What's the best technique and way to practice playing double bass fast on th!
Question: I tried playing on a pillow, but that only helped me play longer. What can I do to make my drum playing faster? I tried looking up Youtube videos, they don't help. They just say "Do this technique but faster and you got it". Great idea, but what's the technique, right?! I tried doing the heel-toe technique, but I can't seem to do it right. I end up playing toe-heel to-heel. And the swivel technique, i don't really know how to do it, and the way I think is right doesn't work.
Answers: I tried playing on a pillow, but that only helped me play longer. What can I do to make my drum playing faster? I tried looking up Youtube videos, they don't help. They just say "Do this technique but faster and you got it". Great idea, but what's the technique, right?! I tried doing the heel-toe technique, but I can't seem to do it right. I end up playing toe-heel to-heel. And the swivel technique, i don't really know how to do it, and the way I think is right doesn't work.
There is no way to improve your playing speed other than to practise. You'll often find videos and books with gimmicks and wierd different techniques, but they never actually improve your speed.
Play 16th note and 8th note patterns, or whatever other pattern you like, along to a metronome. Push the envelope and try to play faster and faster for as long as you can keep it up. Practise is the only way, because through regular exercise and conditioning of the leg muscles you will develop speed....there is no other way.
As drumming is a very physical instrument, the only other advice that has helped me out was to stay generally fit and healthy, and to jog 3 times a week. This also helped to strengthen the muscles I used to play double bass - if you think about it, using the heel up method your using the same muscles when running as you are when playing double bass.
Keep playing and practising hard, and be patient. The speed will come with time. You may also want to keep a record of your progress by taping or videoing yourself. This way, when you watch yourself play after a few weeks it will be easier to notice any improvement you have made. Plus, videos always help you to pick up on any mistakes or flaws in your playing or technique that you didn't notice whilst behind the kit.
Good luck