Strange Blast Beat Technique Explained! 

Wanja [Nechtan] Gröger should've said a big TANK you

First thanks a lot for this great video !!! How long does it take to be able to do this ? (not as fast though... ;) How many mn/hrs of daily practice? Thanks

@Dean Roy Instablaster :)

@Makai Stanley Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process now. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later with my results.

@Makai Stanley it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thanks so much you saved my ass :D

+MrApocalisse like literally really metal

BRUTAL! lml lml lml

😂😂

+talktalktalktalktalk That was actually the first good joke I read in the comment section! :-D

talktalktalktalktalk aww really

He is pure machinegunner

I want this guy to play in my band😊

Hahha this cracked me up!!! Is it wrong? Bc I'm Mexican hahahha

haha shaking so much

Well duh. He’s on a storage container with flexible metal roofing

i'm mexican and i'm offended, we don't even have space shuttles.... hahaha

You do know you don't have to be an asshole to be funny, right?

Aaron Gentry Vic Firth American Classic Metal I think.

t-dawg i thought they were tommy lee signature series, like early 90s?

nycjin816 Vic Firth American Classic Metal with nylon tips ;-)

I have been using same sticks since 1995. I can't imagine anything lighter or thinner. Doing blasts without that weight and diameter would be much harder for me.

+MorganvanHelsing The Metal N's yeah?

Hmm

...and down... and up... and down Yeah, you got it ;P

I used to hate hearing my fellow countrymen's accents, but Werner Herzog absolutely changed my mind about that, showing me that it can sound really beautiful at times, especially when it's a cool person with the vocabulary to support it :)

Ian Jim Lol good god

Matt Moves I doubt it

+Mr. Aguilar Thanks! I think the Moeller technique is quite different since it is mostly based on wrist motion. Apart from that it is probably not possible (and also not wanted) to play the up and down Moeller strokes with the same volume.

:D How formal^^ You'd never use "Sie" here, the more informal "Du bist" would be more appropriate (similar to a first-name-basis but not quite the same). Unless, of course, the contrast is used for comedic effect

Used to indicate respect. But obv not a native German , so

Sam Haines Yes, I know, that's why I tried to explain the dynamics: Calling somebody a machine is obviously colloquial due to the metaphor. I'm not telling you this to tell you that you've made a mistake but to explain it and how to fix it (the way you ended your reply looks a bit like you're defensive so I want to make sure you don't think I simply wanna rain on your parade)

Danke schoën!

Sam Haines Hehe... We don't have diaereses over _e_s in Germany. What you did there is an interesting mix of using the two letter replacement ("ö"->"oe") and using a false umlaut: It's usually "Dankeschön", but "Dankeschoen" is also accepted :)

Next video is in progress! Btw. I also tried using double strokes with my feet but the main issue was that doubles just dont sound as even and as kick ass as single strokes... And in the beginning I also had problems with my single strokes when the bass drum skin was not tight but I fixed that with a very simple method: I just started practising with a low tuned bass drum skin - of course it was uncomfortable in the beginning but after a while I was as fast and powerful as I had been on a tight skin before. I also do the same thing with snare and toms - I always practise on a badly and low tuned drumkit in order to be able to play on any kit in a live situation and that has improved my reliability and performance a lot!

MorganvanHelsing Thanks a lot for you answer! Yeah, tuning your drums low is extremely good for practicing. I used to always tune my drums perfectly for the maximum comfort, ease and rebound but that meant that I pretty much was screwed live or at a recording session where my kit wasn't set up exactly the same. Consistency is an underrated thing to practice that I find to be extremely important and tuning your drums low and moving around toms and cymbals a bit can really make you ready for anything and I find that I don't need to come up with such bad excuses all the time about why I'm not able to play as well. Being able to avoid feeling forced to say things like "I can play this a lot better at home" or "my drums are set-up totally different at home so I'm probably gonna suck" and things like that is amazing. It makes drumming live and on different sets much more enjoyable. Btw, have you gotten over 250 bpm with your foot technique since your explanation video? :)

MorganvanHelsing Wow I just realized how difficult it is to move from double strokes to singles while essentially using the same technique :/ So hard to get away from something you're so used to. Did you have troubles with this at the beginning when changing to this technique and if you did, do you have any recommendations on how I should go about to not being blocked by what I've previously been doing? And did you feel like it was easier in the beginning to start with looser spring tension? I use the demon drives as well and I've always used max spring tension (even higher than max by removing the little black circular plastic bit at the bottom of the spring and then tightening the spring all the way until it touches the metal part beneath.) but now it feels like it's hindering the execution of the technique. I actually tried setting up my old eliminators and I felt like the basic motion at slower tempos was easier to do but I guess that it will become more difficult on that pedal when I'm able to get it up to higher tempos. Should I perhaps move back to my demon drive when it feels like my eliminators are hindering my progress or should I just stop bitching and use my demon drives from the beginning? ;)

Mustis1524 What you said about consistency and about not feeling forced to make excuses is absolutely true! As long as I played drums just for myself in the basement it wasn't an issue but as soon as I got in bands that would play live it suddenly became very important. Consistency and reliability are more important for a band than being able to play very fast - nobody wants a fast drummer who cannot pull his stuff off in a live situation!

