STOP Burying the Bass Drum Beater! Here’s Why… | Kick Drum Technique

[@sccdrum93]

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[@Ema_137]

I agree with you!, i will to try it, i don't speak english and i dont understand every words but i try to learn by myself, yours videos are very good

[@trungpham5940]

How can I bouce the beater with heel up, please?

[@adamharrisdrums6539]

If it feels good and it sounds good, play the kick however the hell you like. Bury it when the song needs it, bounce it when it doesn't. That said, love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@thetruthexperiment]

Yeah, i just said that pretty much. If you have a nice sounding kick and you like the boom then you definitely will want to do both bounce and bury. But if you love the tone you’ll do a lot more bounce.

[@kameronharrington5478]

yeah! i bury it on slow, strong hits - but I will still take this advice on faster stuff, I play heel-up and I never encountered issues with speed/stamina until I got into faster patterns (lots of punk) and recently pulled a 2-day drum tracking session (10 songs) on 2 hours of sleep which I managed to do 'my way' but for the next 3 days my hip/thigh muscles were still killing me from all the pedal work.

[@Johan_O_W_Hackman]

I started playing drums eight years ago when I purchased a Roland V-Drums HD-3 electronic kit, which does not have a bass drum beater. Now I have stepped up and purchased a VAD306 (still e-drums) and have to learn a new technique for the bass drum and this is the first video I watch on the subject and it all makes a lot of sense to me. I can't wait to start practicing tomorrow. Thank you!

[@darinspicer3242]

I've been drumming for about 30 years and these lessons still help me!!! Thank you!!!

[@billmatthews2463]

A phrase I learned years ago I think applies to drumming in all areas: "Not right, not wrong, just different." Another one readily applies (literally): "Different strokes for different folks." Keep up the great work. It is GREATLY appreciated.

[@bonzorip6162]

Best comment.

[@japanforchrist450]

thank you, I needed this

[@alvaro.makes.music1]

It's so cool that I've been trying your feet technique on double bass drumming this afternoon and I feel way less exhausted! My knees don't hurt, I can play faster and with more control, and if feels easier to coordinate with my hands bc I'm using the same motion/joint system... thanks so much for sharing this!

[@SmugSuspenders]

It works with double kick metal drumming as well?

[@benking9160]

Ever since watching jo jo mayer's dvd I have learned to always bounce. Whether it is heel up or heel down or heel toe. At first it was awkward but now it is entirely natural and with an unported reso the range of Dynamics, power and speed is endless. I would highly recommend trying this to any drummer and watch the jo jo foot technique dvd to fully understand the concepts.

[@beardeddrummerdude3483]

The groove and beat definitely influences the urge to bury or bounce the beater.

[@ddrummer1821]

Could you please demonstrate this while doing consecutive doubles, single to double variations and at fast tempos with loud dynamics?

[@sassafrassanid5718]

I couldn't play quick triplet or sixteenth ditties on the bass drum until I learned that releasing the beater is what's important. I am a firm advocate of heel up simply for the power, but letting it release not only allows me to play more intricately but also feels way better for my right leg. I'll be sure to tell my students to release, I've never thought about it that much until this video!

[@Morganstudios]

I actually liked the example you did at the end where it was mixed. Very expressive and interesting sounding.

[@Brento44]

Heel up gives you much more power and control. Control give you control of volume. Comparing your hands and your feet is Apple and oranges. In my opinion of course.

[@ILikeWafflz]

Brent McGuire Good think to see people speaking well of heel up cause I can't play heel down!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

I have no doubt 'heel up' gives *you* more power and control, for me it gives no more power and waayyy less control than heel down. Because "different humans are different" 😊

[@MrBroomy]

Just starting to play the drums. If you don't bury the beater and play heel up, how do you rest your foot?

