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Author Topic: What exactly is playing with the balls of your feet?  (Read 1079 times)
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BlackEvovii
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« on: June 23, 2002, 10:34 AM »

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.
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« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2002, 11:02 AM »

It's the point at which your toes connect to your foot; the joint. Often thought of as just the big toe joint ... even though all the toe joints can/may play a role.

When you say the "left side of the foot" I hope you are not thinking that you have to angle. When you plant your foot it will naturally feel more towards the left (if you are using your right foot). I just want to make sure that you weren't thinking that you need to contort your body or something.
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BlackEvovii
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« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2002, 11:44 AM »

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
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orihood
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« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2005, 06:38 AM »

Stand up and SLIGHTLY raise your heels. You are now standing on the "balls" of your feet.

Now sit behind your drums as you normally do and slightly raise your heels again while your feet are on the hi-hat and kick drum pedals.

You are now playing "heel up" and with the balls of your feet.
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Curtis
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« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2005, 11:30 AM »

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.
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Marcos
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« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2005, 11:50 AM »

My thinking is that the more comfortable I am, the less off balance, the better the groove and feel.

There's the key! Get comfortable. Toss out everything but your H-H, snare and kick, experiment with height/positional adjustments of these, in general position these until you lock into your comfort zone and are happy with your footwork. Then build/bring in the rest of your kit around these. Worked for me, maybe it will for you. Good luck!
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Curtis
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« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2005, 12:01 PM »

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.
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Marcos
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« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2005, 12:56 PM »

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 think you found your problem/solution. Don't trip on 'everyone'. You can still be psycho, though. It's permitted.
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« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2005, 01:04 PM »

NOBODY sits lower than Tommy Aldridge and he ain't such a bad drummer!!
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« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2005, 03:00 PM »

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

I'm not sure Jon... I've seen Tommy, but I think Richie Hayward sits even lower and his feet are a force to be reckoned with.
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« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2005, 05:46 PM »

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

I just sit on the floor when I play!!  Cheesy
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« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2005, 08:14 PM »

NOBODY sits lower than Tommy Aldridge and he ain't such a bad drummer!!
This is a little off topic but is interesting. I remember years ago reading an interview that Tommy used to use a beer keg instead of a throne.
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Marcos
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« Reply #12 on: June 17, 2005, 08:59 AM »

This is a little off topic but is interesting. I remember years ago reading an interview that Tommy used to use a beer keg instead of a throne.

Kool, I gotta remember that. What a time saver! -  Tongue
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« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2005, 04:31 PM »

I happened to walk into the living room one day when Eagle Eye Cherry was on a tv show, doing his hit.  His drummer sat so low that his knees actually stuck up above the snare drum, and he had to work around them.  I'd call that pretty low.
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Curtis
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« Reply #14 on: June 21, 2005, 12:18 AM »

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.
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Marcos
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« Reply #15 on: June 21, 2005, 11:44 AM »

You guys mentioned playing with your toes.  I didn't know that was a possibilty.  Is it okay to do that, ...


It's very possible, but I think one gets more mileage if you remove footwear.


(p.s. I stopped playing with my toes. They told me I would go blind if I didn't.)
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« Reply #16 on: June 21, 2005, 05:10 PM »

It's very possible, but I think one gets more mileage if you remove footwear.


(p.s. I stopped playing with my toes. They told me I would go blind if I didn't.)


You just need a better hiding place.  Cool
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GregJ
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« Reply #17 on: July 15, 2005, 03:52 PM »

Jam time!

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