Developing The Left Foot - Free Drum Lessons 

Im a bass player and now Im trying to learn drums This channel is amazing! Its helping me a lot! Thanks for the lesson Jared!

Please, do a lesson on how to develop left foot on double bass. Thank you!

Excellent tutorial! I'm only just starting to develop this skill, and your patterns will me help a ton.

When i learned at school, the hi hat pedal was just used to keep it closed, it was very rare for me to use it to open/close it within a beat unless i made the beat up myself. But as i was never taught that way it still feels new.

Jared, you're doing a nice job on these lessons. I am learning some good exercises to improve my playing. Thanks!

I've been playing the drums for 2 weeks. The high hat is my favorite by far. I'm going to apply these lessons. Thanks brother.

I'm 63 and getting back into drumming after a 9 year dry spell. My problem is that I have never really counted. I go with the feel. Now that I am reading, I find it harder to learn at a slower speed. You are an excellent teacher. One thing that I feel is challenging is playing hi-hat on 1 and 3. Usually I play on 2 and 4 or on all 4 beats. I really like your material.

Develop your left foot even when your not on your drum kit just tap your left foot everytime you hear or have a song you like in your head the repetition will get you to a point where it will happen on a subconscious level

Neglected .... I was taught many years ago and a lot of jazz, so yes, I can rock on 2&4 .. but up until now have always played heel down ... I think your videos are great ... even if I do feel myself 'falling' of my stool!! As Yoda would say "Much work to do I must to feel the force in the feet!" Thanks ... great stuff ...

Hola Jared! Soy de Argentina y quiero decirte que tus videos son lo mejor, se ve tan fácil cuando haces ejercicios!! Saludos desde acá!!

thank you so much, especially for the drum sheet this is the best ay to understand

Neglected. Always wanted to be able to elevate the groove (when I'm on the ride) with the hi hat, but as soon as I started to chick the hats on quarters or eighths, the groove would fall apart. It's like I'd lose my balance on the drum throne and my pocket would evaporate. I realized my bass drum speed (which was fast), was totally dependant on me anchoring my left foot down hard on the hat pedal. I got a mirror and saw that I totally leaned to the left in order to do fast notes with my right foot. Now since I've been obsessed with my left foot getting better (maybe for the last year or so) my bass drum foot has gone to shit and I basically have had to learn all over again. I've had to completely change my posture to be able to use both feet evenly. It's going pretty well now. I can do some pretty swift sambas with the left foot closing on the up beats, and with my band I'm pretty confident with quarters and eighths, but there's times I still fall apart and just give up on the hats to make sure I can get through the song without ruining it. I swear it's when I think about them too much. It's like a curse. There's really no way of getting around just having to practice like crazy. It will come, but not with out the work. These exercises in this video are all you need...

Jared, thank you for all the help you are giving!! :) You are so awesome my friend!!

Going to put these exercises to use, I really want to improve my left foot. I'm satisfied with the sound I have, but feel like pushing myself physically to get that high hat sounding precisely how I want.

That DW custom is absolutely gorgeous! Great vid!

I love using that technique! It just feels complete. I even use it when my right hand is playing the hi-hat. I just find it really appealing having those hats clamp to the beat when you're playing. I started off feeling really awkward, but then i progressed to using on every snare hit to using it as a metronome and now I'm working on actually playing the hi-hats with my foot independently. It's just a lot of fun using both foot so often. It almost feels like tap dancing for certain drum beats!

When first started I never thought that I could build up my left foot to keep time, but as I progressed, it came naturally to me and now I open whenever my foot bounces.

My six year old is learning and these video's are helping good job keep it up. The funny thing is I all ways wanted to learn drums and now listening to your videos I can do it AWESOME!

About a half year ago i just let my left foot sit on the Pedal. Then i saw guys holding it on 2 and 4. A while later i started doing quarter notes to keep my time, which worked quite well. About a month ago i've got a bit into Gospel and now i'm using my hi-hat everywhere and always ;) I keep it through grooves and even through fills. It just helps so much to keep time. For my bandmembers and me aswell. I usually keep it steady on 8th notes, but sometimes also change it.

