I started practicing this whenever I was driving with every song that came on the radio. Did that for a few weeks to get used to it before I started trying it while behind the kit. The more I did it, the more it became second nature to the point where I didn't even have to think about it. Was a huge help in keeping rolls in time and everything else.
This video is ridiculously well timed. I swear you were watching my search history to come up with this video lol. My left foot is so bad. I was in a bad accident when I was 17 and never got physical therapy to rehabilitate it so it's significantly weaker than the average drummers left foot. I have a long ways to go and am focusing on this atm so this is a very timely video. 👌🏻
I wrecked my right foot after falling off a roof about six years ago. I thought I’d take up drumming to rehabilitate it during Covid and wow, it has come a long way. Keep it up!
My biggest regret in drumming is playing double pedals before I was proficient with my hi hat pedal. I'm 45 years old and I still am not comfortable keeping time on the hats while playing something difficult with the other 3 limbs. *BEGINNERS..... DON'T LOOK PAST THIS ASPECT OF PLAYING! YOU WILL REGRET IT. *
Learning double kick has helped my hihat incredibly. Forces one to balance properly and free up that anchor foot ..... Sorry double didn't work out for ya.
Great video, thanks Stephen 🙏. I love the way you dig in to so much detail about elements of drumming that are often overlooked. Like muting the hihat with a hand. Why had I never thought about that!? I can think of so many times in band practice where that could in handy...
@3:00...Thx Stephen, for going shoeless. When I played, I played bare foot. Both. When I picked up my first kit, 7th. grade- I lived in the South; lots of summer heat/humidity, etc. Wearing shoes vs flip-flops was a sin. As a result....NEVER (could) play w/ shoes. Or flips! But bare?- DIVINE. I'm 66, haven't played in about 25.....but: I still follow/LISTEN to percussive based music. I still LOVE drums; I just can't play 'em anymore. Being able to play that instrument gave me a greater appreciation for all forms of music thereafter.
I’ve been having some issues and would love to get some advice if anyone has an answer please: I recently switched to heel up and beater off the head on the kick drum (about 3 weeks ago), but I’m finding it hard to also go heel up on high hat! I feel like I’m putting the left heel down to balance, because when I lift it up it’s uncomfortable to be balanced (balancing is doable as I’m a dancer, but just feels physically wrong). It feels my weight is being pulled at a weird angle through my lower back/hips as I’m spending the whole time lifting both legs up off of the floor. In other words, my back/hips are actively holding my leg weight up and it does not feel correct (and this isn’t just me having a weak core, as I can happily lift my legs up straight for my dancing). I have my throne height pretty high to where my heels are naturally off the floor - unless I start actively reaching down with my heels. Anyone know why I have this problem? What could be wrong? Is it a bad throne? Wrong technique? Wrong setup? Etc! Any fixes?
Yes, you described my issue with drome ergonomics in general. After getting all of the toms and cymbals in correct placement, I now have to work on legs and pedal placement and feel the same way - in order to play like other drummers, I basically have to temporarily "fall" off my throne it would seem. I play heel up and burry the beater, it's just how I taught myself and I haven't changed it yet. I don't understand how other drummers basically play on their tip toes l the time.
@@firstnamelastname9955 yes exactly, it's like you'd fall off the throne unless you actively make the effort to stay up, and this just somehow seems wrong, why we spending energy trying to stay sitting up, surely good technqiue is about being able to sustain the right sound for a long time
Stephen, I'm really enjoying your channel. I've been playing for 45 years but not seriously for many of the last 30. Your channel has given me some great ideas to get back into it and also to work on areas I've always struggled with. Question: can you recommend a metronome app? I've heard you mention them a few times and wondered which one you like the best. Free preferred but willing to pay for a good one! Thanks!
Thanks. Another super useful session. I found it quite quick to master the left leg bounce. But it did impact my centre of gravity, soon as I used the right foot whether heel up or down. Probably just need more practice
Stephen, you should check out Adam Neely's video The Psychology of Extreme Rhythm. He discusses the range of tempos that feel natural to humans and even the bottom end of what we perceive as rhythmic.
