Double Bass Drums - A Brief History

The double bass drum is a drum set up that utilizes two bass drums or a single bass drum with a double bass pedal to create a powerful and unique sound. This technique has been used in both jazz and rock genres, and has been popularized by a number of famous drummers.

The history of double bass drumming can be traced back to the early 20th century, when jazz drummers began experimenting with using two bass drums in their setups. One of the earliest pioneers of double bass drumming was the jazz drummer Louie Bellson. Bellson is often credited with inventing the double bass drum setup, and he used it to great effect in his performances and recordings throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

Bellson's approach to double bass drumming was unique in that he used the two bass drums as separate instruments, rather than simply using them to create a louder sound. He would often play complex rhythms with his feet, creating intricate and syncopated patterns that added a new dimension to his performances.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the double bass drum became popular in rock music as well. A number of famous rock drummers began using two bass drums in their setups, including Ginger Baker of Cream, John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, and Neil Peart of Rush. These drummers used the double bass drum to create a heavier and more powerful sound, and their influence can still be heard in modern heavy metal and hard rock music.

_{Geoff Gill, Pixabay} 

One of the most famous uses of the double bass drum in rock music is on Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick." This instrumental track features an extended drum solo by John Bonham, who uses his two bass drums to create a thunderous and explosive sound. Bonham's playing on "Moby Dick" has been widely praised as one of the greatest drum solos in rock history.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the double bass drum continued to be popular in rock music, with drummers such as Lars Ulrich of Metallica and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater using the technique to great effect. These drummers often used a double bass pedal instead of two separate bass drums, which made it easier to play complex patterns with both feet.

The double bass pedal was invented in the 1930s by the drummer and inventor William F. Ludwig, and it quickly became popular among drummers who wanted to achieve the sound of a double bass drum without having to lug around two separate drums. The double bass pedal is essentially a pedal that connects two beaters to a single bass drum, allowing the drummer to play with both feet at the same time.

The double bass pedal has become an essential tool for modern drummers, and it has enabled drummers to play complex patterns with both feet in a way that was not possible with a single bass drum. Many famous drummers, including Travis Barker of Blink-182 and Danny Carey of Tool, use a double bass pedal to create their unique sound.

Despite the popularity of the double bass drum in both jazz and rock music, some drummers have criticized the technique as being too showy and not musical enough. Some have also argued that the double bass drum can be overused, and that it can detract from the overall musicality of a performance.

Despite these criticisms, the double bass drum remains a popular technique among drummers, and it continues to evolve and change with the times. Whether you're a jazz drummer looking to add a new dimension to your playing or a rock drummer looking to create a heavier and more powerful sound, the double bass drum is a technique that is well worth exploring.

To delve deeper into the history of double bass drumming, it's worth examining some of the specific drummers who have made this technique famous in both jazz and rock genres.

Louie Bellson

As previously mentioned, Louie Bellson is often credited with inventing the double bass drum setup in jazz music. Bellson was a master of using his feet to create complex and syncopated rhythms, and his approach to double bass drumming was truly innovative for its time.

Bellson's technique involved using the two bass drums as separate instruments, rather than simply using them to create a louder sound. He would often play intricate patterns with his feet, sometimes using one drum to play a bass rhythm while using the other drum to create accents or syncopations. Bellson's playing was both technically impressive and musically sophisticated, and it paved the way for other jazz drummers to explore the possibilities of the double bass drum setup.

Ginger Baker

In rock music, one of the most famous users of the double bass drum was Ginger Baker, the drummer for the power trio Cream. Baker's use of the double bass drum helped to define the heavy and bluesy sound of Cream, and it remains one of his most iconic contributions to rock drumming.

Baker often used the double bass drum to create driving and syncopated rhythms, and he would often play complex patterns with both feet that added a new dimension to his playing. Some of his most famous drum solos, such as the one on the song "Toad," showcased his use of the double bass drum to create a powerful and dynamic sound.

John Bonham

_{chelseatribe, flickr}

Another legendary rock drummer who made the double bass drum famous was John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Bonham's use of the double bass drum was a key element of Led Zeppelin's sound, and it helped to create the band's trademark heavy and thunderous sound.

Bonham often used the double bass drum to create driving and propulsive rhythms, and he would sometimes play complex patterns with both feet that added a new dimension to his playing. His drum solo on "Moby Dick" is perhaps his most famous use of the double bass drum, and it remains one of the most iconic drum solos in rock history.

Neil Peart

_{Adrian Berg, flickr}

Finally, it's worth mentioning Neil Peart of Rush, another famous rock drummer who made the double bass drum famous in the 1970s and 1980s. Peart's playing was heavily influenced by jazz drumming, and he often used the double bass drum to create complex and intricate rhythms that blended elements of jazz and rock music.

Peart's use of the double bass drum was particularly notable on songs such as "Tom Sawyer" and "YYZ," which feature intricate and syncopated rhythms that showcase his technical prowess as a drummer. His approach to the double bass drum helped to create a new sound in rock music that blended elements of jazz, prog rock, and heavy metal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the double bass drum has a long and fascinating history in both jazz and rock music. From Louie Bellson's innovative approach to double bass drumming in the 1940s to the heavy and thunderous sound of John Bonham's drumming in the 1970s, the double bass drum has been used to create a wide range of sounds and styles in music.

While some drummers have criticized the technique as being too showy or not musical enough, the double bass drum remains a popular and influential technique that has inspired countless drummers to push the boundaries of what is possible on the drum kit. Whether you're a jazz drummer looking to add a new dimension to your playing or a rock drummer looking to create a heavier and more powerful sound, the double bass drum is a technique that is well worth the time investing in.

Still relevant today.

It's worth noting that the popularity of the double bass drum has waxed and waned over the years, with some eras or styles of music embracing the technique more than others. In the 1960s and 1970s, for example, the double bass drum was a staple of heavy metal and hard rock music, with drummers like Bonham and Baker using the technique to create a powerful and thunderous sound that was perfect for the era's bluesy and heavy music.

In the 1980s and 1990s, however, the popularity of the double bass drum began to decline somewhat as punk, alternative, and grunge music became more popular. These styles of music typically favored a simpler and more straightforward approach to drumming, with fewer fills and more emphasis on groove and rhythm.

However, the double bass drum has remained a popular technique among certain genres of music, particularly metal and progressive rock. Drummers like Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Thomas Lang have taken the technique to new heights, pushing the limits of what is possible on the drum kit with complex and intricate patterns that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago.

It's also worth mentioning that the advent of double bass pedals has made the technique more accessible to drummers of all levels. Double bass pedals allow drummers to create a similar sound to the traditional double bass drum setup without the need for two separate drums, making the technique more affordable and easier to set up.

In conclusion, the history of double bass drumming is a rich and fascinating one, spanning decades of music and influencing countless drummers along the way. From jazz pioneers like Louie Bellson to rock legends like Bonham and Baker, the double bass drum has been used to create some of the most powerful and innovative music of the past century, and it remains a popular technique among drummers of all genres and skill levels today.