[@robertsomerville320]

Totally agree. 100%. Having started playing a kit a 8yrs old, and teaching my self, it sounded wrong to bury the beater. As I grew into a later age 13 yrs old, I started to listen to Nicko McBrain and Neil Peart. Nicko's parts had many double hits, i found it so much easier to let the beater bounce to hit those "Bup buda-bup buda-bup" galloping kick parts. Same with Peart's playing almost impossible to play without letting the beater bounce. Once I started Jazz in high school, it was imperative to bounce the beater. I liked Prog Metal coming out of high school, that's when 16th notes and double kick started to really begin. This is where i went wrong, i started by burying the beater for the first stroke of a double with a single kick pedal. So beater buried before the first hit, then fast release to hit the first beat with the mid back of my foot, and catch the 2nd 16th note with the toes. It sounded terrible, as it didn't sound like what i was listening to on recordings. I actually called my jazz teacher and asked how to do heal down during a flurry of 16th notes, and we used to meet an hour before school to practice 16th notes with heal down. He would play a solo by Buddy Rich through the PA, and i could hear that Rich had it all along. It took a good 2 years, eve as a heal down player to get this right. To this day, as a 50 year old drummer, I can still use this technique, and i have no strain issues with my legs, knees, or ankles. I am only 5'-10" and sit quite low at the kit. Legs at 90 deg. Sorry to add such a long comment, but it took time to lock that muscle memory in. Years in fact. So it is the correct technique, and as far as engineers that I've worked with, they love the consistency. In fact in this day and age, most engineers get so frustrated with beater bury, they end up using replacement software (drumagog, etc..) set to almost 90% to replace the kick sound altogether. Anyway, agree or disagree, This is what I teach my students, from day one. Cheers, from Rob in Winnipeg, Canada.

[@A-Zcovers]

I just switch my kick technique to this about 2 walks ago. It actually improved the timing of my drum fills. Highly recommend!!

[@dylanbaldwin7934]

I'm going to try to do this. I'm not sure how easy or difficult it is because I havent been able to try it yet. I do see how it would make timing better because it makes the foot work more similar to the way the hands do so everything will kind of feel the same.

[@A-Zcovers]

@@dylanbaldwin7934 exactly

[@ChaosToRule]

I am 5' 11" and I play heel up, I personally feel more comfortable sitting close and high. I bury the beater on many songs, and I bounce it on others, to me it all comes down to the bass drum pattern I am playing. Sitting as I do, I rest my leg when I bury the beater, it happens naturally with the weight of my leg, and I feel more strain when I have to bounce. With all that said, I will try to bounce in the songs where I normally bury to feel and hear if there is a difference. All in all I thin it boils down to the individual player and their comfort.

[@ansonlee2645]

Like, I was trained to bury when heel up because I leave the heater buried and push up to let the beater back and let gravity do the rest.

[@ansonlee2645]

But also, I was taught to always bounce when playing heel down

[@SmugSuspenders]

@@ansonlee2645 Sounds like a good combination 🙂 I was just about to make a port hole in my reso head, but I'll try some bouncing before I do that.

[@SmugSuspenders]

Epic name 👌

[@ivanbalashov468]

After this video I started noticing that many professional and highly succeful drum players actually do bury the beater. Especially when they play heel-up.

[@nicgundy]

That actually's a great tip for tonight's worship service I'm drumming in & after! Thank you

[@SmugSuspenders]

Hope it went well!

[@revtrweberjr.924]

Hey Stephen, I come from approximately 30 years experience, in church ... (Mainly, [pc ... Urban Gospel] as many know as black gospel - easiest way to explain it style wise is a mixer of: soul, funk, occasional latin flavors, blues, and a hint of jazz). You have several well thought out thoughts regarding this topic. However, for me, it is better and easier to play heel up (I learned heel down, lol, band director hated the look of heel up)...AFTER, there is plenty of practice. But yes there are also downfalls as well. I play sitting high... So, the more relaxed thought is partially correct. It would completely depend on if you have correct posture, sitting close enough, and use a single pedal [mainly]. I only bring out using a single pedal primarily, because when you sit high...(for what ever reason), if you are not balanced correctly...playing a double kick pedal is extremely difficult, especially if you have the wrong type of drum throne. [Many thrones are great, but some styles work better for heel up playing, depending on how far back you sit on the throne...again, a posture thing]. Along with the balance issue created, (depending on how high you sit), you run the risk of the outer and upper thigh(s) becoming over tight especially if you play using a double pedal, thus negating the more being more relaxed thought. The tone, that completely depends on what style your trying to play AND what type of energy you are working to create for the listener. The type of beater vs head combination vs muting vs tuning also has a huge impact on which sounds better. Regardless of style preferences. The shoe problem, lol every drummer I've ever met has that issue. (Some worse than others, nature of the game I guess). Toe stoppers help if you dont mind not having full access to the pedal. The chain usually chews mine up a bit from time to time. Yes, I am in total agreement.... be consistent! Only change for a musical statement IF needed. How do we become consistent, PRACTICE! Practice the way you preform. For when you do anything else your body developes wrong/incorrect/bad muscle memory.

