How to feel BALANCED even when playing HEEL-UP

→ KNOW WHAT TO PRACTICE! Build 4-way independence, Grip your sticks for speed & fluidity, and Reach your musical goals with the FREE e-guide, “The 3-Part Daily Practice Routine.” www.thenonglamorousdrummer.co...
02:36 - 2 logistical tips that might solve your problem immediately!
06:16 - The crucial technique adjustment that will save you from exhaustion
11:35 - 3 types of exercises for increasing foot coordination & core strength
16:50 - The approach that’s even better than practicing these exercises
18:25 - BONUS TIP: My personal solution to all of this
23:28 - 2 things to do before you go…
Do you ever feel like you’re teetering on your drum throne, struggling to sit up straight as you incorporate both feet?
This is a huge frustration, because how will you ever play musically and in time if you’re constantly uncomfortable and exhausted from trying to keep your balance!
Today we’re solving this so that you can feel relaxed and at home behind the kit, using both feet with musical ease. I’ll share with you 2 logistical tips that can solve this instantly, a crucial technique adjustment that will save you from exhaustion, and 3 types of exercises you can begin implementing now to increase foot coordination and core strength.
I’ll also share with you my personal solution to this struggle that just might be YOUR solution as well. YOU CAN DO THIS!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
3 secrets to effortless CHICKS & SPLASHES on the hats
• 3 secrets to effortles...
Why you should bounce the beater (starting at 09:33):
• Apply Flawless Hand Te...
I believe that ANYONE can learn the drums, and I believe you’re far more capable of becoming a great drummer than you think you are. Don’t sell yourself short! SUBSCRIBE for more Non Glamorous videos that get straight to the point of solving drumming frustration. Stay Non Glamorous, Everyone!
Check out thenonglamorousdrummer.com for more content, including free e-guides designed to fast-track your drumming progress!

[@dantedrumming1783]

Man you are a life saver, i've been struggling through this problem and was looking for solutions for it everywhere! Thankyou

[@drummermomcjs]

I am a primarily self-taught drummer. I began playing the kit at 16 and played heel-down most of those years. This last year I learned how to play heel-up and have learned the heel-toe,, and slide techniques. I practiced paradiddles and paradiddle-diddles and double paradiddles with my feet for months and gained some increased coordination. Currently I am working on some coordination exercises in the morning and some rudiment and speed exercises in the afternoon with a little free playing where I incorporate the things I am working on into grooves and fills while free playing on the kit.

[@patrickmitchell209]

This is totally relevant for me right now as I’m going through “Stick Control” with my feet for the first time. Plus I’m pretty new to kit playing so experimenting with posture, leg vs ankle, heel up down, etc. Thanks Stephen

[@karlspear6729]

I've been playing for 53 years, and have been a toe player most of that time. Sometimes heel down for quiet songs, and heel up for accents. It's all good, whatever works for you and the song!

[@fuckmylife4403]

hi stephen, i've just downloaded the pdf, i think im really gonna dig it, i will try it tomorrow and thank you so much for not made us pay for it as a ton of other people on youtube, cheers

[@rustythev]

Great lesson. I’m a foot down, rebound beater player. I do occasionally have heel up for effects or just stretching for a different movement for variety

[@neililes1894]

A great fix! Thanks!

[@kazzen8436]

Literally the one i need rn, thank you

[@BobBrenner]

Thanks Stephen, Very clear.Helpfiul

[@coffeemusic2050]

Thanks) you've just confirmed my thoughts and feelings after buying a new double bass pedal) u r great dude, been watching u since the beginning, and, I wish you all the best)

[@justingibson9622]

Thanks Stephen. I appreciate the tips. I find my self playing heel up when I play fast, but still use my ankle and heel down the majority of the time. And I do loose balance at times. So, I purchased a larger and much better throne the other day, and made a big difference. I recently just seriously started playing again after 10 years of not having a drum set. I started practicing with my friends band and have played five gigs so far and am getting comfortable again quicker than I expected. And now realize, from your tips, what else I might need to do for the extra stability and control. We play for 5 hours this weekend, I'm pretty confident it's going to be fun. Thanks again.

