The One Kick Drum Technique That Will Solve (most of) Your Problems

[@sadaharu_tr]

Naah, i still got divorced.

[@Boyitellyouhwhat]

Lol

[@emontzka]

Let me guess - you two couldn’t agree on spring tension, right?

[@Ian_P]

The term you use; "playing clean" is the greatest lesson you've taught me. I've grown and developed so much because of that. Perfect sync(opation) of limbs, *clean"... All my practice revolves around this. I always had heard but never "got it" until you said that word and expanded on it. Thank you.

[@stkittsdave1]

Yeah, until I started recording my practices I didn’t realize how bad I was. Now I’m mediocre and I couldn’t be happier.

[@janetremsing6988]

Steve Gadd is the master at playing clean (& tasty!)! ALWAYS MUSICAL!! 👍🙂

[@janetremsing6988]

@@stkittsdave1 😂

[@drummermomcjs]

I have played drums for over 42 yrs and played heel down all those years. I was self-taught and it was all I knew. Recently I watched a video on foot technique and it was suggested that all drummers learn both. The explanation of the heel-up technique was the best I have seen and it made sense to me. So over the next few weeks, I started using heal up technique and it felt really awkward at first. I have some exercises that I do each morning and I forced myself to play heel up and day by day it became more comfortable. It has been about a month now and I am starting to use it in my impromptu playing as well. I have noticed difference in my pedal skill already. I am getting more comfortable at getting my pedals more into my playing. So, while I am still in the process of developing this skill, and I came a bit late to the party, nonetheless I am getting it and it is already improving my skill as a drummer overall..

[@markblanch2905]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4vblJ-cq812gM0

[@RexyFan]

You and me both. I’m self taught and my foot pedal control sucks. I’m here to improve. Day 1…. Wish me luck.

[@drummermomcjs]

@@RexyFan Consistent daily practice is key so I shall be excited to hear of your progress in the future. May your work bring much improvement.

[@koopalovetoast2409]

I have been drumming heel down for 10 years and I struggle a lot with any speed in the pedal.. So now I wanna learn as well.. Is there an update on you btw?

[@drummermomcjs]

@@koopalovetoast2409 Actually Yes. I have gotten more comfortable with heel up playing after doing bass drum exercises every morning for 30 minutes. I use heel up in certian playing situations and still play heel down much of the time. I have been learning how to rock my foot back and forth between the ball and heel on my hat pedal as well and it has been getting more confortable as well. :-) Slow steacy steps is the sure way to see lasting improvement for sure.

[@adamnealon773]

I had heard of that third kick exercise pattern from a drumeo masterclass and ended up writing a whole song around it

[@jimmiranda7181]

Been playing percussion since 1981 (congas, timbal, bongos, etc. I haven't sat behind a kit in almost 40 years. To mix things up a bit I put together a suitcase kit for the drummers that play at my home studio. Man, am I rusty behind the kit. The first thing to go is the coordination between the feet and hands. I found your channel a few years ago and have been a subscriber ever since knowing that one day I would pick it up again. Your content and page offer everything for every skill level. Clear and concise instruction with a step-by-step on "how to" and "why' with proven results. No more four on the floor for every song for me anymore.

[@jhamler1]

I love how there's a whole drumming community on KZbin that I'm addicted to. I'm sure guitarists and singers and plumbers have their own community, too, but... Ain't nobody got time for that.

[@bencausey]

As usual, EXCELLENT video on multiple levels...*concept of interest and practicality *humorous *creative editing *humility *the quirkiness of you. Thank you so much. I’ve always struggled with this issue as an on again/off again intermediate level drummer.

[@dontothepiano]

Man I am super happy that you took care of the drum sound in your videos, your feel translates so much better now

[@dontothepiano]

p.s. someone who talks about the kick playing from the hip and the ankles is Dave Elitch for example

[@julioortuzarmunoz13]

Thank great teacher!!! You are my inspiration, and a great musician!!!!

[@professoralexburnerofstone]

God I was literally thinking about how I needed a kick practice regiment yesterday, bless

[@NoOne-ye5jf]

I'm not even a drummer but I love watching these. I sometimes try to transfer some of these exercises to comparable issues on the guitar, I always find that they improve my rhythm quite a lot.

[@kotukuwhakapiko467]

🤣

[@360.Tapestry]

if nothing else, all musicians should learn about time signatures and subdivisions and work on good timekeeping, in the event an instrument must lead or solo

[@gcorriveau6864]

As an oooooold guy working to get some rusty skills back ... I always enjoy your style and find the tips and coaching very helpful. Thanks! for sharing.