[@bossmanmoran4890]

Just save me like a year of research with this comment

[@atomichero448]

Actio=reactio. Burying the beater means putting all the energy your body creates into the drum. And that's what i want to express. I'm so alive and i want to feel and to hear it out of my drums.

[@Strepite]

If you want to hear "alive" out of your drums remove all the pillows, blankets, moongels and stuff out and don't bury the kick beater. That is the natural, resonant sound of the drum...

[@sephiroth7818]

Do you need naps in the middle of sets?

[@randolphshield6560]

Perfect example of heel up/burying the beater approach.

[@ignasty3591]

Hmmmm. I do bury the beater fairly often. I be beatin’. Great video. Thumbs up. Has me wondering. I’m about to scour your content to see if you’ve done a video on spring tension. I’d like to hear what you have to say on that.

[@yuriselukoff]

Didn’t he do a video on pedal setup just a few weeks ago?

[@jeffmansfield914]

As far as the sound quality goes, it’s a different sound, for sure, but not necessarily “higher quality”. In a bass drum setup like yours, yes, I prefer the bounced sound. However, some folks like to tune and setup their kick with a lot of tone and sustain for certain types of music, but burying the beater allows the option in the moment to get a sound more like your bounced tone. Also, in terms of strain and extra energy involved in burying, that can be dependent on player position and technique. Your knee seems fairly far back from the pedal, with your lower leg at a good bit of angle coming down toward the pedal. For someone who sits a bit closer with a more vertical lower leg, gravity can do a great deal of the work. You don’t have to push your leg forward like you’re doing a leg press to bury the beater on every stroke. That will definitely tire you out and cause strain. Bottom line, for your height, technique, tuning, and musical style, yes I’m sure bouncing is best for you.

[@Dadrummer23]

I'm a heel up player and gettin this lesson really make me want to try it so I'm definitely up for the challenge.

[@Cowface]

The thing is for me, as an absolute beginner, is that if the hi hat is best played heel up, then it makes sense to just heel up on both feet. Playing one foot heel down and the other heel up is another layer of asymmetry and complexity I don’t want to deal with right now

[@thetruthexperiment]

It kinda depends on if you want sustain or you don’t. I play almost always heel down and if want boom I bounce and if I want thud I bury. It’s basic stuff. Do you want the 808 sound or the DMX sound? You definitely definitely want to be able to play both ways at will. It’s just like a cymbal grab or a closing hihat. Or a kettle drum hand mute. Sometimes you want it to ring and sometimes you want a short smack. Am I right or am I wrong? I know I’m right because there is no right and wrong. But who agrees with me? Do you think the person who first invented a stringed instrument took lessons? Of course not but be probably gave at least one short lesson to the first person that he made an instrument for. There’s a reason why classical is called classical. It’s because it’s a traditional and refined discipline. Jazz started somewhere and became traditional through its mastery by its best. But you can do anything you want. For people to like it you have to be decent, and have taste that is similar to enough people to bring a crowd. That’s it. Theory is not a rule book. It’s a language for faster music communication between musicians. There are no rules. There is no rule book.

