How To Completely Release The Tension From You Feet Technique - James Payne

My definition of technique is: USING YOUR BODY IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTERNAL FORCES!
But I see so many drummers teaching to fight the pedal creating pressure, or to build muscular strength and things like that... but my question is: how is that technique? How is fighting your instrument a technical skill? In this video I share how I developed my approach and why it allows me to stay relaxed also at high speeds without getting injured.

If you are a member or have already purchased this lesson in the past you will have access to the video without having to pay for it!

[JesseGuo]

Your vids have really helped me understand how my foot interacts with the pedal!

[nixneato]

Thank you for these in-depth analyses, these videos are pure gold for drummers who share that quest.

I totally agree that your end result is synchronization. I just don't demonize tapping, for three reasons: it teaches you to minimize your interaction with the pedal, (which is going to come in handy when playing faster), I find it actually does help your synchronization with the pedal (you have no choice, if you're a millisecond off, the movement is broken) and more importantly, it doesn't come in the way of playing synchronized at all, you can go from one to the other at will, it's actually quite complementary and, like many drum exercises, just brings an additional perspective into your body movement.

But of course the end goal is playing synchronized, no doubts there, for all the reasons you mentioned, not the least of which being that it's the only way to have ankle control at any speed.

[jonashellborg]

Thank you for another great video. I’ve been using these exercises to correct predominately my weak left foot, that does exactly that bouncing you talk about. It takes time to build that control, that’s my impression. But playing becomes way more fluent and smooth from doing this.

[SamiK]

I tried this exercise with my Roland KD-10 bassdrum.. Theres no rebound what so ever Haha… So I had to order the footblaster kickpad.. Cant wait to start doing this.

[SamiK]

Your videos are good! Thank you so much 👌🏻😎

[danilosilvadrm]

Great tips James! I've been practicing leg motion just tapping my foot on the floor, and setting a metronome at 125bpm. Do you think it's a good idea for gaining endurance and speed or not?

[I-Need-Saving]

Does this concept transfer over to direct drive pedals as well?

[marcosnoveli]

Hahahaha! Just tried at home and failed miserably. The beater hits the pad and stays there, even if I just press the pedal and remove my feet. That'll take a while to figure out.

[matrixmodulator]

What practice pad is this? I'm using a pearl eliminator with belt with roland electronic kick pad and it does not rebound at all, just stays flat on the kick pad after the first hit even if i hit it very hard.

[sgtg]

Why is it that when I start using ankle motion that my feet lose control and just speed up?