[@camerontaylor1255]

Thank you ! I'm a guitar player but like to play some drums for fun. (I'm a complete hack :) ) I had 2 problems with kick pedal - loss of balance and accidental ghost notes. I feel like such a newbie 'cause my major take-away from this was "You can adjust the pedal tension?!" playing around with this for two minutes fixed those problems.. I learn heaps from your channel and appreciate the no nonsense delivery of useful information.

[@Frenkel111]

Lol I'm also a guitar player and just started the drums for fun, and what I got from this video is also the spring tension adjustment 😆

[@stuartsmith5146]

35 year drummer here. Been working in a Univ. dance Dept for 20 yrs. - 1) Muscle groups: gross motor and “quick-twitch”. Big muscles (hamstring/quads/“calf”) are slow, tiny muscles in feet are fast. 2) Muscles only contract or release. It takes more conscious effort to release muscles. Constantly engaged muscles are tired muscles. 3) Dropping weight. Familiarity of just how heavy YOUR leg is. Use gravity. There’s just so much here that can’t possibly fit in a U2b comment. 👍🏼love your videos!

[@benstray3129]

Great man, feel like I got a personalised lesson! No more tension complaints from now on

[@tedstuff2039]

Sipping on coffee as I start my workday while watching your intro is the best part of my Thursdays

[@aaronmaughan7453]

Dave Elitch is your man. He teaches all of this in detail

[@ericiidx]

Thank you for saying things such as "it took me a few years to..." it really helps put things into perspective when I'm feeling like I'm making no progress, "only" a month into practicing particular techniques (especially regarding the secondary foot when playing double bass.)

[@rasm0225]

3:52 “smooth transition of power” he says early Jan 2021. Nice.

[@8020drummer]

Disclaimer - this was written and recorded Fri, Jan 1.

[@hadojin210]

This is so funny

[@cafe.cedarbeard]

I can dig it. I did heel down for the first little bit of my deep dive into drumming, but just in the last two days discovered the things you mention where lifting to heel up allows my ankle more easy freedom of motion from having a greater range of motion before hyper extension of my ankle joint.

[@jakeloranger1419]

Thanks Nate. Interesting take. A few years ago I started using a technique I learned from Modern Drummer (unfortunately I don't remember who wrote that lesson). Anyway, it's basically heel up, not too high, but after the last note the heel rests on the heel plate. This allows the beater to come off the head, getting a nice powerful full sound out of the drum. It also releases any tension in the foot, ankle or leg. I also found it helped me maintain my balance. I've seen Jojo Meyer use this technique.

[@MarioBellTattoos]

I’ve been struggling lately. This helped tremendously. Thank you.

[@patrickmclaughlind.c.7141]

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time/effort to adding transcription to your video. Nice touch.

[@blakenunndrums]

Phenomenal video! Developing that foot control can take some work! Heel up, all the way. Thanks for the lesson! Happy drumming, everybody!

[@fabianschreck4393]

Jojo talks a lot about his sliding tecknique which is based on heel up but the back of your foot adds a second note. He´s basically playing doubles. And the beatdown shoutout was dope btw

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Great lesson on an oft overlooked aspect of drumming. 😀👉🏼🥁

[@charlesavino8826]

I have been heel up since 1966 when I was 9. I totally get feeling off balance, but it is almost always when I use my DW 9000 pedal, it's just too stiff for me. I found if I wear my old loafers instead of my usual sneakers I'm ok with it. Back in the 80's when I gigged weekly I found I could do doubles on boogie blus tunes all night long with a Speedking or my trusty old DW pedal. My foot would be just past half up the pedal and it would be automatic, no thinking at all! Love your stuff, especially your attitde and humor!!!! Thanks.

[@Therealadriaanvisser]

Nice video, good tips and refreshing approach. Thanks for making and sharing it with the webz

[@caffeineadvocate]

When talking foot dynamics, I find it helpful to try and keep the dynamic of the ride constant instead of matching the BD.

[@8020drummer]

So do I! That's what I was trying to do, even if I was failing 🤣

[@freeman7079]

I grew up around drummers who beat the poop out of their kits. I find your style of playing almost mesmerizing. I’d totally watch an hour long video of you just riffing to some improv jazz or something!

[@benbenpotato]

3:27 SONG?!?!?!

[@VouVouVou_music]

"Samsonite....I was way off"

[@Jerry_England1]

Love the jazz tune you referenced, really cool tune!

[@richardjhgraham]

That is a sweet sounding kit.