[@jacobferrara5912]

Perspective is nice to hear! I think for guys who are playing heel up and a lot of metal/hard rock/progressive rock the kick drum tune is almost always no resonant sound and all click. In that context there is also not a lot of dynamics as far as volume goes, it is often just on loud all the time. I see how playing heel down for loudness can become difficult because it seems your muscles may become a little more involved to get that power, as to where heel up the power just comes generally from the weight of your leg. This is generally the style I play so I'm on the other side of the spectrum for sure. I couldn't imagine playing heavy double bass songs heel down! lol I'm sure people do it but I don't think I could! Regardless I like your videos!

[@marianoleturia8537]

I totally agree with the bounce instead pushing a lot and so choking the sound. Also burying the beater is harder and you get tired faster than bouncing it like a "basketball" which also helps with speed

[@atmosphericraven]

When I burry the beater I get this flam issue with the instant bounce back on a single kick, but then I read it could be a non-ported res, tight pedal spring, or loose head issue. What you say makes a lot of sense because it would save you a lot of hand, and leg aches if you let the energy travel elsewhere than back up your legs, hands, or arms.

[@jamesbowling7261]

Do you have a video on how to calibrate the beater and tension in the spring for the best heel down bounce??

[@luisonserrano]

I use it as a "dynamics" resource, burying during verses, and bouncing in chorus.

[@cortomaltenezer4514]

Can you tell me how to avoid the vibration of the bass pedal? I mean the additional vibrations of the bass pedal, even when I only step on the bass pedal once instead of one hit I get them again not wanting it. Thanks and best regards.

[@saulhudson302]

Hi Stephen, Just want to ask you weird 1 , I have a bass drum beater and want to remove just the head of it. So to remove to double sided beater and put it on a new rod ! Any ideas , I'm struggling cause I think they are glued in with locktite. ✌

[@sub-jec-tiv]

I like your font choice, it makes me feel like I’m playing Skyrim or Fallout. Your current mission: stop burying the beater.

[@adrianoa.j.5788]

Dude, I really think the point of this video is: if you play the drums with a higher tuning, on in a style that doesn't require a lot of "power" from the drums, you should try using the heel down technique, especially if you're a tall guy! as a short guy, I used a lot of the heel up, and now I try to use the "floating feet" technique, I sit kind high because of my size, and everything sounds good and I don't have any pain a lot. Both techniques are awesome, not to mention the others, use it as you want or as the song requires, awesome video either way!

[@TheSonicDeviant]

Not always possible in certain genres and speed. But loosely speaking this is good advice. We were taught this at Drum Tech, we had examinations on heel-down and berrying the beater etc.

[@icfubar9150]

I'm a heel up guy (shorter legs) but agree that the bounce works better for most for the reasons stated

[@freshdrummer9869]

Yahhh . I do that 4-5 year. Now i can’t work form right leg. My R-leg can’t move on bassdrum pedal. I play drum form left leg only one. 😢😭😭😭

[@its.julietjohnson]

When I play heel up and don't bury the beater, it really hurts my hip even after just a few minutes. Is it even feasible to play heel up and not bury the beater without that happening?

[@ezza1236]

Thank you for this video bro , I’ve been getting pain in my knee I’ve been burying beater for years ! I need to adjust my technique

[@mibaer71]

Hi, how to do double strokes with the beater bouncing, especially after the second stroke? I feel like having more control when I bury the beater after the second stroke... How do you think about it and what´s your technique in base drum double strokes?

[@anyany2021]

Playing either heel up or heel down is fine, they are both tools that can be used depending on what type of music you are playing. I find it more comfortable to play heel down and to not bury the beater for most songs, however, when doing a faster 4 on the floor or something along those lines, it's a bit easier to switch back and forth and sometimes burying the beater helps.

[@shahfacekillah]

If you watch Dave Lombardo play, his feet are locked at the bottom of the pedal, heel up, and the beaters always bounce. I've tried but I dunno how he does it

[@SmugSuspenders]

I wish I had someone to "bury my beater" in 😢

[@greybeardmc]

I've been playing drums for a whopping two whole days (seriously, it's Wednesday and I set them up on Monday). No formal lessons, just a couple videos showing a simple 4//4 HH / snare / kick beat. I'm pushing 60 so joint health is a priority because I like walking and stuff. Anyway, I tried bouncing the beater but my shin got sore when I kept my foot up. My guess is the "raising the foot" muscle is weak so the more I work it the better it'll get. Is that a fair guess? I've also tried burying it, but it bounces a lot.

