Top 3 MISTAKES holding back your Double Bass Drumming

[@DBMMXXVIIXVII]

The Eugene Ryabchenko video is incredibly helpful but only if you already know the ankle technique

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Yes that is an incredibly helpful video. But the video that I'm referring to is a different video by Eugene. That video was shorter, and featured only 1 30 minute exercise recommendation. He also realized it didn't work for everyone and changed his stance in a later video. We all make mistakes like that. I too am conscious that sometimes the advice I'm offering worked for me, but might not for others at different levels or having different lifestyles and physiques, there's too many variables to account for. SO my video is far from a perfect video too. Hopefully with this video, I'm aiming to show 3 bigger concepts that anyone can apply to properly thinking for themselves and diagnosing what is the best for them. Very good of you to share your point of view!

[@DBMMXXVIIXVII]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ thank you for sharing your experience on practicing doublebass. It's such a never ending topic

[@nostrum7278]

I have been religiously following your routines. Thank you tremendously for the free knowledge you share with us!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Oh I only hope it's been helpful. If you've been doing a lot of it and it's shit please let me know too 😁 but thank you for your uber kind words!

[@traixxe8649]

This video described what I’ve gone through, down to the exact bpm plateaus. And at 4:25, he talks about seeing other people who can play really fast, while showing a clip of alex rudinger. That video, a cover of when a demon defiles a witch, is what inspired me to learn drums. This guy is literally me fr

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Hahaha 🙌 I'm so inspired by Alex Rudinger and his feet :D I love watching him go at his drums every now and then. Inosuke for the win ;)

[@traixxe8649]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ YYYYEAAAAAH! More anime covers xDDDDD

[@arshulk6636]

had the exact same problem, doing endurance runs without being able to control my calve muscles so i was stuck at 140-150 bpm. Happy to see i'm not the only one with this problem. I just wish i had seen a video like this 6 months ago xD

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Well I took more than a year to realize I was doing the wrong thing at that point in time. So you've got this man, only upside from here haha let's GOOOO!!

[@spencer6025]

I'm pretty sure you were reading my mind for that last one. I've always been way harder on myself than anyone around me and I just needed someone to explain to me why it's silly to have those kinds of jitters and how to get around them. You're a prince for sharing all of this information for free. Cheers!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Hahaha glad that one resonated. Thanks for your kind words, Now let's go get them double kicks!

[@NickAcker]

As someone going through these exact struggles right now, this video is a gem. Lots of great points! (also have that exact same vaati displate, what an awesome piece of art)

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Woah you a Souls fan too? Thanks for sharing your experience and struggles as well. Sorta validates what I went through a little too :) cheers man!

[@carlespitarchcasas]

Thanks a lot!!! You are an inspiration for me, I'm starting double bass from scratch. Greetings from Barcelona!!!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thank you and greetings to you too. Check out all my double bass videos in my playlist kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5C0l4OZiMl5sMU there's about 45minutes worth of double bass content there to give you a good picture and the best exercises. Hope it all helps!

[@-ajms-]

Great video. I love how the dog checked you on at the burnout part 😂

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

😂 Smelling if I'm still alive

[@johnknight9150]

I like your use of illustrations. I have been drumming for twenty years now, and playing double-bass for nineteen of those years. If you are interested in what were my most important findings with foot technique, here they are: 1. Try to emulate the approaches of your hands where possible. It can often help to think of your feet like hands, but most importantly, just as you should try to use your fingers before you use your wrist, before your elbow, before your arm, try to move your toes before your ankle, before your knee, before your leg. You will find different parts of your feet that you had no idea you could use for control, and save energy by not using your leg. You will usually need to use one of the higher, less energy efficient, parts of your legs/feet to get moving, but your toes can usually go from there. 2. There are different elements of physics you can exploit for more efficient movement. Not only is there spring tension, but there is also rebound and gravity. If you are a beginner or intermediate player, chances are that you are missing out on one of these, maybe even two. For instance, have you tried using the weight of your leg to make all the down-strokes with gravity alone, and then just playing the up-strokes to return to the starting position? 3.a. Learn the rudiments on your feet. This sounds like crazy advanced stuff, but it really isn't. Rudiments and stick control exercises will advance your playing much faster than just bashing away at singles and will save you years of practice. The rudiments aren't just for musical phrasing, but they also recalibrate your limb coordination. The only hard part is that you'll need to develop a double-stroke technique, such as heel-toe, slide, or swivel. That might sound like time wasted, but you really should have a double-stroke technique anyway, especially for more advanced single-foot bass drum patterns. 3.b. Be careful with endurance practice. To quote Dom Famularo, 'Speed is simply a matter of technique'. I'm not saying that you _shouldn't_ do endurance runs -- you absolutely should try it sometimes -- but your focus should be more towards technique than muscle strength. If you spend very long periods every day bashing out single strokes to a click, then you will learn to rely on muscle strength and reinforce bad technique. Your focus should be on control, not strength. If you ever get sick or injured, then you will have periods where you can't do intense double-bass workouts and that reliance on strength will fail you, leaving you to have to build it up all over again, and then again, and then again.... If you have technique and control, then strength becomes a very low priority.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

