The 8 Best Bass Drum Pedals (Single & Double)
The bass drum pedal is an essential piece of hardware, and we are here to help you find a great and affordable one for your drum kit! If you are a beginner, it is easy to overlook a simple tool compared to the other parts. But it is essential to have a durable and potentially fast pedal!
Everything we recommend
DW 9000 Series Single Pedal BEST OVERALL
Built like a tank
Ideal for intermediate to professional drummers
Trick Drums Pro 1-V Double Pedal Best Double Pedal
Outfitted with aerospace-grade bearings
Much smoother and faster than other double pedals
Yamaha FP7210A BUDGET PICK
Highly durable and affordable
Ideal for beginners upgrading from a stock kick pedal
Bass drum pedal basics
Before you buy, it’s wise to do a little research. That way, you can make an informed decision. Below are the necessary parts of the single bass drum pedal.
Footplate
The base of the pedal needs to be put on a drum rug to keep it from slipping. Often this base is made of rubber or Velcro for a better grip. Some plates have a pedal spur at the back to further keep them from moving.
Hoop Clamp
This piece is where the pedal attaches to the hoop of the bass drum. The bass drum has to be lifted so the clamp will stay connected. Be sure the pedal isn’t digging into the drum hoop.
Footboard
The part where you place your foot can either be long or short, depending on the size you require and the style of music you wish to play. It is a matter of personal preference.
Drive
The drive attaches the footboard and the cam in a couple of different ways. We can have a chain or nylon strap drive, the strap providing a smoother feel than a chain. Often there are double chain drives that are more durable. In some cases, there is a direct-drive where the footboard and beater are attached without a cam.
Cam
The chain and strap drives are then connected to a cam. The cam is the part that allows the beater to move forward as you step on the pedal. Direct-drive pedals cut the cam out in some cases for increased speed.
Beater
The bass drum beater has the most effect on the tone. The other parts are about speed, feel, and durability. Plastic and felt are the most common materials that beaters are made with, though you can find wood and metal.
Plastic has a harder attack and is commonly used with metal and rock. In contrast, the softer felt is suited for jazz. (Of course, your ears may feel differently!)
There are two beaters side-by-side on the double bass drum pedal, where another pedal controls the second. This second pedal is attached with a driveshaft, allowing you to play incredible fast runs on the bass drum.
Dialing in Your Bass Pedal
Like all instruments and equipment, your pedal needs specific adjustments to make sure it plays its best. Like drum tuning, you need to learn the basic process of dialing in your pedal. The height, tension, and angle will need to be customized. Of course, with a double bass pedal, there will be more adjustments necessary.
The Best 8 Bass Drum Pedals
Remember that there are many variations of the same pedal, depending on the speed or size needed. If one below doesn’t fit your exact specs, don’t fret, as you can easily find what you want.
DW 3000 Single Pedal
This single drum pedal is probably your best option for budget and playability. It has a dual-chain Turbo Sprocket, Bearing Spring rocker Assembly, and an adjustable toe clamp to keep it in place. The large plate helps for stability, and the beater is a mix of felt and plastic.
My second double bass drum pedal was the DW3000. It lasted quite a while, going with me venue to venue on multiple tours across the United States.
Yamaha FP 7210A
This Yamaha single bass drum pedal is the most affordable on the list. It has a single chain drive with a horizontal frame brace and beater angle adjustment. The beater is felt, which makes it great for jazz, and otherwise, it has no significant bells or whistles. Perfect for those on a meager budget.
Over the years, I’ve always recommended this to friends and collogues. From my experience, it’s one of the best bass drum pedals under $100 and will last decades if maintained properly.
DW 9000 Single Pedal
This superb single bass drum pedal is a favorite among many players. It is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with a chain or nylon drive. The EZ Infinite adjustable cam, a double chain, and floating swivel spring make for a comfortable and durable pedal. The beater is a mix of plastic and felt.
I currently use the both the single and double-kick variant of the DW9000 and have to say it’s the best double kick pedal I’ve ever owned. 9000 Series hardware, including the kick pedal, is expensive. But DW uses very high-quality components and its made of a lot of material. The hardware is heavy and robust.
Pearl Eliminator Redline Single Pedal
Here we have a Pearl single bass drum pedal with dual chain drive. They took their famous Eliminator pedal and added four redesigned color-coded cams. With ultra-low friction bearings and an updated Quad Beater, this pedal is made for precision, speed, and power.
PDP Concept Series Double Pedal
Here we have an affordable double bass drum pedal. It is made with brushed aluminum, a dual chain drive, and a DW style spring. This pedal is essentially a cheaper knockoff for those with lower budgets. If you need a double pedal, this one may be worth a try.
Yamaha FP-9D Single Pedal
This sleek single bass drum pedal is relatively expensive but worth every penny. The direct-drive kick pedal has a spring tensioner for maximum stability. A felt beater has aluminum and brass weights allowing for changing tone and response. The FP-9D has more of a sporty look compared to others.
Roland RDH-100 Noise Eater Single Pedal
If you are looking for a pedal for your electronic drum kit, then the Roland RDH-100 is perfect. This single electronic kick pedal has a dual-chain drive and linear action cam for speed. The footboard is made of brushed metal, and the beater is self-aligning and made of plastic.
Trick Drums Pro 1-V Bigfoot Double Pedal
YouTube drummer Wyatt Stav uses this particular double bass drum pedal. So if you have a high budget and want to play metal incredibly fast, try the Bigfoot! This pedal is super durable and precise with state of the art aerospace bearings, split cam, and a slide track hoop. It also has a universal beater mount.
Liked your review. I have a DW 2000 double pedal that came with my set (though I only use it as a single), and it seems like a reliable pedal. I’m looking at replacing it with a better pedal. I was wondering what your take is on the Ludwig Speed King? I’m just getting back into drumming after a 35+ year absence. When I played and taught before, I always used the Speed King. It was the only pedal that allowed me to do continuous sixteenths (I used to do “Wipeout” with my foot). Of course, being in my 60’s and not playing for 35+ years, I’m nowhere near as “fleet of foot.”
Thank you so much in advance for your response.
Bill Matthews
Although there are a lot of pedals out there to suit all tastes and stiles, personally I think there’s nothing to beat the Ludwig Speed King. I have used it all my career and still do, it is uncomplicated & well made with a very good response for all types of playing. Springs that compress on both sides I feel is much smoother, also the price is more than reasonable for most people.
I agree with previous posts. What about the Ludwig Speed King? I figured that I HAD to try other other pedals because…well, I have playing for 40 years and was lead to believe somebody made a new pedal better, faster, stronger. Guess what happened? I find myself always coming back to the Speed King! Maybe because it is what I know. But what you have that, “…this doesn’t feel right” thought process going on in your head as you play, the Speed King has NEVER let me down.
I agree that the best bass drum, pedal that I have ever had the opportunity to play are without a doubt, hands down DW 9000. The worse bass drum pedal I have ever spent money on in my life are the p360 made by pearl they are by far the worse bass pedal in the world. They have no punch and I wouldn’t give a flying fuck if you were Neal Pert, may he rest in peace…there is no way to really dial those pedals in. I hate these pedals with a passion and I wish that I could get my money back. I am so mad at myself for being taking in by there look. They suck dick. Don’t spend your money on these pedals I have aforementioned.
Dude you totally left out Tama Iron Cobra pedals? They are one of the strongest pedals out there!
I miss the tama iron Cobra pedals in this overview. Why? I think the Iron Cobra pedals belong in this overview.