[@ЕркинКонстантин]

This is by all means not the "things I wish I knew when I first started to play drums" advice. That exact advice was given to me when I first started and it ruined the learning process for me. I couldn't progress any further because the majority of what I was doing while practicing was trying to fix something that wasn't broken. Then a different teacher told me it wasn't that important, especially for beginners, and right after I stopped trying to "fix" my kick drum technique, my kick drum actually started to sound good. When I got better at drums overall, I actually returned to that advice and tried to play like that once again and not only it worked, but it was much easier to switch between burying and bouncing. But I still wish I've never heard of that advice in the beginning, especially in the form of "you're doing it wrong, there's only one way to do it right and here it is"

[@ethtt]

Very sensible advice

[@timsears951]

I used to be one of those drummers that "buried' the bass drum beater ...I never actually set out to do it , it just naturally happened over many years .

[@paulhurt839]

Sorry, I think hard and fast rules like this are unhelpful. Playing heel down, I agree, it’s pointlessly hard work to bury the beater, and I also agree that you can’t generally put enough weight behind the motion to stop the beater buzzing against the head. But if you play heel up, sitting lower, then burying the beater is absolutely a valid and useful technique to use when appropriate. The fact that you can put the weight of your entire leg behind the motion (and the weight of your leg can hold the beater against the head) makes all kinds of extra things possible. I play mostly heel up, and I don’t bury it very often, but in some situations, it lends a different sound and feel, and *thats the whole idea!*. It expands your range. Some grooves just don’t groove the same without burying it - eg 4 on the floor disco - and samba surdo rhythms definitely gain something from burying it just on the 2 and 4. The heart of the issue here isn’t really burying vs not burying, I think the problem comes from restricting yourself to only playing heel up or heel down. I think a well-rounded drummer needs to have the ability to do both, because each technique suits different situations. It’s like saying you should only ever play matched grip, or only traditional, and that the other is a bad idea. It really isn’t, different techniques suit different situations, and if you decide that one rules while the other is to be avoided then you will never appreciate what the technique you’re avoiding has to offer.

[@Loki_Morningstar666]

I love your videos. But I would have liked it if you had spent some time on HOW to bounce the beeter when you play heel up. As a heel up player I feel like #2 was the only reason that applied to me. For me it just feels natural just resting my foot on the pedal so that its always buried when I'm not playing fast passages. When playing faster passages its easier to bounce the better because of how close together your hits are but in slow passages it just feels natural to leave my foot down with the beeter buried. I primarily play hard rock and metal but do also play other styles to stay more well rounded so I will have to try bouncing the beeter on slower songs and see how it feels so I get more tone out of my bass drum. Cheers

[@edsavage6214]

I play heel up and find it very hard to bounce the beater, however I do prefer the sound, I tried to switch a while back but found it extremely hard to play in time XD I'll give it a go for one or two weeks, let's see if works... I suspect is easier to transition if you're a heel down player...

[@NothusDeusVagus]

The ergonomics of drumming... Interesting... I wonder how many drummers might have lasted longer if they'd paid attention to this aspect and let it affect their technique... I then wonder how many drummers have only lasted as long as they did because they took this into account or merely allowed themselves to listen to their body and altered their technique instinctively.... Good Presentation. Thankyou.

[@josephpoore6258]

Looking forward to trying this! I'm thinking it will help with some of the issues I'm having at higher tempos. Thanks!

[@SmugSuspenders]

Good luck 🙂🎷

[@elifarland5646]

Did you ever bury it so much that you made a dimple in your bass drum? I'm not proud but I'm working on playing more disco styles stuff that I really really need to get this bouncing thing going cuz my leg hurts

[@WellOfSadness]

Thank you very very much! I Was looking for a tutorial like this! :)

[@timsears951]

been playing for 40+ plus and I too was guilty of "burying the beater" .in some instances I think its fine but I also believe you will get a better kick sound by NOT "burying the beater" ...I also believe it depends on style of music i.e. METAL (just about the only style of music to use this really) ...accenting bass drum kicks can be applied also in certain types of music ..Ive learned for the most part not to do this...but it took me 30+ years to stop doing it !! lol!!

