DIY foot-drum

This is a video demonstrating a DIY foot-drum I made for myself. The heart of it is an old tambourine. A used mounting bracket from a ceiling vent fan makes the A-frame stand. It's attached to an old board. The pedal is some mdf flooring offcuts I nailed together. I used a bit of trim from the kitchen to make a fulcrum. There is small bit of block attached to the top of the a-frame that I drilled a hole through for the eye-bolt and wingnut that attaches the tambourine. The trick is to wedge this block to the correct striking angle for the pedal. I put a it of spring below the pedal to soften the return.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• foot
• drum
• footdrum
• DIY
• Blues
• Harp
• Harmonica
• build
• home
• made
• homemade
• music
• porch
• stomp
• box
• stompbox

[prairievamp]

I love this! My hubby says he will help me make one of these. :D

Will you be doing another video with the re-vamped version you mentioned? Also, can you post rough dimensions of the components?

Thanks!

[isaacullah]

@prairievamp Hi there! Thanks! Yeah, I can make another video (when I get the time, hopefully soon) so I can show you the modifications I've made. When I do that, I'll measure stuff and put the dimensions in the video. It's pretty easy to put together, and there's no need to stick with the exact plan I used. After all, I just used stuff I had lying about the workshop. Another user made his own version and posted footage. Search for "oldwailer's foot drums" and you'll find his mods to my design.

[CapnTac]

Thanks a million! This gives me a basic idea on how to go about this whole foot percussion thing. On mine I'll be replacing the tambourine with a homemade drum though.

[isaacullah]

@CapnTac I'm glad I could help you out! Yeah, I feel you on the tambourine. A plain frame drum with no little tambourine cymbals is the way to go. It's a bit too jangley with the tambourine. I'm going to remove at least most of the cymbals from the tambourine on mine... I think it'll sound better that way. Also, since I made this vid, I've further tapered the beater, and wrapped the end in leather. It makes a HUGE difference in the sound. You get a more bassy sound with the wrapped beater.

[absurdcommathe]

You sound a lot like Mike Portnoy when you talk lol

[isaacullah]

@absurdcommathe I did not know that! That's funny!

[SimplesmenteDuo]

cool ,)

[dougalplatts1]

awsome, well done, improvisation to the max : )

[isaacullah]

Thanks Brother! I'll definitely check out your video, that sounds very cool (and like something I'd want to make!). Actually, I'm about 60% through building my own fully portable, battery powered, electric bass drum (bass drum synthesizer). I'll certainly make a video when I'm done with it. It's surprisingly simple to make if you know a little bit about soldering electronics and stuff....

[jerryrig240]

That thing is sweet! You should check out my homemade bass drum pedal video...you and I come from the same school...if you want it, make it!