Heel Toe Bass Drum Technique - James Payne

The Heel-Toe is a great technique for speed, double strokes but also to work on the ankle motion, control and dyniamc. Let's break it down and learn exactly how to play this technique and make it part of our arsenal of weapons to use on drums!
Check out jamespaynedrums.com for the full course with video lessons, scores and workout PDFs, metronome audios, free Skype lessons and Video Questions to study with me!
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[@defregano]

The “real deal” heel-toe explanation

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I'm glad it was helpful!!

[@simonnathan2065]

about time someone fucking explained this clearly. Thank you!

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Ahah! Glad the video is clear man!

[@marcrusso1518]

​@JamesPayneDrums nothing about heel toe has made any sense until this video! Now I understand what every other video was saying AFTER you demonstrated it perfectly. I'm already doing it and I didn't even finish the video🤯

[@drumlabtaipei]

Well explained! Thanks for sharing this.

[@galwaytribesman9289]

Out of all the videos on youtube this is by far the best instructional video on the heel toe. I had it after a few minutes even though I'm sloppy but I now have the jist of it. Thank you man.

[@narrowway3532]

This video is really helpful... Thanks man

[@yaroslavfomenko2803]

Great lesson, thank you so much 👏

[@ibaicalledrummer]

Very good vídeos !!!Thanks You very much😉

[@rmrfboy]

hey mate, just discovered your channel. thank you for sharing your knowledge. its really helping me. and you teach in details! thank you again.

[@ConstantineJajas]

I rarely comment but damn. You really have total control, understanding and exercise clear communication on all the topics that you cover. Kudos

[@pitbullpitbull2357]

James i saw many videos of diffrent drummers. But i saw something diffrent in your teaching. You are the greatest of all. Thank, s a lott. I keep following you.

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@krisztianfarkas7068]

hands down best video ever on heel toe. Thank you!

[@luciocastagna9068]

Great explanation man, thx a lot 🤟🤟

[@aonghasshearer-boyd6617]

Great tutorial! thanks for the upload

[@JamesPayneDrums]

You're very welcome!

[@MsHadak]

Best teacher 👍👍👍👍

[@McGeeeeesees]

Incredibly comprehensive explanation

[@dmitrykotikov6827]

Awesome!!!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Brilliant.

[@Magicdoor8348]

Thank you bro

[@enzomorales9001]

Una de las muchas tecnicas difinitivas !!! :D

[@44tank44]

A very good explanation on this technique, thanx for that. Do you use or do you feel your shin muscle while you playing it ? Or do the Ankle the work with the motion out of your calfes ?

[@isaquehs]

Man!!!! thanks so much!

[@JamesPayneDrums]

You're very welcome man, glad the video was helpful!

[@gonzajuarez4918]

Dude I think I owe all my techniques to you. I always start to learn a technique by watching your videos, and when I feel stuck I rewatch them cause you always give important advices that someone who has never tried the technique wouldn't understand how important that advice is until she/he struggles with the technique while learning it (like not kicking the pedal or going full range of motion for certain speeds cause if you don't you won't have any range to shorten to go for a faster speed)... Great videos, greetings from Argentina

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I'm super glad to hear that man! Yes, that's why my videos are so long, I explain many details that all made a big difference for me and many of my students, I'm happy people are understanding how important they are! Keep up the good work!

[@Greenfieldlawncare]

Absolutely great video. Thanks for sharing your talent.

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Glad you liked the video man, you're very welcome!

[@enzomorales9001]

Me da una motivacion a full saber que existen tantas tecnicas geniales en cada instrumento

[@systemofadrumming6873]

Well explain

[@brianmastel8575]

damn bro. good explination. thanks for the help

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Thanx man, glad you liked it!

[@bacobill]

This is great information.. Just as I am getting the hang of the Push/Pull technique I will begin this one also.. This one could be tricky because I have been heel-up for over 50 years but hey I will still be a beginner when I've been playing for another 50.. yikes!

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Hell yeah, we'll never stop learning, hopefully! :)

[@pergrundtman608]

Hello James! Since maany years I've had problems with leg speed due to an injury which actually made me stop drumming. BUT picking it up again now since 1 year or so. And thought this technique would be an alternative to try going faster, maybe up to a max 200 for me if I practise alot. Since the actual "leg movement" will only be 100 bpm (2 strokes each hit). The question: I saw someone else asking a similar one but, do you think its easier to do RightHeal, LeftHeal, RightToe, LeftToe, when doing singles? I think you did that in the video. Of course it's a matter of personal preference I guess. I've seen other heel toe videos where they do RRLL. What would you say is more comfortable to play? Also, thanks for the totally awesome explanatory video. Hands down the best explanation with all the small details I've seen on the interwebs man! With the talk about NOT actually hitting with your heel which seems to be a huge missconception (if you're not using long boards where I guess its possible). Cheers!

