruction can take the place of plain old boring stuck-in-a-rut practice. Eventually your body will find the most economical way to do what you want it to do, promise.
 
leavings said:
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm still not really sure what to do. The most frustrating part is that I wasn't having any trouble with it for the first 2 weeks. Now all of a sudden I can't hold two sixteenth notes down.

What were you doing before?
Their is no one way but what is comfortable for you.
I'm flat footed so I can't play heel down, but through YEARS of practice I play Relaxed but with control.
Click to expand...
 
you never know, it could be as simple as you having your first off day.

about 5 years ago i thought i was a fairly fast drummer. i borrowed a cd off a friend and there was some super fast drumming on it, and when i tried to play to it i realised i couldn't successfully without tiring in about a minute. that was my goal then, so i played to this cd until i was fast enough to play along. i listened to this track the other week and it now feels slow. im always setting myself goals to improve my playing, as soon as i reach one i find another. i never run out because you can always improve.

so, just practise.
 
Bottom line practice Another technique dont know what it is called just got showed it oneday. ok hit the pedal with the heel giving you a beat directly after hit again with heel of foot giving you a double beat in just one motion you can do triples but I use different technique for that just remember heel toe can be affective wants you get used to it good luck champ. I have got roland TD10 for practice recomend for anyone who wants to practice and doesnt have good isolation.
 
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