Physical Drum Technique

[mattdude]

Does anybody have any pointers/suggestions for physical technique with the drums to make specifically the bass a little less fatiguing? Also, a little easier to tap quickly? I am pretty solid on medium, but when I make the jump to hard it's a huge jump. I can do some songs, but the hardest drum song i can manage on hard is Boston. Queens of the stone age's song on hard is downright crude. Also, in order for me to be comfortable with my bass drum peddle, the drums have to be really far away. i'm only 5'11", so i don't think that's the problem. my leg is pretty much at 90. Obviously i leave my foot down after each bass hit (took me 1 song to realize that, lol). Any ideas? I've played gh since day one 3 years ago and i play expert so i'm solid on guitar, and so a little bored of it. I'm definitely the best of my friends on drums, and i really enjoy drums a lot, so i wanna get better at them (and be able to get fans in multiplayer).

Yes, i ramble between thoughts while posting. sorry, thanks for any help.

[Rogue42]

What I do with the foot pedal is a little unorthodox, and it's definitely not really great drumming technique, but it's infinitely more comfortable for me, and it suits my natural leg movement better.

I had a headset extension cable lying around so I use that to give me plenty of slack with the foot pedal. I actually turn the pedal around so the "raised" portion is near me and the hinge is towards the drum set. My toes rest at the base of the hinge and my heel sort of comfortable hovers over the pedal. The pedal itself is fairly close to the chair/stool I use.

This makes the bass pedal motion a leg drop rather than an ankle push, which is much more comfortable, less straining, and much more natural for me. It took about three or four songs to get used to it being flipped around after I tried it, but I haven't switched it back since.

The only catch is learning a bad technique for real drums, unless a reversed-kick pedal exists... and that's only a problem should I ever decided to try my hand at set.

[knick9mm]

I just had to find a comfortable spot for me to play in. I then started playing the drums while sitting on my bed and it's great. I'm starting to get real good at medium and my calf no longer becomes tired or starts to hurt. I also keep my foot more towards the end of the pedal

[HMXDave]

What I do with the foot pedal is a little unorthodox, and it's definitely not really great drumming technique, but it's infinitely more comfortable for me, and it suits my natural leg movement better.

I had a headset extension cable lying around so I use that to give me plenty of slack with the foot pedal. I actually turn the pedal around so the "raised" portion is near me and the hinge is towards the drum set. My toes rest at the base of the hinge and my heel sort of comfortable hovers over the pedal. The pedal itself is fairly close to the chair/stool I use.

This makes the bass pedal motion a leg drop rather than an ankle push, which is much more comfortable, less straining, and much more natural for me. It took about three or four songs to get used to it being flipped around after I tried it, but I haven't switched it back since.

The only catch is learning a bad technique for real drums, unless a reversed-kick pedal exists... and that's only a problem should I ever decided to try my hand at set.

Wow, that's strange. I've never heard of someone doing that. I don't think they make any real kick pedals like that, but who knows? The one-armed guy from Def Leopard had a kit custom made so he could play it.

In response to the first guy, what do you sit on while you play? A chair or a stool? I find being up higher makes the kick pedal much more comfortable to use. I sit on a tall stool so that my knees are lower than my hips. My knee is bent at an angle greater than 90 degrees. Maybe 105-110 degrees. That way, doing the toe tap motion is much easier and more comfortable. I hope that helps.

[v0lum3]

Well if you play GH on Expert then I'm sure you went through the forearm and hand pains when you made your way to expert... it's no different on the drums, they'll go away it just takes time and practice.

While you're playing, however, if you're having troubles with the pain hold on to your overdrive and take the rests when it passes, this can help you get through tough songs while still getting your work out.

My wife wanted to try that flipped drum pedal thing... I wouldn't let her, just makes no sense, and encourages you to stomp on the pedal (which is not what you want to be doing)

Keep your foot down all the time and only lift it for the note you need, and don't use your whole let, just the calf, it'll burn and hurt for a few weeks but then you'll be fine.

