Double bass drumming

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Originally conceived of by jazz drummer Louie Bellson, double bass drumming is a concept used particularly in the Heavy metal genre. It is a technique where the drummer uses two bass drums or a double pedal to play more complicated and/or faster bass drum patterns. Players such as Lars Ulrich, Dave Lombardo, Virgil Donati, Travis Smith and Derek Roddy often use this technique.

[edit] Technique

A simple way to play this would be to start playing 2 and 4 on the snare drum and 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the hi-hat. Then bring in the bass drums playing an 8 beat pattern. A beginner would play Left, Right etc. on the bass drums.

As one grows in ability, different rudimental patterns can be played. Drummers such as Virgil Donati and Thomas Lang have helped to extend double bass drumming into the realm of applying rudiments conventionally played with the hands (double-stroke roll, flam rudiments, etc.). On his instructional DVD Creative Control, Thomas Lang refers to this as a "dynamic" approach to the feet, and it opens up new sonic possibilities whilst also providing the drummer with new technical challenges. This opens the possibility of playing rudimental type paterns on the bass drum, just as one would on the snare drum.