A couple questions for expert drummers

[Ventura]

Fellas!

I'm getting to the point where I'm about halfway through the solo drum tour on hard, and I'm starting to notice a pattern emerging.

It's the blasted foot pedal. After a couple of hours, my foot is really aching. The songs have me pushing down so much more than ever before, and from what I've seen from youtube vids and all that (azuritereaction, you the man), it's only gonna get more chaotic.

So I wanted to ask about foot placement.

Basically, I play with my heel down at the back of the pedal, and then I just depress the front of my foot to get a hit. Because of this, I find myself having to sit a bit further away from the set than I'd like.

The thing is, if I have two beats in quick succession coming up, I have a really hard time getting both to register. And on long recurring beats, at the end of the section, my foot is seriously aching.

How do the pros do it then? On most of the vids, I see the guy's whole leg go up and down. I've even thought about turning the pedal around and just pushing my heel down to get a hit, but that didn't feel comfortable atall (although granted, I didn't try it for very long).

If it turns out my technique is flawed, it's probably better that I start doing things the right way sooner rather than later. Old habits and all that.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If there are any real experts out there who place their foot as it sounds like I do, I'd like to hear from yas so I know I'm not totally doing things the wrong way.

[Parodygm]

Try using the ball of your foot (the pad just behind your toes). Elevate the back section of your foot above the pedal. In between hits, keep your foot rested on the pedal in a depressed position. When you need to strike, simply raise your foot up and kick down.

I'm not an expert drummer, just find this the best method for me.

[WiseOldUnicorn]

I'm not an expert drummer by any means either (never touched a drumset before Rock Band), but I've found it's easiest for me to play with my heel up and my toes kind of wrapped around the front edge of the pedal. And it's a lot easier on your leg to keep the pedal depressed in between hits.

[erickOnasis412]

i lift my whole leg and press down, and i keep it down during rests (the same way azuritereaction plays in his vids).. that method seems to be very effective for multiple kicks and my leg doesn't get tired at all really.. definitely worth trying out i'd say

[Ventura]

i lift my whole leg and press down, and i keep it down during rests (the same way azuritereaction plays in his vids).. that method seems to be very effective for multiple kicks and my leg doesn't get tired at all really.. definitely worth trying out i'd say

I'm gonna have to force myself to try it this way, seriously. At the rate I'm going I'll have a permanent limp by the time I'm 40 if I don't ;)

[smith5879]

I've played drums before and can play on expert. When I play I keep my toes about an inch from the end of the pedal and keep the heel up. This way works pretty good for me.

[cuddie]

On single bass lines I play like you do: heel down. When beats come up in rapid succession I depress the front of my foot while raising my heel and then come down with the heel. Like a see-saw if you will.

[erickOnasis412]

haha yeah man i hear you.. i think i'm starting to get restless leg syndrome from playing this game so much!

btw, dunno if you saw azurite's video for "outside" but he has a camera set up next to his foot - http://youtube.com/watch?v=1n2ulbEaAXc - check it out.. that's how i play the bass pedal as well and it'll definitely reduce the aches and pain and you'll be able to hit those multiple kicks alot easier!

[WiseOldUnicorn]

haha yeah man i hear you.. i think i'm starting to get restless leg syndrome from playing this game so much!

No kidding...man, I beat GGHT on Hard drums today and I thought my leg was going to fall off halfway through the solo.

[erickOnasis412]

No kidding...man, I beat GGHT on Hard drums today and I thought my leg was going to fall off halfway through the solo.

haha i know.. that song is awesome but so incredibly long.. i dread the fnal tier on expert :eek:

[Paradox]

should be noted that he isn't playing the "rockband pedal" though. Thats a real bass pedal(I think thats what he used)

I don't think one of the RB pedals would last very long with playing like that. I think he's broken two or something like that?

I go with the toes near the very end of the pedal, sometimes over it and use the ball of my foot. I keep the pedal prety much 85% depressed at all times and all it takes is slight movement after that to get it to register rapid quick hits. On a song like GGHT or something I lift my heel for the fast parts and the same with other songs. Just depends on the speed I'll have to use the pedal. Any old double hit i can keep the heel down but if theres a lot of bass going on, the heel will come up.

[Ventura]

haha yeah man i hear you.. i think i'm starting to get restless leg syndrome from playing this game so much!

btw, dunno if you saw azurite's video for "outside" but he has a camera set up next to his foot - http://youtube.com/watch?v=1n2ulbEaAXc - check it out.. that's how i play the bass pedal as well and it'll definitely reduce the aches and pain and you'll be able to hit those multiple kicks alot easier!

Wow, I love how you can see his foot now too. Seriously, his vids are the best. I wish he'd do one for 'When you were young'. Favourite song ever!

It looks like his pedal's modded though, he doesn't seem to have to depress it very far to get a hit. A lot of the time with mine it feels like if I don't let it raise completely up and then back down again it won't register.