[@nedpotterdrums]

Also in the ‘problems you don’t know you have’ category - I found I literally couldn’t play the hats heal down (Peter Erskine advocates being able to do both, and I realised I only ever played hats heal up) and it was because I was sitting too close to the hats and indeed to the drums generals. My leg / foot just didn’t work bending that many times. So I sat further away from the kit and moved the kick and hats away a bit and it really helped with a lot of other stuff as well as the original problem.

[@noahlaizer7434]

I just noticed this playing today. I always played heel up and figured i'd try it flat just for the hell of it and I had to back up a bit and just kinda did one of those "oh well no shit, you just never really think about it" moments

[@ddrum1090]

Fun fact! Tomas had to change his technique when learning that song to playing lighter on the kick w/ more ankles for better accuracy and endurance. On the other songs, he sticks with his full, hammered in, bury the beater approach.

[@mark52111]

excellent video. there is no shortcut to developing good kick drum chops.

[@mondaymorningtango4795]

great tips i am going to use this info to improve my weak foot on the kit

[@juanfichtl2011]

I saw something similar in a drumeo video on the Moeller technique applied to the kick and hihat, very good tutorial

[@JUSTNEWi]

this absolutely makes sense, thank you !

[@aaronbones4290]

The hip usage works everywhere Even in martial arts... Use hip and baaaaaam a blast of power.. using the weight as an advantage ❤️❤️ I've seen jojo talked about it on a video too about using the hip

[@FredMinville]

I’ve never been able to play heel down, heel up on front part of my foot, ( no shoes ) always ...I like these lessons thank you

[@flyingsplice]

been having trouble with my weak foot playing double kick lately I'm gonna try to start practicing these with both feet thanks man solid lesson!

[@FusionHowie]

Love your channel THANK YOU ! One person comes to mind in regards to bass drum precision , speed ,dynamics .....Virgil Donati! Peace from Detroit MI.

[@mjjames2442]

Thanks! Love this one

[@anthonydratnal1870]

Having the intro roll back at the start feels so much better!

[@glennhealy929]

Excellent education as always.

[@dennisgrogg9527]

I used to play by keeping my beater on the bass drum head. Later, my coach broke me of this habit and said it kills any resonance you could have from the bass drum. Thank you for your help, Dennis G Safford AZ

[@bloodmoney88]

Thanks for your show, good stuff. I've always played this way, I thought about putting my heel down, tried it but hated it compared to what you're showing. I can't work out how people get any speed at all heel down, I'll easily concede my experience will of course not likely be many others experience.

[@jonhattanrai]

I use heel down for quiet notes and for releasing the beater and I use heel up moving the entire leg from the hip, the knee, the ankle and the toes, just like with the hands, for the louder notes.

[@ajmac7707]

Thanks for validating the heel up method. Any experienced drummer should be able to play both ways. I appreciate your page. Always on point.

[@doublestrokeroll]

I had a teacher who insisted that I play heal down when learning but all the drummers I liked were heal up players so I also learned that way too. Now I do both. Somethings feel better heal down and somethings feel better heal up. Just depends on what I want. But, I think drummers who starting out should probably try to play heel down for one important reason. Not burying the beater. Heal up can cause many people to bury the beater against the head. I know may will say that's OK to do, but it's at best limiting and more probably just simply bad technique. Like not being able to bounce a stick. Complete beater control should be the goal so you can do whatever you want when needed. Heel down is much much easier to control the beater and learn to bounce it. Once you have that feeling it's easier to apply it to heal up. Tommy Igoe said something to effect of "If you're burying the beater because that's the effect you want then fine, but if you're burying the beater because you don't know HOW to bounce it?....well...." that's just bad technique.

[@sideshowdrummer]

I got a little burnt out on your channel but I'm back. And I see you're at a new studio

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Heel up definitely helped me out a long time ago............also, a nice Camco(1983) Chain-drive pedal works wonders! Great video!

[@greganderson3096]

Great video again. I really appreciate what you are doing on your channel. I've learned a ton from them even though I play bass not drums. I have a small nit-picky suggestion. Feel free to ignore it obviously. When you speak into your stereo XY mic at close range if you move just a bit from side to side your voice moves around wildly in the stereo space, especially if wearing headphones. Maybe don't pan the two signals so widely for that mic. Other than that keep up the good work.

[@wendyscher2957]

Love it! Thank you for this. I was taught to use both techniques and have defaulted to heel-up when I need more power. But my technique has been lax, and I often lose circulation in my foot, so I know I can do better!

[@mattydread6618]

Also check the placement of your high hat stand. Sometimes changing that will also help with your balance.

