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Pedal Pondering

by Michael Green

The feet so far away from the brain... maybe this is why they can be the last thing drummers think about when it comes to really focusing on developing control, dexterity, and speed. Then again, I've also known drummers that have worked tirelessly at playing double bass patterns and seem to neglect the hands. Maybe we should be more focused on balance between the two entities. After all, what good are magical hands and stubborn feet? and vice versa.

For this issue of Percussion Sessions I thought I would present a simple bass drum workout that focused on endurance, dexterity and precision. Let's talk about technique for a second here. There are several things to consider in relation to the bass drum pedal. Do you want to play heels down or heels up? Don't be restricted by the notion that heels down is for softer jazz musicians and that heels up is only for heavy hitters. Billy Cobham—for instance—an extremely powerful player who commands plenty of double bass drum chops plays heels down. I, personally, use a combination of heels down and heels up. You need to explore all of you options, experiment, and develop the technique that best suits your own sound and style. However, there are a few things you'll want to be mindful of and a few more things that you'll want to avoid.

1. Be mindful of balance: Try to maintain your center/core no matter what you are playing.
2. Be mindful of coordination: The limbs are not independent but work together as one.
3. Avoid tension in the toes: The toes are not going to contribute a significant amount of energy.
4. Avoid tension in the knee: Any pain in the knee can lead to serious damage. The knee is not a muscle!
5. Be mindful of the quadriceps and the calve muscles: These are the guys that do all the work.
6. Relax! Relax! Relax!: Muscle memory, which is what we are trying to develop here, is developed by controlled, deliberate motions.

On to the exercise. The hands are doing a very simple pattern so they don't take the focus away from the bass drum foot. Make sure you stop and focus on the measures that you find challenging. Then you can vary how many repeats you do on each measure. Start with a couple and then increase the number of times you repeat as your endurance increases. For variations, try adding the hi-hat foot on beats "2" and "4"; "1" and "3"; and then "1 2 3" and "4". Then you could try playing eighth notes on the cymbal.

I hope that this article has been informative and fun. Feel free to email comments to me at michaeldrums@gmail.com

Best wishes,
Michael