HOW TO PLAY A ROLL

[@drumqtips]

DOWNLOAD FREE PDFs and PLAY ALONGS FOR DRUM SET HERE: Quincydavisjazz.com LESSON TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Lesson Intro 00:26 - Are you ready!? 00:37 - Playing Intro 01:09 - Drum Roll Component #1 04:01 - Drum Roll Component #2 07:52 - Drum Roll Component #3 10:04 - Lesson Summary

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Speaking as a native New Yorker, I especially appreciate the more notable qualities of a buttered roll. 😀🥯🥁

[@drumqtips]

As a former NYCer, I’ll take a butter roll over a buzz roll any day of the week! 🤣🤣

[@mysteryloaf]

You just taught KZbin how to play a 3-DIMENSIONAL drum roll!! AWESOME lesson. Very concise, very clear, very efficient! I've been doing this by feel for years, but never figured out how to break it down and describe it. You're such an important resource for today's drumming students!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you “Loaf”:) Glad you find this lesson so helpful!!

[@sonorabells]

Hey I'm not a drummer but your help allowed me to roll three times in quiet church before taps on the organs trumpets for memorial day thanks for the know how

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure!

[@jeffreyalexander7504]

I really get a bunch out of your lessons! Thanks!

[@johndiraimo1444]

Quincy, I began playing the buzz roll where the sticks were approaching the snare drum from a wider circumference almost from the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions and then coming inside so that the sticks were closer together, side by side. The rates and stuff are all exactly as you teach here... the only thing that changes is the first touch. Papa Jo and many others used that technique often. Thanks again, this is an awesome lesson!

[@drumqtips]

Awesome John. Thanks for sharing.

[@menriquez89]

Carter McLean plays like that too. His roll is insane

[@richiegarcia4]

Third component is huge. I hadn't thought of speeding up rather than just increasing stick height and moving toward the center of the drum.

[@drumqtips]

Exactly Rich!

[@richiegarcia4]

@@drumqtips Working on this now. It's trickier than it seems. My standard rolls are basically 1/8 note triplet strokes, so I have to get comfortable with breaking out of the grid for the crescendo.

[@sdw-hv5ko]

So excited to try this stuff out! Awesome breakdown, so helpful as an intermediate drummer with sub-par technique that I'm trying to improve

[@drumqtips]

Hope it's helping!

[@mikeanscombe9883]

Very useful and a really intelligent approach to the roll - thanks, guv’nor!😎

[@philipmcevoy7206]

Such a useful and informative video I struggle with snare drum rolls so this gives me a good platform to practice with. Cheers Quincy thanks man

[@ricardomendez681]

Excellent lesson and demonstration. Thanks for elevating the art of drumming!

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Ricardo!

[@DanteSinfernoftwww]

fantastic! now i don't have to practice my matt savage rudimental workshop buzz rolls :L

[@drumqtips]

Practice all of the above Danny! It’s a command from Matt and I. 🤣🤣

[@roberthall7336]

Excellent, Q! and also important (and cool) to be able to include rolls within fills that include other non roll rudiments. Have you done a video on incorporating rolls into fills? If not, might be cool to follow this video up with that. I love doing that from time to time in my own playing. I love your playing AND your videos. Always very clear, (humorous) and inspiring. THANKS!

[@drumqtips]

Good idea Robert! Thanks as always!

[@jasonpowell8832]

So I have what I consider a few different rolls Buzz roll. Aggressive stroke rolls that are counted. Like a nine stroke roll. Then accented rolls. I’m self taught and copy what I hear in music. I try to stay loose but when doing certain songs and trying to copy certain artists I can get more aggressive. I guess it’s what you call a press.

[@John-fc7wc]

Great explanation!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you John!

[@xaverk]

What never is mentioned: One never manages to play an equal roll on a not properly tuned snare drum. When the batter head is not evenly tensioned, your roll will limp. Higher tension helps but it must be even. The reso head is also important, but not as much. Same is for the snare tension although lower tension here covers small inconsistencies. That all has additionly to be adjusted to the sticks you use and the way you grab them. When you think „my roll sucks, that‘s my fate“, try to optimize head tension. You‘ll be amazed about your hidden drum roll skills.

[@andrewpowers7034]

Best video on snare drum rolls I’ve found. And love the fact you use traditional grip. Thank you!

[@williamthestarwarsdad]

Damn. Even after one lesson WAYYY BETTER

[@lucamantoani8624]

Matter for study the rest of my life 😅 first time i hear in depth how to roll. Great!

[@Slammintone]

Best drum roll educator I’ve seen anywhere! As you break down the concepts, a beginner will be able to quickly identify where they are having trouble doing a smooth roll and then find the solutions needed to correct those issues.

[@elwoodwhite9734]

I second that fact Q is the best!

