Double Bass

What It Is

Double bass drumming uses two bass drum pedals (or two separate bass drums) to enable rapid-fire kick patterns that a single foot cannot achieve. From steady 16th notes to blazing blast beats, double bass is the rhythmic engine of metal, death metal, and progressive rock — delivering thunderous low-end power at extreme speeds.

How It’s Done

Drummers use either a double pedal on a single bass drum or two separate bass drums, each with its own pedal. Techniques for speed include heel-toe (rocking the foot to get two hits per motion), slide technique (sliding the foot forward on the pedal for a quick double), and swivel technique (pivoting the ankle side to side). Building speed requires years of practice, focusing on evenness between both feet and endurance for sustained passages. At extreme tempos, triggers or sample augmentation help maintain consistent tone.

Where You’ll Hear It

Dave Lombardo’s work with Slayer set the standard for thrash metal double bass. Gene Hoglan (Death, Strapping Young Lad) brought precision to extreme speeds. George Kollias (Nile) pushes the boundaries of what’s humanly possible. Tomas Haake (Meshuggah) uses double bass in polyrhythmic contexts that redefine the technique. In India, metal bands like Demonic Resurrection and Bhayanak Maut rely heavily on double bass technique to power their sound.

For Producers

At high speeds, acoustic bass drums lose definition — triggers or sample-augmenting ensures consistency. Gate tightly to prevent bleed and muddiness. Scoop the mids and emphasize the “click” attack (around 3-5 kHz) so the kick cuts through dense guitar walls. Low-end content should be controlled, not boomy. For blast beats, the kick must lock precisely with the snare — even tiny timing inconsistencies become obvious at tempo. Consider parallel compression to maintain both attack and sustain.