[@miker5233]

This is a great video I learned actually something new playing drums is a life-long journey really

[@farazk9729]

Thank you so much

[@jcdrums2798]

very good lesson Stephen.

[@davehope5330]

Thanks - solid advice here on ergonomics. Pretty Purdie’s advice on his Drumeo interview was interesting - he said leather soled shoes were all important for feel. I haven’t got any, but I don’t think furry moccasins count!

[@vabean2002]

I use both. I actually prefer heel down for balance, but I can "bounce" the beater faster using heel up. Love your channel BTW and thank you for all you do for the drumming community.

[@smgoethe]

Thank you, Stephen, very helpful!! I only drum as a hobby, and rarely play gigs, but I agree with you: heel down feels more natural. I am self-taught and it felt right from the very beginning to play heel-down, any music style

[@j.c.zackroff6633]

Love your stuff. Been playing 61 years. I do both up and down depending. Thanks

[@kyliecamilleri1070]

This was a great video thanks for taking the time to do this. The ‘simple’ things are def. The most useful. I have been playing since Easter weekend 2021 so relatively new to this. I realised playing heel down was much more comfortable and effective but then saw videos saying it wasn’t the best way to play so then I started playing with heel up. I’m realising it’s really about what works for the individual. This video was so useful also because I’ve been wondering if I’m too close and keep going between my seat further back then close. I’m only on an electric kit so obviously the snare and tops are much smaller so it is more condensed than an acoustic kit so still trying to get the right positioning for me. I’m also only 4”10 so the option of putting my seat up higher isn’t really an option but I’m going to try it slightly higher to see if it helps with foot control. Thanks heaps again - I’ve just finished work for the day so about to give your tips a go!! Cheers, Kylie

[@kyliecamilleri1070]

Oops ‘Toms’ not ‘tops’

[@PunkRabit5150]

I tend to play heel up but after watching your lesson I’m going to work on heel down techniques. Thanks!

[@farhanmaqbool9286]

I am heel down player, totally agree with your findings. Excellent lesson

[@mkrpa2741]

Great lesson as always, Stephen. I'm one of the players who actually uses both heel up and down with both feet. I find it helps to relieve fatigue by using different sets of muscles. I tend to sit on the high side (think early Ringo Starr), but I can easily slide my size 9 feet forward or back a little on the pedals to let me change between heel up and down.

[@simonomallon9035]

Heel up 'and' heel down depending g on the flow of.the groove. Thanks for that. Si.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

I'm with you 1000% man, if I'm heel up I need to sit super high, and I think a huge part of this for me (and you) is that we're fairly slender with long limbs. So many drummers, esp. "big boys", they're legs are moving up and down a lot and their trunks, which are pretty massive, just don't move. Mass is such a huge part of stability IME.

[@jakeloranger1419]