[@ll1881ll]

Excellent lesson and excellent specking skill

[@peterhaupt6791]

Great lesson! You broke the roll down beautifully. Will now go practice.

[@drumqtips]

Have fun Pete!

[@JoelCarbonellGonell]

Amazing lesson ! I had some questions about this and searched if you had covered it and as always! Amazing!

[@drumqtips]

Glad I could come through for you Joel:)

[@primslim620]

Man, this is quite a lesson. I've been using Accents & Rebounds for a year and a half. I had to go as low as 35 bpm to find some control in the beginning. I have it up to speed. But I knew something was missing. Thanks for these components Q. Really love this classical side of drumming. Firmness/Looseness, Rate, Dynamics Holding it down as always.

[@drumqtips]

Glad it helped!

[@jarrahdrum]

this is excellent, I am always struggling and striving to play a nice relaxed roll. This will be my reference, Thank you

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful!

[@victormarshall9765]

Excellent tutorial on the roll . As always Quincy great lesson. Thanks for sharing.

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Vic! Thanks for watching.

[@bhoyng5481]

Great lesson! Wonder if you could do a part 2 that shows how to do a good press roll while swinging, like Art Blakey in the song "Blues March" ? Thanks

[@GregJosephMusic]

I was just going to ask the same thing: how to do in the context of playing time?

[@lauraroberts2250]

That was amazing. Thank you so much. You broke everything down and made it clear. I've never seen a drum roll explained in such detail. I shall be practicing all those components. Thanks, again.

[@neptunesgold1216]

You are my new most favorite drum teacher. Your teaching style and info is perfection!!!

[@shaharyakir922]

Thanks for explaining so clearly. As a drummer starting in my adulthood, these types of techniques often feel unnatural and logical explanations such as these (rare to find imo!) are very helpful. Now hopefully it’ll help me play Yes’s Siberian Khatru roll part 🙏🙏🙏

[@juddeustice5046]

Aw, man! Ive been looking for someone to teach me to play this and there you are! You said it, you played it and demo’d it and I get it! Thank you!❤ you have a new subscriber!

[@drumqtips]

Glad I could help!

[@danielperezalbert7876]

Very much appreciated. It has been very well exposed. I had worked for a long time in my roll and I had improved very slowly and haven’t achieved something worthy of the name. I’m going to work throroughly with the technique you have explained and broke out so clearly. Many thanks.

[@drumqtips]

Glad this lesson helped! Let me know how it goes.

[@tomcarr4630]

Thanks! I really needed this. For whatever reason my rolls have deteriorated over the past few years. This will help immensely!

[@drumqtips]

Glad this will be helpful to you Tommy!

[@michaelnolan4661]

Good lesson. You really "drumb it down" for me. I haven't got a good roll in the last 50 years, but maybe now there's hope? Thanks, I'll watch this another 35 times.

[@SuperDrumsforever]

Fantastic lesson by a phenomenal drummer. I thought I had a great roll. In actuality, I have a good roll that will improve thanks to your incredible lesson. Blessings to Quincy.

[@drumqtips]

That’s what I like to hear👍🏾

[@lucaszamora842]

Great video! I’ve been struggling to build a good buzz roll for so long! Saw INSTANT improvement after finding the right firmness, speed, and dynamic!

[@stephendenton2985]

Man, I love your lessons.. totally brilliant, you are a natural teacher, your enthusiasm, humour and drumming skill is sooooo goooood, thanks..

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate your kind words very much Stephen🙏🏾

[@peterhaupt6791]

Fabulous lesson. Love how you broke the roll down. Great job explaining and demonstrating. Plus, your manner and personality are so friendly and encouraging. I love your videos.

[@TheRealWillGeronimo]

Thank you for this. It’s just what I need to work on my rolls. 30 plus years of weak rolls now I understand this concept even more!!

[@peterevans366]

AHA!!!!😉 Crescendo & Decrescendo perfect lesson Quincy many thanks😊I find my pressed roll is way better with traditional grip which I have been learning for a couple of years now than matched which I have used all my drumming life....Still working on the pressed roll as it's one of my favourites and inspired by all the jazz drumming greats 🥁

[@drumqtips]

Right on Peter!

[@darnell828]

All great points. Thank you.

[@Rifle56]

Great stuff Quincy…. thank you!

[@mofostopheles]

It’s so cool how great this lesson is.

[@drumqtips]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@christophermooney9492]

Reallly good, I played this roll to a teacher when I was around 18 and he told me it was cheating, so I stayed away from it, I am now 64 and played it again and it sounds good to me, Have you posted a video where you incorporate toms too?

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching Chris! I don’t have a video of me playing rolls on the toms.

[@AsdasdAsdasd-xq1nr]

Dear Q, I'm a self taught drummer and this is by far the best video which "explains" stick grip in a buzz roll. It helped me a lot!

