AboutThe Professor Expertise Multiple university degrees in music and several years experience in the field. I carry two bachelors, a masters, and am nearing completion of my doctorate (all in music). Subcategories of expertise include: education, performance, composition, theory, electro-acoustics, studio and sound recording, multiple styles of music, music software, methods of practice, and more. Though trained on several instruments, my primary ones are those in the percussion family (including drumset), acoustic & electric guitar and bass, and rare &
unique instruments. I`ve been teaching in this field
for over 13 years and have been a musician for much longer.
Experience Training:
Two bachelors degrees (music education and music performance); masters degree (performance with additional emphasis in composition); doctorate (performance/literature, theory/composition, electro-acoustics (sound engineering)) (in progress).
Experience:
I've been working and teaching in the field for over 13 years now.
Question Iv been playing right handed kits for awhile open handed, but I'm struggling with some songs. I find it easier to play cross hand and flip the kit, but I'm right footed and struggling to play the bass with the left. Is there any extensions on the market that would let me have a pedal on the other side of the Hihat? Iv tried double bass pedals but they always get in the way of the Hihat pedal. Is there anything that could accommodate my needs?? Thanks
Answer Hi Tom,
From what I see in your message it looks like you'd like to set up the drumset with the hi-hat on the right and, by playing "cross hand", therefore using your left hand on the hi-hat; and you'd like to set up the bass drum so you can use your right foot. If you don't want to use double-bass pedals you can opt to use a bass pedal extension. If not the extension, then what it all really boils down to is...
There's a general rule of thumb for how you set up the instruments on the drumset. First, set the drumset to *you* - not you to the drumset. Second, by you, we're also referring to the drum throne. Once you place the throne/seat where you'd like it you set just the pedals to where you comfortably sit, which should be where your feet naturally rest in front of you while sitting on the throne. At this point place the instruments (bass drum (hi-hat should already be in place)) in line with each pedal - don't change the pedals to accommodate instrument placement. Place the snare drum stand, with or without snare, exactly between your legs (not too far or too close). Put the tom-toms in place, then floor tom, and finally the ride/crash cymbals. The whole time you and your drum throne should be the center-piece of the whole set-up.
If you are unable to comfortably place (by location or angle) the bass drum so that you can use your right foot, while simultaneously having the hi-hat on the right side, then consider alternative pedal designs. Worst case scenario, you can always learn how to play with an alternate set-up to what you're currently looking at.
If you are concerned about strength of left versus right hands and feet, remember that in the end - with a well-rounded training regime - you will be putting equal amount of practice into both feet and hands.
