Longboard vs. shortboard drum pedal: Which is the most suitable bass drum pedal for your needs? Read this in-depth comparison to find out the answer!
Longboard Vs. Shortboard Drum Pedal: Comparison Table
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Shortboard Drum Pedal |
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What Are The Differences Between Longboard Vs. Shortboard Drum Pedals?
The longboard and shortboard are two common types of drum pedals, which are crucial components in a drum bass.
Although they serve the same purpose, these two categories have different characteristics.
Here are some core differences between the two types regarding the design and user experience they bring.
Design
As its name suggests, a longboard drum pedal usually comes with a longer and broader pedal. There is a place to put your feet comfortably on the board, which is called the sweet spot.
Since the longboards are longer and larger, their pedals will extend higher above the ground. So, you adjust your feet accordingly and find a higher sweet spot.
The sweet spot is lower on a shortboard with smaller space to place the feet.
User Experience
The footboard size is the crucial factor that affects user experience with a specific bass pedal. How you feel about a drum pedal and respond to it depends mainly on the sweet spot, foot space, and comfort it provides.
Most longboards don’t have a hinge on the end that lets you rest your heel, as the whole deck is a playable component. Meanwhile, the shortboards provide that unmoved hinge, giving you more comfort in the usage process.
When you play for an extended period, the feet will get fatigued, and you may need that hinge to place your heel. However, the performers and drummers usually have to wear large shoes.
The large shoes may make you feel uncomfortable on a shortboard due to the small deck size. Meanwhile, the longboards can tackle this problem by providing an ample and spacious area to place your feet.
Longboard Vs. Shortboard Drum Pedal: Which One Is Best For You?
I have covered the basics of these two drum pedal categories. To sum up, their main differences lie in the position and size of the sweet spot combined with the pedal size and height.
The purpose of each type is pretty obvious, which you can figure out from their designs. The longboard drum pedal is the ideal option for people with giant or big feet.
On the contrary, people with tiny or medium feet size should consider getting a shortboard drum pedal. In addition, the shortboards are a little harder to use, while the longboards are ideal for beginners.
Choosing a product that fits your feet’ size and preferences will provide more comfort in the usage process. However, it doesn’t mean that a specific type can help you play better. It depends mainly on your skills and technique.
If you cannot decide, I recommend trying out all these two types at the store and just go for the one that you feel most comfortable with.
Consider watching the video below for more in-depth instructions on choosing a drum pedal.
FAQs
This section has the answers to the common queries on the shortboard and longboard drum pedal.
What Drum Is Played With A Foot Pedal?
The answer is foot drum. As its name suggests, the foot drum comes with a pedal that allows users to strike it with their bare feet. There are many variations of foot drums, such as the bass drum, kick drum, or trap kit.
What Is The Bass Drum Pedal Called?
This component is commonly called the kick drum pedal or bass drum pedal.
It is a common device on the bass drums that the users can operate and control with their feet. Besides its regular name, the bass drum pedal is also known as:
- Tambourine pedal
- Hi-hat (cymbals) pedal
- Timpani pedal
How Do I Choose A Drum Pedal?
The drum pedals come with different speeds, capacities, and power. There are also other categories, such as the single or double drum pedal.
Therefore the first thing to do is to decide what you need and desire from a pedal before making the purchase decision.
In addition, you should decide on a specific price range that suits your budget.
What Is A Drum Pedal Made Of?
The materials of the drum pedals vary in different categories and product lines. The common drum pedal beater head materials are wood, rubber, or plastic.
The beater head attaches to a shaft made of metal. There is an additional metal frame that connects and holds the components of the drum pedals.