That's a lot of effort, thank you for sharing your experience :)

[@johnknight9150]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ No worries, just glad my enormous post wasn't taken badly! ;-) How far in are you now, years wise? Which techniques are working for you and which aren't?

[@developersmill1193]

Great video!! thank you! What electronic drum set do you have, what is the model? cheers!

[@zioflex8599]

Spot on sir. I've struggled with this and this information is super helpful.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thank you, need anymore help, just say anytime!

[@samuelkdrums]

Really good poins! I am certainly guility of impatience and going from one method to another, will not do that mistake this time! Cheers, Sam

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

I made that mistake before too. I changed my right foot technique from slide to heel toe back to slide, to something else I developed before I finally stuck with it. Glad you took something helpful away, all the best to your progress from here on out :D

[@briiakarii]

Same.

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

*Also might I add, you know how when you sit down and shake your right leg 🦵 normally? I’d start there with both legs because your right 🦵 leg’s heel is BARELY off the ground while you’re shaking it.

[@jaksow738]

The most usefull video about double bass on youtube! thank you!💥 I was fast as 250 bpm when i was young (10 years ago), now i cant play a half i could! Big advice, thank you again!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

You're most welcome, you've already done it once, which is more than most can achieve. I've never achieved 250bpm 😉

[@smilemore3181]

Merci beaucoup! Il avait de très bons conseils et des explications logiques. Un vidéo bienfaits. 👍

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

De rien, j'espère que cela vous aidera !

[@dwwilson1991]

This is exactly what I needed to hear. First time seeing your channel and already subscribed!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Welcome aboard! Hope you took something useful away from this video. and thank you so much!

[@Equinox601]

If you’re using triggers, then what is the point of trying to speed up your singles when it’s possible to get way faster with doubles and heel-toe/bounce technique? Use the loud curve on Roland module to boost the volume. And make sure your pedal is set up for bounce technique by increasing/raising the foot board angle, while tightening the skin on your e.g. KD120. You don’t need a fancy pedal. Old Speed cobra910 is fine.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

😉 kzbin.infoPllECKvwbYY?si=4tF6RDj6deZJqd6B

[@alexk7726]

Thank you!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

you're welcome!

[@lerafa]

excellent advice dude! thanks for giving us your knowledge! great key points you touched on!!!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Hey thanks for showing your appreciation it means a lot!!

[@aaronpulido7049]

Nice one bro! Never stop drumming 🤘

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thanks man, you too!!

[@johnrobertcorney]

Really appreciate the advice amigo

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

No problem 👍

[@Rocksidion]

Are your songs on Apple Music by any chance? I really like the synthwave vibe of this one in your video, and wanted to add it to a playlist.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Hey it's not, and it's not my creation, this one is from epidemic sound.

[@brandonp8198]

Awesome advice!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

That was QUICK 😁 Thanks Brandon for letting me know your thoughts!

[@brandonp8198]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ Not as quick as your feet, lol

[@shahfacekillah]

This is really good advice

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Much appreciated :D

[@sahandrums]

Thanks...Very Helpful!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Glad it helped!

[@parsanchhetri8123]

Thankyou i need to work on it!!!

