How do you play your bass pedal?

[Dan the Speakerman]

This is just one of those newbie questions so I can get a feel for what REAL drummers do :^)

I could not find any info on this in the search engine...

Do most of you play with your heel resting on the pedal or with your heel in the air and the front part of your foot doing the work?

Advantages/disadvantages to each?

I seem to wind up with my heel off the pedal more often than not.

Thanks!

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www.mp3.com/entrylevel

[redman]

I use both depending on what I am trying to do .



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~REDMAN~

[snared]

Simply put redman! I do the same. It just depends on how you feel like kickin' the pedal. For me it was a matter of what music I was playing and whether or not I was playing double bass. For double bass I usually play "heels up". However, now that I have e-drums I mostly play "heels down". Maybe because of the different feel of the mesh head.

I don't know. Do what feels best for you.

[digitsone]

hey dan -

in my opinion, if you are raising the "heel up" or "heel down" issue then you qualify as a real drummer. drummers love to debate this topic.

really, it's a matter of personal preference although people will argue that one way is better then the other. typically, playing heel down allows the beater to come off more quickly and allow the bass head to resonate more, whereas in playing heel up you normally leave the beater against the head and muffle the drum.

my only advice would be that, for me at least, playing heel down on v-drums is slightly advantageous because you are much less likely to inadvertently retrigger a bouncy mesh head. all the muffling here happens in the brain.

[Dan the Speakerman]

Interesting responses so far...thanks!

Technique issues come up a lot at the bass guitar forums I hang out in, too. "Where do you like to position your plucking hand, forward at the neck or back at the bridge?" "Do you like to use fingers or a pick?"

I'm seeing that, just like with those bass questions, it's a preference thing (or situational thing), with no "THIS is THE only correct way!" paradigm. Cool.

I'd like to continue to hear your thoughts on this pedal issue! I might start up a new thread occasionally with similar playing questions, if you all don't mind sharing your knowledge

>in my opinion, if you are raising the "heel up" or "heel down" issue then you qualify as a real drummer<

Thanks! I might go fishing for that compliment again once I can get all four limbs to do different things....and in TIME!

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www.mp3.com/entrylevel

[This message has been edited by Dan the Speakerman (edited September 30, 2001).]

[MPCman]

I play heel down 97% of the time. It feels like I'm having more control then, but that's probably also because I'm used to it.

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http://mpcman.flappie.nl

[Jgel]

When I was starting out, I always played heel down, but now that I play a lot of double bass, it is heel up and play with the toe. There is no way that one could get the same speed with the hear down....

[mcconaghy]

Heel up, with my toes placed about halfway up the pedal footboard, where the pivot point is.

Stu

[dr. kildrum]

For years it was drilled into me to play heel(s) down. Bollocks! I only play heels down nowadays for certain more laid back stuff...and I only wear shoes playing live (sometimes), never in a studio and never ever at home. There is something to be said for training yourself to not bury the beater, especially a must on acoustics, otherwise, let your comfort be your guide as well stated above.

[Steveo the Devo]

Up and down depending on style and feel of music being played.

[ufotofu]

I was under the impression that heel-up gives you more power, while heel-down gives you more control. But as others have said, it's mostly a preference thing. Personally I feel more comfortable with heel-down.

[snared]

I think either can give you more control depending on what you are playing, how fast, etc.

[Drooling Dog]

Heels down on really soft stuff, heels up for everything else. You might find some of the exercises on my Web site useful. They're geared toward building the non-dominant foot (for double-bass players), but the same principles apply to the dominant foot. Especially for beginners.
http://www.ddogs.net/docs/scottmusic/index.cfm

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Drooling Dog

[snared]

My problem is trying to get used to playing with the mesh heads as opposed to accoustic bass drum heads. I can't seem to play anything with my heals up anymore. Like you said Drooling Dog, heals down for realy soft stuff heals up for everything else. So with my heals down I can't play with any consistency as with accoustic heads. I've only had my e-kit for a few weeks, so I guess it just takes time and practice to get used to it.

[Drooling Dog]

snared,

You nailed it. It does take time and practice. In the end, you'll appreciate it. I play on 3 different pad types with 3 different types of pedals. As a result, I can sit behind just about any drum set and feel comfortable with the pedals.

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Drooling Dog