Need help with my Double bass (drum)

[ClaypoolFan22]

I have been playing drums for about 3 years now, but the most challenging technique that I find on drums is double bass drumming. I am decent with my single bass, but when it comes to double bass, I just suck. I cant seem to play twice as fast with my double bass as I do with my single bass.
I guess I need some advice as to how I can maximize comfort and quickness while "double-bassing". I got an Iron Cobra, and I've tried to set it up so its most comfortable and quick for me, but I still feel that there is still something I could do to make it "quicker". So, for all you drummers --- I really need some advice to improve my double bass drumming.

Some advices that my friends and drum teachers have given me that werent much help are: keep practicing, relax your feet/legs, and etc.

I need something fresh.

Thanks

[poppinfresh]

your trying to go as fast as possible too quickly.
start really slow. just to get some coordination going, i suggest doing that with a click. try doubles for a few minutes then do triples. then make it faster, not too much faster. You have to be patient with it.

i also suggest getting a teacher also and going through the book the encyclopedia of double bass drumming, its worked wonders for me.

[Kratos]

Here's a little workout to do every other day:

5 minutes of 16ths @ 70bpm
2 minutes of 16ths @ 80bpm
1 minute of 16ths @ 90bpm
30 seconds of 16ths @ 100bpm
10 seconds of 16ths @ 110bpm
Then as long as you can of 16ths @ 120bpm

Feel free to change up the metronome speeds, ie, 60 -> 65 -> 70 -> 75 -> 80, etc

Those speeds may be too slow or too fast for you. Find a workout that you are capable of completing WITHOUT FLUBS. Accuracy is more important with speed, because speed comes with practice. Increase the numbers after you complete one week of successful workouts (successful meaning you completed the workout each day and didn't run out of gas). Remember, raising the numbers before that isn't making you look badass -- you're only cheating yourself.

Doing that everyday may become more of a detriment to your playing because you're essentially breaking down the muscle tissue, and you'll need time for your legs to recup. Just do simple patterns, like rudiments, on the off days.

[spike9908]

You shouldn't be able to play twice as fast right off. One foot has 3 years more experience playing. It is 3 years stonger and faster than the other(figuritively).

Start by only using your weak foot for single bass stuff. Don't do any double bass stuff until your weak foot is stronger, and faster than it is now. Once there is a good amount of improvement, try double bass again and work on coordination of both feet for a while. Just sit there for 30 min. at a time trying to get your feet into a rhythem of alternating hits.

[CARMEN77]

Should one work on triplets?

[poppinfresh]

i think they create a pretty nice effect when used properly. it helps with coordiantion since your switching off feet also. i really like using tripets.

[Zildjian]

^^ Agreed triplets are sometimes bett than actual dubble bassin sometimes

[Drum Monkey]

Some advice that my friends and drum teachers have given me that werent much help are: keep practicing, relax your feet/legs, and etc.
That's the best advice. Yes, it does suck. Drumming can be like work sometimes, I don't know when I'll master heel-toe which I started today :rolleyes: Just practice. Control before speed.

-DM

[FockerTheLopper]

The same old stuff. Start slow, also practice even when you aren't on your kit. In school and your bored just start tapping with the balls of your feet on the ground.

[jalel]

Here's a little workout to do every other day:

5 minutes of 16ths @ 70bpm
2 minutes of 16ths @ 80bpm
1 minute of 16ths @ 90bpm
30 seconds of 16ths @ 100bpm
10 seconds of 16ths @ 110bpm
Then as long as you can of 16ths @ 120bpm

Feel free to change up the metronome speeds, ie, 60 -> 65 -> 70 -> 75 -> 80, etc

Those speeds may be too slow or too fast for you. Find a workout that you are capable of completing WITHOUT FLUBS. Accuracy is more important with speed, because speed comes with practice. Increase the numbers after you complete one week of successful workouts (successful meaning you completed the workout each day and didn't run out of gas). Remember, raising the numbers before that isn't making you look badass -- you're only cheating yourself.

Doing that everyday may become more of a detriment to your playing because you're essentially breaking down the muscle tissue, and you'll need time for your legs to recup. Just do simple patterns, like rudiments, on the off days.

Actually, doing something like that with a combination of rudiments and/or stick control everyday wouldn't hurt at all. It's drumming, not body building. I doubt his muscles are going to go through the stress that weight lifting would put them through. It would help to do that every day to better incorporate it into his muscle memory.

[Kratos]

Actually, doing something like that with a combination of rudiments and/or stick control everyday wouldn't hurt at all. It's drumming, not body building. I doubt his muscles are going to go through the stress that weight lifting would put them through. It would help to do that every day to better incorporate it into his muscle memory.


It's not good to do any sort of stressful workout (which that plan is) day after day -- even calisthenics, which is essentially what that double-kick workout is. Doing light work each day (rudiments, exercises) isn't going to hurt anything, but you can easily overload your legs by doing too much.