Most drummers have experienced this problem and need a solution to stop the bass drum slipping.

My first memory was playing in a punk band as a teenager and the bass drum kept slipping across the stage. Someone jumped up to anchor the bass drum by sitting in front of it!

But over the years I have found it happen many times at various rehearsal studios or in my studio.

The problem can occur with electronic drums or acoustic drums. It is a common problem because we hit them with so much force and it is a forward pushing motion which inevitably leads to forward movement.

Depending on your drum kit you will probably have some measures in place to prevent your bass drum slipping but never the less it still often occurs.

So let’s look at a few options to stop the bass drum slipping.

1. Check your bass drum spurs

This is an obvious one but still very important. Most bass drums will have metal legs that can be adjusted to point forward. Make sure these are extended to the optimal point and aimed forward. In most cases they will offer a rubber foot or the possibility to screw out metal spikes. The spikes are most effective but be aware that they will make short work of ruining your beautiful wooden floor!

2. Drum rug

It’s another obvious one to experienced drummers but if you’re new to the game you will need a drum rug. This massively reduces bass drums moving forward and also protects your floor. If you take your drums to rehearsals or gigs then you might want a specialist drum rug that is easy to roll up and transport. If it’s in your studio then almost any rub will do the job as long as it isn’t very cheap and thin so it pushes across the floor into a heap.

3. K Brakes

K brakes are an effective product for drum kits with bass drum spurs. Some electronic kits don’t have these spurs. The design is simple in that the rubber ends of your bass drum spurs come off and then the spurs slot inside the K Brakes. The bottom of the K Brakes has 512 rubber teeth that grip to your drum rug. If you don’t have a rug you could get the K Brakes Smooth Surface Kit Anchors. These are reported to work with 99% of drum kit spurs.

4. Gibraltar Bass Drum Anchor

The Gibraltar Bass Drum Anchor is a small and portable device that attaches to the front hoop of your bass drum. It essentially gives you extra spurs for your bass drum that act in tandem with the side ones you already have. So as before, make sure they aren’t going to damage your flooring. You will also want to make sure they aren’t damaging your beautiful wooden bass drum hoops.

5. Kickblock

The Kickblock kick drum stopper is a great looking product which sits in front of your bass drum. It has a striking red appearance and acts like a big shock absorbing brick that sits in the way of your bass drum. On the underside is a gripping Velcro-esque strip that grabs hold of your drum rug. Here is a video demonstration of the product at work.

6. Portable Kick Fix

The Portable Kick Fix Bass Drum Anchor System comes from the British Drum Co and offers another very portable design which makes it easy to take to gigs and rehearsals just in case the provided situation doesn’t do the job.  These little blocks sit in front of your bass drum spurs. With Velcro on the underside they grab on to your carpet and stop the kick drum from sliding.

7. Phat Foot

Phat foot comes from the USA and provides a very simple solution. A nylon strap fastens underneath you bass drum pedal whilst the other end sits under the leg of your drum stool. Your weight on the stool keeps the strap in place and stops the bass drum moving.

8. Roland V Drums Block Kick

The Roland V drums block kick is a similar design concept to the Portable Kick Fix Bass Drum Anchor System, although the Roland version is aimed more at preventing electronic bass drum pads slipping. If you are buying these for your Roland drum kit, or any other brand of electronic drum kit, make sure that your version has legs for the bass drum pad. This product is designed to sit in front of the legs so it will be unsuitable for other types of electronic bas drum pad.

9. Strong Velcro

If you want to try something a little more DIY then Industrial Velcro can sometimes do the job. This is especially effective for electronic drum kits in the home environment. You can simply stick a strip of this to the bottom of your bass drum pedal and/or bass drum pad so it grips to the carpet. If you have a harder surface you could stick the other side of the velcro on to the floor so that the Velcro strip on your pedal can grip to it.

Depending on your floor type, bass drum type and budget there are several options available to you.

Share your experience

Have you ever had a bad experience with bass drums slipping? Or have you tried any of these solutions? If so please comment at the bottom of this page to help others benefit from your experience.