DOUBLE BASSDRUM PEDAL to HIHAT FOOT TRANSFERENCE

[Christopher]

The best pedal I ever played was the old Yamaha double chain model, the one before Flying Dragon.

I love the old Yammy double chain too. DFP-850 ??? (if memory from my short stint working in a music store serves)

I played mine to death. After years and years of use, it wore out. The nubs that stick out and allow the universal joints to connect got all chewed up. I still have the pedal, but the left has way too much play now.

Iron Cobra was what I replaced it with. It’s been rock solid.

[YamahaPlayer]

I just grabbed an old Camco off craigs list for $25! Now I have two. Such cool pedals.

[Juan Expósito]

Thanks for all the comments.
This machine is already at home.
350 euros.
Adjusting it now...

I spent:
- 5 minutes to set the pedals with the HH and snare stands.
- 3 minutes to adjust the tension of the springs and beater height.

I know that it will take me 1 hour (maybe 2) to achieve Virgil´s technique, but...

...I did about 20 minutes of free DB playing, and it was some of the most enjoyable playing time that I´ve did in long time.

I will go for more today, and tomorrow...

(some minutes more and Virgil is mine )

[YamahaPlayer]

How do you like the coil spring on the bottom? I ended up taking mine out.

[Juan Expósito]

From Tama site:
"Cobra Coil (US.PAT.NO.7408104)
Until now, the only way to adjust your beater stroke action was to tighten the pedal spring. Sometimes that did the job. More often the action just felt sluggish and heavier. TAMA's latest innovation, the Cobra Coil simply and easily solves the problem. A special steel spring quickly returns the footboard to its original position so the feel of Iron Cobra becomes even more unreal. Even better, the Cobra Coil can be adjusted to different positions on the Iron Cobra footboard base plate."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Today I did my first serious practice session with my DB pedal:
I am doing some fine-adjusting, and the coil item is on the list. Time will tell me.
I feel realy good with the pedal, though I have some things mixing now: from one side the pedal itself and from another my left foot, that is trying to get in shape.
When I have doubts about if the "problem" is the pedal adjustments or my left foot, I put my right foot in the left pedal and check it.
Working hard with my left foot now, specially the "after the hit" phase, trying to be clean and accurate, with no dirty rebounds...Pushing the HH pedal and BD pedal are very different things, mainly because the "after the hit" phase.

I know, for sure, that my left foot control will improve a LOT, even when I play single pedal kit...the sound factor is a big factor.
For example, playing the same groove, It´s not the same to hear the FHH than hear a bassdrum, and it makes you play for more/enjoyable/effective time, because some exercises/grooves for feet independence have more sense with the double bass sound that the "chick" sound of the FHH.
Plus, for those grooves, the bass drum sound makes your imprecise notes more audible than the HH sound...so the control will improve.

I have adapted really well my 16ths and triplets ostinatos (even and broken) and some doubles tricks with my right foot...LOT OF FUN.
Does it mean that everyone needs a DB pedal to put his left foot in shape? No, but it helps...a lot.

I hope I have explained well.

Now I need this shirt:

[YamahaPlayer]

One cool trick is to take your favorite grooves and play them off the left foot. Also just running normal right foot drills on the left.

[Riddim]

Absolutely. Work on training your left foot to do anything your right can do, and that will give you plenty of high hat independence.

Some things I've found helpful:

- play Space Boogie or something similar, slowly with one foot. Ride with both right and left hands (this will help make you aware of, and hopefully reduce, what dependence on the matching limb remains). Then switch to the other foot. After a few days of this you might notice some improvement in strength and capability. Then put the feet together and it'll like a hot knife through butter.

- Play Good Times Bad Times with either foot. Switch ride hands too.

These are great warm up exercises too.

[YamahaPlayer]

Just get nasty, chick it on the triplet quarter note ala DiCenso...

[Juan Expósito]

All comments are full of sense. Thanks.
This fantastic lesson of 3,5,7 groupings and more is LOADED of common sense too. And the playing is...
I will be bussy this afternoon with it...

[Juan Expósito]

First attempt to Gavin´s lesson:

...more afternoons needed .

They are very COOL.
I am in the groopings of 3 part.