[@mug7703]

Your technique is astounding. Do you think this is better than the swivel technique?

[@balrogDCLXVI]

Interesting, this is not the "classic" heel-toe which usually means doubles, but this is the same, somewhat weird tech that Wanja Gröger uses

[@kerbalscuffedprogram4705]

Its very good for faster drums

[@berenjarrett4210]

@Yeokay there are no bad technique as long as you're not injuring your self and do whatever feels good or achieve your goal

[@alexvolcanomuller]

This is not "weird" but classic heel toe that Nechtan uses.

[@balrogDCLXVI]

@@alexvolcanomuller : I know, but still, 99% of metal drummers use the double stroke heel-toe, not this single stroke version

[@reezlaw]

@@alexvolcanomuller it's not classic, Nechtan himself calls it strange, the "classic" heel-toe is doubles

[@dylanwbarnes]

How are you able to do this with the spring off?

[@jayadyrumengan6315]

Nice...keren

[@Psycherz]

Heel toe can indeed be full heel. I love that for mid tempo, even sometimes slow tempo rolls. Gotta really jam your foot in there. Barefoot helps. Also doesn't work on all pedals; I note in particular that most DW pedals just don't play nice with that technique.

[@adamnmaulana]

i learn start from now

[@enzomorales9001]

Porfabor alguien que me pueda ayudar , donde puedo conseguir esos pads de pedal de practica , se lo agradeceria de corazon !!!! :D

[@charlesmagrin6260]

Hi James, these are great tips thank you! As I am starting drums, which double bass drum technique you think I should start with? I guess all techniques have their goods and bads and that it's a matter of style of music and personal taste as well? I guess I should work on all of them? thx

[@HeartAblaze96]

if youre still wondering its all about preference. i went heel toe because i figured it would be easier for me to follow when i would get into double bass drum. i can do right heel left heel right toe left toe for 4 quick notes and its easier for me to follow instead of right heel right toe left heel left toe. but you can do either pattern, as well as using either technique. eventually you can learn triplets on one foot and its a combination of different techniques. one way to do a triplet would be heel toe slide.

[@charlesmagrin6260]

@@HeartAblaze96 thank you! I started to work heels only but I'll get into heel tow as well. Not quite ready for triplets though! Thanks man :)

[@addthisto]

what about three note 16th, heel toe or slide?

[@xbeast666]

My biggest weakness is my right foot. I hate it. I can play any groove and play jazz swing , but to play triplets with my right foot and or 16/th notes with my right foot is completely frustrating. I have such a hard time to play a3

[@ViniciusDinizDrums]

Nice video lesson, very complete! In your opinion, between swivel and heel toe, wich technique it's better for 220bpm or higher tempos ?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Glad you like them man! It's a matter of choice, it depends what you like to use or what you feel more natural to do. I chosed Swivel, because I liked it better, but that's just my choice. Both work for those or higher speeds, so I would say to just pick the one you feel more in your style.

[@ViniciusDinizDrums]

@@JamesPayneDrums Actually I prefer swivel, don't like the sound of heel toe /double strokes without triggers

[@Raptor08]

Have u tried placing the first tap with the toe followed with the second tap with the ball of the foot? It should inherently achieve the same result with less movement(use less energy)

[@Drunkinninja]

How do you have so much bounce back on your pedal? My spring is maxed out and it doesn’t bounce like that. I’m using the pearl pedals.

[@Frostcrag64]

When you do this technique, do you have to do RRLL with your feet or can you do RLRL?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

You can do both :)

[@timwatersondrummer]

Great Demo James and I don’t mean to interrupt but you are teaching Constant Release !Both Steve Smith and Myself talked about this on our DVDs over a Decade ago Steve starts with his Heel down I’ve been showing drummers to start with the Heel first works easier for me FYI Wanjja has taken this to the Next level

[@leereylem7420]

Hi james.. Thank you for that. Can you make a drum cover of TITAN by jason richardson.? Thank you james..🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I'm glad you like my stuff! I'll try to make it as I'll have some time!

[@jeromed2]

Seems easy eh?! Just seems :P ;) I would need to be with someone like you in person. I am good at mastering the double stroke with both hands though.

[@pitbullpitbull2357]

You are sincire. Good teacher. Thankyou. You didnt say about degree of pedel , stroker, and spring tenson thankyou

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Thank you John! I have another video that talks about those topics and another one talking about the feet position on the pedals!

[@kleinefreiheit2807]

I am firmly convinced pedal technique is a gift, no matter how hard or good you practice

[@jonathananthonyhumphries2486]

I can't figure it out. Going with swivel again.

