+1. There is no substitute. No short cuts. Start slow making sure your technique is solid, then speed it up slowly, constantly checking to make sure your technique isn't getting sloppy because of the added speed introduced.
Custom Classic Pro Maple 6
8",10",12",13" Mounted Toms
(2)14",16" Floor Toms
22" x 18" Kick
6",8",10" Roto Toms
14" x 6.5" Mapex Black Panther Snare
13" x 3" Pearl Piccolo Snare
Sabian: 13" Paragon Hats
14" HH X Hats
22" Paragon Ride
(2) 16" Paragon Crashes
20" Paragon Crash
18" Paragon Crash
20" Paragon Small Flange China
19" Paragon China
Wuhan:20"with gingles
8",10" Splash
Roc N Soc Lunar
DW 8002B Pedals
Tambourine
Cowbell
Sabian Squad
C C Militia
I am working on using a double bass pedal and I haven't used one since I started playing 5 years ago. My left leg is slow and I can't put the pressure into it to hit the bass pedal on my left leg as I can my right. It's going to to a lot of practice on my part to be able to build up speed and putting more pressure into the slave pedal to balance it with my right leg. I can hear that I am hitting the left slave hard enough to where I can hear it behind my kit,but in front of the kit,I can hardly hear it. I recorded myself practicing to see where I was at as far as my left leg goes and that is when I discovered that the left hit can't be heard at all from 15 feet away.
So my advice,practice as much as possible.
8pc Tama Superstar Classic Maple
Sabian and Zildjian Cymbals
Yeah. That's why someone just starting out should go right to the double rather than a single. Unless they never have an inkling to go to a double. Maybe instead of playing the bass drum with your right foot. Try just playing all the time with your left foot instead. Of course, that presents a problem with your hi hats, right? You could move your hats to the right and play left handed. Or get a closed hat bracket and mount it on the right. Or, just keep practicing your right left singles and doubles on the pedals. Good luck, man.
Custom Classic Pro Maple 6
8",10",12",13" Mounted Toms
(2)14",16" Floor Toms
22" x 18" Kick
6",8",10" Roto Toms
14" x 6.5" Mapex Black Panther Snare
13" x 3" Pearl Piccolo Snare
Sabian: 13" Paragon Hats
14" HH X Hats
22" Paragon Ride
(2) 16" Paragon Crashes
20" Paragon Crash
18" Paragon Crash
20" Paragon Small Flange China
19" Paragon China
Wuhan:20"with gingles
8",10" Splash
Roc N Soc Lunar
DW 8002B Pedals
Tambourine
Cowbell
Sabian Squad
C C Militia
I never had the urge to go with double bass.I seen some pedals I liked and had the money so I bought them LOL I was in the market for a single pedal at the time but decided it was time to see if I was able to do double bass or not. I have some back problems so that could be part of my problem.I won't give up trying. I have actually tried using my left foot for the bass.I have a drop clutch (junk don't mess with them) on my hats so that frees up my left foot.
8pc Tama Superstar Classic Maple
Sabian and Zildjian Cymbals
8pc Tama Superstar Classic Maple
Sabian and Zildjian Cymbals
start playing your kick on the second note, then third, fourth. then start playing the first and second, second and third, third and fourth... just go through every possible pattern with your foot until you are playing every note.
you'd be surprised how much better you will get at everything just from practicing permutations like this.
Too Much Stuff.
^This is what I do along with hihat and snare. Moving permutations around on different beats and paradiddles w/ accents around the kit (including kick) is something I do every time I'm in practice mode. Sometimes it's only for a few minutes, most times longer and it's been paying off. As always, takes time.
Attitude is everything!
i sometimes wish i would've started with a double but the band is happy with me favoring single. I have the IC Cobra jr's and are great for the times that i use it but my bpm is like 20 lol no joke. Can't help it lol. My friend Aaron in BONZ plays a single and you'd swear he was shredding double but he likes single.
As others noted keep practicing and the power you want will come no doubt. I admire you double bass guys. It's a lot of work to do it well.
RDM/Damage Poets
UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
REGAL TiP
AQUARIAN
I don't know if it has been suggested yet. but run through Stick Control with your foot/feet instead of sticks. Hit the snare on the down beats. (probably will sound like a metal phrase)
-Steven
I bought my double pedal about a year into playing, I tend to play it more when I'm jamming by myself than I do with my band, but I still like having the ability. Right now I'm putting double bass on the back burner because I'm trying to increase the endurance on my right foot. In one of our faster songs I do a slow double bass bit that I'm trying to transition to just a right foot thing (and then fill in on the left at certain parts)
What I've always done is just practice to beats and songs. Occasionally I'll practice paradiddles or other variations, but I'm just in it for the music so I practice to music. I've gotten much better over time and can play songs I used to struggle to even attempt
I like doing the one Steve Smith suggested and I have been doing it for a few months now.
do 1 measure each of 16th notes (1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a) at a nice slow comfy speed and slowly add 2-3 bpm per week or every 2 weeks if need be.
1st measure heel toe
2nd measure heel up ( just toe from the ankle)
3rd measure heel toe
4th measure heel down
5th measure heel toe
6th measure flat footed but using the leg (no ankle)
I even play with one of the heel toe's and switch it to toe heel every now and then.
The goal is to try and make every note the same, no ghost notes or very hard hits. Do not worry about the speed and do not advance the speed if you cannot go through the exercise atleast twice at the same decibel of note on the BD. It's is not easy to make the 6th measure sound as low as the 4th..
Ludwig Classic Maple 22x16,10x8,12x9,16x16
7" Moon Gel Practice Pad
Sabian HHX Legacy
Decide whether this is love for the craft or simply an ego thing
http://www.redskymary.com/ NOT MY BAND, JUST A GREAT LOCAL BAND WHO SHOULD BE SOOO MUCH BIGGER IMO
i think its mind over matter in my opinion.
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