[@yahhteebockity]

There's an 80/20 drinking game? Tell me more!

[@rasm0225]

This needs to happen. Next survey post.

[@rodneyvandenoever]

4 beers, 1 water, repeat?

[@jabezscratch]

Good video with some nice insights about an important topic for drummers. Heel up or down seems to be equivalent to the traditional vs. matched grip debate: no easy or perhaps right answer, only what is right for each individual drummer. For me, heel up seems to feel more natural and ergonomic. Heel down has always felt awkward and unnatural. I just remember Dave Weckl saying that he sits on the very edge of the drum seat to get the most torque and flexibility in playing the bass pedal(s).

[@Fentonyl]

There are various videos of Goerge Kollias (super fast death metal drummer, plays blast beats with one foot too) explaining how his foot technique works, which is sorta about the different tempos you'd play requiring different motions, but going through his 16 week speed and control workout for double bass is helpful for transitioning between hip and ankle motions. The principle could probably be reworked pretty easily to be for single bass drum. Just in case anyone's looking to investigate bass drum further or see how the other half lives haha

[@MideosVideos]

Every word you said is 100% correct.... Bravo

[@Ian_P]

Nate... I gave you money for your course and I'm happy to do so. Why do I mention this? A. It's videos like this, (and others) that matter to invested drum set players. Thanks man. 👍🙂🥁

[@jangugerell8084]

omg thanks so much for that video, you explained that sooo well :)) this is helping so much already!! PS: i know this video is old but i still thought i should comment so he might see that people still watch and appreciate those videos very much :) seeing as it helps a ton because i struggle DEEPLY with my bass drum foot (especially tripplets are hell for me)

[@reh331]

Great lesson as always, Nate. You spoke of imbalance on the throne with heel-down, which I found oddly interesting as the heel down establishes an anchor point. I've always found it very difficult to find balance when playing heel-up patterns while riding and playing HH patterns with my LF. Core strength issue? (yet I've seen some pretty out of shape player doing heel up on both feet just fine)

[@drummer7tama]

I have the same problem. I feel as though I'm going to topple over playing heel up.

[@darrenmalbut8499]

Sweet video, thank you!

[@mativeron]

Master thank you for this video!!! All your videos are very helpful and I am grateful! One question... which ride is the one you are using? Thank you!!

[@Jzizzythefirst]

I'm going to have to learn how to do that slightly early first note on the double deliberately. There's a fun shuffle beat in there.

[@randydoak6638]

That's exactly what I thought. That's a hip feel.

[@ziggysanderson]

Good lesson! Thomas Lang has spoke about pedal technique in several of his videos/clinics and specifically he speaks of both rudiments with feet and playing hands and feet together. Might have been his Creative Control dvds. But really I question his playing :)

[@maqirama]

3:45 someone with the name Marthyn Jovanovic. He always talk about stuffs like this, kick technique using hip flexor...ankle and stuffs.

[@rtod4]

For a given spring tension, there's a sweet spot for doubles, another for triplets, put your toe there and you use the rebound for the next stroke.

[@chriskiefer7493]

Your snare sounds so good!

[@zagadape109]

9:23 - what a snare sound! Pozdro666

[@ikem4214]

Absolute top drumming technique and theory KZbinr

[@Doublebasist]

Great video. I have a terribly weak bassdrum foot so great to have something to work on. 10 out of 10. 5 stars.

[@stratmister009]

Thanks for this lesson/tips are great. What I notice immediately is that the heel up technique is digging the beater into the head on all strokes. Do you agree that heel down enables more control over release of the beater from the head, or can you do either way with heel up technique?

[@jagermu]

Couple things, 1. Agree with Martin - shout out to Rob, very cool! 2. Might be beneficial to talk about the combo ankle, hip technique. almost like Moeller for feet. 3. I play electronic now so as to keep my family life sane, but the chipped hi-hat reminds me of days past where I drilled out quite a few cymbals because I loved the sound and could not part with them. Even buying the exact same brand and size same sound. There's a tip there about drilling out the crack to stop it from from progressing me thinks. :)

[@jonnymoka]

Nate luv the extra ghost note in the triple

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

Great job.....i sometimes nail my doubles bt not always...recently started playing the same pattern as a jazz swing thing but with the kick..single/double or double single...as a 'foot' note..why do we play well one day and garbage the next lol

[@yodathehutt1557]

When I was younger like 17 I was getting knee pain really bad when playing. Went to a drum school to see if they could help me, I was sitting too close. Needed to back up a bit. 90° degree angle with the legs

[@hillie47]

Yup, back and throne up helped me out a bunch too. Plus avoiding burying the beater in the head with full force trying to get louder helped me a bunch too. That allowed me to get better control and speed up as well.