Mustis1524 And concerning the foot technique: Before I started with that technique I used to simply play heel down and I sucked at double bass drumming. So there was not so much that I was used to that I had to overcome (btw I started experimenting with double strokes much later when I was already quite good with singles). But I had great problems changing from playing from my wrist to my current blasting technique and from my experience with that I can only recommand to be very patient with yourself, to start practising everything in slow motion and to practise a lot. And yes - in the beginning it definetly helps to play with looser spring tension AND with a good beater distance - it is very uncomfortable to use this technique when the beaters are too close to the bass drum skin. I started with low tension and beaters far from the skin so that the pedal would comfortably swing at around 170bpm. From that on I gradually increased the tension and put the beaters a bit closer to the skin. If you want to know the exact settings that I use now, read the description of my double bass tutorial. But I think it would be a good idea to start with your old Eliminators and when you feel that you have good control you can move to the next level and use the Demon Drives ;-)

Where ya at now chief? Let’s get a 5 year update

There's different types of blast beats...

You`re right!

Danke! Das ging mir anfangs nicht anders - die Bewegung ist einfach sehr ungewohnt und es dauert eine Weile, bis man anfängt, sich an das Gefühl der Bewegung zu gewöhnen. ;)

Wow, hätte nicht gedacht, dass du darauf antwortest! Schau mir gerade zum wiederholten Male dein Video an, doch so ganz.. Ich halte den Stick mit meinen Daumen und dem Zeigefinger, ganz locker wie du sagst, umschließe die andern Finger und öffne sie, der Stick fällt auf das Pad. Doch wie erzeuge ich dann den 2. Schlag, wenn sich die Finger wieder schließen? Bei dir scheint es, als käme er automatisch wieder nach oben, bei mir klatscht der auf und das wars :D Beim ersten drückt der Daumen den Stick nach unten, doch wie kommt er wieder hoch? Hinzu kommt, dass alles auf diesem Real Feel Pad einen fast unnatürlichen rebound hat.. Du wirst auch denken, der hat sie nicht alle.. und dabei erklärst du alles schon verdammt gut!

Wie der Stick wieder hoch kommt ist eine gute Frage - so genau habe ich noch gar nicht darüber nachgedacht :D Also zum einen hilft einem da der Rebound. Aber auch komplett ohne den funktioniert es und das hauptsächlich durch den Daumen, der sich komplett durchstreckt und dadurch zum Ende der Bewegung den Stick wieder hochdrückt. Wenn ich die Bewegung ausführe, kann ich das ganze auch mit dem Stick oder einem Stift oder sonst was in der Luft machen, ohne auf eine Oberfläche schlagen zu müssen - und vielleicht kannst du das einmal versuchen, um zu verstehen, wie das funktioniert!

Selbst in der Luft.. ich verstehe was du zeigst, aber ich kanns nicht anwenden. Wie ein Zaubertrick, den man in ner Show gesehen hat und zuhause nachmachen will und scheitert. Mein Daumen spielt nicht mit. Als Grobmotiriker kapituliere ich vor dieser Technik. Danke für die Mühe!

Sehr interessantes Video! Ist durch den link glatt im Spam Ordner verschwunden und habe es gerade durch Zufall gesehen :D Also ich sehe nun sehr deutlich, wo das Problem liegt, aber ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich es dir richtig erklären kann. Die Sache ist die, dass du mit Daumen und Zeigefinger beim ersten Schlag schon das machst, was eigentlich erst beim zweiten kommen sollte. Du ziehst in deinem video den Zeigefinger zum Daumen heran und dadurch kommt dein erster Schlag zustande, aber dadurch ist dein Stick dann schon an der Hand dran und die restlichen Finger hängen sinnlos in der Luft. Die Lösung: Dein zeigefinger muss sich mit den anderen Fingern ebenso öffnen (nicht gaaanz so weit durchgestreckt, aber fast). Du hälst mit dem zeigefinger nicht gegen den Druck des Daumens gegen, sondern lässt ihn der Bewegung folgen. Stell dir vor, du würdest den Stick quasi loslassen, fallen lassen, ihn geradezu wegwerfen beim ersten Schlag! Versuch es mal so: Nimm den Stick fest in die hand (also mit der richtigen haltung wie im Tutorial beschrieben), ziehe den Daumen zusätzlich ein wenig an, so dass er gekrümmt ist und mit der Daumenspitze auf den Stick drückt und dann STRECKST du ALLE Finger gleichzeitig und zwar die oberen Finger so, dass sie in gestrecktem zustand im (ca.) 90 Grad Winkel vom Handrücken nach unten weisen und der Daumen sich ungefähr parallel zu dem Zeigefinger befindet. Macht nichts, wenn dir der Stick dabei erstmal aus der Hand fällt, aber das ist dann ziemlich genau die Haltung, die du am Ende des ersten Schlages haben solltest (in etwas übertrieben) und DANN kannst du die Finger schließen für den zweiten Schlag. So, ich hoffe, es ist halbwegs verständlich!

