5 steps to perfect kick pedal SPRING TENSION
116,143
Published 2022-02-25
Table of Contents:
02:15 - Question #1 (regarding beater length & weight)
05:41 - Question #2 (regarding “the beater bob”)
08:17 - Question #3 (adjusting for soft playing)
11:42 - Question #4 (adjusting for loud playing)
13:59 - Question #5 (heel up versus heel down)
17:43 - BONUS! (How you should adjust spring tension over time)
Does your pedal feel slow and clumsy when you play loud? Or does it feel stiff when you’re trying to play softly? Do you continue running into technical issues with your pedal, no matter how much you practice right foot technique?
Have you been left wondering whether the problem is YOU or your pedal??
Today I want you to answer 5 questions that will help you figure out your spring tension sweet spot so that you can get the most response out of your pedal, whether it’s a DW9000 or the budget pedal that came with your kit. YOU CAN DO THIS!
More resources…
The complete playlist of foot technique / bass drum pedal optimization lessons. Enjoy!
• BASS DRUM TECHNIQUE: Pedal Optimizati...
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All Comments (21)
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I've been teaching rudimental corps-style drumming for over 30 years. Let me just say that you, my friend, are a natural teacher. Fantastic job. Great channel! 👍
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As a regular shaft beater this was really helpful
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I like the Stephen Clark Mantra: "You Can Do This". As usual, great content here. Good Tips for this Old Man (70), a resurrected drummer after 50 Year Hiatus (1969). I learn so much watching Steve. THX for these videos. Be well. Happy Drumming to All.
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As someone who always struggled with getting the rite feel/ spring/ response from the pedal to utilize the mechanics for greater diversity, I eventually went with the Pearl Eliminator series that gives you even more diversity with their interchangeable cam’s , this was certainly a game changer. This pedal really allows you to fine tune the feel even more so than your traditional fixed cam.
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Great video, great tips ,great teacher! Almost 60 playing 53 years ,I never had someone solve some of the mechanical issues of drumming in the way you just did! THANK YOU Stephen ! Peace from Detroit MI. I did not just read the comment below until just now! See how amazing this teacher is for real !
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dude this actually helped so much. i never would’ve thought the length would affect and i literally tried different lengths and it was a huge difference. i also figured out i had weights on mine too and i took them right off and it really helped also. thanks 🙏
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Great video! This helped me figure out what to do about a stiff pedal when playing softly. I am sure that l just need to loosen the spring tension. It's so frustrating trying to play soft and you can't even hit the bass drum head comfortably. I needed this video six months ago.
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Ahh this is amazing, I now have my pedals exactly how I want them for the first time in the 27 years I've been playing. Thank you so much!
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Great video. Really beneficial. It’s always good to go back to basics and reevaluate such things as drum ergonomics, etc. I’ve definitely had some pedal issues of late, just not finding that sweet spot, & thankfully this vid has helped me discover what/where I was going wrong. Thanks again! 👍
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This is the first time I saw had a comment I've been watching all your tips for weeks now and I got to say I use them all everything you brighten up I've taken a look at it and it works as far as the breathing the posture the angle of your positioning of your feet and everything the tension of my foot pedal another great tip you make me want to actually take real lessons because all your tips seem to help so much and make me focus so much more keep it up thank you
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Easily the best instructor on mechanics on the web. Great tips
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Dude i REALLY NEEDED THIS! 🙌 THANK YOU
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Really excellent video!!! You break things down so I really feel like I understand now exactly how it all works, how these things all interact so that it is much more obvious what the correct setup should be. This was all such a mystery before... Thanks!
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Thanks for the great tips
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After playing drums for over 50 years now, I've narrowed down my pedal choices to the Ludwig Speed King (aka the "Squeak King") or a DW 5000. One I can adjust the spring tension, the other not so much. I keep the felt beater on my Ludwig, the double-sided on the DW. Both work well.
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You are amazing. Thank you so much for your no-nonsense advices. So much useful information in this video!!
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Great instruction. Thank you.
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I watched this video from beginning to end. Thank you, very much!
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Thank you Stephen.. I decided to "take a closer look" on my pedal... after replacing 2 bearings, lubricating and adjusting, adding a nut, fastened a few screws... It became a new pedal. It's a low end but at least it's working properly now. I'm a beginner drummer (at 45) but it helped a lot. Incredible how we hobby "drummers" sometimes forget to adjust our gear and ergonomics. Thanks again man! Subscribed!
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Thanks for this explanation
