Blast Beats Explained

How do you play blast beats, and where do you start if you have never played one? A blast beat is a fast, relentless pattern that splits a single-stroke roll between the snare and the bass drum, and it is a core sound of grindcore, death metal and black metal. The term is commonly credited to Napalm Death, specifically drummer Mick Harris. Speed comes last; control comes first.

The main blast-beat variants

The names are used a little differently from drummer to drummer, but these definitions are widely accepted:

• Traditional blast: a single-stroke roll alternating between snare and kick, with the cymbal hand usually playing together with the kick.
• Hammer blast: kick and snare hit in unison, often with the cymbal as well, as a straight stream of notes rather than alternating.
• Bomb blast: a mix of blast beat and double bass: eighth notes on the snare over a sixteenth-note kick line, often with the double pedal.
• Gravity blast: uses the gravity roll, also called freehand technique, on the snare. The stick pivots on the snare rim, so each push down and pull up produces a stroke, giving a fast one-handed roll. Drummer Johnny Rabb helped popularise the technique with his book The Official Freehand Technique.

How to practise slowly and cleanly

Start with the traditional blast at a tempo where every note is even and relaxed, even if it sounds nothing like a record. Use a metronome and play the pattern for a minute at a time, listening for the kick and snare landing exactly where they should. Only raise the tempo by a few beats per minute once a whole minute feels easy, and drop back down at the start of each session.

For the hands, keep strokes low and let the stick rebound off the head instead of driving it in and pinning it. A loose grip, with the fulcrum between thumb and fingers rather than a clenched fist, lets the stick do much of the work. Wrist and finger control matter more than arm strength at speed.

For the feet, most blast-beat drummers play heel-up for speed, using the ankle and a short, controlled motion rather than lifting the whole leg. For bomb blasts, work the double pedal slowly with both feet even before combining it with the hands; the weaker foot usually sets the real speed limit, so give it extra time. Keeping the beater close to the head and the pedal spring set to suit your foot helps consistency.

Building endurance without injury

Blast beats are an endurance exercise as much as a speed one. Practise in short, focused sets with rests in between, and stop if you feel pain in your wrists, forearms, shins or lower back rather than playing through it. Posture helps: sit at a height where your thighs slope slightly down and the kit is within reach without leaning. Record yourself regularly, because a clean, even blast at moderate tempo sounds heavier than a fast, uneven one.

The practical next step: set a metronome to a comfortable tempo, play the traditional blast for one minute with a relaxed grip and heel-up foot, and write down the tempo. Repeat daily, raise it only when a full minute is clean, then add the hammer and bomb blast once the basic pattern is solid.