Double bass is usually a second-year want, not a day-one need — but when you're ready to play faster kick patterns, a double pedal is the tool. Below are three worth buying: a cheap way to find out if double bass is for you, the standard first serious pedal, and one you'll keep for good. Learn the coordination slowly; the pedal won't do it for you.
By Sashko · Updated August 14, 2026
Most players ready for a first serious double pedal
Trying double bass without committing — the cheapest real entry
Players who want a pedal to keep for good
Chain drive is the standard and what most beginners learn on — it's cheap to make and easy to adjust. Sprocketless (direct) drives feel a little smoother and more direct under the foot, but that difference matters more once your technique is developed than when you're still learning the motion.
A true double pedal (what you'll usually buy) links a second beater to your existing kick pedal through a connecting rod, so you play both feet on one shared footboard-and-linkage setup. This is different from owning two separate bass drums — you're adding gear to your one kick drum, not buying a second drum.
A dual-sided beater gives you felt on one side and plastic (or hard) on the other, so you can flip it for a softer or sharper attack without buying a second beater. As a beginner this matters less than just getting reps in, but it's a nice option to have once you start caring about tone.
A standard-length footboard is what most players start on and feels familiar if you already play a single kick pedal. A longboard gives your foot more room to shift between heel-down and heel-up technique, which some players prefer once they're moving past the basics — but it does feel different at first if you learned on a short board.
A double pedal is two footboards, two beaters, and a connecting linkage — heavier and bulkier than a single pedal, and that's true even on the well-built ones. Cheaper chassis can flex under a hard foot and springs can feel rougher over time; that's a fair trade if you're just testing whether double bass is for you, less fair if you're playing it daily.
| Pick | Product | Drive | Beater | Footboard | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Tama HP200PTW Iron Cobra 200 Double Bass PedalTama | Dual chain | Dual-side (felt/plastic) | Standard | Check price |
| Budget pick | Ktaxon Double Bass Drum PedalKtaxon | Single chain | Felt/plastic | Standard, non-slip baseplate | Check price |
| Upgrade pick | Pearl P932 Longboard Double Bass Drum PedalPearl | Sprocketless (Demon-style) | Dual-side | Longboard | Check price |
Tama
Best for: Most players ready for a first serious double pedal
Ktaxon
Best for: Trying double bass without committing — the cheapest real entry
Pearl
Best for: Players who want a pedal to keep for good
We picked one pedal at each stage of commitment instead of guessing which one price point you're at. The budget pick answers the
No — most beginner drumming, including most songs, doesn't require double bass. It's worth adding once you specifically want faster or busier kick patterns than one foot can play, which for most players comes later, not in the first months.
A double pedal is the complete two-footboard unit with its own linkage that attaches to your kick drum. A slave pedal is just the second footboard sold on its own, meant to attach to a pedal you already own — useful if you already have a single pedal you like and only want to add the second side.
A flexy chassis or rough springs can make consistent footwork harder to feel, but a budget pedal won't teach you bad habits by itself. It's a reasonable way to find out if double bass is something you'll keep playing before spending more.
Start with chain drive. It's the standard, it's what most beginner and mid-range pedals use, and the smoother feel of a direct or sprocketless drive matters more once your foot technique is already developed.
Most double pedals fit a standard kick drum hoop the same way a single pedal does, but it's worth checking your drum's hoop and rim style against the pedal's mounting clamp before buying, since fit can vary by kit.
If you're not sure double bass is for you yet, the cheapest complete pedal is the right call — you're paying to find out, not to keep it forever. If you already know you want to play double bass regularly, it's worth going straight to a mid-range pedal instead of buying twice.