LGM
How's everyone? For the past 6 months I have been on a quest to develop my foot (feet) and everything I do (i.e. constant doubles on high tension pedal) doesn't seem to produce results. Does anyone have another practice routine? I'm pursuing solid single and double strokes at a rapid speed.
Thanks and God bless
SIM
As stated before slow control movements to a metronome for EXTENED periods of time. We have covered this in previous topics.. use the LGM Search feature
. Aside from that ...
Use only enough tension that allows the pedal to support you foot/leg. Supper high tension is not going to help your development if you don't already have the control and strength to move it. You are just spinning your wheels. You should be as STRESSS FREE in your movements/muscles as possible. *** If you really watch JOhn Blackwell's DVD you will see that when he really gets going on his right foot he has to take his left foot off the hi-hat pedal to maintain his balance. Sometimes he even moves it behind his throne. This is not a good thing. It shows too much stress and a lack of control. (Truth is what it is... you are supposed to maintain balance on your throne at all times). You need to start paying total attention to form. Feeling the entire movement.
Grab a book like Ron Spagnardi's - Building Bass Drum Technique or Colin Bailey's - Bass Drumm Control or Joe Franco's - Double Bass Drumming and practice the rhythmic patterns. You have to train yourself to play "time" (notation values). There is more to playing than doubles... you have to devolp rhythmic independence and solid timing in the foot. Not to mention dynamics. Steve Smith's DVD - Drumset Technique and the History of the U.S. Beat has some great instruction on foot technique and exercises. Bass Drum and Hi-Hat Technique is another good one.
These are materials that guys like Dennis and Steve Smith etc have used to develop their feet. Even using a basic snare drum book like Ted Reed's Syncopation (Which I often use for myself and my students) playing it totally with my feet is a good start. You must use an organized established rhythmic trainer to fully develop and in the shortest amount of time without rushing the process.
