Drum Pedals on a Backline Rider: What to Specify Before the Show
Quick Answer
Specify the pedal manufacturer and model, single or double configuration, right- or left-foot layout, beater requirements and whether the artist carries the complete assembly. Confirm any proposed alternative with the drummer. A request for a drum kit does not establish which pedal is included or how it should be adjusted.
A pedal is a direct point of contact between the drummer and the kit. Supplying a functioning pedal answers only part of the requirement: the player also needs a configuration they can use and enough time to confirm its feel.
Identify the complete assembly
Record the exact model rather than only the brand. Specify single or double pedal and the required playing layout. For a double pedal, confirm both footboards, the connecting shaft and the required beaters form the supplied assembly. A photograph can clarify the layout, but should accompany the written model reference rather than replace it.
Ask whether chain, strap or direct drive is a firm requirement or a preference. Do not rank one design as universally superior or assume a different drive feels equivalent to the artist.
Separate model choice from adjustment
A familiar model may still arrive with unfamiliar settings. Record any essential beater type, beater position, footboard or spring-setting preference, and agree who makes the final adjustments. Where a player supplies a reference measurement, establish what it measures. 'Normal tension' is not a repeatable instruction.
Use the instructions for the actual pedal and its generation. The TAMA manual library separates models and revisions; a setting procedure for one design should not be applied blindly to another. Leave adjustment and a playing check within the agreed setup window.
Check the space around the feet
Consider the bass-drum hoop attachment, drum rug and the position of the hi-hat stand. A second pedal needs space within that layout, not simply space somewhere on the riser. Flag potential interference before dispatch and check the assembled position with the drummer.
The hardware checklist covers the surrounding stands. The throne guide covers the seating reference that affects where the player reaches the pedals.
Agree ownership, alternatives and handover
If the artist brings a pedal, confirm whether they bring the whole assembly, including beaters and connecting parts. Do not alter personal settings without agreement. If local supply is requested, confirm the exact model and any approved replacement before treating it as booked.
For a shared kit, identify which pedal stays in place and which changes with the artist. Include fitting, removal and the return of personal parts in the changeover plan. Send the requirement with your rider to The Backline Company; availability, inclusions and support remain subject to confirmation.
Agree what the backup actually includes
If a backup is required, specify whether it is a complete approved pedal assembly or named spare parts. A spare beater does not replace a failed pedal, and a spare single pedal is not automatically an approved fallback for a double-pedal part. Agree where the backup is kept, who can fit it and what reset time is available.
Record the division of artist-carried and locally supplied items. Use the drum hardware and pedal collection to discuss supply, not as proof that a requested model or backup is confirmed.
Before Confirming
- Exact model and single/double configuration
- Playing layout and complete connecting parts
- Beater and essential setup preferences
- Artist-carried or locally supplied, plus approved alternatives
- Hi-hat clearance, player check and agreed backup assembly
Key Takeaways
- Confirm the whole pedal assembly, not only a brand.
- The player approves alternatives; production allocates setup and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a double pedal mean two bass drums?
No. Describe the number of bass drums separately from the pedal arrangement. A double-pedal request normally concerns two footboards operating beaters at one bass drum; confirm the artist's actual setup.
Can a different pedal of the same brand be substituted?
Only after the drummer or authorised representative approves the specific alternative. Brand alone does not define the model, drive or playing feel.
Are pedal settings part of the rider?
Include essential preferences, then agree who adjusts the supplied pedal and when the player checks it.