Heel Up Or Heel Down?

**amputechture** · 03-02-2007, 09:29 PM

what i dont understad is how you get the batter head off the bass drum in heel up. i've tries it and it'slike all your weight is on your feet. that actually slows me down

Ive heard this before.

Can any one explain to me why it's important to take the batter off the head in between beats because I know I never do it and it just doesn't make sense to me.

**funkymcstain** · 03-08-2007, 05:42 PM

the drum wont resonate properly if you dig into the head. and it is bad for the heads lifespan.

**hellsbells58** · 03-08-2007, 07:01 PM

Really?

I never knew that. I'm always tempted to leave the beater on the head if there's a long wait until the next bass drum hit. When I'm double kicking though, it's not such a problem.

Hmmm, might call for some technique alteration.

HB58

**CAM1027** · 03-08-2007, 08:14 PM

maybe for speed purposes, and i always play heel down, unless i do bombs on the drum.

**drummer** · 03-08-2007, 08:59 PM

Both. But I lean towards heel up. What's odd is that I played strictly heel down for many years. Then I changed halfway through and it was extremely hard to get used to playing heel up. Now I play that way mostly except for jazz, ballads or extremely light playing.

**vinnysimmo** · 03-09-2007, 07:50 AM

I play heeldown and barefoot. I dont find any other way comfortable.

**sethhover** · 03-09-2007, 03:30 PM

Heel up... I taught myself how to play and that just came naturally.

**amputechture** · 03-09-2007, 03:33 PM

Really when I taught myself heel down came naturally

now I play heel up though

**funkymcstain** · 03-09-2007, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by hellsbells58

Really?

I never knew that. I'm always tempted to leave the beater on the head if there's a long wait until the next bass drum hit. When I'm double kicking though, it's not such a problem.

Hmmm, might call for some technique alteration.

HB58

yeah really, or at least thats what a few pros have told me. i am with you tho. it is "propper" to bring the beater off the head but i hardly ever remember to. it is just natural to dig in.

**amputechture** · 03-09-2007, 03:46 PM

ya

I know I won't change

**funkymcstain** · 03-09-2007, 04:07 PM

it is really worse if you do it with a double pedal, learning on 2 kicks i would rest my left foot down when playing the right. if you do that on a single kick with dbl pedals it will kill your sound.