Thank you Jared.

Very useful lesson brother , thank you 🙏

Nice video Jared. Thanks!

To answer your question . I’ve been working on my left foot for about a year . I find 1/4 notes very easy and natural . 8th notes however , i find very awkward . I know it’s a matter of practice but this video really helps . Thank you again

Very cool video, I wish I used the hh more and definitely plan to work on it. Thanks Jared!

I've been playing drums for about 7-8 years now and the timekeeping on the hi-hat-pedal is just something that has kind of developed itself through time, without me really noticing it actually. So it's definitely something I'm doing, even though I have a double bass pedal as well. Now I just can't stop doing it and it feels weird not doing it, when I'm not supposed to play double pedal.

Great playing hi hat. Im beginner in drums, and not usually play like that. Now I have an idea how to play in hi hat. Thanks for sharing. GOD bless it's help alot to me.

Hey Jared. I've been playing around a year, been putting a little effort into my left foot, I'm aware of the fact I'm having trouble with keeping left independent - plus balance as you say lol so looking forward to trying out these exercises! Cheers buddy, love your vids!

Im a lefty so i play with my left foot on the bass. but this video still helped me to develop my right foot on the hh. Thanks jared!

For the first year I played I completely neglected the hats and just left them closed but now I constantly use them in almost every groove I play.

Getting started late. 52 yrs old. I played baseball most of my life. My uncle played with Buddy Rich. I have that snare drum and have been using the book Stick Control. Now I have a real drum kit. ddrum with 404 Pastie ride and hi-hat. the stuff your giving us is great, thank you. am I to old to get to a real drummer level

I don't usually ride my hi-hat cymbal during a groove. But i am starting to get used to it after a few lessons i have watched on youtube which have incorporated this technique

I know the video is old, but yeah, I've been neglecting this for a very long time, and considering I want to be a metal drummer, I've only recently realised how useful this is.

i usually hit the open hit hat at the end of a measure if they situation calls for it, or if im going to lead into something really powerful, like a good fill or crash to open hit hat from closed - but as far as time keeping its only usually closed till that 4-"and" - ive dabbled with trying to keep timing with it cuz i see it is important - now its time to master it or start applying it atleast! its left leg development month!

I have been playing drums for about 9 years now and i still have the hardest time with my left leg doing its own thing. i have had a double bass pedal for about 5 years so i just always use that.

When I'm playing my ride I usually play hi-hat foot on all 8th notes or on just the ands of each beat. But lately I've also been experimenting with hi-hat foot strokes on the ees and the uhs and playing hi-hat foot strokes while playing a groove on the hi-hat.

Es muy importante independizar el pie izquierdo, es otro paso más para conseguir un buen sonido cuando tocas. Buen video :D !

im a fairly advanced player and I have completely neglected my left foot independence. I play double pedal and I have good footwork on that, but when I groove it sounds too open sometimes because of me neglecting my hi hat work. so I compensate with a lot of ghost notes. im definitely going to put these exercises to work. please make for of these vids on left foot independence. thanks man

I learned drumming by ear playing mostly death metal with the hi-hat locked down and as a result my left foot is basically gimped compared to the rest of my limbs...it's not even a close comparison. I now enjoy playing many styles, and I want to fix this....Any other lessons recommended to help me get my hi hat foot playing (especially in combination with grooves using my hands, opening/closing dynamics, etc...) up to speed?

i spent a few weeks with my ride on my left side. Then just learn all the beats you can leading with your left hand..even start beggining fills with your left hand. when u go back to leading with your strong hand your weak will feel stronger and more co ordinated. Personally my ghost notes got alot more interesting. hope that helps a bit.

Awesome 👌

My foot is constantly bouncing like yours. It just feels natural, and when I noticed Chad Smith(my idol) does the same thing I really started incorporating it.

I often do little open hi hat notes when playing ride grooves, just to make the groove a bit more interesting, although I never use the hi hat to keep time apart from when I'm playing jazz, so that's definitely something I'm going to work on

I have done it a couple times but not like this with practices. I should get to work with that hi-hat for it's such a vital part of drumming.

