Double Bass (Specifically heel-toe) videos, as requested...

[Darkslide632]

... Ok, so I finally got around to getting my stuff here and having my camera on hand and figured I would start with the videos. Keep in mind that this is the first time I have had the chance to touch my kit in 2 weeks, so I am not exactly in top form.

Video 1 - This is just the basic movement of my heel-toe technique. Notice my Heel is not all the way on the footboard (For all of you who say you can't do heel-toe due to having big feet).

Video 2 - Same deal, but with the left foot. Notice that my foot position does not change when I switch between doubles and singles.

Video 3 - Singles to doubles, up to speed (Right around 246-250bpm). This is a bit sloppy, but it was one of the first things I recorded. The second half of the video was recorded much later after I had warmed up, and the heel-toe position is much more natural.

Video 4 - Using doubles and singles in a song. I use this beat in our song "Product of Sin" where I use a double with my right foot and a single with my left foot to create a "gallop". You can hear me slapping my thigh because I don't have a snare to beat on

Video 5 - Adding 32nd notes to straight 16th note double bass.

Video 6 - Just trying some different patterns using heel-toe... from the drivers seat (Sorry for the camera shake) I'm not sure what they're called... Swiss Triplets? I switch back and forth between them and straight 16ths (Sloppy though they may be). Anyway, just an example of what you can do. I am actually trying to see if I can learn to play the intro to Hot For Teacher with my feet rather than relying on my hands using this kind of technique.

Video 7 - This is a video just to prove that it is not really possible for your feet to be too big to do heel-toe/double strokes with your feet.

Video 8 - This is a quick video with setup suggestions for heel-toe work. This is what I think is the best starting point for learning heel-toe and how I go about getting my pedal into that position. Unfortunately some pedals are not going to allow you this much flexibility, but hopefully it will give you some ideas.

As of right now (Friday August 19th) I have my bass drums, my pedals and my camera all here at my apartment... so if anyone has any specific requests, lets hear them.

[Eraserhead]

Those were great, do you think you can do a kinda long video explaining with words and pointing to the areas that one should focus on to master this technique? Each time I try to learn it I don't go far before my ankles and the muscles in front tense up and barely move.

[Motorbreath]

awsome videos man. Thanks for posting these!

[TheAnt]

Excellent post. Very informative! Thanks man

[Teapot Man]

Nice work.


I'm trying to bring my left foot up to speed with my right at the moment, taking some time.

[Darkslide632]

Just added another video.

This one is for those people who say they can't do heel-toe because their feet are too big.

At the end of the video when I pick the camera up, the only thing on the pedal is my big toe.

Video 7

Edit: I will try to put together another video touching on some of the finer details of playing. I am not sure how much good I will do... but I will give it a shot.

[nevDRUM]

Good informative posts dude. Rep for you.

[broke]

That's awesome! REP

[Blindside]

Dayum!

[\m/bostongirl\m/]

Very cool stuff. I was just wondering... Is normal when you first start heel-toe that the front of you legs and the muscles just above the ankles burn pretty bad or am I doing something wrong?

[Blue Flame Drums]

Do you actually use your heel and toe?

[drumm55insane]

Alright my problem, and I am sure many others have it, is yes, I can easily do a double stroke, but I can't keep it flowing (like the JoJo mayer video). What do you suggest to work on for that?