The primary characteristic of a bass drum is that it produces indefinite or low-pitched sound. We can generally classify them into concert bass drum, pitched bass drum, and the kick drum. As the name suggests, concert bass are used in concerts or orchestras. The kick drum is, usually, seen on drum kits. It is attached to a pedal and is stuck with a beater to generate music. Marching bands and drum corps use the pitched bass.
When two bass drums are used operated by each foot it is called the Double bass drum. It was used as early as in the 1940s and 1950s. Louie Bellson, a jazz drummer, first formulated the idea of using two bass drums. He was in the high school then. Earlier, two pre-tuned bass drums were used as a double bass drum. Later on, with cost of electronic extension getting lower, double pedal was employed. Now, the tuning has also become easier.
Ray McKinley and Ed Shaugnessy were the first to use the double bass drums in jazz concerts. However, Ginger Baker of Keith Moon of the Who, created public approval for them. Music is a form of experimentation, and drummers are no slouch in using trial and error method in creating new and exciting beats.
Drummers have used two different tuning for each bass drum. They also have tried working with two drum beaters with more than two pedals.
Double bass drums have been popular with some form of extreme punk, heavy metal and jazz. Both, heel-up and heel-down methods are being used in playing double bass. A difficult technique to use is the heel-toe technique. Here the first note of the composition is played with the heel, with the feet being suspended over the footboard.
For the budding drummers the tip is to develop the technique of playing the double bass drum in the right way. This would save valuable practice time in the future for the drummer, both novice and intermediate alike. If a beginner can learn around 20 drum beating techniques from an experienced drummer he can then progressively build up his drum skill.
This also helps in building up the speed drumming process. Not only experienced drummers can help an aspiring drummer but there are video tutorials also which can help improve the double bass drums beating skill.
Here are some important points related to double bass drumming techniques:
- Heel-down is harder to accomplish than heel-up technique. It also is harder to gain speed with this technique.
- It is difficult to not find the sweet spot and still attain the maximum speed. To find it, one needs to find the center of the pedal and then need to place the groove between the toes and the foot.
- One of the better ways to attain the balance of playing double bass drums is to sit up straight.
- Another proper way is to find out the proper muscle position while playing the drum for a long time. Some postures will help the drummer to play for a long time with less exhaustion.
- Ordinary calf raises is a good exercise to help in getting strength in the calf-muscle area.
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Filed under Used Drum Kits Articles by on Sep 15th, 2010. Comment. 
Transcription software is a valuable learning tool for any drummer, and it’s often much more fun to work with than a one-dimensional drum book. You see, the software isn’t just intended for putting pencil to paper: today’s software is ideal for play-a-long and analysis purposes.
For example, most drummers like the idea of learning from cds, but often have trouble playing along with the recordings because of the up-tempo nature in which the tracks are recorded. Transcription software enables you to slow down a recording, while adjusting the pitch, and then, if you want, you can export multiple repetitions of a complete song or highlighted selection to an iPod or CD for use in your practice studio.
Practicing a groove or figure at a comfortable tempo puts you in a position to learn and play it with relaxation and confidence. This is paramount. Why? Because when you’re practicing in a relaxed and focused manner you’re practicing mastery and not tension. Tension is what you’re practicing when you’re trying to play a grove or figure at a tempo faster than your current level. It’s always best to play whatever you’re practicing in a relaxed manner, because this creates a positive spillover into every musical situation you’ll find yourself. This also applies to slow selections, which may create trouble. If a groove is too slow for you to play with mastery, speed it up to where you can learn it with relaxation and mastery and then go back and slow it back down to its initial recorded tempo.
Two of the most utilized transcription software products on the market are Transcribe (Mac) and Riffster (PC). After downloading and installing the software, you’ll find the processes of adjusting the pitch, tempo, and exporting the music to a CD or iPod to be fairly intuitive.
It’s important to adjust the tempo to a setting that will allow you to clearly understand the figures you’ll be asked to play. Start slowly and then gradually adjust the temp to where you see fit. After you become proficient, steadily increase the tempo until you can play the selection in real-time. You’ll find that by practicing slowly and then gradually increasing the tempo, you’ll play the music with much more confidence, relaxation, and conviction.
Here’s a video of me playing a Charlie Parker solo that I learned with this methodology: www.beyonddrumlessons.com
Another feature of this process is that you can highlight a specific section of a tune that is giving you trouble, and work on that section exclusively. You can even loop it and listen to it over and over while resting. Slowing a figure or pattern way down increases your ability to really hear how the instruments of the drum kit are interrelating. And, by listening to something in a repetitive way, it really hammers the sounds into your head and body, which is where you want the music. You can have great chops, but if you don’t have the music in your mind, body, and soul, the chops are useless and unmusical.
About the Author:
Stephen Flinn is a postmodern improviser, drummer, and percussionist who has performed throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States with many notable internationally recognized musicians. He is based in scottsdale music lessons, phoenix music lessons and arizona drum lessons where he operates a thriving teaching practice and recording studio. Visit his website at www.beyonddrumlessons.com
Filed under Used Drum Kits Articles by on Sep 17th, 2010. Comment.
