Drum Set Up for Gigs

LivingDead

I have played about 4 gigs (on drums) and every time there is the same problem:

Whenever the bass drum is hit it moves out slightly, therefore at the end of a song I am literally stretching my leg to reach the pedal.

We are playing on hard floors and I do not set up the kit. Does anyone know how to prevent this problem?

feylya

Put a rug under the kit.

Eoin Madsen

A section of carpet works nicely too. It's pretty standard practice.

david

We use a drum riser in our rehearsal space at school. Theres carpet on it so its ideal, bass drum doesnt slip at all.

Doctor J

The legs of your bass drum should have little spikes at the end, inside the rubber feet. Let out the spikes a bit and when you're setting up the kit, push them down into the ground and you'll be laughing. You can also buy an appendage which attaches to the front of the bass drum on the rim with two spikes which you can use for further reinforcement.

david

Doctor J wrote:

The legs of your bass drum should have little spikes at the end, inside the rubber feet. Let out the spikes a bit and when you're setting up the kit, push them down into the ground and you'll be laughing. You can also buy an appendage which attaches to the front of the bass drum on the rim with two spikes which you can use for further reinforcement.

But the moving bass problem only really happens with smooth timber, vinyl or concrete floors right? You can't really push spikes into any of these without wrecking the floor. Get an old rug or 8'x6' piece of carpet.

Doctor J

Used in conjunction with a bit of rug the drum goes nowhere. I've used carpet without spikes and had to chase the drum around, it all depends on how hard you kick the pedal. If the drum kit in question doesn't have spikes in the feet then, in my experience, it's always going to move. You can't secure tha bass drum enough tbh

DublinWriter

LivingDead wrote:

I have played about 4 gigs (on drums) and every time there is the same problem:

Whenever the bass drum is hit it moves out slightly, therefore at the end of a song I am literally stretching my leg to reach the pedal.

We are playing on hard floors and I do not set up the kit. Does anyone know how to prevent this problem?

Go down to your local Woodies and buy a rug for about €10. All modern (i.e. > 1970) bass drums have 'spurs' on each of their two legs. Examine the ends closely, normally there is a large washer just above the rubber end bit that you can wind back so you can let the rubber push up to expose the end metal spikey-end of the leg.

My pedal (a Premier 252) has also got spurs. But don't set the spurs too deep or else the whole bass drum will rise when you strike it.

And here's a handy tip - get an old pound coin, gaffa tape it to the strike area of the bass drum skin. Sounds fantasic, especially with a wooden beater, you get all the bass, plus a tight well defined 'click'.

schmegeggin

LivingDead wrote:

I have played about 4 gigs (on drums) and every time there is the same problem:

Whenever the bass drum is hit it moves out slightly, therefore at the end of a song I am literally stretching my leg to reach the pedal.

We are playing on hard floors and I do not set up the kit. Does anyone know how to prevent this problem?

easiest way to do this is to get a piece of string/wire and tie it around your drum stool at the base, and attach it to your kick drum pedal, adjusting it for the required distance between you and bass drum. Et Voila no more movement, plus the whole rug thing is great too.

Saw the drummer from Immortal Lee County Killers have the same setup, worked like a treat

mickymg2003

Always Wondered why drummers did that. The last drummer i was in a band with always made a big deal about having a carpet. Learn something new every day!!!