[FourPieceMetal]

Just recently I made an exercise for my double bass drumming, heel up. And, I can go up to 225 bpm 16th notes. But, when I do it, my thighs start to tense up, where they feel as if they're about to cramp. I read online that fast heel up involves more ankle than leg, but the only trouble with that is, I can go faster using my full leg than I can using my ankles, and also I've been advised to stay away from just using my ankles, cuz it sounds sloppy, and quieter. Has anyone else experienced thighs tensing up while doing double bass and do you get used to it/ does it go away? If not, can you give me pointers on how to maybe play it so that my thighs don't feel like I'm about to get a thigh-positioned charlie horse? lol!!! Thank You.

[jimmyjam]

FourPieceMetal, on 13 August 2011 - 07:30 PM, said:

Just recently I made an exercise for my double bass drumming, heel up. And, I can go up to 225 bpm 16th notes. But, when I do it, my thighs start to tense up, where they feel as if they're about to cramp. I read online that fast heel up involves more ankle than leg, but the only trouble with that is, I can go faster using my full leg than I can using my ankles, and also I've been advised to stay away from just using my ankles, cuz it sounds sloppy, and quieter. Has anyone else experienced thighs tensing up while doing double bass and do you get used to it/ does it go away? If not, can you give me pointers on how to maybe play it so that my thighs don't feel like I'm about to get a thigh-positioned charlie horse? lol!!! Thank You.

Well I'm no authority on this for sure,but here's something to consider. Make sure u sit high enough to where ur thighs are at least level or with slight angle down! ( meaning ur butt is slightly higher than ur knees)! Next put the ball of ur feet on what I call, and others call the sweet of the pedal! For me it's about 1/3 of the way up on the pedal, which is slightly below 1/2 way! You probably already know that! I'm just saying!! One thing to think about also, is don't lean back, but more straight up! When you find the sweet spot on the pedal, practice as fast as you can without tensing up ur thighs!! It's just like with single strokes with hands, it takes a while to work up the speed! It will come! Those muscles will develope! Best I can do, but there's alot of good double bass people here, so I hope they respond to you! Oh and one more thing, check out Tim Waterson on YouTube or buy his videos! I think he is still the record holder of somewhere around 1200 bpm

This post has been edited by jimmyjam: 14 August 2011 - 04:22 AM

[Evmeh1303]

I think you should bump the speed down a little bit and just work on endurance that way your thigh muscles will get used to the strain a bit more and when you kick up the speed the tension should be less. This is what I did but everyone's different so it might not have the same results for you.

[birkabirkowski]

When I started, I literally fell out off of my throne and thought I was going to die because I was trying to use my thighs too much... When I double bass, personally, I use mostly my shin/calf muscles. Try scooting yourself a little bit closer to your kit and make your thighs move a little closer in. It'll make your thighs not do as much work, since they aren't stretching out (at least, that's what it did for me). Don't get too close though, because then you'll be cutting down on your speed.

Of course, is only a suggestion, you don't have to listen to the way I do it. Whatever feels comfortable and works

This post has been edited by birkabirkowski: 14 August 2011 - 04:34 PM

[FourPieceMetal]

I found the answer. Start wearing shoes when trying it. LOL. Goodbye, barefoot double bass. You will be missed. But, seriously. . . it's weird. For some reason, when I put shoes on, it stops putting pressure on my thighs, and it puts more on my shins and calves. Guess that's the way I'll do it from now on, though.

[FourPieceMetal]

Question! I recently got used to transitioning to my ankles to play fast double bass, which everyone says is the right thing to do, so I'm not upset abt it. lol. But, I'm noticeably a bit quieter when I play fast now. Is that normal? I'm not recording for bands or anything, so I'm not asking if I should get triggers, but, just wondering if getting quieter while paying double bass at fast speeds is normal.

Off-topic: I don't expect anyone really to care (lol) but I got a new avatar, if no one noticed. It's my favorite drummer of all time, the guy who's my biggest drumming influence: Jason Costa from All That Remains.

[Kikunan]

FourPieceMetal, on 10 October 2011 - 01:13 PM, said:

Question! I recently got used to transitioning to my ankles to play fast double bass, which everyone says is the right thing to do, so I'm not upset abt it. lol. But, I'm noticeably a bit quieter when I play fast now. Is that normal? I'm not recording for bands or anything, so I'm not asking if I should get triggers, but, just wondering if getting quieter while paying double bass at fast speeds is normal.

Off-topic: I don't expect anyone really to care (lol) but I got a new avatar, if no one noticed. It's my favorite drummer of all time, the guy who's my biggest drumming influence: Jason Costa from All That Remains.

Yeah getting quieter as you get faster is pretty normal. That's part of the reason people playing in bands get triggers anyway. A lot of those metal drummers flying over 300-400bpm are hitting the drums so lightly you wouldn't be able to hear the bass very well if they weren't triggered. At least that is what my Drum teacher I used to have told me.

[abacacus]

I've yet to hear anyone play anywhere near 400 BPM O_O

Yeah, it's pretty normal to lose power if you use ankles. Smaller muscles. With time you should be able to get most of it back. One thing to keep in mind though is that there is no "right" way, it's all about what works for you. Do what your most comfortable doing.

[Kikunan]

abacacus, on 10 October 2011 - 05:12 PM, said:

I've yet to hear anyone play anywhere near 400 BPM O_O

Yeah, it's pretty normal to lose power if you use ankles. Smaller muscles. With time you should be able to get most of it back. One thing to keep in mind though is that there is no "right" way, it's all about what works for you. Do what your most comfortable doing.

Isn't the world record like over 1200 or something absurd like that?

This post has been edited by Kikunan: 10 October 2011 - 07:36 PM

[abacacus]

hits per minute, thats 300 bpm.

[Kikunan]

Yeah that does make a lot more sense now that I think about it

[abacacus]

Kikunan, on 10 October 2011 - 07:47 PM, said:

Yeah that does make a lot more sense now that I think about it

The dude that did that, Mike Mallais, lives right near me. He is bloody insane. His hands are stupid fast and tight as well.