Foot machine
The foot pedal is used to the big drum ( bass drum ) or Basscajón on drums to play with his foot. It consists of a mallet that is operated by a chain, belt or metal joint attached to the pedal . This mallet is mounted on an axis so that it can swing back and forth, i.e. orthogonally to the head of the drum. By stepping on the pedal, the mallet is hit on the skin. When the pedal is released, a spring ensures that the mallet swings back.
techniques
While many drummers vary in the choice of technique, it often happens that several techniques are used (especially when there is a need for high dynamics), or the technique is a variation from the different playing styles.
Commonly used basic techniques for playing the foot machine are:
- Heel-down: The entire foot rests on the pedal and it is moved from the ankle joint by a twisting movement. Especially good for very dynamic, controlled play.
- Heel-up: With this technique, the heel is lifted off the pedal, while the impact is achieved through leg movement. A good technique for very loud play, which however (due to the increased movement) at very high speed also requires relatively high endurance.
Other techniques:
- Heel-Toe: The heel and ball of the foot are alternately struck here. With this slightly rocking movement, two stops can be achieved with one foot movement.
- Flat-Foot: A technique that gives the feeling of being an intermediate stage between the "Heel-Down" and the "Heel-Up" technique. Especially preferred for faster figures, this technique offers a good combination of control, volume and endurance.
- Swivel: While the foot rests on the skin with the mallet in the "heel-up" position, a movement is performed that is somewhat reminiscent of the rapid emergence of a cigarette. Enormous speeds can thus be achieved. The most prominent user of this technique is George Kollias, drummer for the death metal band Nile.
Double pedal
To play double bass , either two bass drums, each with a pedal, or a single bass drum with a special double pedal, which has two mallets, which are controlled by a permanently mounted pedal and one hanging on a cardan shaft . These pedals are available as right, left or middle pedal variants (with two cardan pedals). For some time now, some companies have also been offering so-called twin and triple-effect pedals, the former being a foot machine with double mallets, which however only has one "pedal", which is divided into a ball of the foot and a heel pressure point and the double bass Play with just one foot. The triple-effect pedal is actually a twin-effect pedal, but one of the two mallets was also coupled with another cardan pedal, which enables extreme beat frequencies.
Playing the bass drum with both feet takes some practice, as the second foot is often needed for the hi-hat . Accordingly, you either have to switch between the pedals often or use a "drop clutch" with which the pelvis is locked in the open or closed position and changes its state by kicking the pedal or hitting a stick.