[@oaklandcountyrealestatecin4280]

Found this video after looking for kick technique. Ive been playing rock style for years, and play regularly on a couple hour gig a week. Ive noticed that in the last year, after, I would get severe leg cramps running from my shin/knee area into my quads. I would be sore for a few days after playing. Its made me want to give up drums. I think part of the problem is that my throne is too low (house throne that wont seem to adjust) and another is I tend to bury my beater. I think my IEM mix doesnt have enough low end, so I subconsciously bury it thinking im getting more power. Curious on your thoughts on if this seems like a combo technique issue/throne. Thank you!

[@simonvasey8546]

Bounce bounce. Gets your foot and the beater ready for the next stroke so speeds up your playing. You want a dull thud then fill the drum with pillows.

[@hannes1734]

If i play metal, which i do most of the time, i'm playing heel up, burying the beater in a loose tuned, very muffled head with resonance port. And i play almost everything with these exact settings, so i'm just gonna bury the beater because it gives me more power and balance, and it does almost nothing to the sound anyways, as all the sound is coming from the stroke. But if i'm playing Jazz, and i mean a real Jazz gig, then i'm playing eith an open bass drum, and a bouncing beater. Play what fits the music and the drum.

[@paulaeden5934]

Check out the drummer from 'WASP' in 89'...he had two kick drums..but only played the slave pedals!!

[@drumsforfunspooner673]

I have an Acoustic Set of Drums (need new Tom heads), so I ran into an awesome deal on a Electric Drum Kit.. There's a big difference on Electric Kick Pedal, so any suggestions ?? Thax Spooner, 🤘🥁🎼🌹

[@brad3628]

Yeah, get new heads.

[@yuriselukoff]

Funny, I came to the same conclusion - not to bury the beater - just a couple of weeks ago, entirely by accident. I was playing as usual, burying it with force, and then my foot slipped a few times, the beater bounced, and I really liked the sound and the overall feeling of the pedal pushing my foot back up. Then I started making a conscious effort to do the beater bouncing on purpose.

[@francescorecupero2180]

I feel like when i am trying to not berry the beater i am not getting the power i want for the rock grooves

[@notapseudonym678]

Never. I am incorrigible and bad at technique and I will never stop

[@jimbennett2795]

Not always so. Doing sixteenths I use the extra spring tension from holding against the bass to throw the beater back faster for the next double sixteenth

[@colingourlay]

I'm taking drum lessons right now. The instructor is telling me to always bury it. Before I signed up I had mastered the art of not burying it. I'm so confused.

[@08mlascelles]

For certain things, I very deliberately bury beater! Whilst everyone should absolutely learn not to instinctively do it, there can be a benefit. If you bury the beater fairly hard, you can get this cool, fat sound due to the beater slightly rebounding. It’s not for everything, and certainly not for uptempo stuff, but it can sound really cool. But every drummer should be taught not to do it, and then you can experiment with it.

[@Plydrms]

I like your video's. I increasingly have been liking heel down, like yourself. I hear so many drummers say that they use heel up for power. Why do you think that heel down develops enough power when needed? I am not disputing, just curious about why you think so.

[@koolkatfelix9500]

Great advice! I bounce my beater too! Take care! Felix!

[@slatebook2384]

How much for your old shoes?

[@johngrahammusic9545]

I’ve found you can get more volume and attack by burying the beater. It’s all genre dependent tho

[@mikacorp3251]

I think that only apply to moccasin player. I play with my rollers and it does not work. Still, when I need a drink it takes much less time to get to the bar. One has two shoes, erm sorry to choose. "tch", darn English is difficult.

[@WilberWisdom]

Playing heel down allows a drummer to use the natural pivot point of the ankle allowing better control. Better volume dynamics are achieved that way as when you need more volume, you simply raise your heel to be louder. If you are playing heel-up only, then you really don't have anywhere to go to increase volume unless you use raw muscle power and lift your leg higher and push down harder - which causes muscle fatigue and less endurance.

