How to Play Double Bass Drums for Metal | MetalForge

Complete guide to double bass drumming for metal — pedal setup, heel-toe technique, coordination exercises, and patterns from Joey Jordison, George Kollias, ...

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need two bass drums or can I use a double pedal?

A double pedal is the standard approach for modern metal drummers. Joey Jordison, George Kollias, and most extreme metal drummers use double pedals rather than two separate bass drums. Two bass drums offer a slightly different feel and sound, but the technique is essentially identical. Start with a quality double pedal — Joey Jordison endorses Pearl Demon Drive pedals for their adjustability and rebound response.

How long does it take to learn double bass?

Most drummers develop basic double bass coordination (playing 8th notes at 100 BPM) within 3–6 months of consistent daily practice. Reaching extreme tempos (200+ BPM 16th notes) typically takes 2–5 years of dedicated work. The progression from basic coordination to musical double bass proficiency is steady if you practice correctly — slowly, relaxed, and with attention to technique rather than speed.

What double bass exercises should I start with?

Begin with the "alternating 8ths" exercise: right-left-right-left at 60 BPM, aiming for perfectly even strokes from both feet. Then move to 8th note triplets, then 16ths. Once you can play even 16th notes at 80 BPM with both feet, add your hands. The heel-toe technique (described in Step 2 above) will help you reach higher tempos more quickly than pure ankle drive.

Gear Deep Dives & Articles

1. Step 1: Set Up Your Double Pedal for Metal — Before playing a single note, dial in your pedal setup. Joey Jordison's Pearl Demon Drive double pedal is set with medium spring tension and a relatively upright beater angle (approximately 45 degrees from the head) — this maximizes rebound speed while maintaining power. Dave Lombardo runs slightly heavier spring tension for a more controlled, authoritative feel. For most metal drummers, a medium spring tension is the correct starting point. The footboard should sit flat on the floor with no rocking. The beater head should strike the bass drum approximately one-third up from the bottom of the head for optimal tone and attack. Adjust your throne height so your knee is slightly above hip level when your heel is resting on the footboard — this gives your ankle the range of motion it needs for fast playing. Use Evans EMAD or Remo Powerstroke heads on the bass drum for the punchy, defined attack that cuts through metal mixes.
2. Step 2: Learn the Heel-Toe Technique for Faster Feet — The heel-toe technique is the key to unlocking extreme double bass speeds. It allows one foot to produce two beater strokes per leg motion — the heel stroke and the toe stroke happen in rapid succession from a single downward motion. Start with your dominant foot on a single pedal. Place your entire foot flat on the footboard. Push down with the ball of the foot (toe stroke) — this is the primary stroke. Immediately rock your heel down (heel stroke) — the momentum produces a second beater impact. The result is two strokes from one leg motion. Practice at 40 BPM with a metronome until each pair of strokes is perfectly even. George Kollias uses this technique to sustain extreme tempos without the muscular fatigue that pure ankle drive would cause. Once your dominant foot is consistent, transfer the pattern to your non-dominant foot, then apply both simultaneously for double bass patterns.
3. Step 3: Build Foot Independence with Coordination Exercises — Double bass drumming requires your two feet to work both together and independently. Start with unison exercises: both feet playing the same pattern simultaneously (both on 8th notes at 60 BPM, then 16ths, then triplets). This builds the neuro-muscular connection between feet. Next, practice offset patterns: right foot on beats 1 and 3, left foot on 2 and 4. Then reverse it. Then play 16th notes with the right foot while the left plays 8th notes. Joey Jordison's Slipknot patterns often feature accented beats within an otherwise steady double bass stream — practice placing your right foot accents on specific beats while maintaining smooth left foot output. Dave Lombardo's Slayer patterns frequently use double bass to reinforce guitar riff rhythms rather than playing constant 16ths — practice matching your feet to riff rhythms you already know. See the double-bass technique page at /technique/double-bass for a complete list of metal drummers and their approach to foot coordination.
4. Step 4: Learn the Joey Jordison Pattern: Metal Double Bass Groove — Joey Jordison's double bass approach on Slipknot tracks like "People = Shit" and "Duality" centers on driving 16th-note runs beneath a heavy groove pattern. The signature Jordison pattern places the snare on beats 2 and 4 while both feet play continuous 16th notes, with the right hand alternating between hi-hat and crash cymbals for accents. At moderate tempos (around 130–150 BPM), this creates the dense, relentless groove that defines Slipknot's rhythm. Practice this at 100 BPM with a click: right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot in even 16th notes; snare on beats 2 and 4; right hand ride or hi-hat pattern. Once you can play this cleanly for 2 minutes at 100 BPM, add 10 BPM. Joey Jordison's gear is detailed at /drummer/joey-jordison — his Pearl Reference kit and Demon Drive pedals contribute significantly to the attack and rebound that make his patterns playable at high tempos.
5. Step 5: Build Double Bass Stamina for Live Performance — Raw technique at a practice pad does not equal live performance stamina. George Kollias, who plays 90-minute Nile sets with extended extreme-tempo double bass passages, follows a rigorous conditioning approach: daily foot exercises independent of full kit practice, gradual tempo increases over months rather than weeks, and strict attention to tension management. Start with timed double bass intervals: 30 seconds at practice tempo, 30 seconds rest, repeat 10 times. Over weeks, extend the play intervals and reduce the rest intervals. Record your practice sessions and listen for when your double bass timing starts to waver — that is your current stamina limit. Dave Lombardo maintains his double bass stamina through full-band rehearsals and consistent touring schedules. For home practice, playing along to complete Slayer, Slipknot, or Nile albums from start to finish (rather than isolated exercises) builds real musical stamina. For complete gear reference, see Dave Lombardo at /drummer/dave-lombardo and George Kollias at /drummer/george-kollias.
Joey Jordison — Complete Gear Setup
George Kollias — Complete Gear Setup
Dave Lombardo — Complete Gear Setup

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