Help please - bass drum.

[stevenyoung]

Hey there Cool forum!

I'm a new drummer, and I got an Electronic Drum Kit for Christmas...

I'm starting to learn fairly quickly, but I'm having one main problem: when I kick the bass drum it always bounces?

How can I control it better? It works if I hold the bass drum on for longer, then release, but this disturbs the overall rhythm.

Cheers, anyway, Steven!

[Thrill Kill Will]

that's awesome. welcome to the club.

do you have a real kick pedal?

if so does it hit a small rubber pad right at the base of the kick pedal? or do you have a normal looking drum pad that stands up in front of the pedal, in the position where a normal kick drum would be?

that would help. also, when you say "it" bounces, what do you mean? the mallet bounces or the whole pedal??

hopefully we can help out and get you along the way to becoming a great drummer!

[stevenyoung]

Thanks for your reply.

This is the kit, so it will help you see which type it is:

www.ishibashi.co.jp/webshop/drum/digital-drums/yamaha/gif/dtxplorer.jpg

I think it's to do with my technique, because I'll kick the pedal once, then release, then leave my foot on to rest. All that happens in a quick motion, so when I put my foot down to rest it seems to push the pedal down too far therefore touching the drum and making it "bounce".

So when I'm using "1 and 2 and 3 and 4" rhythm for example (sorry i'm a n00b with all the names ) if I went to play the bass drum on "1 and and" it's fine, because that kinda is a double hit.

When I only play on "1" for example, I get the double hit effect but not as loud.

Maybe I should record it for you, as I guess this is coming out in jibberish now

[littledrummerboy]

Steve, I learned on an electic kit back in the early 90s when my little church lost its drummer. The kit I first played on looked identical to the one you've got now. I know exactly what you are experiencing with the kick pedal. The cause of the bounce is that your pedal, which is made for a typical accoustic set, hits the hard rubber surface (a surface it was not intended to hit), and instead of the energy being absorbed by a soft bass drum head (as is the case with accoustic sets), the energy of the impact is shot right back into the pedal and causes a double bounce. There are a number of options, none of which, unfortunately, are good for your long term playing. The best option I found was to stiffen your leg and raise the heel of your bass foot off the ground and hit the pedel only with the ball of your foot. The stiffening of the legs allows for more strength in the foot and you can gain control over the impact (that is to say that your leg will take the resulting force of the impact instead of your pedal). The downside is that your finesse is hurt terribly. When you get to an accoustic set, it is all about finesse, and touch, so you want your foot to be loose and comfortable, not rigid and tight. The other option I'd try is to turn down the sensitivity of the bass pad. That way you will get the double bounce, but the pad won't pick it up, and it won't be heard. The problem with this option is that you have to hit the pad a bit harder for it to be heard at all, and again: in with the power, out with the finesse. Those are the two options I'd suggest. Also, and I mean this in no way to be demeaning, or discouraging, but the sooner you can get your hands on an accoustic set, the better. Not that you have to buy one, but perhaps play in your school jazz band, or form a rock band with friends who may have access to a kit, or play in a community band, or a church band, whatever it takes. I played on an electric set exclusively for 2 years, and it took half that much time just to get used to an accoustic set, and all of the nuances found therein. The #1 problem I found with myself coming off an electric to an accoustic, and the kids I give lessons too, is that they come to the accoustic set, and beat it like it stole from them, and the noise is deafening! Again IT IS ALL ABOUT TOUCH my friend!! All of that having been said (have ya'll figured out that I talk too much?), so very happy to have you playing around on the kit. You are in for a lifetime of fun, new experiences, and maybe a few more dates! (how ignoble of me)...

cheers