A single bass drum pedal is the part a drummer touches most, and small differences in drive, spring and footboard change how it feels. Chain drives and cam drives are the two designs you will meet most often, and each maker names its own parts.
The six pedals below come from Tama, DW, Pearl, PDP, Mapex and Yamaha. Drive types, beaters and sizes come from each product’s Amazon.com listing page. We have not used these pedals ourselves. Feature claims are the makers’ own, and where listings disagree we say so.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Drive type | Chain, double chain and cam designs change the feel of the stroke |
| Beater | Felt or two-way beaters give different attack |
| Adjustment | Spring tension and beater angle let you tune the response |
| Base plate | A solid plate or rubber mat helps keep the pedal in place |
| Listed weight | Listings conflict on weight, so compare with care |
Specs at a Glance
| Pedal | Drive | Size and weight (listing) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tama HP200P | Not stated on the page | 14 x 9.75 x 6.75 in; 5.08 lb | Chrome metal; no feature list on the page |
| DW 3000 | Dual-chain accelerator drive | 15 x 9 x 7 in; listed 1 lb | Delta stroke adjustment; DW101 beater; steel base plate with rubber mat |
| Pearl P2050C | Sprocketless double chain drive | Listed 11.3 lb; 12.5 x 9.1 x 17.2 in | Interchangeable cam system with 4 cams; Control Core quad beater |
| PDP PDSP310 | Single chain with concentric cam | 3.72 lb; package 14.13 x 7.01 x 4.96 in | 2-way beater; beater angle adjustment; radius rod base plate |
| Mapex P410 | Not stated on the page | 4.95 lb; package 14.96 x 9.37 x 7.17 in | Ergonomic foot and heel plate; fully adjustable spring tension |
| Yamaha FP-7210A | Single chain drive | 13.7 x 7.3 x 5 in; 1.31 kg | Felt beater; horizontal frame brace; beater angle adjustment |
The 6 Best Single Bass Drum Pedals
1. Tama HP200P Iron Cobra 200 Single Pedal
A chrome metal pedal listed at 14 by 9.75 by 6.75 inches and 5.08 pounds. The page gives no feature bullets, so details such as drive type and spring setup are not stated there and should be checked in Tama’s own documents.
Suits: a drummer who wants a Tama pedal. Strengths: a clear size and weight on the page. Weaknesses: no feature list is shown. Skip it if you want the drive details spelled out.
View Tama Iron Cobra 200 HP200P Single Pedal on Amazon
2. DW 3000 Series Single Bass Drum Pedal (DWCP3000A)
The listing describes a dual-chain accelerator drive, delta stroke adjustment with a ball bearing and detachable spring, a swivel toe clamp and a two-way DW101 beater with a memory lock. A steel base plate with an anti-skid rubber mat and a drum key are included. The page lists a weight of 1 pound beside 15 by 9 by 7 inch dimensions, which looks implausible for a complete pedal, so we do not rely on it.
Suits: a drummer who wants adjustable stroke geometry. Strengths: a memory-lock beater and a rubber-matted base plate. Weaknesses: the listed weight does not look right. Skip it if you want a very simple pedal.
View DW 3000 Series Single Bass Drum Pedal DWCP3000A on Amazon
3. Pearl Bass Drum Pedal, Single (P2050C)
Pearl describes an interchangeable cam system with four individual cams, a sprocketless double chain drive, click-lock spring adjustment and a Control Core quad beater. The listed weight of 11.3 pounds and 17.2 inch height look like shipping figures rather than the pedal itself, so check them before relying on them.
Suits: a player who likes to swap cams. Strengths: four cams and click-lock spring adjustment. Weaknesses: the listed weight and size look inflated. Skip it if you want a fixed-cam pedal.
View Pearl P2050C Single Bass Drum Pedal on Amazon
4. PDP by DW 300 Series Single Chain Bass Drum Pedal (PDSP310)
A silver and black pedal in metal and plastic with a single chain drive, a concentric cam, a two-way beater, beater angle adjustment and a radius rod base plate. It is listed at 3.72 pounds, and the dimensions on the page are package figures.
Suits: a first or second pedal from a drum brand. Strengths: a two-way beater and angle adjustment. Weaknesses: package dimensions only. Skip it if you want a double chain design.
View PDP by DW 300 Series PDSP310 Single Chain Pedal on Amazon
5. Mapex 400 Series Single Bass Drum Pedal
A chrome metal pedal with an ergonomic foot and heel plate, a solid footboard base plate and fully adjustable spring tension, model P410. It is listed at 4.95 pounds, with package dimensions of 14.96 by 9.37 by 7.17 inches. The page does not state the drive type.
Suits: a player who wants a solid base plate. Strengths: fully adjustable spring tension. Weaknesses: drive type is not given on the page. Skip it if you need to know the drive design.
View Mapex 400 Series P410 Single Bass Drum Pedal on Amazon
6. Yamaha 7210 Single Foot Pedal with Single Chain Drive
Yamaha’s listing describes a single-chain drive, a reinforced horizontal frame brace, an adjustable beater angle and a classic felt beater, in a lightweight frame listed at 13.7 by 7.3 by 5 inches and 1.31 kilograms. The model number appears as FP-7210A.
Suits: a lighter pedal that is easy to carry. Strengths: a felt beater and a braced frame. Weaknesses: a single chain only. Skip it if you want a double chain or cam design.
View Yamaha FP-7210A Single Chain Drive Pedal on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Check the listing for what comes in the box, such as a beater key or base plate.
- Follow the maker’s instructions for setup, adjustment and care.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying on the name of the series alone.
- Trusting a listed weight that looks too low or too high.
- Skipping the maker’s setup instructions.
Bass Drum Pedal FAQ
What is the difference between chain and cam drives?
Both link the footboard to the beater. Chain designs use a chain over a sprocket or cam, and cam shapes change how the stroke feels. Makers describe the effect differently.
Do these come with a beater?
The listings mention a beater for the DW, PDP and Yamaha pedals. Check the others on the page.
The Short Version
For adjustable geometry, the DW 3000. For swappable cams, the Pearl P2050C. For a two-way beater, the PDP 300. For spring adjustment, the Mapex 400. For a light felt-beater pedal, the Yamaha. For a plain Tama with sparse details, the HP200P.
