One-Handed Roll

[peter]

Guys,

I saw this at HOD and I remember it
being one of those mysteries that I
saw people asking about. Well, this
was one of the best explanations of
it before DrumHead helped out, with
the video of Johnny Rabb that follows
this text:

"That one handed roll is trickier to describe than it is to play...but in a nutshell, you want to start by just laying the stick on the head, the stick touching the rim at about four o'clock,the tip of the stick resting at the centre of the head.The rim should touch the stick about halfway along its length.Where exactly will vary depending on the stick you use, but that'll be close enough to be going on with.Pinch the stick LIGHTLY with the tip of thumb and forefinger just behind the midway point,raise it up an inch or two,leaving the tip of the sick on the head and tap it down firmly on the rim. If you do it right(mostly in the lightness of the pinch:this is key) the tip of the stick will buzz on the head.Experiment a little with the balance point of the stick.Get that first little buzz to the point where you can do it consistently.Part of the technique involves lightening the pinch on the stick as you try tapping the stick down on the rim faster and faster.Subtleties in the strength of the pinch will allow you to get varying speeds of notes.Don't worry about hearing the stick going 'click click click" all the time; as you practice, and build volume, you won't hear it. Check out the MD Festival video from 1997,the one that has Paul Wertico on it. He does it in his opening solo, and you can see his right hand clearly.As I said, you'll learn more from trying it than reading about it. Oh, and having your top head nice and tight is a big help."

http://www.tigerbill.com/media/Rabb2.wmv

See the video, while you can. It's very
clear and de-mystifying. That's what I
love about you guys!

Thanks again, DrumHead! :D

[quitou]

I actually saw Steve Smith using this technique at a clinic he did here during the Calgary Jazz Festival. He said he learned the technique from Johnny Rabb. It produces a very cool effect...Just out of curiosity, I know that Mangini does one handed rolls as well and he does them at lightenning speeds with bothe hands...does anybody know whether or not he uses this technique as well???

[peter]

The video here shows Mangini doing
it but the truth is that it is not that
difficult to do. I did it on both hands
in less then 5 minutes. It's really show.
It's cool but that's it. That's my take.

[slamnovalis]

i learned this a good while ago and it is a damn fine technique. i've been adding it (tastefully) in places you usually wouldn't. i started playing 3/4 (bass, hi-hat, hi-hat) pattern with my feet and a cascara pattern on my cowbell with the right hand while playing the one handed roll on my aux. snare. i don't have any clips of that jus yet, but i do have a few of me breaking down the roll. i'm using a 14" snare in one clip, and a 12" in the other. the 14" sounds much tighter (in the shorter clip).

www.bbg2.com/joab/drums/tracks

[alencore]

Steve Gadd can do some fine continous 16th notes on just his single pedal as well on his left hand while he solos over it. The technique he uses is more like a shuffling way of holding and bouncing the stick and for the feet you just gotta see that old instructional vid he made name In Session if not mistaken.

Anyway I'm still downloading the file since it sounds so interesting to check out. Tnx Peter as always for sharing.

[jimi]

@peter: you're right, it isn't hard to do but alot of people didn't know HOW. maybe soon it will be as standard as 2 and 4 on the snare?

[Hip Alien]

'Mangini' said he learnt it from 'Dennis Chambers', but the 1st guy i remember seeing doing the one handed roll is 'Buddy'.

[peter]

Guys, I can't take the credit for sharing
that video. It was a "mystery guy", who
talked about it and then "Drumhead" from
over at Steve Holmes' HOD that deserve
the credit. Sometimes, there are some
cool things there. I just copied and pasted
the link is all. Steve is not only a great guy
but a great drummer as well and he makes
everyone comfortable with the idea of
sharing ideas. "Those" that do it and with
an encouraging air about them, really go
a long way to help other drummers. My
hat goes off to Steve for what he's doing
over there and on the drums. From what
I understand, he checks in here to keep
tabs on the master. He knows. :D