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Do you play Heel-Up or Heel-Down and which bass drum pedal technique is better? |
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First of all I'll define the two. "Heel-Up" is playing the bass drum with your heel always up and using the front part (ball) of your foot coming down on the pedal to create the stroke. "Heel-Down" is playing the bass drum with your entire foot flat on the pedal and coming down with the front part of your foot to create the stroke.
Which is better? - I don't think there is a "better". It's a common thought that most rock/metal drummers play "heel-up" because it allows the drummer to put more leg into the stroke for more volume. And over the last few years there's been a crop of speed metal drummers that are taking "heel up" to a new level by not using much of their legs but instead are incorporating a technique of pivoting their ankles to play very quickly (but not very loud). Playing "heel-down" is a more traditional way to play and I've seen a few drummers also playing very quick and powerful using this method. I think it's up to the drummer to choose which technique feels right for them. For the last couple years I've been using a technique of resting the ball (front part) of my foot on the front of the pedal and coming down with my heel on the back part of the pedal to perform the stroke. I call this the "heel-stroke". To perform this technique properly the ball of the foot never comes up off the pedal. I grew up playing "heel up" and continue to play that way but sometimes I feel that I'm not in control of the pedal when the beater comes back because my foot loses all contact with the pedal. The "heel-stroke" is a technique that I am still perfecting. |
