JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum One Hand Drum Roll

Using the conventional grip, Rich demonstrated a one hand non-stop roll, that would rival two handed rolls by pro drummers. Watching it, (on Carson), his index and middle fingers would look like a blur, as did the one stick. It had a constant in-time throughout roll sound! I've been trying it, and now have Marnie trying it, which he is getting it down better than me. He doesn't have it down yet,,,,but I can tell he will, if he works at it everyday.

Doing that, makes for wonderful sounds when going to the other drums with the other hand. Throw in the feet, and wow! Sounds like two drummers!

With only going directly up and down, (not side to side,,,,do them later), start slowly, about 3 beats per second and work up to about 15. Past that, and you're really off to the races! Remember to have it be constant, at all speeds,,,no triplets or such. Unistrikes! And to sound like a steady roll

Good luck!
John

I've seen him on Carson many times, but I didn't know Rich Little could do that.

My old bud, the late Tom "The Hitman" Cerone, used to do a great one-hand drum roll. He'd start with a two hand that sounded as smooth as paper tearing, then he'd take one hand off and slowly wipe his brow and smile while looking around at other drummers in the room.

I've been working on a no-hand roll.

FOOT POWER!

Ha!!!! Rich little! Good one! Worked with him once, (his backup band actually,,,,tuning the piano and jammin). He was hung over, so I didn't ask him to do any impressions.

But Buddy could really fly with that one hand! Your friend too, huh! Cool!
Ha again! The no hand roll!,,,,

Be,,,,,be the drum. Be one with the drum!

How about moving the sticks so hard, but not touching the heads, that the air waves shocks will make the heads vibrate and sound!
Would need huge paddle looking sticks, to have a shot at that one! Maybe for the snare side of the snare!??? Loose snares?

Air waves? Shocks? Paddle sticks?

Why do that difficult stuff? My no-handed roll is simple.

I use my foot.

As I said:

FOOT POWER

Ahhhhh!!!! Yes!

And, when you get that nerve in your foot to spasm just right, (by the right tension when going fast on the pedal, it can create a roll on the bass drum that sounds like when drummers use two!

Several drummers do that! Love that sound!

Dousing humor with cold reality, eh?

What humor?! I see nothing funny with feet! Feet Feet Feet!
Toesy Woesies! "This little piggie went to the market.....".

I take feet very seriously, ask Cindy.

You like Michael Franks?

There is a really good drummer that I have seen at local open mic nights. When I first saw him I was singing his praises to my ex guitarist who told me he only has one leg. I laughed waiting for the punch line. Yep you got it no punch line. He really only has one leg. He cannot do much with the false leg so he uses a special custom made pedal so he can use the one good leg for both kick and hihat. Has anybody come across such a thing? How would it work?

Hey Jim,

Heel for the hat and toe for the bass drum, I'd guess. There's no end to what can be done with a foot.

Most likely heel-toe type movement working both.

check out claytoncameron.com He can do that!! He's Tony Bennett's drummer

Emily

I mentioned Joe Morello before. he had a number of neat effects as he played. One thing he did that produced a one handed roll was to place a drumstick butt end against a floor tom and hold it in a ring formed by his thumb and index finger and stroke steadily downward on the stick. The stick would develop a steady rhythym producing a very smooth drum roll. He could do this in the middle of doing a roll on his snare where could continue the roll on the snare with the other hand.

All todays great drummers( Weckl, Gadd, Keltner, Imboden, Pert, etc.) acknowledge Joe Morello as the king of technique. ....because it's true! he was one of the first to teach the "moeller" technique, which is this one handed roll.

Joe Morello's one of the least known, most influential drummers of all-time.

Dak, that guy's got an amazing technique, I've never seen it done like that.

Great posts, folks.

Mike

I know I mentioned it before, but I was very fortunate to have played with Joe Morello when I was in high school. He came and did a concert with our stage band. He was a very soft-spoken incredible musician, humble, kind and giving. At one time he also was part of one of my all-tme favorite jazz groups, the Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Yeah Mike. I loved the way he slowed it down so I could see what heck he was doing.