from heeldown to heelup

[swedendrummer]

well today i`ve changed my foot technique really much..from heel down to heel up. Its a big decision actually but the main goal is to develop great bassdrum technique whith both heel up and heel down.. i know it will take alot of time to get into it whith the posture and everything..but i think it will be worth it

To peter
i know you have done this to maybe you can give me some advices please!!!

[MaltBuddow3]

I dont have the life experience of Peter, but I know where you're coming from. My teacher has made me learn heel down, which I used to never be able to do, for jazz. My posture does not change from heel down to toe down. I sit with my thighs at a very slight downward angle (downward from my hip to my knee). I practice all my double bass exercises heel down, which makes my toe down faster and easier, b/c instead of using my legs only, I'm incorporating my feet into the motion, which creates a molar technique type thing. Just remember to sit up straight when doing real intense double bass stuff. BTW: Thomas Lang emphasizes a combo of the two foot styles for double bass technique, and if you look at Virgil's feet, he has the same kinda thing going. Good luck!

[peter]

Experience can get in the way.
Make no mistake about it. If I
were starting from scratch, it
might have been easier. I'll nev-
er know but one thing is certain
and that is that we have to work
with what we have.

I was heel down, almost my
whole drumming life. Then, when
I saw Virgil do heel-up (with what
he was doing), I knew that I had
to go there, at least for the fast
doubles. That's what I did. It can
be done and we can get better
at it. Don't give up.

[swedendrummer]

doesnt virgil always play heelup?

[MaltBuddow3]

I think he does, but when his double bass gets faster he's less on his toes, bringing the heel down, closer to the heel plate... at least that's what it looks like to me