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

You got this already man. You're working hard and smart :D

[@bhedantsinghsorisori149]

To increase my double bass pedal speed I used the subdivision lader and instead of using my complete leg I started using my toes because I comfortably able to play double bass up to 170 BPM.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Awesome man. It definitely is not easy to hit 170bm :D

[@bhedantsinghsorisori149]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ yes I have achieved the speed for my legs but I am unable to increase my hand speed I am stuck between 160-65 BPM when ever I try to increase BPM by 168 or 170 my hands starts shaking and unable to tolerate the lactic acid tolerance

[@squuuilll]

Any chance showing us how did you set up your double pedal spring tension and angles thanks 🙏

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Spring tension is the only adjustment I make and here's a video about how and why I choose it kzbin.infoAbr1OzI_Ovk?si=rBCUDwCDYxWKCqHB other pedal settings are at stock. Also consider getting a shaft upgrade if you're using a lower end pedal. It makes a huge difference for the left pedal kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZXElJSKpryCnsUsi=4t6H3YBKdIT7d_kp

[@ChicagoSkyliners]

Great video. Love your dogs.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thank you very much!

[@bbj7383]

Very wise video. I've stopped focusing on speed but rather both speed and control, then trying to relax and get in a flow state. Feel this is better then just to focus on hitting that bpm target at all cost. If you manage to get to 200bpm but its sloppy as all F*** then that's no good.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

That's an awesome mindset to have. I wish you all the best of patience and practice on your journey

[@TruePlatform]

Now this was a great video !

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@YigitAcik]

Hey man awesome content definetely among the best in youtube drumming community, i would like to ask when you switch to ankle motion for over 170 180 bpm do you rest your feet on pedal or is it hovering? some seasoned db players says its need to be pedal all the time and use your calves only and some say quiete the opposite needs to float and use mostly shins whats your take on that? i kind of feel like it needs to be both muscle groups and as it needs to get faster i tend to start floating would love to hear whats your approach

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Mine's hovering just a tad as you can see from my video where I show my feet playing at 200bpm 5:35. Both are viable, you just have to choose one and commit to it. The muscle group usage is also dependent on the drummer and not just whether hovering or not, whether it's more calf or more shin being used. There are many drummers who do either and they go way faster than me. So you really just have to decide 1 method and stick to practicing and mastering that. I've been playing heel up ankle technique ever since my single pedal days so that's what I'm sticking with on the double pedals too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKSphYClocuihNE Derek Roddy has a very peculiar right foot hovering while left foot stays close to pedal approach haha. It's a weird mix but it works for him. Just be careful of those guys who say it MUST be a certain way or you're wrong.

[@YigitAcik]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ Good to know man thanks! I guess it's best to look what everyone does as technique and just try to develop your own way as you mentioned. One more question if you will, I currently ran out of my daily ankle motion stamine rather quickly like more than 1 hour a day is very hard for me even if i rest in between is this same for you? The thing is i can play drums 3 even 4 hours with leg motion a day but my ankles seems start losing control when capped around 1 hour thanks man appreciate your efforts.

[@brianbutler307]

Where you playing shenmue?

[@DEMONPLAGUE]

Great video.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thanks!

[@juanmanueldinillo1240]

Marthyn Jovanovic in one of his latest videos, recommends practicing 10 or 20 minutes, 4 times a week

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Yes that's a sound routine :) 4 times will ensure you have 3 days off for the muscles to recuperate and grow. And 10-20 minutes ensures you also workout with just enough intensity but very dependant on your exercises as well. It's what I did for myself every week to get here.

[@juanmanueldinillo1240]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ Another thing I realized is that you don't have to have an expensive pedal to play at extreme speeds. there is a drummer named simone arconda piras who plays at extreme speeds (280 bpm) with chain pedals

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Yes true that :) I'm also using a dw5000 here, chain drive. But the very expensive pedals can be much smoother and it does help people who can't put in as much work

[@Wildoerfaren]

Great video! 🥁

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thank you! Hope you find it helpful

[@ghostcowbo]

For me, im not sure whether I am underpractising. I usually play once every day however whatever I do varies. Sometimes I’ll do your routine, other times I just stick to doing fast 16th notes But while i am still at a low bpm, it is not much of a problem as of now. Can you guess the biggest problem 😉 ?

