[pantera]

I'm currently trying to get a handle on triplet and 16th note Bass drum beats. I've tried to place my foot various ways and from using the heel raised and more of the front/ball of the foot I've mastered double triplets (rest + 2 beats).

But I can't get the triplet beats out or maintain consistent 16th note beats. Either my lower back or leg/hip tire out too quickly, or the beats will be either too fast or peter out. I also find that foot position doesn't always ensure a consistent pattern and speed.

Any tips for how to approach and practice on these two techniques?

[Jazz_Rock_Feel]

A good starting point is getting familiar with the "heel-toe" technique. If you are unfamiliar with this here is a video-

http://http://youtube.com/watch?v=tzXH4lXHmwM&feat...

its short but sweet.

You might also try an offset cam on your bass drum pedal- it may or may not increase the speed at which you can do them, but, I find that it really improves the crispness of the consecutive hits. For me (before I got the offset cam), I had trouble getting the bass drum hits after the first to have the same volume and crispness. Sorry if that went on, I tend to ramble on...

[IBENEZCX160]

Wow..i Just Watched Your Video And I Can't Wait To Try It. Thanks A Million !

[pantera]

Excellent video, except that my pedal is not all one piece, it's segmented at the heel and that piece of it sits flat. So doing the heel/toe will not work, it's just a dead spot.

[IBENEZCX160]

Is That Why I Can't Get It. I Have A Slingerland, A Vex,a Dw And A Pearl. I Couldn't Get It To Work With Any Of These Pedals. Or Am I Just Doing It Wrong ?

	Pearl Drums Shop for Pearl Drums at Musician's Friend

	DW Drums Shop for DW Drums at Musician's Friend

[pantera]

I'm using my son's Pearl EX kit and the pedal is in two parts; the ramp (larger) part and the heel (base) one. You can't heel/toe with it, only the front of the foot works in pressing down the pedal.

Right now I try to use the ball of the foot while having the heel raised about an inch.

Problem is this position sets fatigue in too quickly and I either end up with more or less beats at a time or a few solid double and triple beats and then the rest fail.

	Pearl Drums Shop for Pearl Drums at Musician's Friend

[IBENEZCX160]

Thank You. I Don't Feel So Bad Now. All Of My Pedals Are 2 Parts.

[pantera]

I stand corrected; it can be done with our pedals, it's just not as good as with a full length pedal.

I attempted it again last night, and by pushing my rather large foot as high as it will go I did managed to use the toe/heel/toe method. It does work, and my lower leg doesn't get as fatigued with the triplets. But it's awkward so I will give it some practice time to get it right.

The rest/beat/beat though worked better with toe/heel than with doing both beats with the ball fo the foot. It was more consistent, cleaner and quicker.

[skinslapper]

Wow you made that work? My hat goes off to you. good luck to practising that one 'coz it works great if you can make it happen.

Anyhow, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to get those rudments going without the heal-toe. I learnt them years ago as part of training, but only came to me when I practiced them in song (Tool aenima for triplets, and Machineheads Davidian for 16ths).

Perhaps your pedal is not set up correctly for your playing. For more speed, you'll probably want to lower the beater heads in 1/4 inch increments until you notice the pedals feel a lot looser. if the pedal has then become too slack, you can either increase the resistance on the spring or raise the beater back up until you find the sweet spots.

Failing that it all boils to practice. Get a metronome on your ears and work it baby.

[pantera]

This weekend I tried the triplets with heel/toe/toe and that worked as well. Just need more practice time, which now that the weather is so nice the house maintenance beckons.....