I ask the same question myself. I find it difficult integrating my thumb.

I finally figured it out by pushing my thumb more out and to the side a bit, and letting my fingers bring it back up with the stick instead of pulling it back. But now i'm have rebound problems with higher speeds.

+CrazyBadCuber He does hit with power, hence his involvement with the wrist. Check yourself before you get wrecked by somebody else.

+CrazyBadCuber Before you two start a flame war... I know that I don't have as much power as Hannes Grossmann or Krimh. But when you look at my stick height and keep in mind that I use one of the biggest and heaviest sticks out there (VF American Classic Metal N) you will realize that I still have enough power to be clearly heard. Not to mention that the drummers mentioned before do not usually play at 280bpm. I know the sound on this video is crap - it was recorded with one karaoke mic in front of the drums without equalizing or any other enhancement and the result is this very dry, shitty and weak sound. Watch this video to get a more realistic impression of how it sounds in a rehearsal room with decent camera sound: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eQkIoVCD8JQ.html

MorganvanHelsing The only reason it can be heard more in that video is because everything is equal volume. All your fills are double strokes. It's pretty difficult to be loud doing nothing but double strokes. Just because it can be heard there doesn't mean you're hitting with power. It's not about one part of the drum set being louder or softer than another part of other set, it's about hitting the drums like you fucking mean it, not tapping it just so you can be fast. If I went to play with a drummer and he was doing that I'd just pack my shit back up and leave. You have great technique, but you're too contender with being fast and light than hitting the drums properly. There are plenty of drummers out there that can play fast and with power.

+CrazyBadCuber You're an idiot, you don't understand the level of skill he's put into his technique. he isn't endangering his wrists of developing carpel tunnel or fingers of arthritis because of the complete fluidity of the motion of the stick, you really have no idea how hard it is to play at high tempo's and loud especially without it even being mic'd, if it were it would solve the power problem just like that. People like you get on my nerves so much. "If I went to play with a drummer and he was doing that I'd just pack my shit back up and leave. " No one would ever want to be in your band if they knew who really are.

StaTicCc1 LOL I have played with many drummers who can play this fast and LOUD as fuck. They've been playing like that for years with no damage to their wrists man lol. It's called better technique. This guy is good at double strokes. If he practiced all single strokes to get that fast I guaranteed he'd be just as fast and much louder. Hitting the drums so the sound of the drums actually is heard, and not just a light tap on them. No matter how much you sit there and defend this guy for being fast and weak, he isn't going to suck your dick man. He's good, he's technical, but he's really lacking tone in his drum set by tap dancing on it.

+Travis Hunt This is not true. I practise a lot with my snare tuned very low and when I use this technique with double strokes on the toms I can also do it on a low tuned floor tom. You may watch this to see what I am talking about: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t7nCDft4i3Y.html

Thank you! I wish you all the best on your journey of learning blast beats! If you are interested check out my online course, which goes into every detail on blast beats and the push-pull technique (right now it is 20% off): www.wanjanechtangroeger.com/courses/blast-beats-extreme-performance

@@wanjanechtangroeger you're very welcome! Thanks, you're a beast on drums brother! I will when I can?

@@wanjanechtangroeger how about a sub back,would really appreciate it, and would love pointers when you see them?

TozSanchez Es würde auch, ohne den Daumen zu bewegen, funktionieren, aber ab einer gewissen Geschwindigkeit wird es dann fast unmöglich, die Anschläge mit gleichmäßiger Lautstärke zu machen. Und für double strokes ist der Daumen da auch sehr wichtig. Für mich selbst hat sich das alles auch anfänglich extrem seltsam angefühlt und auch jetzt noch verkrampft sich gerade mein linker Daumen manchmal, wenn ich mit zu wenig Aufwärmung längere Blast Beat Passagen spiele. Alles eine Frage der Gewöhnung ;) Wie ich auch im Tutorial erwähnt habe, ist es wichtig, dass man versucht, sich dabei zu entspannen, dann brennt der Daumen auch nicht so schnell.