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

You could be underpracticing if you're not doing a few exercises consistently enough. But you'll know generally if you're not progressing after 3 months and it's not because of fatigue or injury. What's your biggest problem though?

[@ghostcowbo]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ left- however my progress is significant

[@euslipk]

Thank you

[@Q1776Q]

You want to be a massive hard hitting speed metal drummer.... keep you heels up!!!!!!!

[@HugoStiglitz88]

I agree with your last point. Don't stop drumming. Because relearning sucks so much balls is ridiculous lol you can't forget what you could do, and it could take 5 years to return to where you were So don't ever stop or you'll end up like me

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

I did stop once before too for 1 1/2 years. I know how you feel somewhat. Thanks for sharing your journey :) good to know what people go through too!

[@HugoStiglitz88]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ I stopped 10 years. It was rough relearning. So much of your skills just gone

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

You came back even after so long. The passion must run deep for you. Hope you'll find joy in this later part of the journey 🙌

[@ashinarkan1330]

thanx a lot !

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

You're welcome!

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

Honest to God here: I was in a brief 2 week stint with a jerk of a Metalhead who ended up going solo. I WAS doing the right technique when I was drumming ALL along. His complaint? “You’re double bass sounds WAY to soft, hit it harder, use your legs and muscles!” I am now in the process of unlearning what he said. I agree, loosely goosy from now on.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

People who degrade you, make fun of you for not being able to play a certain way don't want the best for you. They want the best for themselves. Glad you got rid of someone like that from your life. My personal experience is that people have told me that I should play a certain way. Many of them don't know shit. But a few were actually really great mentors to me with some clutch advice. The difference was these mentors didn't degrade me, they didn't look down on me, and they genuinely wanted me to succeed and their advice was fitting. They will show up for you if you continue growing. Thanks for sharing here. You got this 💪💯 I believe in you

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ Thank you

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ *Also might I add he now uses FAKE electronic automated double bass drums for his songs.

[@joevisueth]

You have to remember every body’s foot is different you have your own. If you try fo follow any drummer foot position it may not work for you so the more you play the better you learn your own position of your foot and you go on from there

[@YigitAcik]

Teşekkürler.

[@bassmansour7723]

I’m in a similar situation but for a much different reason. I have a disability that affects my legs making my thighs weak and and my calves rendered pretty much useless. I can use double bass and hold my own but it’s a little hard. Any tips?

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

If thighs and calves are out of the pictures, how about your shins? Hopefully they can get something going, I got a video of me using shins too, search my channel for it :)

[@tjbaileymusic]

Just don't worry about being fast and focus on being good

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

super sage wisdom, agreed!

[@jarekpaprota9464]

Hi. I would like to ask you something. My problem is that for some time I have lost control of my feet when playing double bass at high tempos, starting from 180bpm. Some time ago I played at high tempos without any problem and with full control up to 250bpm. Currently, my left foot has become much faster than my right foot, but I don't have as much control over my left foot as I do over my right foot. I also have a problem with starting the play at tempos of 180 bpm and higher. It's not a clean start to the game and starts with some unnecessary double hits. Should be a clean start play 16th note pattern but it's not like that. Can you help me solve this problem, which is incomprehensible to me, why it happened when everything was fine? Maybe a video guide or a set of exercises? I play the ankle technique.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Try working on your upper leg muscles, the thighs and hips, they could be unbalanced, muscles work together in synergy to produce motions, so even though I use a lot of my calf and shin for the faster movements, I know my hips and thighs, even hamstrings help to maintain my balance and stabilization at different tempos. Also the first stroke is always the hardest to control and move. Because the pedal and beater is in a stationary position, when you get it moving past the first stroke, the spring and momentum helps with the other strokes, hence you need more control to be able to start cleanly. The control comes from more muscle power and stability which your right foot has, but not your left. And it also shows when you spasm with the left (unnecesary extra hits). To solve all of that, you need to isolate your muscle groups, ALL of them. and practice them away from the pedals first. Do this to train your shins kzbin.infovxtT_QfSZ8o?si=lpeT9c7P-iQOHwQ9 Do this for your calves and thighs kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl6spmaYftKmgKcsi=HmwoIq8H6nWW_qV1 Aim to get all 3 groups to 180bpm(for 1 min non stop) since that's where you start to have trouble.