[@rondeangelis7384]

For spring tension to your weight, heel down , press footboard until the beater just touches the head. If applying to much pressure then vack off the tension until it feels good

[@gustavojavier2353]

Thanks! ..you hit all of my current challenges on the Kick 🥲

[@danstrachan]

I’m digging the ESP shirt!

[@reinerbohme6614]

Nice little lesson. I have been playing for approximately 25 years and still have not mastered the kick pedal. I don't know if having been shot in my right foot by a .22 cal. bullet had an effect but... What I am trying to accomplish right now is, 1. how far from the head should the mallet be before I actually kick it? , 2. What kind of tension should I have on the pedal in order to be successful with good hits on the head?, 3. how tight or lose should the bass head tension be in order to get the right response and sound out of the bass drum?

[@paisteformula6021]

1:22 and has brushes love it!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@scottvelardo700]

Since you asked who talks about this, Steve Smith’s Drumset Technique and History of the US Beat DVD set addresses bass drum pedal techniques nicely. And yes, Jojo Mayer’s Secret Weapons 2 is all about pedal technique.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

And rather than sell you one technique or another, Jojo teaches you all of them so you decide for your own which works better, rather than convincing yourself that one technique can do everything.

[@oskirp]

At 8:00 it's not triplets, but two 16ths and an 8th, isn't it?

[@juliojauregui8839]

Yes, exactly. Those are not triplets.

[@TimVoigt-l8q]

Note:: Please ignore my kick question left on a different video. This installment covers what I needed. Thanks for your insight and talent!

[@pocojoyo]

4:54 I didnt hear anything about the kick pedal spring tension. It was all about foot technique... or did I miss something ?

[@achilleuscoronel6466]

Seat height would be the most important for me. When my knee would be less than 90 deg. because it's not my kit and the throne cannot be adjusted high enough, I'd be forced to do heel down which burns out the tibialis anterior (shin muscle)---if the spring is not tight enough to push my foot back up. If you force yourself to do heel up, the thigh muscle will instead burn out, for trying to lift the entire leg to keep the heel off the floor. But if the throne is round (not anatomical) and too high---you'll get cramps. The throne is king!

[@codersexpo1580]

@1:20 I LOMAO. Seriously though as light as your touch how the hell do you have so many broken cymbals!!? Thanks for the tips/chat! I gots ta get in on the 80/20 drinking game ;-)

[@cdecent]

Your bass drum sounds beautiful.

[@megaforse]

That snare sound!

[@DeluxeTriple]

Is hideous

[@kiddynamite3931]

Ya know you're right about technique, but something strange happened through the years. When I didn't think about my foot, it worked great for years. One bad night, and I started thinking about my foot. It really set me back. The more relaxed I am the better my foot works. Oh shit Rob just said it

[@willsabol8391]

I had the exact opposite experience. I have no volume control playing heel up. I also have no TONE control, or rebound control. Suspending the entire weight of my leg inches above the ground just so I can feather a bass drum is just excruciating - it literally can't do it. Heel down solves all these problems for me. It's good enough for Purdie, good enough for me.

[@tomtrottersdrumsesh3688]

Perhaps you were sitting too low, higher throne works better for heel up. That way you aren't so much suspending your leg in the air, it's hanging down from from the throne.

[@willsabol8391]

@@tomtrottersdrumsesh3688 I sit on a rock n soc, and it’s always as high as it’ll go. I’ll do heel up if I’m playing load, or doing heel toe stuff, but for regular volume or quieter, it’s all heel down.

[@modernexistence4206]

Strengethen your hip flexors

[@a.j.wilkes6352]

Thought provoking for something I haven't given much thought, I suppose since I have not shared in the complaints. So the right foot is always slightly elevated and left foot is heel down on the hihat pedal for balance? Does this mean double bass players are sitting with feet off the floor?

[@80sruler]

Thanks Boss

[@timcooper5613]

I use a roller skate case (accidental delivery) for my kick pedal. It’s the perfect shape!

[@Neal_Schier]

For some reason that beat at the 10:28 mark reminds me of Tangerine Dreams Dr. Destructo from the Thief soundtrack. Good stuff 👍

[@jeffreyhyder2429]

I like the spring tension pretty low. I can feel the weight and power of the beater this way. I only put enough spring tension so that the pedal is not "lazy" on the return swing. Any more tension than that and I feel like it's just robbing energy on the down stroke.