Bass Drum Technique Check-In

Before we dive into the next set of examples, let’s take a moment to check in with you about your bass drum technique.

Reflection on Techniques

You’ve had a chance to play some bass drum exercises. Now, you may have tried:

• Heel Down Technique: This technique involves keeping your heel on the bass drum pedal board, with your foot not lifting off at all.

• Heel Up Technique: If you've experimented with this, you might have been burying the beater.

Burying the Beater

Burying the beater means leaving the beater of the bass drum pedal on the bass drum head. This results in a slightly deader sound, where the bass drum doesn’t resonate as much. Essentially, it stops the note when you play it.

This sound would resemble:

[Sound Example of Burying the Beater]

However, the downside for me is that it can put considerable pressure on the knee after a while. Personally, I don’t use this technique, although many players I admire do.

Finding What Works for You

As always, I encourage you to:

• Find the sound you like.
• Discover what feels comfortable for you.

If you experience any pain, I recommend stopping that particular technique.

Proximity to the Kit

Another factor that can affect our bass drum technique is our proximity to the kit:

• Sitting too far away: This might cause you to reach more to play the bass drum, affecting your comfort and speed.

• Sitting too closely: This can affect how much weight is applied to the pedal.

Tip: Find a comfortable position; perhaps a neutral stance where you feel balanced and not leaning too much in any direction.

Combination of Techniques

As mentioned, I use a combination of heel down and heel up. For example:

• First Note: Played with the toes.
• Second Note: The whole foot lands on the pedal.

You can also achieve a kind of swivel effect, which many players I admire utilize.

Conclusion

To summarize, there’s no definitive right or wrong in bass drum techniques. What's "wrong" only pertains to whether it's causing you pain or discomfort.

Ultimately, do what feels best for you!