I play sort of heel up. I use the weight of my leg to drive the stroke. I then let my heel drop to let the beater bounce. I learned this technique from an article in Modern Drummer years ago. I don't remember who the drummer was. But to learn the technique, you play eighth notes (say at quarter notes at 90 BPM) with a bouncing leg motion with heel up an inch or two. On the & of beat 3 you let your heel drop to the pedal while letting the beater bounce, and rest for beat 4. Repeat several times. In the next exercise you play eighths with the last beat on the 3. The next exercise ends on the & of beat 2, and so forth until the last exercise where you only play on the 1, with your heel dropping to the pedal and letting the beater bounce. The idea is whenever you are not playing, you literally rest your heel on the pedal. You raise your leg and heel (not too high) just before playing the next note. I did find I needed to be careful when playing a four on the floor beat as sometimes as I was lifting up in preparation for the next stroke I would inadvertently tap a soft eighth note before the downbeat. But as I got better at the technique this was no longer an issue. The drummer who wrote the article said this technique allows any tension in the leg to be released after playing the note. I found it definitely helped me in that respect. And because I'm letting the weight of my leg dropping to drive the stroke, I can stay quite relaxed and use very little effort to get a solid kick sound, especially since the beater is bouncing off the head so it doesn't get choked. Actually this even works on an electronic kit as well. I found that out when I sat in on someone's E-kit at a gig. I had found that I couldn't really hear the kick when he was playing. But when I got on, the bass player immediately turned with a smile and commented on how solid the kick felt. As for throne height, I struggle to keep my posture straight if I'm sitting too high. For some reason I find it easier to sit up straight and balanced if I sit lower, with the top of my thigh parallel with floor when my heel is up. I don't know why but I find it more difficult to raise both legs at the same time when I sit high. Of course, if I sit too low then I will feel the anterior muscles on my thighs get tired or sore. In my limited experience, I have discovered that of all the positioning of the various elements on a kit, throne height is the most individually favored. It depends not only on how tall the drummer is, but also on their pedal technique as well as their hip and leg bone structures and their flexibility in those joints. I guess pedal adjustments would come after that. All that aside, my personal opinion is that if you find you cannot raise both legs at the same time without struggling with your balance, then you really need to look into how you are sitting and whether changing your throne height might help, as well as finding and working on a pedal technique which will allow you the greatest freedom of movement. One last thing. Invest in a good solid drum throne. One that supports you without any wobbling. I find that a back rest helps too, though not everyone does. I would also recommend checking out Stephen Taylor's video on how to sit down on the drum throne.

[@eatenalive9079]

Best comment I read on this topic for a long time! What you describe is actually exactly what I experienced. Every Video tells to sit higher and further away. I tried for a while and ended up with back pain every time I played drums for a little longer. Kick technique and throne height/placement might be the most individual thing in drumming and everyone should go for their feel good and balanced position no matter what they got told. Just do what works best for you!

[@jakeloranger1419]

@@eatenalive9079 Thanks. I really appreciate your comment. Over the years I've watched videos of some of the most amazing drummers who ever picked up a pair of sticks. Some of them sit really low (Vinnie Colaiuta, Peter Erskine) and some really high (Ringo Starr, Chester Thompson) and everything in between. So your last line is spot on. Next up, the hi-hat! lol

[@laurdessvalentino5849]

Best explanation ever.

[@christineholz1702]

I'm 49 and just started learning. I have short achilles tendons so heel up is all I can do at the moment. I have been playing around with some wedge high heel shoes though (cuz I'm a girl 😉) and that makes me feel more stable. So many things to adjust and learn!

[@bobbrenner8476]

Thanks Stephen, I am a heel down person. Great video!

[@millenwagon]

Throne height and placement is a serious make or break. Get the throne perfect and it makes a world of difference

[@ScuffyTheDog]

Great suggestions. I started playing heel down, then switched to heel up. I ended up practicing and using both for different styles, which is ideal imho. That said, your idea of "loud" is probably different from the brutal reality of heavy, loud music. You can't play intricate kick drum patterns while being loud and consistent using heel down, especially when using a double pedal. There's a reason why the majority of heavy players use heel up, it just works better and it always will. It's not a "matter of taste" anymore, it's reality. Like I said I use and like both, but "personal preference" isn't always applicable imho.

[@LaurenceBichon]

Thanks Stephen. Heel down for jazz 😃.

[@markielinhart]

Stephen this was by far the best ep for stone cold beginners like me! Cos I’m 77, heel down is no contest but I’ve developed a kind of rocking motion where my heel rocks up on the ‘downbeat’ or is that the ‘backbeat’ of the pedal action on both the bass and the hihat. Does that make sense? Thanks again 👏🇦🇺👋

[@michaeljames9811]

Stephen Clark is a true guiding light. Keeping it simple and honouring the Basics. By starting with the stick bounce from the fulcrum, and letting that bounce express every hit/stroke - the Universe plays the music. Most grateful to you Stephen for your humility and service.

