Heel Up vs. Heel Down on the Bass Drum

Most beginner drummers struggle with the choice of playing the bass drum with their heel up verses their heel down. They do not know which one is better to play, the heel up method or heel down method. Bass drum playing has many different styles to it believe it or not. In the end, every drummer should learn both styles of bass drumming. Learn how to play heel up, and learn how to play heel down. However, each style has its’ own place in the music world. For example, if you are playing in a small jazz combo, you do not want to be playing heel up. Let me explain both of these methods and you can decide which one you would like to practice more.

Heel up Bass Drumming
Playing the bass drum with your heel up has many advantages. Having your heel in the air lets you use your whole leg to kick the drum. This means you can put everything you have into your bass drum stroke, giving you lots of power. If you are a rock player, then heel up is the choice for you. With your heel up, you can also master the slide technique a lot easier. Heel up means you use your toe to hit the pedal. When you play with your toe, you can play singles a lot faster, since you only have to flick your toe to get a stroke. When you are playing heel down, you have to move your whole ankle and foot to get a stroke. So speed is another benefit of playing heel up on the bass drum.

Heel down Bass Drumming
Playing the bass drum with your heel down has many benefits as well. When you have your whole foot on the bass drum pedal, you have total control of your bass drum. This is why every drummer must practice this method as well as heel up. Having a feel for the bass drum pedal allows you to do many techniques like feathering the bass drum, or heel toe drumming. This method works great for jazz and other softer styles of drumming. When you play jazz, you never usually want a strong bass drum hit. This is where feathering the bass drum comes into play. With your heel down, you get a really nice soft accent on the bass drum that gives off more of a feel, rather than a punch. Heel down is also great for you’re hi hat play. Having the ability to control you’re hi hat is a must for drummers, and with your heel down you do all sorts of things like splash the hats etc…

So whatever your drumming style is, practice both methods of bass drumming. You never know when you will use both styles. You can definitely use both in double bass drumming as well, so do not think one is better then the other. Practice these methods here on some basic double bass drumming patterns!