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

[@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!!

[@lucamantoani8624]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@neptunesgold1216]

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

[@drumqtips]

Wow, I appreciate that!

[@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!

[@mofostopheles]

It’s so cool how great this lesson is.

[@drumqtips]

Thank you 🙏🏾

[@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!

[@ll1881ll]

Excellent lesson and excellent specking skill

[@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.

[@peterhaupt6791]

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

[@drumqtips]

Have fun Pete!

[@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!!

[@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.

[@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🙏🏾

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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👍🏾

[@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.

[@powlobo.m.b.]

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

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful!

[@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! 🤣🤣

[@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 🙏🙏🙏

[@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!

[@victormarshall9765]

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

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Vic! Thanks for watching.

[@bobweber4140]

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

[@jeffreyalexander7504]

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

[@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?

[@dc9856]

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

[@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.

[@TimIsmagOfficial]

Thank you!

[@merrillconn9136]

Quincy...been a big fan of your videos for a long time. 1st time commenting on one. This was exceptional: no-nonsense, concise, easy to grasp. I'm more of a symphonic/musical theater drummer (even though I love to play drums in a piano trio setting), so rolls are a HUGE part of my vocabulary. You hit it out of the park with the breakdown of the 3 components. Might I be so bold as to add one more component that needs to be addressed in order to have a world-class roll, and not many people discuss it: buzz consistency. That is each buzz on each hand MUST be an exact duplicate of each other in terms of length, number of buzzes per stroke, and volume. You might want to consider this as "Component 0", since it has to be applied to each of the other 3 components individually as well as combined. Here are a couple of exercises that hopefully everyone will find useful. The first one is covered in one form or another in a number of books. Just simple 1/4 note buzzes. i.postimg.cc/7ZTjybr5/Buzz-Rolls-1.png The next one is for the more adventurous/accomplished. This I got from Buster Bailey who was the snare drummer with the NY Philharmonic (sorry...didn't mean to name-drop, just wanted to give credit where credit is due). i.postimg.cc/k53zM97f/Buzz-Rolls-2.png I included notes in both exercises that might keep things clear. ...And...speaking of Buster...here he is playing a ridiculous decrescendo-crescendo roll (audio only): kzbin.info/www/bejne/sF7TfqCJmpx9pqs Here is a video of him putting into practice all 4 components. Notice the change of hand speed/number of buzzes as he crescendos (Buster is the rotund, follicley-challenged player): kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp7Eg2Oea5Kan6c Again, Quincy thank you so much for this fine tutorial.

[@drumqtips]

This is great Merrill! Thanks sharing your thoughts and information. Buster Bailey was so incredible. Great examples of his perfect press roll!

[@merrillconn9136]

Thanks for your kind words, Quincy. It's the least I can do since you so freely share your wealth of knowledge and talent with us.

[@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

[@clutchmaster17]

Amazing lesson, thank you

[@drumqtips]

You’re most welcome!

[@chrisreynolds7288]

Great lesson

[@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!

[@josephfelix2588]

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

[@jazzrrl]

Great the classes on ro roll and the press rolls

[@drumqtips]

Thanks Ray!!

[@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.

[@IBY2K]

Best Lesson on rolls! Thanks!

[@drumqtips]

I appreciate that Idan!

[@davidhazlett5809]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you, sir!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@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!!!

[@JCGible]

Great lesson. Thanks😊

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure!

[@grapheetee]

Great lesson! Thank you!😊

[@Bcabatista559]

Huge lesson! Thanks!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you liked it!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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👍🏾

[@jackmcguire6802]

This was a fantastic lesson. Thank you!

[@MarioCalzadaMusic]

Thank you Quincy, I love ur channel

[@benjammin4840]

Very helpful! Thank you

[@drumqtips]

Glad it was helpful Ben!

[@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

[@Rifle56]

Great stuff Quincy…. thank you!

[@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:)

[@carloslage3303]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@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!

[@flaviolima1414]

Parabéns Mestre! Obrigado por suas aulas. Um abraço

[@alessandrobuzzi3362]

very great lesson,thank you a lot, superclear!

