Improving Foot Speed and Bass Drum Control – Beginner Drum Routine (Part 12)

Your hands might get all the attention — but your feet drive the groove. Developing foot speed and control is essential for any drummer, especially beginners learning to keep steady time, play rock beats, or transition into double bass drumming later on.

In this 12th part of the Drum Practice Routine Series, we focus on building bass drum technique, improving endurance, and learning how to keep your foot loose but accurate.

At Drum Lessons In Home, I help students develop speed the right way — starting slow, using proper form, and building from there.

🦶 Why Foot Technique Matters

✅ Drives the beat and groove
✅ Essential for fast fills and transitions
✅ Builds control, coordination, and confidence
✅ Prepares you for advanced techniques like doubles and heel-toe

🥁 30-Minute Bass Drum Practice Routine for Beginners

1. Heel-Down & Heel-Up Warm-Up (5 min)

Alternate between the two techniques:

• Heel down = focus on control

• Heel up = builds power and endurance

• Play steady quarter notes at 60–70 bpm

• Switch every 2 minutes

• Keep your leg relaxed and let the beater rebound

🎯 This helps train muscle control and comfort with both techniques.

2. Single Foot Reps (10 min)

Using your metronome:

• Play 8th notes at 70 bpm for 2 minutes

• Then 16th notes in short bursts (2 bars fast, 2 bars rest)

• Focus on clean hits, even volume, and minimal tension

🎯 This builds endurance and consistency — especially for rock grooves.

3. Groove Integration (10 min)

Use basic grooves with foot variations:

• Play this Basic 4/4 Rock Beat

• Add an extra bass note on the "&" after beat 1

• Try different hi-hat patterns while keeping steady footwork

This ties your foot technique into real musical playing.

4. Single Pedal “Double Stroke” Drill (5 min)

Alternate:

• One bar of R L R L hands only

• One bar of bass drum R R (like a double stroke, using foot technique)

🎯 Helps prep your foot for faster phrases, fills, and solo moments — a great tie-in to Part 11’s rudiments.

💡 Pro Tip:

Don’t stomp. Let the pedal do the work. The secret to speed is efficiency and rebound — just like your hands.

🧠 What I Teach My Students

We work on posture, pedal angle, and rebound technique — so every note comes from relaxed, smart motion. I also help students apply foot speed into actual grooves to make practice feel more musical.

📍 In-Home Drum Lessons Available In:

• Redondo Beach

• Torrance

• Gardena

• Manhattan Beach

• Palos Verdes

Contact me today to improve your foot technique with structured lessons in your own home.

📞 Contact Info:

In-Home Drum Lessons by David Montoya
📞 310-502-4413
🌐 www.drumlessonsinhome.com