TIE YOUR SHOE!! You need to take this video down and remake it with your shoe properly tied! Lol, OCD moment!😂😂 Thank you for the awesome lessons and tips 🙌🏼🙌🏼
GREAT VIDEO. What model stand are you using? I'm looking to replace mine and am open to suggestions. I have a Ludwig L316HH and it feels so stiff. I've tried adjusting spring tension and even at the least amount of tension there's a great deal of resistance. Appreciate your thoughts
Are you actually hitting the heel plate with your heel while doing this, or just doing the motion and bouncing before your heel hits, as I cant do it and make a sound if I actually ground the heel but still keeping the big toe on the plate at all times ?
I use sometime this technic and I call it the soft pedal ... but ... the two screws that fix the gray plate to the wall are not at the same height. It distracts me. PS : Be careful your lace is undone and it's dangerous when you walk with a trailing lace.
I agree, chicks can be loud, especially when you're hammering em hard in the sweet spot, some chicks will splash if youre going too hard and fast...but like tenacious D said, you don't always have to...chick it hard
Relying on your left flot for time keeping Maybritt feel Nice but is not optimal. What if you are tired, is a bit sick, fatigue from Playing for Long periods of time. Time Should be in the Whole body. Not just one leg.
You may not feel it's optimal, but pretty much every well-known drummer in classic jazz, big band, and many other genres uses this technique to an amazing degree. Nothing is for everyone, but this is absolutely a huge timekeeping help for most.
lol, of course i agree that time should be felt in the entire body, but i agree with the other person who replied to you. the most important thing i’ve been practicing lately has been mastering keeping time with my left foot. the better my left foot can keep time, the better my right hand locks in and plays time, the better my left hand targets or accents the beat
@@joevining2603 yes so many uses the bouncy leg. But to me it is not for time keeping but the sound. Heel up is good for that tight chick and the "bounce" causes less fatigue than just holding you leg and therefore commonly used. I bet you any of the cats can play with a broken left leg and still feel just as good.
@@demezzerate6769 well yea. But it should be good time. Not good time in left leg. This way you are making your right hand dependent on your left leg. Which might work short term and be functional. But long term it will limit your possibilities because your right hand will be not as tight without your left leg
@@bjbjbjFTW but this video doesn’t explicitly state to only focus on the left leg lol. if you can keep time with your main hand (which is what almost all drummers learn to do first), and then you can even feasibly do it with your left hand to start strengthening it, your right foot has to learn to keep time just because of how important the bass drum is for groove, the left foot gets ignored by a lot of beginner & intermediate drummers. learning to keep time on your left foot is usually the last piece of the puzzle for drummers keeping time through the whole body. you’re just being weird abt this specific technique/video for some reason
Man, get some goddamn tennis shoes instead of whatever that was on your foot.The black socks are hurl material too.Go to the Nike store today.😁😁🙏😇👀be safe.
I started practicing this whenever I was driving with every song that came on the radio. Did that for a few weeks to get used to it before I started trying it while behind the kit. The more I did it, the more it became second nature to the point where I didn't even have to think about it. Was a huge help in keeping rolls in time and everything else.
Exactly....NICE
I'd love to try this whilst driving. Unfortunately I drive a manual shift so bouncing the left foot up and down isn't a great idea...
I drive plenty, auto but mainly manual. Practicing while driving becomes second nature after a few weeks. Great idea Joe.
I am doing this too. ❤
This video is ridiculously well timed. I swear you were watching my search history to come up with this video lol. My left foot is so bad. I was in a bad accident when I was 17 and never got physical therapy to rehabilitate it so it's significantly weaker than the average drummers left foot. I have a long ways to go and am focusing on this atm so this is a very timely video. 👌🏻
I wrecked my right foot after falling off a roof about six years ago. I thought I’d take up drumming to rehabilitate it during Covid and wow, it has come a long way. Keep it up!