[@arturosaenz9120]

A lot of people play heel up or he'll down a d bury the beater,maybe you don't like to bury the beater,that does not mean your way is the only way,just an opinion,peace and love

[@Johnnodonoughue]

Basically playing heavy heel down causes knee pain. Heel down for jazz, heel up for rock.

[@philipmartin708]

I can't think of any percussion instrument where you don't let striker bounce off it and allow it to vibrate. But a lot of drummers disregard that basic percussion principal with their bass drums. They press the beater onto the head instead of throwing it at the head.

[@Strepite]

It doesn't matter because they turned their kick drums into washing machine drum by stuffing pillows and blankets in... Sounds the same if you bury or not...

[@heartstringssound-Doug]

Awesome Stephen as always! You and your videos are timely and on point. Thank you for your tips and advice!

[@yamsang0__0]

Lol I’m slowly developing heel up and heel down. But heel up is a lot better for me

[@loomerama]

This could sound kinda harsh but Eloy Casagrande's playstyle can counter everything you said. You are ignoring that we are an all different individual human being. It's not wrong. It's different.

[@shahfacekillah]

Eloy is just on another level!!!

[@markgabriel5797]

Jeff Porcaro buried the beater. I rest my case.

[@vasilias2230]

Purdie bounces

[@markgabriel5797]

@@vasilias2230 purdie also thinks he was in the beatles......

[@vasilias2230]

@@markgabriel5797 oh so you're saying purdie lied?

[@vasilias2230]

Q@@markgabriel5797 listen to rain by the beatles, he's not lying

[@vasilias2230]

@@markgabriel5797 Jeff was alleged to die of overdosing on smack.

[@terrillmel]

I've always like the sound of bouncing, but find it more difficult to keep consistent.

[@silukrausz6365]

Awesome !

[@jimflys2]

After playing off the head for 40 plus years because most of the music I have done called for that, I am now using the bury the beater more. Why? Because I have lacked at certain styles where this is an important way of playing it. Really it is a matter of articulation. It is simply one of many techniques that needs to be employed at different times for specific uses. If you play off the head, learn to bury it. If you bury it, by all means learn to play off the head. Both useful and needed. Up next: guitar players, stop palm muting. (that's a joke).

[@darleneknight1]

You are totally right about this. I am71 and have been playing wrong most of my life but finally noticed you do not play the rest of the kit by holding the stick into the head so why would you hold the beater into the bass not letting the head resonate. That takes the tone away.

[@claygilchrist632]

I bury the beater so much that the pedal is separating from the bass drum. It’s literally pushing the bass drum away despite being tightly attached to the drum. Time to change my technique.

[@johnbraucher1499]

There are many aspects of guitar and drums ect, where the reason there is a specific position or motion to keep, is because it's the best way, all around, and there is probably some aspect that people arent understanding that they probably dont even really notice. For example, if you just tell tour students to play guitar the way they want, they will not progress as fast and also can get damage in the their fingers and wrists ect....usually with a classical style of playing or being taught how to play, it's for a good reason. I'm not saying heel or toes is going to make much of a difference, but there IS a CORRECT way to play everything. If people just dodnt arch their fingers whole playing guitar and fretting notes for example, and they were told to do it the way that feels most comfortable how are they ever going to break themselves of bad habits and poor positioning and posture? Just some thoughts. I'm kind of a perfectionist tho, and it has benefitted me especially since I restarted the CORRECT way.

[@jhamler1]

Same thing goes for when you punch/kick a guy in the face. Concentrate on rebound.

[@hilolila]

Better concentrate in not having to punch anyone in anywhere

[@japanforchrist450]

This is an honest question: How are you so happy being different as a drummer. I really need that

[@robertmadueno2732]

Just tighten up you bass batter head. For more bounce. Doesn't needa be really tight. It can ne mod range tight. Don't where it's comfortable for you. Use toe plate if you play heel down. Biggest thing is learning to control your foot. Don't matter what technique you use to play. Control yourself and you'll get better in all ways. Drumming is all control. My foot used wiggle amd bounce everywhere! Lol but I just kept practicing and figured out on my own. Control. Imo. keep jamming!