[@jarekpaprota9464]

Huge thanks to. I'll start working on it!!!!! I'll be sure to let you know the results. Take care!!!!@@ArtOfDrummingHQ

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Anyway I practice this 4-5x a week and then take a rest on Saturday and Sunday, practice or doing other things and let my leg muscles completely rest and regenerate. I also stretch every night to release tension and help with the recovery process. Looking forward to hearing your progress in 2-3 months

[@jarekpaprota9464]

One more thing I want to ask you about. How much time do you spend on each exercise. I set myself to do each exercise for 5 min.@@ArtOfDrummingHQ

[@awangendahl]

So valuable. For me things really clicked when i was just observing myself in the gym, realizing that, I would never ever work out biceps 5 times a week, anyone that would suggest that would be considered kinda crazy.. and I thought, why would it be different for drums, these muscles need the same and some even more time to recover than a bicep.. :) the level is accelerating very fast since then

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Cool observation. I think gym and fitness and drumming have much in common. They're crazy taxing at the high levels.

[@ratishabraham377]

nice

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Thanks

[@danlc95]

I burned out last week! I had a rehearsal, and all the songs had an AC/DC drum beat to them... I could barely walk.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Take a break and get back to it :) I burnt out like that many times too haha, and one too many which led to injury. Hope you can avoid that, however I also did recover from it !

[@danlc95]

@ArtOfDrummingHQ - Thank you! I was good after a couple days rest. There were times in high school I'd get tendinitis in my wrists, and that would take a little longer to recover from. We get beat up doing this!

[@danlc95]

@ArtOfDrummingHQ - Also, I LOVE the channel. When I was teaching full time (1997-2007) a student lent me Joe Stronsik's (not sure on spelling) "Ballistic Bassdrums" VHS tape. From there I developed a foot technique that gpt me to play 1188 singles / minute on my feet. The technique is very similar to what you're teaching. I had the exact same set of pedals as well - AND I still play them. They even went on tour with me last summer. In my pursuit to remember how I did it, I stumbled on your channel, and you reminded me. The only real difference was that I never isolated the muscles - which is a fantastic idea! I was basically modifying the moeller for the feet. Seriously love the channel, and how you teach. I also LOVED the lively clips where you show a pretend struggle on the e kit. The sound effects are hilarious and I got a good laugh out of them. Keep up the great work and content. You're helping so many drummers. Thank you! Dan

[@wallacebarcelosdrums2661]

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME THAT YOU PLAYED IN THE VIDEO?

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

It's called "sifu". If you're into challenging games like Sekiro, you'll dig this kung fu roguelike ;D

[@thedeceased]

This is the most profound and to the point instruction video for double bass drum I think I ever saw. ...We all have been there I guess.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Cheers! If you need help with double bass, I just released a full practice routine on KZbin, kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX6QiJZsdrSen5Isi=S5GjXT7kdQtgnzf-

[@patrykmrowa7047]

The Bruce Lee of drumming 🙏🏻

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Haha that's a great compliment. I'm really not but thank you nonetheless!

[@MultiEchelon]

😅 say it to John Otto or Matt Greiner

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

😂 everybody is allowed to have their own opinions, cheers!

[@felipemachado9965]

This dude is so based

[@ZoranRadovanovDrums]

I still suck at 110 bpm

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

I remember that point. Try my routines kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX6QiJZsdrSen5Isi=xeaNezzzEgV_S6AO

[@ZoranRadovanovDrums]

@@ArtOfDrummingHQ yep I was doing first version and it was impossible, so you think without pedals is the way?

[@AtanoKSi]

yeah turn's out my foot can't do that, literally I cant put my feet pointing up like ya'll do, what now

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Have you been playing heel down, with the foot on the pedal all the time, and using the front to pressure downwards? If that's the case you can try with developing your thigh and hip muscles playing heel up or whole leg. That will give you the strength eventually. But there's also nothing wrong with playing heel down. Thomas Lang does super double bass heel down too.

[@matrixmodulator]

Align your condenser mic to your mouth it will reduce the room acoustics and lower down that annoying music so we can hear your voice.

[@ArtOfDrummingHQ]

Nice mic tips ;D Try the captions ;)