My left foot is weak at best. Thanks for the lesson, I'm gonna start putting in a more concerted effort to develop that foot. I am a novice player, your site is informative and you explain lessons well. Thanks again,,,,,,

Please post a video about how to increase the speed of your hand this would help a lot and also include hand excercise thank you

Kind sir the layers in your joke are many and inevitable. Gratitude for the laughter your joke produced xD

I have fought with my left foot for years, especially at faster speeds. Great video, thanks!

Usually keep the Hi hats slightly open so you can ride it during a double bass pattern, then returning your foot to the Hi hat pedal after completing the double bass groove or 16th note pattern if you will.

Jared Falk you're amazing in your doings, you were born a drummer or its practice???😀

Im trying to get the development in my left foot since Ive neglected using the hi hat to maintain tempo since Ive started, its been 3 years and now Im starting to use it.

I used to neglect it, but I noticed my feet are not good at keeping a steady beat. So, I decided to start adding quarter note accents with the hi-hats during ride patterns and such.

Yeah i try to use my left foot whenever i can so that i can develop those muscles and get better. I do sometimes use it to make beats, but i only do it when it sounds good to me.

You can always try to tighten your hats to keep from using the pedal. THEN play regular beats ONLY USING your left and NOT using your right AT ALL. It will definitely grow independence then of course do simple practices using both feet- you'll feel a HUGE DIFFERENCE! ...maybe even end up with a smile on your face when you realize that you've GOT IT!

i don't really spend much time off the hihat with my hands, and when i play the ride i tend to forget to use it, but when i don't forget about it, i use it, quarters, eights and offbeats. gonna try to get the splashing thing down finally

I'll tend to open and close the hi-hit based on the snare drum when I'm playing a groove, subconsciously.. But when I'm playing a 16th note on the snare only, I will keep it to quarter note instead for easy counting =)

Hey Jared for my hi hat i kinda use it when i use the ride to make it sound more full, its kinda hard to use it to keep time but im working on it! but i was wondering if you could do a vid on how to read that sheet music you guys put up?

Nice!

It's been common for the past 5 years ever since I started giving a poo about limb indipendence. In the past 2 years I've added more pedals so now I bridge them to get crazy syncopated rythums. I couldn't do that with out left foot Indy.

i only open and close hihats when playing swing :P that's how i learned swing but in my last drum lesson we started to use the hihat in other beats to..still having some serious problems but i hope that changes soon. So probably i will do it more often in the future. As always: nice video and thank you!

you should do a lesson on how to develop double bass on the left foot. Especially with heel toe. :)

Which Paiste ride is that? It looks like the Signature, just not sure which one. Sounds great!

most of the time when i use i just keep time with it and when the groove is not so fast i experiment with it while playing to see if it would make the groove sound richer.

do it! It makes the biggest difference!

I've been playing for many years and the problem I always have with playing the hi-hat heal up is that I find that my calf and lower leg seem to get fatigued when doing something steady like 8notes

Thanks Jared! I’m totally not used to playing heel up with both feet. How do I keep my physical balance on the chair? I feel like I’m balancing on my butt-bones when I play HH and base at the same time. 😅🙈

I keep my hihat closed only when I'm playing on it, but the second I move my hand from it, I continue to keep the tempo with left foot. I think it's a good habit, which came from practising in really slow tempos. Only problem is that I keep my heel down all the time, I will try to work on that now.

Over years envying drummers who do it so well I've subconsciously worked it in. Don't think about it just do it!

Hey Jared how are u my freind ? I've send a mail some time ago about this exercise thank you very much, I really needed

i was always tought to do that in drumtech high-hat on the pulse

he has a video about developing single stroke roll speed...it helps out a lot

Having trouble; broke my left ankle a few years ago and the movement isn’t what I used to be. What can I do to improve the hihat foot technique?

Nice shirt man! Back to the future 🚙8️⃣8️⃣

jared pls do a lesson on Developing The Left Foot double pedal...

