Some drumming questions

[Shinna Minna Ma]

A few questions about drumming and drum sets, if you please.

I was watching some videos (and saw some pictures) of Mark Herndon, dht drummer for Alabama. In some concerts he used a drum set with a single bass drum, in others he used a double bass. Is it common for drummers to switch back and forth? Is a double bass setup harder to play in general?

One other thing I could never figure out - if a drummer has two feet, and each is on a pedal for a bass drum, how do they use a hi-hat? Do they stop playing one of the bass drums?

--SMM

[Jonathan Chance]

The answer is 'yes'. But each drum set is idiosyncratic to the drummer involved.

Neil Peart, of Rush, plays two kits in concert. One a full out dual bass kit and one a smaller single bass jazz kit. They're on the same riser and rotates out for whichever is called for.

Generally, with only two feet, the hi-hat gets locked down when dual bass drums are in play but not always. I knew a guy who'd built for himself a bass drum pedal set that played both drums off time with one pedal so he'd be free to work with the hi hat.

[Mister Rik]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Chance

Neil Peart, of Rush, plays two kits in concert. One a full out dual bass kit and one a smaller single bass jazz kit. They're on the same riser and rotates out for whichever is called for..

He stopped using a double bass drum setup several years ago, and now uses a double pedal on a single bass drum. The second kit that rotates in is his electronic drum setup.

[DfrntBreign]

Different people use different solutions, but this seems to be a pretty universal way to go. Drop-lock hi-hat clutch Hitting the release lever unhooks the top cymbal, closing the hats. Stepping on the pedal re-engages the hook and the cymbals work conventionally.

As for double bass drums vs. double pedals; it's pretty much personal preference. For myself, I'd much rather haul one drum and a double pedal than two drums and two pedals. But then, I'm lazy (and don't use either very often anyway).

Buddy Rich said, "You can do anything with one foot that you can do with two, if you're a bitch. And I'm a Bitch!" I've not found that to be true myself, but then I'm not a "Bitch".