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November 28, 2005 Double Pedals…….WHY?!
Filed under » Drums, Drum Hardware, Drum Accesories, Music, Funk, Jazz, Rhythm, Aesthetics, Rock, Drum Heroes — DF @ 4:34 pm Hello again FuNky~Drum~People!!!
I’m Sorry I haven’t Blogged iN a While but I’ve been INSANELY Busy iN the preparations for the CD LAUNCH of the NEW Friendship & Respect Trio Album “Rainshine” to be Staged iN My Home Town of Bournemouth, South~Coast UK >>> It’s coMing Up oN Thursday 1st December 2005 & Will be a VERY Cool, Smooth & Civilised Affair!>>> I’m a Great Believer in Self~Promotion, So I’ve been Busy Designing EVERYTHING & then Covering the Town with HUNDREDS of Stylish looking Posters & Flyers!>>> Not to Mention preparing THE PRODUCT to be Ready for Sale, all Packaged & Beautiful by Thursday!!!(3 Days Time!) >>>>> PHEW!!! >>>
SO, Double Pedals,
Many of My Drum~Students have asked Me over the Years why I do not have a Double Bass Drum Pedal >>> The short, simple answer to this Question is that I don’t like them!! >>> but there is of course More to it than that!
There are some TRULY GREAT DRUMMERS who use Double Pedals Brilliantly & with GREAT SKILL, but these Talented Men & Women are Few & Far Between!!! >>> I’m speaking of MASTER DRUMMERS such as Neil Peart, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gene Hoglin, John Blackwell Jr, Shiela E, The Wonderful Brit Simon Phillips, even My Friend at Poole Percussion Austin Lane has something VALUABLE to contribute on a Double Pedal but the VAST MAJORITY DO NOT!!!!! >>>
I recently Perchased from the afore~mentioned Drum Shop a REALLY EXCELLENT DVD by the WONDERFUL Drummer & Human Being BILLY WARD >>> CheCk Him out on His Web Site billyward.com >>>
His New DVD “Big Time” is one of THE BEST Drum~Instructional Experiences I’ve encountered in A VERY LONG TIME!!! >>> I’m affraid to say Drum DVDs are usually pretty Aweful & leave Me COLD & UNINSPIRED but Billy’s is Informative, Funny, COOL, NOT TOO LONG (an extremely important criteria for a Busy chap like Me) & to get back to the point Billy displays some Very SUBTLE & Sexy Bass~Drum Chops >>>
This is My MAIN POINT with Double Pedals >>> SUBTLETY!!!!!!! >>>
Most of the Young Drummers who express an Interest to Me iN My Lessons are really only interested in Playing LOUD, FAST Bass~Drum Work in an effort to Impress their Friends or sound vaguely like one of a variety of Metal Drummers (I know there ARE some Good ones out there) >>> For Me this is BULLSHIT DRUMMING!!! >>> There is NO MUSICALITY, FINESSE, STYLE or CHARM in this type of Playing & it is BY FAR, My least favourite!!!
The BIG PROBLEM with most Youngsters who own a Double Pedal on a whim, is they are not prepared to put in the VAST amount of practice time it is going to take, to get even a tiny bit proficient on one of these pieces of Equipment! >>> Doubles between the TWO Feet, Paradiddles of ALL kinds between the Left & Right Foot, Controlled Singles etc. etc. etc. >>> & that’s just for STARTERS!!! >>>
If You Can’t play with Style, Precision, Control & Flair on a SINGLE~PEDAL, how do You expect to be even Vaguely Useful on a Double??? >>> The Mastery of ANY Musical Instrument takes TiMe, Patience & Focus >>>
The long Road to Success lies in a Calm, Clear mind with an Eye constantly on the objective >>> In the case of Drums & Drumming, that is INDEPENDENCE & CONTROL (with a liberal dollop of PASSION, JOY & OBSESSION!!!) >>> Starting with a standard Set~Up & working ONWARDS & OUTWARDS from there, as Your Talent grows, Your kit can grow with it if that is what You Desire >>>>>>>>>
I plan to be Playing & Learning WAY into My 90s >>> Therefore there is PLENTY of Time to Explore Your Drum~Set & Your Playing!! >>>>
SO onward with Drumming & Drum~Teaching, PeaCe to ALL You DruMMiNg People out there, Whatever Your Equipment tastes are >>>
BE COOL,
***< <<<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>>>>***
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i agree that only the best drummer make double pedals sound great but if you put in a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and i mean a lot ( ask my mum! ) they sound great
Comment by jammyman aka jamie — December 9, 2005 @ 9:55 pm
well put!!!! this is a very valid point and also applys to effects pedals on guitars and basses. alot of bassist and guitarists use them to supliment skill. i would rather be respected wot wot i can do rather than wot a lil bit of shit on the florr can do. in short well put dude i completley agree
Comment by lewis ames! — December 12, 2005 @ 5:47 pm
I agree, but if you are playing metal, double bass playing just…..fits. It works. You said yourself that it takes alot of skill and practice to play with a double bass. So i can unsderstand were your coming from, but i think if your playing metal music with a band you want your fans to be jumping up and down and just pretty much going insane, with double bass playing and metal riffs you achieve that, the fans you want to listen to that type of music dont want anymore from you, i agree that they need to add something new to what they play, something original but drums is the back bone of the band, and with metal you need and fucking crazy one, which can be achieved with double bass playing. So its all good.
Comment by Ben — March 15, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
Hey BeN!!
A VERY Good Point DudE! >>> It is ENTIRELY Relevent iN Metal….. & Yet CheCk out Jo Jo Mayer or John Blackwell Jr. for some Equally CRAZY SINGLE PEDAL Multi~Note, Scene~Stealing Mutation~Back-Bone MayheM!!! >>> ThaNks for Your Comment My Friend >>> Well thouGht out & Intelligent >>> NICE!!! >>>
PeAcE & Blasting Power GroOVes!!!
*** << DF >> ***
Comment by DF — April 26, 2006 @ 1:55 am
Great advice and you bet your sweet bippy that I totally agree!!
If anyone would disagree then there silly!
thankyou daddy funk and your agreat blog writer man!!
peace out!
Morgan!
Comment by Morgan — June 1, 2007 @ 11:52 pm