[@drumqtips]

Glad you liked it Alessandro!

[@alessandrobuzzi3362]

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

[@renezelaya4484]

Thanks for this great lesson! 👌🏼👏🏻👏🏻

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Rene!

[@mikeanscombe9883]

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

[@mariomilliaccio927]

Great educator

[@drumqtips]

🙏🏾

[@2007christian]

GREAT LESSON!!!!!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you🙏🏾

[@jazzhole8208]

When i close my eyes, only listening i totally hear Philly Joe's Snappyness in your approach 🙌 got goosebumps, amazing

[@drumqtips]

I. Love. Philly. Joe. Jones. I appreciate that very much🙏🏾

[@jazzhole8208]

@@drumqtips my pleasure 🙌 thank you very much for sharing your knowledge 🙏

[@sonorabells]

IL be back to learn more

[@sanjeevtambe8382]

Very nice sir

[@drumqtips]

You are so welcome!

[@ricardomendez681]

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

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure Ricardo!

[@eilampniel2962]

Awesome lesson never thought about roll's that way

[@drumqtips]

Boom👊🏾

[@jaapvandenheuvel1997]

Really great lesson Q!!

[@drumqtips]

Jaap, thank you as always!

[@John-fc7wc]

Great explanation!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you John!

[@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

[@moses_dimski]

Hey Q, great lesson as always!

[@drumqtips]

Thank you Dimitri🙏🏾

[@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.

[@KeithBassJr.]

Great video lesson 🔥

[@drumqtips]

Thanks bro Keith!

[@KeithBassJr.]

@@drumqtips You’re welcome…I’ve been listening and subbed for a while. Great content. I have purchased a few of your lessons and play along tracks. I’m getting back in to what I am passionate about, drums, and your vids are helping with that.

[@thestagerocks]

Awesome.

[@drumqtips]

Thank you and cheers!

[@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!

[@WarrenHenry]

Another great one for the books brother

[@drumqtips]

Thnx Warren👊🏾

[@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.

[@zackjonas2952]

Amazing

[@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.

[@drumdad1242]

Fantastic! Liked and subscribed.

[@drumqtips]

I won’t let you down my new friend:)

[@blanknickname]

Thnx mr Davis, you're awesome coach🤟👏

[@drumqtips]

My pleasure!

[@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:)

[@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!

[@softrain3702]

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

[@drumqtips]

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

[@conversacionesbaterapeuticas]

Magnificent. ❤

[@drumqtips]

Thank you!

[@armillo-]

Couple of questions here do rolls work better depending on stick e.g. nylon/wood, weight, taper, length are they easier/harder when using the match grip and can they work on mesh heads (as when I have lessons it is on a electronic kit) I currently am learning some stuff for Charlie and The Chocolate factory so this will help lots because I mostly play rock

[@drumqtips]

Great questions! Rolls can feel different with various sticks (nylon vs. wood tips, weight, etc.), but it’s mostly about what feels best for you. Match grip can sometimes make rolls feel easier, but both grips work well with practice. Rolls also work fine on mesh heads; just adjust for the bounce difference. Good luck with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory-it’ll be a fun challenge!

[@armillo-]

@drumqtips Thanks man appreciate the help 👍

[@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.

[@michaelbolton408]

Merci !

[@JunkerOnDrums]

Thanks for No. 3 :D

[@drumqtips]

Thanks for watching!

[@mccued]

tremendous

[@johndiraimo1444]

Great lesson Quincy... Quick question about your microphone. Is it in ear? How is it set up? Thanks for your fantastic channel.

[@drumqtips]

Which microphone John? I’m using lots. The one for my voice is the headset mic you can see in the video. The drums are being picked up by separate mics.

[@johndiraimo1444]

@@drumqtips Yes, for your headset. How do you hear yourself? Through a monitor or are you wearing earbuds? Thanks Quincy.

[@drumqtips]

@@johndiraimo1444 No need to hear myself for this other than my natural unamplified sound. I’m not playing to any play along tracks.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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. 🤣🤣

[@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.