Arts >> Music >> Music Basics

How to Set Up a Drum Pedal

The floor pedal on a bass drum allows drummers to hit the bass drum hands-free, using their foot instead. The tightness of the spring, the distance from the snare and the height of the beater (the part that contacts the drum) all change the effect you get from the foot pedal.

Things You'll Need

  • Mat
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the foot pedal to the drum set by positioning the pedal base beneath the bass hoop and positioning the clamp over the hoop. Tighten securely with the available screw, as advised by the Music Distributors Worldwide set-up tutorial.

    • 2

      Adjust the spikes on the foot pedal. According to Make Drum Work, they should extend just far enough off the base to grip the mat and keep the pedal in position.

    • 3

      Test the spring tension. The spring determines the rapidity with which the beater bounces back off the drum and determines how fast you can play. Start with it at its slackest and slowly increase the tension until it plays the way you want it to.

    • 4

      Adjust the height of the beater to ensure it strikes the drum on the center. This gives the highest quality sound.

    • 5

      Set the distance of the beater from the drum. This affects both speed and power; the shorter the distance the beater must travel, the more power your playing will have.

Music Basics

Related Categories