[@deaneboothe9379]

I use both depending on the song. But I've been playing for over 30 years.

[@balazsfitz7517]

On a more serious note, I think it’s definitely worth trying something different, even if one is used to do things in a certain way. So many times it turns out that something was just habitual and hindering. Very useful lesson, as always. (Throne notwithstanding ;-)

[@timkellaway6183]

I’ve been heel up for a couple of years now as a fairly new drummer. But honestly I think that’s just because a random heavy metal drummer told me I could play faster that way. I think I’m gonna switch to heel down cause I feel like I’ve been punishing myself unnecessarily

[@seanbeauchesne2443]

I play heel down but for certain doubles and tripples I like to do a bit of a toe heel or a heel toe where I lift my leg and tap my foot. Then drop the heel back down for a second hit. Vice versa too for triplets where I drop the leg down and then lift it back up while tapping the toe and drop it down again striking the third time.

[@PhilipBuckmaster]

I’m heal down for precisely the same reasons as you Stephen. Totally agree with everything except perhaps putting the stool further back. Surely if your feet and lower legs are further in front of the stool, gravity will pull you forward more than if they’re closer? I tried this and it seemed to be true. I would say sit further back ON THE STOOL so that the front of the stool supports more of your thighs is a better bet.

[@royharrison2202]

Hi Stephen Having just watched your video I would like to download the free daily practice routine but could not see a link to that. All the best Roy

[@tonycarpenter-Makzimia]

Stephen, I do have a balance problem, but not because of my seat height. I keep having issues with my rack maybe not placed right for my toms. Reaching over to reach my 12 inch, I have 3 toms on rack (8, 10, 12) over behind the bass drum front. If I move the rack towards me more though, it would put my whole setup out for the snare in relationship. And my 14 and 16 floor tom... any ideas?. It's my last sticking point, and to be fair this only became an issue when the 8inch arrived at Xmas :D. Oh and I have mics on all Toms older Shures on the big plastic mounts.

[@Brokenstep]

Hey Stephen, Any tips for starting the get the ankle motion started or a technique? When I try to play I notice I add more and more leg and cannot go past 130bpm with double bass. Thanks!

[@jdc6927]

I know I am not Stephen. Are your beaters at 45°? Are your feet too far forward on the foot plates? Foot placement and sitting back from your kit and at the correct height may remedy this. It also helps to get fast with your right foot, left foot is there as a sort of accent. Treat your feet like you do with your hands/sticking, fairly similar. I am not a pro in anyway. Work on endurance, I hope these tips help. Oh and work on heel toe. If you are stiff playing, you are doing something wrong, loosen up. Good luck. 😎

[@amandamccurdy6105]

Thank you for all of your incredibly helpful & knowledgable videos! If you don't mind me asking for your opinion- I am a female drummer & I've been wondering if center of mass affects seat height &/or general drum set up?...given that center of gravity tends to be lower for women & higher for men. I have been trying to research this, but haven't been able to find much specific to how drum set up & balance might be different for men vs women drummers.

[@TheStudioDrummer]

Both great techniques, just very different. Like you, I use and teach both. I find that heel down can take a while to develop endurance due to the smaller/fewer muscles used. With heel up, you can generate from the hip, use bigger muscle groups and play longer with less fatigue. There are some additional factors here but you get the idea... :^)

[@69CamaroSS]

Just an observation……..21:00 your doubles were WAY faster naturally when you went heel UP here….with (seemingly) the same amount of effort…. I’m just getting back behind the kit after ~20 years off….I play heel up and I’m noticing my hip flexors getting REALLY tight and tired after about 45min-1hr of paying/practicing. Wondering if my throne height/distance needs to be adjusted??? 🤔🤔

[@johnknight9150]

You really should be using both methods: heel-up and heel-down are two ends of a spectrum, and there are a bunch of different methods in between them. The rock, jazz, and pop world are still stuck in the two choices mentality, but if you ask a metal head, they'll tell you about a bunch of different methods. Flat foot, heel-toe, swivel, slide, ankle... I'm sure there are plenty more. If you're playing a bunch of notes at once, try playing heel-up for the first stroke, then play heel-down for the rest.