[@drumqtips]

Glad it helped!

[@MarioCalzadaMusic]

Thank you Quincy, I love ur channel

[@isaacsaltoon604]

Hey Quincy, I heard one of the most important keys to success is setting clear goals. I just realized I have no idea what my goals are for jazz drums: comping? Solos? More grooves? Question: How do I set goals as a drummer? What are good goals for beginners, intermediate, and advanced (even pro) drummers?

[@drumqtips]

Model your playing after a year drummer who you love listening to. That will shape up your goals very quickly.

[@EdgardoPlasencia]

Ttttttthhhhhhhhaaaaannnnnkkkkkkyyyyyyooooouuuuuuqqqqquuuuiiiiinnnccccyyyyyyy !

[@drumqtips]

Ha!! You’re verrrrrrry wellllllllcome sirrrrrr👍🏾

[@rbuonfiglio]

Great video!! Oddly, I play more traditional grip than match grip, but when I want to play a quiet roll, I just tend to switch to match grip. No idea when or why I started doing this, but it's what I tend to do. Thanks again!!

[@drumqtips]

Art Blakey and Max did the same thing so all good Rob👍🏾

[@christianbignon163]

Hey Q, plis recomend jazz ride cymbals. Witch one do you use? Thanks Q, you are the best! Eres el mejor, saludos desde Chile

[@drumqtips]

Zildjian rides are the best! Check description box for my cymbals.

[@roberthall7336]

YAY, just purchased the walking bass download from your web site. Excited to practice with it later on today!

[@drumqtips]

Awesome! It’s super helpful.

[@yannmounier2123]

Great lesson,thank you.

[@thibodaux3424]

Really great breakdown Q! I only ever paid attention to the rate and tempo. So at a slower tempo I would go from say 16ths to 16th note triplets so that I didn't have to adjust the looseness of my grip very much. Also I was taught to play press rolls nearer the outside of the drum. Do you think that has an impact on the sound quality and difficulty playing the roll? Thanks for all the detail... off to the practice room 😎

[@drumqtips]

Location you play the roll definitely plays a factor in everything, especially dynamics. Thanks!

[@renezelaya4484]

Thanks for this great lesson! 👌🏼👏🏻👏🏻

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Rene!

[@TimIsmagOfficial]

Thank you!

[@andreondrums7841]

When I play a pressroll I still think in subdivisions to determine my handspeed. Maybe I should let go of that?

[@drumqtips]

Whatever works for you, do!

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Can I get two eggs scrambled on a QD roll please? 🥚🥁🤷🏻‍♂️😅

[@drumqtips]

Haha🤣🤣

[@mccued]

7:20

[@davidhazlett5809]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you, sir!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@carloslage3303]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@sonorabells]

IL be back to learn more

[@michaelbolton408]

Merci !

[@marciasmith8522]

Another great lesson to do over & over again. Should you do this with a metronome too or just practice it until it sounds good?

[@drumqtips]

With a met is always a good idea Ms. Marcia:)

[@emanuelefusaro483]

Really interesting lesson!😊 Quincy I have a question for you: about the third component, how do you mentally determine the TIME SIGNATURE AS YOU PLAY a crescendo to then arrive (whit precision) on one of the measure? Is it simply a matter of practice and practice and practice, or can you advise me on the best way (technically, theoretically) to achieve this? Thanks Quincy, I love your tips!!! ❤️🥁

[@drumqtips]

Awesome question ‘Man! I regret not going into more depth on that one and providing 1 or 2 exercises. Practice playing rolls at different tempos and different dynamics. Over time you will start making automatic adjustments to components 1 & 2 to achieve the best sounding roll. Same thing goes for crescendos and decrescendos. Have fun!

[@stephanfleck7468]

@@drumqtips Hey Quincy! Great lesson as always. I'm struggling with the same issue and I'd love a couple of exercises that help to adjust the rate.

[@chrisreynolds7288]

Great lesson

[@mccued]

tremendous

[@RTFan52]

Would another factor be where on the drum you play the roll ?

[@drumqtips]

I could have talked about that a bit but that would be dynamics.

[@menriquez89]

Great lesson. Wish my Gen z and younger students had the patience for your videos. You really have all the info in there, but they can’t make it past the long intros. (Which I personally enjoy)

[@drumqtips]

Ha!! Started doing YT shorts for the youngsters. Thanks for watching Mike.

[@clutchmaster17]

Amazing lesson, thank you

[@drumqtips]

You’re most welcome!

[@benjammin4840]

Very helpful! Thank you

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Ben!

