One handed roll...

[arin]

Does anybody have any tips on practicing this "one-handed" kind of roll? Is there actually any video explaining this technique? I've heard something about Johnny Rabb's video... does he use this technique or he made up somthing new?

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[PhinePhineMusic]

You mentioned Johnny Rabb....I saw him in clinic/performance last year, and he spent most of the time explaining his one-handed roll, or what he's patented as the "Freehand Technique." He just released a book and video completely focusing on freehanding...I must say, it was pretty amazing what he could do with it. he'd get crisp 4-stroke one-handed rolls going with BOTH hands and alternate them perfectly, buzzing around the kit. pretty cool stuff.
I've played around with it since the clinic, and gotten pretty good at it. kudos to Mugs...he pretty much explained it as best as possible. don't think I coulda come up with that good an explanation...
good luck,
-a.

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"First you master your instrument. Then you master the music.Then you forget about all the shit you just learned and just play." -Bird

[Mugs]

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.

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slan agus beannacht!

[wolfgang.at]

Here?s a short video showing Johnny Rabb explaining the "Freehand Technique". Awesome ! Check it out:

freehand technique

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 20, 2003 05:44 AM: Message edited by: ] drumhead [ ]</font>

[Steve Holmes]

Wow that was an informative clip. Thanks!

[Plaid]

Ditto, Steve. Thanks for the clip!

[peter c]

Excellent clip!

Many, many thanks!

Isn't the Internet
a wonderful thing?!

[img]biggrin.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 20, 2003 04:37 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[FuseU1]

Yes - thx 4 that, drumhead...
...[& whoever typed the description of that 1-handed roll in the above 2nd post!! [img]confused.gif[/img] ?? [in the "Where?" column:] "A Long Time Ago!"... [in a galaxy (car) far, far away....]

...& great quote from Bird by "a."[?] in 3rd post above [ [img]confused.gif[/img] again]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 20, 2003 04:47 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[peter c]

[img]graemlins/bat.gif[/img]

Yes, Mystery man...

Thank you very much.

[ladanny]

Thank you for the clip!!! I've never seen this technique before. One more thing to add to "the list" for fun. Wouldn't it be cool if you could pull this off on hihats or ride?!?!?! Someone needs to invent a rim for ride and hats.... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Danny