[@matroskin3484]

Heel - Down 🤘💥💥💥🔥🤜🤛

[@wii3135]

I do both, mostly heal down, but heal up when I want speed. A question, I couldn't find the PDF for this video.

[@martinmedlow3335]

I've been watching your channel for a while you latest one on balance I'm not sure about I play snooker the stance of snooker requires you to let your weight fall forward so that your steady when I drum I sit on the edge of the seat so I am falling I'm putting weight on my feet I think it helps my balance I didn't hear you mention anything about this what do you think

[@mattnieri1202]

Playing chicks on the hi-hat is like playing heel up burying the beater, and playing soft splashes with the left foot is like playing heel down off the head of the bass drum. So I do both.

[@smgoethe]

Also, I am almost 2 meters, and always struggle to get the right posture, most of all the snare height, in order to play comfortably, and not striking my legs the whole time

[@pauloabreu1196]

What is your tips for a short guy ?

[@RobVI]

What throne do you have

[@tautvydastomkus]

Hey Stephen. I would like to express my gratitude. I am playing for 15 years and I’m a solid drummer but this wobbling on chair thing has been bugging me of late. Something wasn’t right. Strangely enough, after this particular video, I moved my throne way back and adjusted the height way higher. And there I have it - sitting all comfortably, instantly playing cleaner and nicer. Amazing. Thank you very much.

[@shadowhenge7118]

I wish they made kick and hihat pedals in reverse. After years of air drumming and keeping time im used to raising my heel on my toes and slamming my heel down using my foot muscles. It feels backwards learning to play drums. Hard habit to break.

[@TheStudioDrummer]

You can use your technique effectively. You may need a different pedal and bit of adjustment but it is doable if I'm understanding your motion correctly.

[@shadowhenge7118]

@@TheStudioDrummer i had a cajon with a backwards kick pedal on it and that was amazing. I just bought a welder. Maybe i can concoct something.

[@seanbeauchesne2443]

Get longer pedals. Tamma speed cobra is what I'm using but I'm also looking at some Axis longboards.

[@gregaaron89]

I don’t even play the drums

[@kevinpeterson9783]

Personally a heel up player myself though I might consider hybrid now. Also the background music and drumming over your speaking is a bit loud. Nevertheless awesome video!

[@jdc6927]

Heal up

[@physischannel]

I enjoy your lessons , but I think you could have a greater audience with subtitles… I am not native English speaker 😅

[@thomasmoran1533]

I think you need to re-examine your info. It is my opinion that your view of heel up and burying the beater is incorrect from a misunderstanding about the technique. This means you are giving out false information. I play heel up 95% of the time or more. I never bury the beater, my legs do not get tired and I am never tight or tense. If you would like to discuss this I would be happy to talk with you about it. Thanks for your time. T. Moran

[@thomasmoran1533]

I guess you want to continue to give out false information about this subject. To bad. If you change your mind, I would still love to share with you the whole picture.

[@miker5233]

Lifting weights is that good or bad for a drummer there's this myth that it tightens you up

[@balazsfitz7517]

Stephen, I have to disagree with you on one important matter. ‘Stool’ is something you don’t like to think about a lot and from which you take samples for a lab, for medical purposes. What you’re sitting on while playing the drums is instead a ‘throne’. Ask any _serious_ guitarist about their ‘pick’ and they’ll explain that it’s a ‘choice’ or perhaps ‘an ice shattering tool’. What they play with is a ‘plectrum’. #joking

[@jimmysanchez3444]

Playing. with a BAND . You will have to play Heal Up. !!

[@seanbeauchesne2443]

Why?