This is an exclusive lesson from George Kollias of Nile, for Sick Drummer Magazine only. There is a PDF for download on our site here: www.sickdrummer...
Try practising without pedal, preferably with shoes. Play simple heel to toe and heel down patterns. For example, you can play groups of eight alternating between the heel and the toes or both feet heel down. Try playing rudiments heel to toe and between both feet heel down. Try it heel up, but I'd say do heel down more as you'll train specific parts of your leg more that way. I've found this very helpful. Whatever you can play with your shoes, you can surely play on any pedal, don't you think?
@BiedaQ So you know that both derek's feet play with less beater distance than the left foot of George right? Anyway, this concept of the leading foot (wich george talks about in his dvd, so I'm used to it for years now) works greatly. Please, remember that working on your right foot won't make your left weaker...
It's not OCD, it's just musicians' ears. Slight difference in dynamics and tone (since human won't achieve perfect beater velocity/angle and kick drum tuning like triggers) actually add to the "humanized" factor of the drums sound in the final mix which means more depth and generally more aesthetically pleasing than machine-like drums we hear from several bands these days. Unless you are truly obsessed with machine perfection, the slight difference is for the better.
@Blacklorigine HAHAHA THAT COMMENT MADE MY DAY;D you seem to be blind or u love kollias so much that u dont see his weaknesses. Actually his left foot sux badly! Just watch any of his vids.His right beater distance is nice but left is a fuckin tapping,like 20 degree angle.And its because he focus so much on his right side,and he uses different technique for his left foot.Btw. Derek is one of the few drummers who can boost stuff ~250bpm without triggers.Let me know if u want some vids as a proof
I totally agree with george on the lead or drive foot and slave foot. For me when I play dbl bass is like dancing. You have to have a foot leading and a foot following. Thats just me though, everyone is different. As long as you obtain the effect and things are solid. Thats all that matters.
@BiedaQ I know the audio where he's playing 250 without triggers, but he uses mics, and you can hear that he does'nt play with so much power. I really know both these drummers (you can see on my profil my friendship with them, and i saw all of their videos), and I promise you that Derek doesn't play with more power than Kollias. And about George's left foot, sometimes it looses a lot of power, right, but sometimes it hits really loud even at extreme speeds, it depends.
@SERCHSOS3722 I don't know how fast you play but I can only play fast with my heavy Iron Cobras with extra-high tension springs. So the gear is important but individual. For greatly over 200bpm maybe then my Iron Cobras wouldn't work clearly as well.
@djrewind5 i would disagree (respectfully of course)...the other day i tried to play with my old PULSE pedals, loose springs, heavy footboard, and it seemed as if they stay on the head for eternety...with my axis max tension, the beater comes back faster and ready for the next stroke...so i believe that the gear does help...of course it not gonna replace practice
I play a right - handed kit but when it comes to double bass patterns, fills etc I find myself more comfortable to start with my left... Considering this, which foot should act as the leading one when it comes to double bass?
@djrewind5 Of course the body is the one that do all the job, but it also needs a gear to be comfortable with and play with less trouble. Personally, I prefer light, smooth, long and loose pedals to waste less energy during fast double bass paterns :) Obviously I need mostly PRACTICE, but I think comfort in my pedals would make my work easier :D
how does he do that swivel technique with his feet? i can double bass like that for a short period of time but i look like im having a seizure. that swivel technique seems to make it alot easier ...
@BiedaQ I often heard about Derek playing untrigged on videos where you can HEAR an obvious tigger sound, and no, he's not cleaner than Kollias...Yes I know Derek's nickname, I was or so one of the first ones to buy the evolution of blast beat; but hell, George is as good as him.
ok, i have a situation that i could use advice on: im a right handed drummer, and i play single pedal on a bass drum for now, but heres my issue, when george uses his right foot and goes kinda fast, mine cant do that, but my left can JUST FINE...i didnt train it or anything, it just goes way faster for some reason, anyone have any tips to get righty up to speed?
A ton of people measure their bpm wrong. I see some people say they can do over 700 bpm and some that say they can do like 140 bpm, acting like it's fast. In extreme metal double bass bpm is measured at 16th notes and the first guy is measuring in whole notes( which is around 190 I believe) and the other guy is measuring probably in 8th notes. 125 bpm 16th note double is impossible. That's WAY too slow, it wouldn't be double bass it would be some type of strange double kick pattern.
The part about a stronger slave side being difficult is nonsense. There are no such problems about leading with both sides once both are properly trained. Both sides of the brain can be trained and it's only good to have all four limbs as strong as possible - or, rather, a well trained and balanced brain as that's what's leading anyway.
@Blacklorigine maby george is faster and has more endurance cuz Dereks best times was when he has been playing with Hate Eternal, and he is now focusing on more rhytmic stuff, but George has never have so good controll with his feet and hands. Also george is clueless with his lessons while derek always says sth which has never been mention before. I know like every vid of derek and george which has ever appeared on internet and i analysed them deeply so i know what im talkin about ;)
@BiedaQ Derek is an incredible drummer, but as far as double bass speed, control and endurance go, I would say that george is better (and cleaner...), so I follow his advice, fine if you don't., but don't say that it's bullshit...
@Blacklorigine im not talkin about that audio. Both play with triggers on it. Im talkin about live shows and clinics. Georges double bass parts need to be mixed and live u can hear how sloppy he is. If u consider urself as a fan of both of them u should know Derek -one take- Roddy nick name;) It doesnt come from nowhere cuz derek is fuckin clean, and tight when it comes to power, while georges left leg got only first few strokes powerfull. Askin you again - need vids as proofs? I can post links
I think he's taken a lot of this stuff down since he doe online lessons now, but there's a similar (and very good) workout here: drumtechofficial.blogspot.com/2013/10/george-kollias-16-week-speed-control.html video's here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6_q36wrXHmg.html
@marthusmart1 Hes the nicest fucking guy!, i shook his hand and he signed my DVD, plus i got a signed CD/DVD from dave haley from Psycroptic(whom i might add george says is better than him) Dave haley is an Aussie Tech death metal drummer from the band Psycroptic, check em out!.
you're one of my favourite drummer,(got one of your DVD) but how the hell are you able to play with shoes??isn't it disturbing? seems not of course i know but......Personnaly i play on socks...well cheers :)
