Bass Drum Pedal

The bass drum pedal is one of the most important parts of your kit. If it doesn't work well, or "fit your foot" your playing will not be what it should. Finding a good drum pedal takes time. Take plenty of trips to your local music store and try out some of their different bass pedal options. Things to consider? Footboard length, footboard weight, drive-system, and customization.

Footboard Length and Weight

For some people, the standard size of most bass drum pedals is no problem. But the process should be like buying shoes. You want to make sure that your foot feels good and that your foot fits. Try them out. Your toes should be towards the front with your heel touching the end plate. If your heel hangs over the end a little, no problem.

If you play bass drum using the heel down method, make sure that your toes are not running into the drive system. If you play heels up, this won't really be a problem. For those who prefer the heel toe technique , you may want to consider a bass pedal with longer footboards.

Axis makes a bass drum longboard that some drummers feel helps them to perform the method easier. While heel toe can be played on any bass pedal, you may find it comes easier with these.

The weight of the footboard can greatly affect the way that you play. Some people prefer the way that a heavy board feels under their feet. While a light board will increase your speed (less resistance) they may be less durable. I prefer the way the heavier boards feel under my feet, but really, this is all personal preference. Many pedals also have floating footboards that you can change for a heavier or lighter feel.

Drive Systems

Drive systems for drum pedals offer a couple basic varieties, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The two main systems are chain-driven and belt-driven.

I prefer the chain-driven systems, as they seem to offer good durability while adding only a small amount of weight. Pedal systems come in either a single-chain or double-chain. I recommend the double for greater strength over the single. You can also often adjust the length of the chain which changes the angle of the footboard for playing that suits your style.

The belt-driven systems are the worst. I have had a few of these when I first started playing. They were the cheapest and all I could afford at the time, but the belt (straps) kept ripping on me. So, although I could get the drum pedal for cheap, I needed to replace the straps all the time. Not worth it! Now chain driven bass pedals are pretty much the same price as the old belt driven models.

Direct drive drum pedals are quickly becoming popular. They don't rely on chains or belts, but a piece of metal that extends from the bass pedal to the cam. I haven't really tried them out yet, but look forward to getting my feet on one in the future. If you know anything about them I'd love to hear about it.

Customization

Most of the higher-end bass drum pedals offer lots of customization options for your drum pedal. This includes things like switchable cams, reducing footboard weight, changing grip patterns, and two or four-headed pedal beaters. Even the lowest end pedal models offer some customization such as changing the beater level or striking distance.

The main customization features I look for in a bass drum pedal are adjustable bass beater angles and cams. I have spent many practice sessions just trying different bass beater angles and pedal cams to get the best "feel" from my drum pedal. It's important to note that you should only customize one thing at a time. If you angle your beaters a little, be sure you play them like that for awhile, give your feet time to get used to it and then if you don't like that change it back and adjust something else.

Learn More About The Bass Drum or Check Out More Drum Pedals

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