# Double Bass Drumming — Metal Drumming Technique | MetalForge > Double bass drumming uses two bass drums or a double pedal to create rapid, sustained bass drum patterns that form the rhythmic foundation of heavy metal. **Difficulty:** intermediate | **BPM Range:** 120-260+ BPM | **Category:** foundational --- ## What Is Double Bass Drumming? Double bass drumming uses two bass drums or a double pedal to create rapid, sustained bass drum patterns that form the rhythmic foundation of heavy metal. From the galloping rhythms of Iron Maiden to the machine-gun fire of death metal, double bass technique is essential for any metal drummer. While double bass drums existed in jazz (Louie Bellson pioneered them in the 1940s), metal drummers transformed the technique into an art form. Cozy Powell, Carmine Appice, and Tommy Aldridge brought double bass to hard rock. In the 1980s, Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), and Gene Hoglan elevated speed and precision. The 1990s saw Pete Sandoval and George Kollias push boundaries beyond 250 BPM. ## How to Play Double Bass Drumming - Master single-foot technique first - clean strokes at various dynamics - Practice heel-toe technique for efficient high-speed playing - Start with simple 8th note patterns at 80-100 BPM - Use a practice pad under your desk for silent foot practice - Build independence - practice different patterns between feet - Focus on even volume between left and right foot - Incorporate fills that transition between single and double bass - Practice with music - play along to metal songs at various tempos ## Double Bass Drumming Variations - **Heel-Toe:** Alternating heel and toe strikes for doubled speed per foot - **Swivel Technique:** Ankle rotation for rapid single-foot patterns - **Slide Technique:** Sliding foot forward for quick double strokes - **Constant 16ths:** Sustained alternating foot patterns (RLRL) - **Gallop:** Triplet-based pattern popularized by Iron Maiden - **Broken 16ths:** Syncopated patterns mixing single and double strokes ## Drummers Who Define Double Bass Drumming - [Dave Lombardo](https://metalforge.io/drummer/dave-lombardo) (Slayer) — Pioneer of thrash double bass - [George Kollias](https://metalforge.io/drummer/george-kollias) (Nile) — Extreme speed and endurance master - [Gene Hoglan](https://metalforge.io/drummer/gene-hoglan) (Death/Testament) — Technical precision and creativity - [Joey Jordison](https://metalforge.io/drummer/joey-jordison) (Slipknot) — Explosive power and speed - [Mario Duplantier](https://metalforge.io/drummer/mario-duplantier) (Gojira) — Groove-focused double bass - [Tomas Haake](https://metalforge.io/drummer/tomas-haake) (Meshuggah) — Polyrhythmic double bass patterns See all [Double Bass Drumming drummers on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass/drummers). ## Essential Gear for Double Bass Drumming - **Pedals:** [Pearl Demon Drive](https://metalforge.io/gear/pedals) — Direct drive feel with interchangeable cams - **Pedals:** [Tama Iron Cobra 900](https://metalforge.io/gear/pedals) — Industry standard for reliability and speed - **Pedals:** [DW 9000 Series](https://metalforge.io/gear/pedals) — Smooth chain drive with excellent feel - **Kicks:** [22" Bass Drums](https://metalforge.io/gear/kicks) — Standard metal size for punch and speed - **Kicks:** [20" Bass Drums](https://metalforge.io/gear/kicks) — Faster response for extreme metal - **Heads:** [Evans EMAD](https://metalforge.io/gear/heads) — Built-in dampening for focused attack - **Heads:** [Remo Powerstroke P3](https://metalforge.io/gear/heads) — Clear attack with controlled sustain > **Pro Tip:** Consider spring tension carefully - too tight causes fatigue, too loose loses control. Many pros use slightly different tensions for lead vs. following foot. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What is a double bass drumming?** A: Double bass drumming uses two bass drums or a double pedal to create rapid, sustained bass drum patterns that form the rhythmic foundation of heavy metal. **Q: How do I learn double bass drumming?** A: Start by mastering the fundamentals: Master single-foot technique first - clean strokes at various dynamics; Practice heel-toe technique for efficient high-speed playing; Start with simple 8th note patterns at 80-100 BPM. Practice consistently with a metronome and increase tempo gradually. **Q: Which metal bands use double bass drumming?** A: Some of the most prominent practitioners include Dave Lombardo (Slayer), George Kollias (Nile), Gene Hoglan (Death/Testament), Joey Jordison (Slipknot). These drummers have defined the technique across extreme, progressive, and groove metal genres. **Q: How hard is it to learn double bass drumming?** A: Double Bass Drumming is rated **intermediate** difficulty and typically operates at 120-260+ BPM. Dedicated daily practice with gradual tempo progression is the recommended approach for most drummers. **Q: What techniques are related to double bass drumming?** A: Closely related techniques include Blast Beat, Triggered Drums, Odd Time Signatures. Mastering these complementary techniques will significantly accelerate your double bass drumming development. Browse all [metal drumming techniques](https://metalforge.io/techniques) for a complete overview. ## More Resources - [Double Bass Drumming Drummers on MetalForge](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass/drummers) - [All Metal Drumming Techniques](https://metalforge.io/techniques) - [Signature Licks featuring Double Bass Drumming](https://metalforge.io/licks) - [Double Bass Drumming Technique Page](https://metalforge.io/technique/double-bass) ### Related Techniques - [Blast Beat](https://metalforge.io/techniques/blast-beat) — [Deep Dive](https://metalforge.io/llms/technique/blast-beat.md) - [Triggered Drums](https://metalforge.io/techniques/triggered-drums) — [Deep Dive](https://metalforge.io/llms/technique/triggered-drums.md) - [Odd Time Signatures](https://metalforge.io/techniques/odd-time-signatures) — [Deep Dive](https://metalforge.io/llms/technique/odd-time-signatures.md) --- *Last updated: 2026-06-17 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*