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How to Set Up My Double Kick Pedal

The double kick pedal has become a staple of metal and hardcore music but also is used by many musicians in other musical genres. By utilizing two hammers of the same size for the same drum, controlled by separate pedals, the double pedal setup provides versatility and allows for very technical runs and various playing styles. Because the design allows a drummer to hit the kick drum almost twice as fast as usual, many new beats and fills are suddenly possible. Optimize your kit for a double pedal setup to make the most of your playing.

Instructions

    • 1

      Sit down at your drum kit in the position you normally would play. Look at what position your feet are in when pressing on the pedals--this will help determine the angle at which you should place the double pedal.

    • 2

      Move the hi-hat pedal away from your kit, and take the single pedal off your kick drum. Attach the first pedal of your double kick pedal to the kick drum in the same position you had your single. Place the second pedal where the hi-hat pedal once rested.

    • 3

      Sit down in front of your kit and play each pedal to ensure you're comfortable with their positions. Adjust the angles of the pedals to suit your needs. Because the second pedal is attached to the first with a stiff rod, you might need to rotate the kick drum slightly to get the pedals into their correct places.

    • 4

      Place the hi-hat directly to the left or right of the left kick drum pedal. Which side the hi-hat sits on will be determined by the space permitted by your kit, and your comfort and style as a drummer. For example, most hardcore and metal drummers will keep the hi-hat to the left, where it is harder to reach because the double kick pedal takes precedence in that style of playing.

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