Double bass, BIG problems

[trilobite]

Background: I used to play the drums but for the last couple of years I've been a guitar player only. Now my drummer friend in my band has moved and might not be able to continue with the band. So I might have to play the drums.

So... I dug out my old double pedal (an old Pearl Eliminator chain drive), my cymbals etc. and set everything up, oiled the pedal etc. And after 30 minutes or so, my hands felt pretty good. They remember what it was like and I can still play pretty much as I used to.

But my feet... NO. NOT AT ALL.

I cannot play the bass drum properly at all. Even when my feet move fast enough, the beaters will NOT strike the drum. I used to play a lot of heel-toe, but now... forget it. Impossible.

The thing is, I feel like I remember the movements just fine. I remember what it felt like, and how my feet should move. But the beaters don't cooperate one bit. I tried messing a bit with pedal settings, but didn't have much luck.

I feel like there's a few problems:

1) After striking the bass drum head once, there's a short period of time where another hit with the same pedal just will not happen. Fast-ish double strokes just don't work, the second hit doesn't land.

2) When I try to go faster, the beaters are out of control, swinging like crazy and hitting the top of my feet which HURTS.

3) The slave pedal has a bad lag to it. It has nowhere near the same feel and response as the main pedal.

I don't know what to do. I thought with some practice I could do this, but now it feels like it's not gonna happen.

 

[iCe]

I didn't play for a few years during my studies and picked it up after that. To say my playing was rusty is an understatement. Did take me a year or so to be back in shape.
The project i played in took a 6 month break while looking for a new rehearsal space and didn't sit down behind a kit until a few weeks ago. Also feel laggy. Parts that i played easily now are a challenge again.

It will come back to you after a while

 

[OHD]

Take it easy and have fun. You're not gonna be able to do it full speed from day one.
If you pay attention while you play it will eventually come back, as iCe says.

 

[Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX]

sounds to me like some mechanism in the pedal is not working correctly to be having that much trouble...is a spring miss-set? Are they hooked to the drum rim properly?

 

[JimmyM]

We talked about this once a few months ago, and it turned out the guy was lifting his foot off the pedal. Not saying you’re doing it, but if you are, don’t

 

[C. Dave Run]

1) After striking the bass drum head once, there's a short period of time where another hit with the same pedal just will not happen. Fast-ish double strokes just don't work, the second hit doesn't land.

Check your settings and fasteners and make sure everything is tight.

2) When I try to go faster, the beaters are out of control, swinging like crazy and hitting the top of my feet which HURTS.

Are your feet coming off the footboard as @JimmyM alluded to? And don't be a sissy lol .

3) The slave pedal has a bad lag to it. It has nowhere near the same feel and response as the main pedal.

A worn driveshaft will cause this. Grab the secondary pedal by its cam. With your other hand, try to move the secondary beater. Does it move but the cam not?

One other thought, you have a PEBDAT (Problem Exists Between Drums And Throne) issue.

 

[Moejo]

Unwanted bass bounce. I had this issue on my 24". I solved it by porting the reso and allow the air to move out of the port hole. If your heads are not ported, and you like the sound of non ported, youll have to get used to that feel again. Otherwise, port the heads and itll go away.

 

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

Double Trouble.

I guess what's not been mentioned yet is placement of the foot board.

Personally, I play barefoot, so it's an even bigger deal

 

[JJKK]

Background: I used to play the drums but for the last couple of years I've been a guitar player only. Now my drummer friend in my band has moved and might not be able to continue with the band. So I might have to play the drums.

So... I dug out my old double pedal (an old Pearl Eliminator chain drive), my cymbals etc. and set everything up, oiled the pedal etc. And after 30 minutes or so, my hands felt pretty good. They remember what it was like and I can still play pretty much as I used to.

But my feet... NO. NOT AT ALL.

I cannot play the bass drum properly at all. Even when my feet move fast enough, the beaters will NOT strike the drum. I used to play a lot of heel-toe, but now... forget it. Impossible.

The thing is, I feel like I remember the movements just fine. I remember what it felt like, and how my feet should move. But the beaters don't cooperate one bit. I tried messing a bit with pedal settings, but didn't have much luck.

I feel like there's a few problems:

1) After striking the bass drum head once, there's a short period of time where another hit with the same pedal just will not happen. Fast-ish double strokes just don't work, the second hit doesn't land.

2) When I try to go faster, the beaters are out of control, swinging like crazy and hitting the top of my feet which HURTS.

3) The slave pedal has a bad lag to it. It has nowhere near the same feel and response as the main pedal.

I don't know what to do. I thought with some practice I could do this, but now it feels like it's not gonna happen.

Pedal might need maintenance. Also, double pedals require consistent work. 80 to 100 bpm, triplet 8ths, 16ths and 16th triplets. Control is key.

 

[Bo Eder]

I think you should try the obvious approach: go to a store and try out a new double pedal set, if you can do it there, it’s the pedals. If you can’t do it there, it’s you and you’re gonna have to put the time back in to get to where you were.

It’ll also be a great idea to just get a new set of pedals.

 

[alparrott]

I've found that of everything I do or have done on the drums, double bass drumming has atrophied the quickest. I have been doing a lot of single pedal playing the last couple of years; when I started playing with my new band, I realized I was way out of practice. And that's the solution: practice.