[Rogue42]

Wow, that's strange. I've never heard of someone doing that. I don't think they make any real kick pedals like that, but who knows? The one-armed guy from Def Leopard had a kit custom made so he could play it.


No doubt it's odd, but what can I say... I'm progressing much quicker than I expected with drumming, so the kick hasn't been hindering me at all, aside from those real quick double beats that I can't imagine being very possible the other way around, anyway.


My wife wanted to try that flipped drum pedal thing... I wouldn't let her, just makes no sense, and encourages you to stomp on the pedal (which is not what you want to be doing).


*shrug* Don't knock it 'til you try it. My leg hasn't decided to sporadically stomp on the pedal yet, and I don't expect it to do so. The reason it works for me is probably partially due to the fact that I have some sort of "bouncy leg" syndrome. At work, a restaurant, the movies... my legs just naturally bounce while on the toes. My foot never leaves the pedal, so there's never much to recoil from.

To each their own, though... What works for me won't work for everyone.

[eminentgonz]

Interestingly enough, my body is naturally adjusting to drums. My hands are slackening and my leg is naturally adjusting to the right place where I can hit the kickpedal for extended periods of time without any pains.

http://www.rockdrummingsystem.com/underground/drum-articles/proper-posture-for-drummers.php
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:XeMoEG0m5CoJ:www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php%3Ftopic_id%3D26059037%26union_id%3D1 3684+how+to+sit+at+drums+kick+pedal&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[TheBEAST205]

Yea, I had to adjust the bass pedal a little (I'm '6''3). Instead of putting it on the bar in front of the drums, I put it outside. It's so much more comfortable, the only down side is that the pedal can slide of some songs when you use it a lot.

[lprchaun]

does anybody else out there fear the next generation of kids with small left legs and Popeye sized right shin muscles?

[eminentgonz]

I'm hoping the next generation of kids grows up and actually learns real instruments after playing rhythm games enough.

[sambao21]

My problem with playing the drums is that I have a hard time keep the beat on the really fast punk songs like Day Late Dollar Short by Acrobats. I went into practice to practice the intro, and I can deal with the song on 80% speed, but when I kick it up to 90% or 100%, I can't keep the beat. My leg tends to get off beat, and then I try to adjust, and my hand gets off beat. It's so frustrating. And this was on Easy. Its as if my brain is just ******ed when trying to do it too fast. I can get 5 stars on all the other songs on Easy.

[MarcoPoko]

What I did was removed the front support bar completely. That allowed me to put the pedal on the back support bar. It was enough of a change that definitely helped out my Anterior Tibialis/Peroneal muscles from the awkward position. It doesn't seem to make much of a stability issue to the stand without that support bar. But yeah if your a crazy thrasher and bang the crap out of you pads you might not to use this solution.

[v0lum3]

My problem with playing the drums is that I have a hard time keep the beat on the really fast punk songs like Day Late Dollar Short by Acrobats. I went into practice to practice the intro, and I can deal with the song on 80% speed, but when I kick it up to 90% or 100%, I can't keep the beat. My leg tends to get off beat, and then I try to adjust, and my hand gets off beat. It's so frustrating. And this was on Easy. Its as if my brain is just ******ed when trying to do it too fast. I can get 5 stars on all the other songs on Easy.

... Headphones ;) That's my secret, if you can't hear when your hands are off beat it's easier to keep them on beat. You also kind of need to drive the beat, stay just ahead of the beat and then you won't miss very often.

And another solution is to play something even faster and try to keep up... you won't be able to, but when you slow back down to the song that was giving you trouble you'll be able to pull it off.

[AdamWill2]

second the headphones suggestion.