I always open and close my hats when I'm not playing the hi hat, usually with the snare drum but I'm working on keeping it going on quarter notes for the duration of the entire groove

thanks a heap, ive been playing for 2 years, and im already in the church band :P im pretty good concidering how long ive been learning, thanks anyways :D

Ive heard of the off beats (which is really hard to improvise with) but the hell toe i havent. I will probably start working on this again

I practice on a dtx 400k yamaha & find leaving high hat open hard to do....being totally new to drumming & over 50 this vid series is great for me to learn with. always wanted to drum with the dead...lol

How do you maintain your left foot, if you have injured it in the past? Thanks, R3N

ive had a drum set for about 5 years. never had the room to set it up till recently. had a smaller DW practice pad set that i practiced on in the meantime. didnt have a hi hat or any cymbals to practice on (had them just didnt have the room) so for the last 5 years ive been forced to neglect my hi hat skills. recently (like a week ago) i was able to have the room to set up my real drum set and now im behind on the hi hat but working on it. if my left foot was Roman his name would be Terribus Sucketh Alotus Rex.

It's awkward for everyone but it will get easier with time and practice like almost everything else.

Yesss it isss.

Digging the shirt!!

I always use the hi hat when I'm playing the ride. I play on beats 2 and 4, quarter notes, or eighth notes depending on the song.

How to play heel toe technique on the hihat pedal?

Yesh!

well before i learned how to count i would usually find my self opening it at the start of a every other measure to keep time or if a song was in 3/4 i would open it on the ands

I like that T-shirt :D ...and this lesson :P

I use my hi-hat foot (letf foot) to keep time and only use it when I want extra accents thrown into the beat i'm playing. Other than that I only bark with it lol!! Would like to learn how to use my left foot more effectively though since I am a double bass drummer :)

Recently I've started to work on playing quarter and eighth notes with my left foot when I'm on the ride. Before that I always just left the hats closed.

i used to completely neglect my left foot because it always threw me off.. i found myself focusing too much on it and i would lose the groove and the timing. now that i've developed my left foot independence, timing is waaaaay easier (especially in weird timed music like 5/4 and some tricky 6/8 songs). i always keep time with my left foot now. sometimes i forget to stop when i go to start hitting the CLOSED hihat. also, weirdly, fills and triplets became MUCH more easier than before.

I've always neglected left until saw Chris Coleman's drum solo GAIA

I'm not very good at drumming, but I think that you just have to keep at it, if you know what I mean. I'm trying to learn the bass pattern in "In waves" and at first I could not for the life of me do it right. So I was doing it with my hands so my brain would recognize the pattern and I broke it down to different parts. Then when I got that down I went ahead doing it with my feet. Far from flawless, but it became some what easier. So try breaking each part of the beat down I guess. =)

Hola y Dios te bendiga mucho. En mi caso yo he sido negligente con mi lado izquierdo y no tengo la separación o independencia de mis piernas para tocar el Hi-Hat's muchas veces ni lo usó se hace difícil ahora para aprender y a praticar gracias por tu enseñanza como músico de batería me gusta y me ayudas como estudiante

Well, I play quite a lot of metal but I usually tend to use hi hat as a my own metronome despite of what kind of music I'm playing. Figures it get's kinda hard when I'm playing some fast metal stuff :D

exactly the same here !! i started using it because i saw chad smith using it...

i've subconsciously been moving my left feet. it started out as a bounce then it started to have a life of its own and it became like exercise 5. but if i try to control it, everything falls apart. so i leave it cos it sounds good.

I find that I will sometimes keep time by lifting the heel of my right foot, rather than using the left foot to open/close the hi-hat.

I love your shoes :p

Sadly I have Been Playing For 50 years and I still Play every weekend I NEVER HAVE DEVELOPED KEEPING THE PULSE IN THE HAT Though I use the Hi Hat 80% of the time ( I am from Louisiana and I Play a lot of R/B and Swamp Pop and of Course Cajun music ) Thank You for the Vid Very Helpful

i tend to use the hi hats as more of a voice..not necessarily as time keeping, but to simply change the groove..not explained very well, but lets hope everyone gets me!