@@envisionelectronics nice!
My biggest regret in drumming is playing double pedals before I was proficient with my hi hat pedal. I'm 45 years old and I still am not comfortable keeping time on the hats while playing something difficult with the other 3 limbs.
*BEGINNERS..... DON'T LOOK PAST THIS ASPECT OF PLAYING! YOU WILL REGRET IT. *
I wish i paid attention...lol
Learning double kick has helped my hihat incredibly. Forces one to balance properly and free up that anchor foot ..... Sorry double didn't work out for ya.
As far as teachings is concern, You are the best. Loved it
I always learn something here. Thx!
Great video, thanks Stephen 🙏. I love the way you dig in to so much detail about elements of drumming that are often overlooked. Like muting the hihat with a hand. Why had I never thought about that!? I can think of so many times in band practice where that could in handy...
@3:00...Thx Stephen, for going shoeless. When I played, I played bare foot. Both. When I picked up my first kit, 7th. grade- I lived in the South; lots of summer heat/humidity, etc. Wearing shoes vs flip-flops was a sin. As a result....NEVER (could) play w/ shoes. Or flips!
But bare?- DIVINE. I'm 66, haven't played in about 25.....but: I still follow/LISTEN to percussive based music. I still LOVE drums; I just can't play 'em anymore. Being able to play that instrument gave me a greater appreciation for all forms of music thereafter.
I’ve learned so much from you !
Just a note of gratitude 🙏
You are an excellent teacher. Cheers!
Thanks for this perfectly timed lesson
Very nice lesson Stephen. Thanks for posting. Bill.
Glad I stumbled upon this channel
I’ve been having some issues and would love to get some advice if anyone has an answer please:
I recently switched to heel up and beater off the head on the kick drum (about 3 weeks ago), but I’m finding it hard to also go heel up on high hat!
I feel like I’m putting the left heel down to balance, because when I lift it up it’s uncomfortable to be balanced (balancing is doable as I’m a dancer, but just feels physically wrong). It feels my weight is being pulled at a weird angle through my lower back/hips as I’m spending the whole time lifting both legs up off of the floor. In other words, my back/hips are actively holding my leg weight up and it does not feel correct (and this isn’t just me having a weak core, as I can happily lift my legs up straight for my dancing).
I have my throne height pretty high to where my heels are naturally off the floor - unless I start actively reaching down with my heels.
Anyone know why I have this problem? What could be wrong? Is it a bad throne? Wrong technique? Wrong setup? Etc! Any fixes?
Yes, you described my issue with drome ergonomics in general. After getting all of the toms and cymbals in correct placement, I now have to work on legs and pedal placement and feel the same way - in order to play like other drummers, I basically have to temporarily "fall" off my throne it would seem. I play heel up and burry the beater, it's just how I taught myself and I haven't changed it yet. I don't understand how other drummers basically play on their tip toes l the time.
@@firstnamelastname9955 yes exactly, it's like you'd fall off the throne unless you actively make the effort to stay up, and this just somehow seems wrong, why we spending energy trying to stay sitting up, surely good technqiue is about being able to sustain the right sound for a long time
WE CAN DO THIS!
Thank you 🙏
Thank u sir❤
Stephen, I'm really enjoying your channel. I've been playing for 45 years but not seriously for many of the last 30. Your channel has given me some great ideas to get back into it and also to work on areas I've always struggled with. Question: can you recommend a metronome app? I've heard you mention them a few times and wondered which one you like the best. Free preferred but willing to pay for a good one! Thanks!
This video is loaded with puns. It's a gold mine.
Indeed
Thanks. Another super useful session. I found it quite quick to master the left leg bounce. But it did impact my centre of gravity, soon as I used the right foot whether heel up or down. Probably just need more practice
That's one comfy-looking pair of drumming shoes.
Stephen, you should check out Adam Neely's video The Psychology of Extreme Rhythm. He discusses the range of tempos that feel natural to humans and even the bottom end of what we perceive as rhythmic.