[@MattMusicianX]

Speaking from 1st hand experience: Heel down + burying beater = knee pain Heel down or up + not burying the beater = hip and/or lower back pain (and worse long term problems than for the knee) Heel up + burying beater = no pain or significantly less hip/back pain + BAD sound :( The solution: Bury the beater playing heel up on a huge 28" bass drum (or at least 26"). You can also bring the heel down (and even let it rest) between notes so that it's kind of in between heel up and heel down which gives you a smooth rocking motion like on the hi-hat. A 28" is so resonant that burying the beater doesn't give you a dead sound. This is what the swing era drummers did :)

[@MattMusicianX]

Correct me if I'm wrong. I think Bonham also buried the beater on a 26" Vistalite.

[@hannes1734]

@@MattMusicianX He sure did.

[@pauljoannis1462]

Thanks for bringing up this contentious debate among drummers. I had a drum teacher who made it a big deal to bury the beater, and I changed my technique based on his advice. His main argument was that the foot should remain still and stable (like a balanced fulcrum) at rest and only come into action when required. I removed all muffling as a result as I was using the beater as a muffler. The dynamics and mechanics of a pedal are different that those of a stick, so such a technique would never work on a tom. However, it does cause inconsistencies in the kick drum response for parts where hits are too quick or heel up isn't practical. I try to aim for a best of both worlds approach and use the technique the part calls for, but it's a challenge.

[@wulfasger9332]

Well i will make a point clear that "natural" motions around the kit, your subject is true and false in some other points. First of all, letting the beater bounce motion on your feet does not fitting your feet's natural motion. Did you see anyone like sitting while his heel down and toes up? Not, right? So thats the one of the false points you are making. True one is allowing that rebound makes easier to do double strokes. But, does not matter what type of guy you are, heel down or heel up its just doesnt matter, you are wasting your ankle muscles energy for nothing while trying to not burying that beater. On the other point, burying and not burying the beater is creating a sound difference. Thats a little difference but creates almost a huge difference while in the beat. In this point, its kind a preference. Other bad side of burying the beater is, if you are getting used to use double pedal, and when you try to squeeze hihat and converting your bass drum to a single pedal, you can just f*ck up your hihat settings because your left foot motion got used to burying the beater. And i should say that, comparing your hand motion with your feet motion probably the dumbest idea to explain why you should not bury your beater... They are not even the same limbs, and muscle groups, even their natural movements and uses are totally different..

[@rimantasstanaitis7280]

The part where you started manipulating with physics (3:44) is just wrong. Hitting drums with sticks/mallets is different than hitting the bass drum. With hands it is natural for the stick to bounce back, yes, but the arm itself doesn't bounce back up, because that would be wasting of energy. With the kick drum too, it is natural for the beater to bounce back, but not the leg. Contrary to how it is with hands, beater is connected with with the foot via the pedal, so the beater bouncing back up results in the leg being lifted, which is just wasteful. And that tension is not big enough to make the whole leg be moved. Nice try, but you cannot mess with the laws of physics.

[@DopeSmoker]

I wish this dude was my drummer! xD

[@ALJessica]

You talk about what feels natural etc. if you are playing Heel up then it doesn’t take more energy to stop it, that is the natural feel to do. You put your foot down, Else you would have to hover your foot. So how would you naturally bounce the beater as a Heel up player? Sure, you Can bounce the First stroke if you use the slide technique, but a single stroke as bouncing in a slow song, that seems incredibly uncomfortable and unnatural. If there is a method to do so I would love to know.

[@clevelandshredder]

My bass drum has a tiny dent in it where the hater hits because I hurry the beater

[@eab4739]

nice

[@JJustJ-yb9wh]

Where do you get those chilled jazz tracks? I'd really love to try learning some of that walking bass stuff

[@blackpranther]

This is a really style and volume based thing. You don't want to sit behind a big Gospel dude or big tour pop drummer with that

[@quigglebat]

I think burying the beater sounded much better. Stops sounding like a drum and starts feeling more like a punch in the face.