Heel-Toe Technique
Encyclopedia
Heel-toe technique is a method of playing double strokes on the bass drum
, hi-hat
, or other pedals. More recently, this method has been used in the World's Fastest Drummer competition
to set speed records.
to play two strokes in a single motion. It consists of two parts:
The technique is an asset when playing double kick pedals or two bass drums as it allows for the standard rudiments to be played with the feet. When mastered, drummers can use the method to play complex patterns in the same manner as the hands in addition to rolling the bass drum.
Noted players include Tim Waterson
, who once held the world record for beats on bass drum per minute, with a record of 1,057 singles and 1,407 doubles, Jojo Mayer
, Danny Carey
, James Davenport, Tim Yeung
, Hellhammer
and Chris Adler.
The technique was pioneered by John Bonham
, of Led Zeppelin
on the song "Good Times Bad Times
" from 1969. Jimmy Page has stated that the highlight of the song is the bass drum work, which Bonham copied from Carmine Appice
of Vanilla Fudge
, not knowing that Appice used double bass with two kick drums. Bonham also employs the technique throughout his career, with notable examples being "Out on the Tiles
", "Kashmir
", and Bonham's drum solo, "Moby Dick".
A similar technique is used with the hands when playing congas where the "heel" of the hands hits the skin first followed by the fingers.
The same foot motion of the technique is used by drivers in racing.
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
, hi-hat
Hi-hat
A hi-hat, or hihat, is a type of cymbal and stand used as a typical part of a drum kit by percussionists in R&B, hip-hop, disco, jazz, rock and roll, house, reggae and other forms of contemporary popular music.- Operation :...
, or other pedals. More recently, this method has been used in the World's Fastest Drummer competition
WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming
WFD World's Fastest Drummer Extreme Sport Drumming describes the sporting event that surrounds self proclaimed speed drummers and a mechanical instrument called the Drumometer, an electronic device invented by Boo McAfee and Craig Alan that is used to count drum strokes...
to set speed records.
Description
The technique allows a drummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
to play two strokes in a single motion. It consists of two parts:
- The foot is suspended above the footboard of the pedal and the first of the two notes is played with the heel.
- The foot snaps forward, the heel comes up and the toes complete the second stroke.
The technique is an asset when playing double kick pedals or two bass drums as it allows for the standard rudiments to be played with the feet. When mastered, drummers can use the method to play complex patterns in the same manner as the hands in addition to rolling the bass drum.
Noted players include Tim Waterson
Tim Waterson
Tim Waterson is a Canadian drummer who formerly held the world record for the fastest number of strokes on a bass drum, with a record of 1,057 single and 1,407 double strokes per minute....
, who once held the world record for beats on bass drum per minute, with a record of 1,057 singles and 1,407 doubles, Jojo Mayer
Jojo Mayer
Jojo Mayer is a highly acclaimed Swiss drummer born in Zurich and currently resides in New York City.Mayer is the son of a touring musician and began his career as a drummer at an early age, receiving his first drum set at the age of two...
, Danny Carey
Danny Carey
Daniel Edwin "Danny" Carey is an American drummer best known for his work in American Grammy Award-winning rock band Tool...
, James Davenport, Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung
Tim Yeung is a prominent extreme metal drummer. He was born on November 27, 1978 in Rochester, New York and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. Tim started playing drums when he was 11 years old.-Biography:...
, Hellhammer
Jan Axel Blomberg
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
and Chris Adler.
The technique was pioneered by John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
on the song "Good Times Bad Times
Good Times Bad Times
"Good Times Bad Times" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin....
" from 1969. Jimmy Page has stated that the highlight of the song is the bass drum work, which Bonham copied from Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
of Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
, not knowing that Appice used double bass with two kick drums. Bonham also employs the technique throughout his career, with notable examples being "Out on the Tiles
Out on the Tiles
"Out on the Tiles" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, from the 1970 album Led Zeppelin III. The title of the song is derived from the British phrase for going out for a night on the town. Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham would talk about going "out on the tiles," meaning to go to bars,...
", "Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
", and Bonham's drum solo, "Moby Dick".
History
It is unknown who first developed this method. Some drummers also believe that the technique is loosely based on a tap dancing technique used to get two strokes out of every motion. In previous years, the technique was known only among certain circles, but recently it has been a main topic of discussion in many drum forums.A similar technique is used with the hands when playing congas where the "heel" of the hands hits the skin first followed by the fingers.
The same foot motion of the technique is used by drivers in racing.