[@stix9641]

We start with one drum, we learn the roll and we spend our whole life searching for perfect seamless rolls, so we can roll in rhythm,and swing with the roll as the backbone for the ride tempo.As with 40s big band solos, the solo story was told initially by the snare then moved onto the toms and bd.Quincy could show us how you integrate rolls into your musicality and the dynamic builds with rim shots etc. from your be-bop roots encylopedia of ideas , you are serving our drum community through exellence...Bra vo.

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for sharing your words Stix! Maybe I’ll do a follow up lesson on how I use rolls musically. Cheers!

[@Jean-bh6yx]

Hello q , do you use this kind of roll for soloing with roll (between accented noté on tom or other) , or do you use fast doble Stoke (with thf help of fingers to accentuate the second note so its even). And in this technique you describe , there is no uses of fingers at all ? Thanks

[@drumqtips]

I use both kinds of rolls when soloing. This double stroke is without fingers.

[@Jean-bh6yx]

Ok, thanks à lot, and cheers from France, bizoux.

[@JCGible]

Great lesson. Thanks😊

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure!

[@richarddavenport651]

Whatever happened to teaching students what double strokes are? Let's teach them the proper way to play a roll, rather than a lazy, half assed method !!!

[@drumqtips]

Valid point Richard. I was very close to doing a lesson about double strokes, triple bounce THEN a multi bounce but the lesson would have gotten too long and unfocused. I will definitely be doing a lesson double stroke rolls in the future. Thnx

[@richarddavenport651]

@@drumqtips Thank you Quincy !! I greatly appreciate your lessons, I just want keep the traditional drum methods alive, & kicking. I really meant no disrespect Sir !!

[@jazzrrl]

Great the classes on ro roll and the press rolls

[@drumqtips]

Thanks Ray!!

[@thestagerocks]

Awesome.

[@drumqtips]

Thank you and cheers!

[@Bcabatista559]

Huge lesson! Thanks!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you liked it!

[@conversacionesbaterapeuticas]

Magnificent. ❤

[@drumqtips]

Thank you!

[@2007christian]

GREAT LESSON!!!!!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you🙏🏾

[@mariomilliaccio927]

Great educator

[@drumqtips]

🙏🏾

[@alessandrobuzzi3362]

very great lesson,thank you a lot, superclear!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you liked it Alessandro!

[@alessandrobuzzi3362]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@@drumqtips

[@sanjeevtambe8382]

Very nice sir

[@drumqtips]

You are so welcome!

[@richp4449]

Very good…I think I was doing what you described but just didn’t know it!! Now, I’ll practice my snare drum rolls with purpose!!!

[@harrylentell]

Hey Quincy. I really enjoyed this video, I think it’ll help me get my rolls to the next level. Do you think you could do a video on how to get better flam taps? I’ve been finding that my right hand is good but my left hand can’t keep up

[@dc9856]

The best part was the complete lesson.thanks quincy, i learned a lot there.adios amigo

[@josephfelix2588]

great stuff Quincy been working on traditional grip and this certainly helps

[@garysmith3173]

Excellent information sir. Thank you.

[@bobweber4140]

Great lesson been workin on my single strokes and flam triplets thankyou bro

[@efrainl]

Incredible lesson. I subbed immediately. I've always struggled with this so I just avoided them altogether. Now I want to practice them, great job!

[@mftc82]

Great lesson Q, never heard anyone assimilate the rate with the pressure before - bit of a light bulb moment for me! Agree with the below comments on context, I struggle to play in and out of these rolls in a groove setting, would be good to cover that. Also can you do the same type of lesson on single strokes please? Mine are garbage at the moment

[@flaviolima1414]

Parabéns Mestre! Obrigado por suas aulas. Um abraço

[@IBY2K]

Best Lesson on rolls! Thanks!

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Idan!

[@grapheetee]

Great lesson! Thank you!😊

[@jackmcguire6802]

This was a fantastic lesson. Thank you!

[@FrankParente]

Something occurred to me while watching this lesson. The press roll, or what I usually call a buzz roll, is something that we worked a lot on in college for classical percussion training. Almost every drum set teacher I've ever had concentrated more on double stroke rolls. Maybe because my buzz was better than my double I don't know. But I found it interesting to note that what we learn in one genre can translate so nicely to another. You could have dubbed this lesson "The Rolls Royce of Pressed Rolls" FP

[@drumqtips]

Very interesting indeed Frankie. Love that alternative title:)

[@softrain3702]

Best drum teacher ever. Of course his name is Quincy (Jones) (Miles) Davis

[@drumqtips]

No relation unfortunately. Lol! Thanks for the kind words👊🏾

[@powlobo.m.b.]

This is pure gold!! Perfect and to the point explanation!!

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful!

[@blanknickname]

Thnx mr Davis, you're awesome coach🤟👏

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure!

[@cameronfermoyle3301]

YEAH THE ROLL

[@eilampniel2962]

Awesome lesson never thought about roll's that way

[@drumqtips]

Boom👊🏾