George Kollias: Odyssey of Double Bass Drumming, Lesson 2

George Kollias presents the second lesson in a series of what will be a journey into the Double Bass Drumming world... Well known as one of the leaders of Extreme Metal Drumming, George Kollias remains at the top of today's Metal scene and goes way beyond that with the book series "The Odyssey of Double Bass Drumming".
In this lesson, George demonstrates several fundamental exercises aimed at linking the right hand and the right foot.
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[@gamerdareswins2825]

Best drummer ever.

[@ValknutGaming]

This actually helped me to develop melodies instead haha! As he was playing, i was just making up a melody that went along with the beat.

[@TheSunMoon]

I LOL'ed when he said "double time" and starts "running" on the pedal! Crazy guy, in a way of a wonderful drummer.

[@FernandoArouche]

what awesome pedal beater!

[@xRamZx]

Can I just have his feet?

[@TheFourBrothers18]

Ramsey L i call his ankles

[@panzerwaffen2873]

Damn that bass drum sounds perfect

[@EricJh21690]

Of course it will when you have triggers and it's recorded in studio..that sound is a refined sound of what the actual bass drum itself sounds like

[@azathoth0820]

is he using triggers?

[@FernandoArouche]

+Grove Back sounds very clean the double bass sound, i think yes

[@robertmilkshake1013]

Definitely sounds like a blend of a natural (but compressed) mic'ed bass drum and a trigger sound.

[@daviddavidson6289]

What alien mind does a person need to do this, hahaha... GJ.

[@YodaMan-420]

i have axis pedals but my springs dont get this tight. is there more than one kind of axis spring?

[@griffman78]

the microtune device makes the springs go even tighter. definately worth investing in if you really want tighter springs.

[@warrenoids]

And the Heavy Duty spring.

[@spercoco]

I have a couple of kits that have two bass drums and I just started trying double bass drumming recently. I'm ambidextrous and can play any kit righty or lefty but I am finding out it's probably a BAD thing to be ambidextrous as a double bass player. Any suggestions?

[@psyken_2321]

Not necessarily. Personally I don't find it important for the left foot to follow the right. Actually being ambidextrous is an inherent advantage to drumming and it's a big practice point for many left/right handed players. What's important, whether following left, right or neither, is to keep in time and control. I can play 230bpm blast beats one-footed with both my left and right foot, alternating between them sometimes, and sometimes just playing using both. It's not that difficult for me but might be for others.

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Agreed. Ambidexterity is a huge advantage. Check out GKs instructional series on the Drum Guru app. He does most things with L and R playing together and opposing. (Kolias probably covers same on the instructional video advertised above but I am only familiar with Double Bass 1, 2 and 3 from the Drum Guru app and can HIGHLY recommend it)

[@phammoura1]

It's never a bad thing to be ambidextrous. Just expand on what your body is telling you to do. Learn from everyone but don't let the details of technique bog you down. There are no rules.

[@c0xb0x]

lol he was late on the snare @ 2:32

[@michaseals81]

Okay, he was just showing off that last part. lol

[@kskslslslsoooao]

Sigh. Double base drum videos come in two flavors. 1) simple and slow exercises 2) beast mode. None of those really help. I mean, who can't come up with exercises like the above? What lacks in this particular video is some instruction on how to swivel those feet during fast tempos. Now that would be a help. How to practice swiveling. How to know when you are doing it right and when you are doing it wrong.

[@STIXAHOY]

Play sambas with the bass drum using your left foot .....and clave and baiao rhythms......that helped me out a lot

[@KianF]

This vid is for complete beginners i think. He has other videos on his ankle motion technique but he’s said that his “swivel” just happens naturally and helps him keep time. Notice he swivels differently on each foot. But i agree, some vids are more just showing off and others are so slow that anyone could do it.

[@dimkikaqua]

Η ΠΡΟΦΟΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΤΣΙΠΡΑ

[@charshii3745]

This is a video on double bass drumming. Please show his feet more. That’s all we’re here for. We’re not here to see him play 8th notes on the hi hat

[@AmbrosiousFlume]

I've been playing double bass about everyday for the past two months, and my slow tempos are cleaning up but I simply can't get comfortable enough to push the tempo any faster. It's really frustrating. *Shrug* Maybe I just need more time... :(

[@sammyloehnis3373]

It's been 3 years since you posted your comment, but my number one tip will always be to listen to fast music, try your best to play along, and even if it's way ahead of you, if you practise a certain song every day for two weeks, provided that you're comfortable with your hand and foot technique, you'll get there. It's very rare that you'll ever even need to change your technique; I still use the stomp technique at 220bpm, and only use my ankles from then upwards. Keep trying

[@AmbrosiousFlume]

Sammy Loehnis thanks for the input. I still practice about 4-5 times a week. I can play faster, but my progress is very slow. I haven’t changed my technique, I just aim for cleanliness and comfort. I clearly won’t be in a tech death metal band, but I can play blast beats. Life is good.

[@sammyloehnis3373]

@@AmbrosiousFlume Good to hear, keep at it

[@MrPercussionPete]

It's funny, but at 4:05 George starts playing "double time" as he calls it. This is what fast double bass drumming is all about. You would expect him to explain thoroughly and explicitly the motion, the physical activity in the lower leg and foot that makes it possible to execute this funny movement, in which the feet seem to go from right to left. But he doesn't. It makes this "tutorial" worthless. It's exactly what most "tutorials" on KZbin are like: Show off demonstrations.

[@jeffwarren6520]

pretty sure this is a video about "right foot leading double bass patterns", not a bass drum foot technique tutorial. makes sense that you got nothing out of the video if you weren't even aware what the lesson was about lol

[@potteras99]

Wish there were lessons in Greek for us poor fellas too. But I can't complain, you're awesome💜 Also, I'm saving up money to buy my own drumset, how can I practice until then? Any tips anyone??

[@gearheadproductions3236]

air drumming!!!! play like you have a kit in front of you. as long as you can do that you shouldn't have a problem!

[@tcadrumgod]

What kind of beaters are those?

[@bdubzdrumz]

Chris Acker Vic Firth vickick beaters

[@pablojavierrodriguezgomez5764]

What drum pedal beater is used in this video? is wood or felt?

[@gianissanofagos1014]

καλη χρονια γιωργο μαθαινουμε απο εσενα εισαι ο δασκαλος μας

[@רבידנ-י5ק]

Amazing Sound And Groove

[@owengillett8871]

14 people are incorrect

[@mendesAl17]

Brasil 2018 #baterianamarra

[@john.k1021]

Master!