Jamie Chamberlain from Smashing Pumpkins is one of the main reason I started to discover that movement
TIE YOUR SHOE!!
You need to take this video down and remake it with your shoe properly tied!
Lol, OCD moment!😂😂
Thank you for the awesome lessons and tips 🙌🏼🙌🏼
2:05 for the leg bounce.
GREAT VIDEO. What model stand are you using? I'm looking to replace mine and am open to suggestions. I have a Ludwig L316HH and it feels so stiff. I've tried adjusting spring tension and even at the least amount of tension there's a great deal of resistance. Appreciate your thoughts
Are you actually hitting the heel plate with your heel while doing this, or just doing the motion and bouncing before your heel hits, as I cant do it and make a sound if I actually ground the heel but still keeping the big toe on the plate at all times ?
I was never able to do this back when I played. Never got the coordination or I would feel like I would fall over when my feet moved independently
I also have the ghosting leg bounce by default
I use sometime this technic and I call it the soft pedal ... but ... the two screws that fix the gray plate to the wall are not at the same height. It distracts me.
PS : Be careful your lace is undone and it's dangerous when you walk with a trailing lace.
I can do the splash thing and play double bass and I'm self taught I don't keep time with the hats.
Brooks Wackerman and Marco Minnemann does this
I agree, chicks can be loud, especially when you're hammering em hard in the sweet spot, some chicks will splash if youre going too hard and fast...but like tenacious D said, you don't always have to...chick it hard
How can I take lessons?
I live in Savannah Ga
hello Stephen, please help me to play the hi hat beat on child's anthem TOTO...it is in between?
Costco socks!
Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers relies heavily on this technique not only to keep time but also to make the hi-hat sound super groovy.
That left foot keeps me honest
Relying on your left flot for time keeping Maybritt feel Nice but is not optimal. What if you are tired, is a bit sick, fatigue from Playing for Long periods of time. Time Should be in the Whole body. Not just one leg.
You may not feel it's optimal, but pretty much every well-known drummer in classic jazz, big band, and many other genres uses this technique to an amazing degree. Nothing is for everyone, but this is absolutely a huge timekeeping help for most.
lol, of course i agree that time should be felt in the entire body, but i agree with the other person who replied to you. the most important thing i’ve been practicing lately has been mastering keeping time with my left foot. the better my left foot can keep time, the better my right hand locks in and plays time, the better my left hand targets or accents the beat
@@joevining2603 yes so many uses the bouncy leg. But to me it is not for time keeping but the sound. Heel up is good for that tight chick and the "bounce" causes less fatigue than just holding you leg and therefore commonly used. I bet you any of the cats can play with a broken left leg and still feel just as good.
@@demezzerate6769 well yea. But it should be good time. Not good time in left leg. This way you are making your right hand dependent on your left leg. Which might work short term and be functional. But long term it will limit your possibilities because your right hand will be not as tight without your left leg
@@bjbjbjFTW but this video doesn’t explicitly state to only focus on the left leg lol. if you can keep time with your main hand (which is what almost all drummers learn to do first), and then you can even feasibly do it with your left hand to start strengthening it, your right foot has to learn to keep time just because of how important the bass drum is for groove, the left foot gets ignored by a lot of beginner & intermediate drummers. learning to keep time on your left foot is usually the last piece of the puzzle for drummers keeping time through the whole body. you’re just being weird abt this specific technique/video for some reason
The real hidden pro tip is wearing your slippers while drumming!
"chicks can be loud" - yup
@UC8Qg6cZeGkl6SDQog9MwjYA and with faster chicks, splashing is inevitable
I feel like this video could have been around 2 minutes.
Still go nothing from it.
Too much talking
Well get lost buddy
Man, get some goddamn tennis shoes instead of whatever that was on your foot.The black socks are hurl material too.Go to the Nike store today.😁😁🙏😇👀be safe.
Been doing that for 54 years. It's not new.