DRUMMER CAFE

Is it all of the area around your toes? or is it, the left side of your foot? and vice versa on the opposite side...


ive always wondered that.

I just figured the area where it feels like a ball joint, if you were to run your fingers across your left foot(by the big toe).

thanks for the clarification...and i do see how it feels more towards the left...just never really took notice.

thanks

Is it okay that your foot be offset from the pedal a little to the left, and not straight on, or is that bad?  You know what I mean?   Like, should it by right on top of the kickboard, perfectly lined up, or can it be a little off the board (the heel) when you're playing?  Because, its okay that you're leg be at an angle to the pedal right, or should it be straight into the bass drum?  I'm having big problems with this, CONSTANTLY adjusting my position when I find that I can't groove as well as I want do, and its not as comfortable.  My thinking is that the more comfortable I am, the less off balance, the better the groove and feel.  How do I attain that?  Is that just through finding the perfect position and feeling comfortable?  Through proper and perfect mechanics?  Or is it also muscle conditioning?  Thanks.

I tried that!  And thank you for your post.   The thing is, I'm picky.  It has to be perfect.  I guess I feel comfortable playing simple beats in my position, and maybe I"m asking for too much, but I try to play like fast feet patterns (triplets, even doubles) , and when I can't I blame it on position, when perhaps its actually just practice... I have such high expectations of my drumming.  I always get down on myself, but that's a personal issue.  

Anyhow, I sometimes feel off balance when playing the bass drum and lifting my left foot off the hi-hat.  I start falling into the hi-hat.  Is that normal?  Or is it just me?  Do I just have to play patterns where there is only momentary lifting of the high hat, or should I be able to do whatever I want with both feet and remain perfectly balance?  I can seat myself more towards the hi-hat, away from the kick, but then I feel my kick groove falter.  

I also experiment with how far back to sit.  I look at pictures of the pro's and it looks like they are sitting so far BACK!  Mechanically, I can see how this would work, but I feel like I'm falling into the set. When my seat is higher, I feel more comfortable, but I can't feel the kick pedal as much.  When I'm lower, (really low) I can feel the kick pedal better, but i'm afraid I'm too low, because it seems like everyone doesn't sit that low.  I can't stop thinking about it.  I"m pyscho.  I'm like OCD about this.  It drives me up the wall, and has for some time.  Lately its gotten better though. I bought a great DW throne, whereas before I had this wobbly broken Pearl, which has helped A LOT!  Like, a billion times better.  Anyhoo, thanks for the response dude.  Peace.

NOBODY sits lower than Tommy Aldridge and he ain't such a bad drummer!!

I was only making the point that wher you sit is a personal preference.

I just sit on the floor when I play!!  

Kool, I gotta remember that. What a time saver! -  

You guys mentioned playing with your toes.  I didn't know that was a possibilty.  Is it okay to do that, or do you have to stick to the balls of your feet (heel up playing)?  Thanks.

You just need a better hiding place.