how to use heel up playing?

[actorial]

can anyone teach me the actual way to practice a heel up technique on the bass pedal? im learn double pedal now and need the correct knowledge to improve...i tried doing slow tempo of double pedal for around 10 mins stright b4 and stop to rest awhile then continue ( cause i was taught to let my leg gain some muscle memory )

is this the correct method ? but wad tabt the foot placement? hmm...heel up but parallel to the ground of heel up as if u r doing some "toe-tipping" ?

need help desprately here...really wanna improve my drum skill here...hope you guys help...

Thanks alots!!!

 

[TequilaSunrise]

What is your current heel up stance?

I use the parallel to ground one, and I basically use a combination of pivoting on the ball of my foot and the toes to create rolls on the bass drum. Important thing is to make sure your pedal allows you to double kick properly. Play around with the springs and the leverage. It will help.

Also check to see if you are sitting correctly. Your whole leg should be in-line with the pedal. That was how I was thought to sit, so your double pedal that one would probably have to do the same too.

 

[actorial]

mine is a DW4002 double pedal...entry-level pedal but it work well for me...hmm...ok...i was taught to use the ball of my leg to play but many ppl todae...guess i'll give it a try for a couple of weeks....

Thanks !!

but still hope more teaching from u guys can come ^ ^

Cheers!

 

[TequilaSunrise]

You know snare drum rudiments?

You can try that too. On the foot pedal that is.

 

[nkf31]

There is not necessarily a right and a wrong technique. But there is one or many that will suit you, and it is a lifelong thing finding them and improving on them.
There are people who lift their heel high up and rest the beater on the head. But i'm trying to learn to let the beater come off the head, and rest the heel on the pedal at the end of each stroke.(and i'm learning to play heel-up as well, since i started heel-down) It's hard to describe, you will have to do some research on your own.

As for the practicing, it's a good idea. There's no necessarily right or wrong way of practicing again. You could do rudiments with your feet too, like tequila says.

Also, are you trying to rush it? i suggest not getting onto a double pedal until you can play with a single pedal confidently.

Lastly, press on! It can take a long time, and that can be frustrating, but the end is pretty worth it!

 

[drummar-buah]

i oso used to play heel down.. now realising how much better heel up is after much debate and little experience.. now must work extra hard just for heel ups.. and by double pedaling suck man.. i can't seem to do heel up for double pedaling.. bloody.. okok one at a time.. patience.. okok.. *deep breath..*

 

[nkf31]

i actually still like heel-down lots (and i think it is true that if you start heel-down it's easier to progress to heel up, but not vice versa). trying to do heel-up more often so i can do some doubles. but i still fall back on heel-down almost everytime i play haha.

btw drummer-buah, i'm no double pedaller (perhaps one-day), but perhaps you might want to find your balance? because when you do heel up double bass most likely you will be resting almost all your weight on the booty? i think steve smith suggested that perhaps hold onto your hihat and floor tom when practicing slowly to get the motion first, before moving on.

 

[drummar-buah]

oooo. well i don't have a problem with balance.. i just have some retarded legs that's all.. haha i'm just gonna go practice and develop my muscle memory..

 

[legin]

its easier to do a double wit ur heel up and do it fast as well.i've played all the way wit my heel up.its best that way.your legs wont get tired.

 

[distorted_soul]

ok basically using heel up helps u go real fast alternates... but heel down double pedalling helps u accent notes... that sorta thing... u can try alternating and playing around.... using heel up is basically abt spreading the work to ur thighs and calfs and also dont sit too far in on ur throne...

 

[chud]

about the double pedallin, i learnt somewhere on the internet that as you go faster, you use less muscle power. so when youre hitting fast bass notes, it might help if you use the area in between your toes and the ball of your feet. (just like when u do rudiments, you move from the forearm muscle all the way to the fingers, as you gain speed).

just sharing my knowledge. what yall think?

 

[actorial]

hmm...after so many reply...i tried to play and i found my a way that suit me quite well and which is wad distorted_soul said b4, alternate around with heel up and down considering wad type of songs u r playing and even for some fast songs...leave ur heel up for some fast playing and some time heel down when ur thigh are stress up or so...

that's wad i realise after some long practice on my double pedalling ^ ^ hope im improving some more ^ ^

Cheers!!

 

[drummar-buah]

ok basically using heel up helps u go real fast alternates... but heel down double pedalling helps u accent notes... that sorta thing... u can try alternating and playing around.... using heel up is basically abt spreading the work to ur thighs and calfs and also dont sit too far in on ur throne...

hmmm that's untrue to an extent. u can do accented notes with heel up double pedaling, if u can't that means u lack of control. i hope i didn't offend u man. just my thoughts.

 

[distorted_soul]

ahaha... nope u didnt... its just my style that way, to alternate... i got those tips from a really old mike potnoy tape my dad had... like i'll speed, then heel down suddenly to give the extra accent then switch back... real fun to play... yeap....

 

[Funkifized]

Practice heel down to get your ankles working, then when u use heel up, you'll fly.

Heel up is all about the ankles and just a little bit of legs, IMO.

 

[BebopIggy]

can anyone teach me the actual way to practice a heel up technique on the bass pedal? im learn double pedal now and need the correct knowledge to improve...i tried doing slow tempo of double pedal for around 10 mins stright b4 and stop to rest awhile then continue ( cause i was taught to let my leg gain some muscle memory )

is this the correct method ? but wad tabt the foot placement? hmm...heel up but parallel to the ground of heel up as if u r doing some "toe-tipping" ?

need help desprately here...really wanna improve my drum skill here...hope you guys help...

Thanks alots!!!

Hi actorial,

Have you heard of heel-toe mehtod? This is technique that combines both heel-up and heel-down playing. Once you have learned this technique, you can use one foot to play fast straight 16ths. Just imagine when your other leg also learn this technique?

You can check other Steve Smith's latest DVD on this topic. Also, buy BASS DRUM CONTROL by COLIN BAILEY for an explanation and exercises on bass drum playing.

cheers....