I'm definitely gonna have to start keeping my heel up from now on. It's just hurting too much doing it the other way. I guess at first I was worried a lot hearing all the stories about people's pedals breaking, but now I figure, better the pedal than my foot!

[erickOnasis412]

oh yeah, it's an actual kick pedal they modded for the game.. i saw instructions for it somewhere on the forums before.. definitely a great idea!

very true about the plastic pedal not being able to take that kind of punishment forever.. i play in a very similar style to the one in that vid and, knock on wood, i havent run into a problem with the pedal though.. and it is still in good condition (no cracks, no bends, etc), though i am strongly considering reinforcing it before anything does happen because eventually i'm sure it will break no matter what

[cuddie]

He uses whats basically a $2 mod if you have a bass pedal laying around...buy a button, some audio cable, get a box of wood, drill a hole, insert button and wire, connect wire, place pedal on top of button-box, done.

[Quad_Ridin_CPA]

Quick question about the heel-up method though. I'm also about 1/2 way through hard and am really struggling. It seems like when I do heel up that I can't hit double beats fast enough, though I may be doing it wrong. It also seems that all the extra movement makes it more difficult to be precise. Anything on that?

[Jimmik]

It's all about foot placement definitely. As a real drummer, i shift between resting my foot on the pedal and hovering above it in between bass hits.

For really long passages, though, you really need to practice just being able to rest with your foot rested --pressing the pedal down-- as a result from the previous pedal kick, and keep it there until you need to hit again. Then, lift the very back of your foot first, followed by the front end and go back down on the pedal in the opposite way, front and toes first then (if you need to) the back of your foot. When playing notes rapidly, only play with the front end of your foot. It's the easiest way to move your foot quickly enough with the least amount of energy wasted. True drumming secrets!!!

[Grayshadow]

Quick question about the heel-up method though. I'm also about 1/2 way through hard and am really struggling. It seems like when I do heel up that I can't hit double beats fast enough, though I may be doing it wrong. It also seems that all the extra movement makes it more difficult to be precise. Anything on that?

If you're sitting high enough (leg/pedal shouldn't be supporting your weight), you can bounce your leg to get those double beats. I stomp the first beat, use the pedal's rebound to come up quickly, then let my foot fall again - the second hit will be much lighter than the first. Also, to avoid pedal breakage, make sure the ball of your foot is no further up the pedal than the orange line. If pressure is applied above that, the section of plastic between the hinge and the spring will bend and eventually crack/snap.

[SSPWOLF]

As an alternative....

I play completely opposite. Been playing drums for a long time. I sit far away from the drums, rest my heel on the pedal, and keep it in the "up" position. I press just like a gas pedal on a car when I play.

Of course this habit comes from years of playing drums so my leg doesn't get tired, but if I tried to play this kit like I play a real kit I'd be on my 20th kick pedal by now.


Just putting it out there that as far as "technique" is concerned you can still nail 16th notes, etc. no matter which way you play.

Just find a way that's comfortable and won't break your pedal. ;)

[Quad_Ridin_CPA]

Cool, thanks guys!

[Ventura]

I play completely opposite. Been playing drums for a long time. I sit far away from the drums, rest my heel on the pedal, and keep it in the "up" position. I press just like a gas pedal on a car when I play.

Of course this habit comes from years of playing drums so my leg doesn't get tired, but if I tried to play this kit like I play a real kit I'd be on my 20th kick pedal by now.

Just putting it out there that as far as "technique" is concerned you can still nail 16th notes, etc. no matter which way you play.

That's a perspective I'm really glad I heard actually mate.

I've tried playing with the foot up and all that, and it's not so much that I'm worried about breaking the pedal, but I've been playing with the heel down for so long that I'm so used to it.

Thing is, I was worried that I'd been doing it 'wrong', you know. Like a bad habit, a way of playing that'd only mess me up later on because I could only get so good doing it this way.

While my foot does really ache playing heel down, especially now that I'm starting to really get stuck into the hard songs, I'm not so concerned with that though as I know it'll just get stronger with time.

[CENACHAINGANG54]

I have played for a little over 30 years. And all of them I have played with my heal up on complicated beats and fast songs. Using the whole leg (which is what you are seeing on some vids) takes a lot of pressure off of the foot. Plus one you start to feel the music, your limbs seems to start moving with everything. I have played for many bands and I have never had any aches or pains playing this way.

[Wanny1]

definetely keep your foot down on the pedal and move your leg (like azunitereaction).

[Chris_Gonzalez]

I'm stuck on Foreplay/Longtime and Don't Fear the Reaper on Expert Drums (I've beaten everything else in the teir), and I'm still yet to beat Run To The Hills on Hard (Haven't tried in a while, though). Any tips?

[Wanny1]

I'm stuck on Foreplay/Longtime and Don't Fear the Reaper on Expert Drums (I've beaten everything else in the teir), and I'm still yet to beat Run To The Hills on Hard (Haven't tried in a while, though). Any tips?

Are you failing the intro on Foreplay? Because after that the song is pure cake. Focus on the intro and practice it.