[Angelex21]

Err. I don't knwo how to explain how i use the pedal. But, I'll try to. Well I sit on my bad which makes me about Belly-Button high to the bottom of the pads. For the pedal I have the one without the real drum thing i have teh one with the car pedal ir resembles most. Well, The way i pedal ranges from just below the orange line to the tips of my toes barely hanging off the top tedge of the pedal. I bring me heel up first. The tips of my toes move up maybe like an inch or so maybe less then i bring botht he them down and my toes and heel hit the pedal at the same time. And for timing i usualy try to lift up my leg one note before the orange line and for the fast one i barely even toch it down before i lift and hit again.

[mattdude]

thanks everyone, this has definitely helped. I'm gonna try resting on the ball of my foot ont he peddle and doing a leg drop deal.. unfortunately i don't actually own the game, my buddy does. but hopefully i'll get back over there tonight.

[Wolfkiller]

It helps me to play barefoot (and in my undies, but that isn't the point...)

I like to curl my toes over the top of the foot pedal and sorta grip it. Keep it semi-compressed until you need to use it. The toe-grab lets you kinda pull it up and back down quickly for the faster songs.

Still trying to disconnect my hands from my feet though. Major props to real drummers out there, this stuff ain't easy!!

[CoolAunt]

I need help too....I'm a short women 5' can't find a stool or chair that's low enough. The table idea kills my back. Any ideas?

[wampdawg]

I need help too....I'm a short women 5' can't find a stool or chair that's low enough. The table idea kills my back. Any ideas?

You may try taking a wooden stool and cutting the legs down to where you are comfortable. I have tried using a folding chair but it feels to low for me. I have been setting in an office chair that is height adjustable......now if only it didn't roll.

[schmitty]

My problem with playing the drums is that I have a hard time keep the beat on the really fast punk songs like Day Late Dollar Short by Acrobats. I went into practice to practice the intro, and I can deal with the song on 80% speed, but when I kick it up to 90% or 100%, I can't keep the beat. My leg tends to get off beat, and then I try to adjust, and my hand gets off beat. It's so frustrating. And this was on Easy. Its as if my brain is just ******ed when trying to do it too fast. I can get 5 stars on all the other songs on Easy.
What I do with that is on the RY beat I hit down with my other foot so Im like alternating hits with my foot on beats. So on just yellow I hit down the orange and yellow together and when I have the yellow red beat right after that I hit down with my left foot. It helps me keep the beat alot more. After awhile you won't need to doit that much. Im working on hard now and now Im not doing it as much but Ill still do it when I cant do it without it.

[futant420]

I need help too....I'm a short women 5' can't find a stool or chair that's low enough. The table idea kills my back. Any ideas?

The ideal solution would be a drum throne but failing that, perhaps an ottoman or footstool?

[0tj]

The only catch is learning a bad technique for real drums, unless a reversed-kick pedal exists... and that's only a problem should I ever decided to try my hand at set.

Lol, unless you are sitting on the bass.

Anyway, I personally sit far away (i'm like 5'2''). My leg is at like a 120 degree angle.

[kcohen1017]

My problem is something I'm sure the developers never considered. I have both plantar faciaitis and peripheral neuropathy, which when combined make repetitive motion of the ankle, well, a challenge...

While it's true that some days are better than others, mostly I have to stop playing the drums after a few songs as my foot from the toes to mid-calf literally feels as if its burning. This has become a big dissapointment not only to myself but also to my son, who loves playing RB with his goofy old man.

Is there a way to tell the game that I don't want to have to play the bass? I could play for hours if I could just play the pads.

I've tried everything I can think of as far as playing postion and such. Does anyone have an idea?

Thank you. :)

[jeccaneko]

You also kind of need to drive the beat, stay just ahead of the beat and then you won't miss very often.

It helps to look ahead. In rhythm games I tend to keep my eyes about halfway up (or down, for games like Boom Boom Rocket) the screen. That way your brain knows what you're doing a little before you need to do it.

[0tj]

Stand on the edge of an elevated platform with the balls of your feet and your toes supporting you. Then stand on your tippy toes and go up and down repeatedly.


........................| |
........................| |
........................(your foot)__________
_______________________|................|

Go up to your tippy toes and back down
Repeat many times

Ignore the periods, they are spaces.