[@Skhidnyaky]

Hi! Are you using this technique for triplets? I mean heel-toe-toe by single foot. And alternating 2 feet for getting 6-plets: Rheel-Lheel-Rtoe-Ltoe-Rtoe-Ltoe. Have you tried this?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Yes, I do! Not specifically for triplets or sixtuplets but I do in some cases. I also use that method to play accents on the bass drums!

[@Skhidnyaky]

@@JamesPayneDrums Great. And what technique do you prefer for 6-plets?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I usually use regular Heel Up if they're not too fast or Swivel if they're very fast!

[@Skhidnyaky]

Ok, thanks. And one question more. Jojo Mayer explains swivel motion combining it with up-down (heel-toe) motion (as example we play down stroke outside of pedal and upstroke inside pedal). I don't have any doubts in Jojo Mayer's recomendations, but have't seen anybody who use this combination for double bass drumming. Have you tried such combination? What is your opinion?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I think that that is not the right way of applying the Swivel technique for very intense speeds and for long times, and that that works for Jojo because in his musical context he doesn't need to play 60 seconds of 270 bpms single strokes as metal drummers do. The Swivel technique is an ankle motion and using the leg motion in it it's what causes many drummers to have pain in their knees, so if you use the Jojo Mayer's version in Jojo's musical context, then it probably won't hurt you, but if you use it in a metal context then you will last 2 gigs :)

[@Darkstorm-og4sy]

What bpm, played as 16th notes, is this technique ideal for?

[@JamesPayneDrums]

It depends on your preparation, you can either use it for speed from 160 to 200 bpms or from 250 to 300 with double strokes, but it depends how much you work on it

[@Darkstorm-og4sy]

James Payne Thanks! My legs start getting tired at 130 bpm so I was considering this technique for long double bass rolls arounf that tempo.

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Is it 130 bpm 8th notes or 16th notes? If it's 8th notes it means that you're using your legs too much in the motion, 16th notes, yes, from that speed up this is a good technique to get to 140/150bpms (or 280,300 bpms in 8th notes)

[@reezlaw]

Your tutorial make me want to play without springs permanently

[@sanbhakharshiing275]

Yo james do u think playing swivel with two strokes per side is possible

[@JamesPayneDrums]

Hello, it's not possible because there's a stroke happening in each side of the motion. If you'd want to play 2 strokes it would either be by pressing on the pedal or involving vertical motion to the swivel motion, which would just make everything more complicated, so I would not suggest any of those options.

[@sanbhakharshiing275]

James Payne. But if u look at george kollias he says he uses it sometimes

[@JamesPayneDrums]

I know, George and I have 2 very different approaches of the Swivel. He presses, I don't, sometimes he does a kind of swiveling heel up, I play each stroke side to side. But, for my theories, if you press doing the swivel technique you will hurt your knees, that's why I never had knees problems

[@sanbhakharshiing275]

James Payne how long did it take u to master it

[@JamesPayneDrums]

It took a while to understand how it worked and to have the control of the motion, I would say like 1 year to get the unerstanding (there were not many explanation at the time aroun yet) and after that it took me some months to master it just by practicing and applying it in my playing

[@maxgudim7312]

How long does it takes time to master double base at fast tempoe playing this techique?

[@ahntony6306]

Guys, I have a one question. "Raising the leg" means "lift my thigh"??

[@angelobordin2623]

Lifting leg :)

[@iiXchan]

1:46 uncontrollable laughter.

[@nathancanada6836]

What's with your pedal

[@JamesPayneDrums]

What about it?

[@nathancanada6836]

@@JamesPayneDrums u had your chain off in the beginning of the video. Once i watched farther I realized you just has it off for the beginning. Sry lol

[@marthenupa3007]

Aaanjiimm sdah seminggu belum dapat2 juga feelnya 🤣🤣🙈🙈🙈

[@danewing4658]

I Love ya videos and, I have picked up alot of tricks from you!!! But, your technique is the exact opposite of Jon Longstrech. He starts with the toe further back on the pedal. I have been practicing DS roll flat footed. Altough it made my SS rolls faster and cleaner I do not recommend it. So I am at a crossroads, I started his technique first at the end of the day it boils down too which is more comfortable. Thank you for your videos they are really helpful!!!!

[@Shane-zo4mg]

Holy shit I didn't even know people did this. It's like push pull but for feet. WTF

[@sifugurusensei]

Black background makes it hard to see

[@briantriplett2455]

im new and i hope you know this advice fucked the dog shit out of me. how the fuck do i get my s pring back on assholeXD edit: i got it back, i just recommend loosening the spring as much as possible lol.