Using the Left Foot

Lesson 2/41 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Introducing Drums

Using the Left Foot

Up to this point the beats have used only three limbs but as mentioned before, good drummers have control over all four limbs. The left foot is most commonly used to control the opening and closing of the hi hat cymbals.

The hi hat played with the foot is notated in the same position on the staff as the bass drum, except that an X symbol is used instead of a notehead. Practice the example below which uses only the left foot. As with previous examples, keep a steady tempo and aim for a consistent sound and volume.

Once you are comfortable with the previous example, play a drum beat using the left foot on the backbeat instead of the left hand. Since you are opening and closing the hi-hat with the left foot, play the right hand part on the ride cymbal instead. Here are some examples.

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Class Sessions

1- The Triplet 2- The Dotted Quarter Note 3- Beats Based on Eighth Notes 4- The Eighth Note 5- INTRODUCTION 6- Playing Notes Together 7- Playing Fills 8- Rests 9- Sounds of the Drums 10- Using the Left Foot 11- The Three Four Time Signature 12- 16 Positions for Sixteenth Notes 13- Sixteenth Notes 14- The Shuffle 15- Notating Swing Rhythms 16- 12 Note Positions for Triplets 17- Creating Variations 18- Snare Drum Control 19- Creating Your Own Beats 20- Using the Hi-Hat Cymbals 21- The Cymbals 22- The Tom Toms 23- Playing the Open Hi-Hat 24- A Final Solo 25- Before You Begin 26- Ghost Notes 27- Musical Form 28- Singing What You Play 29- Snare Drum Control 30- Counting Drum Beats 31- Playing Drum Beats 32- How to Sit at the Drums 33- Fills Using Triplets6 34- How to Hold the Drum Sticks 35- Understanding Music 36- How to Read Drum Music 37- Music Notes 38- Note and Rest Values 39- The Grand Staff 40- Notes Used in Drum Beats 41- The Keyboard

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Using the Left Foot