Weekly Drum Lesson: Buzz Roll (AKA Multiple Bounce Roll)

Welcome drummers! Today’s weekly drum lesson is all about the buzz roll. Check below the video for the transcript.

In today's lesson, we're going to be looking at the buzz roll, AKA the multiple bounce roll. When we do this type of roll, we are actually playing many strokes on each hand, creating a buzz effect. Let's begin by finding the best balance point on the stick. So we're going to let the stick hang, between the index finger and thumb. Drop the stick on the drum and let it bounce. You'll probably want your snare drum as flat as possible for this; no tilt on the stand. The goal here is to get as many bounces as possible. Use the edge of the drum, because the rebound will help you get more bounces per drop. Next we're going to practice the buzz stroke, one hand at a time. Pinch the stick between your index finger and thumb and make sure the other fingers aren't interfering. Keep your wrist straight and push the stick down into the drum while maintaining pressure with your thumb and index finger. We want the bounces to be fairly close together, right from the start, which is why we need to add extra pressure by pinching and pushing down. It will take some experimentation to find the optimal amount of pressure. Next we can try alternating hands with our buzz strokes. Try to connect them together, so that the bounces from one sustain until the other hand plays. Keep the buzzes as long as possible without sacrificing the density or speed of the bounces. Finally, play the buzz strokes closer and closer together so that you blend them as smoothly as you can to create a continuous buzz. I hope this video has helped you learn how to play, or improve your buzz rolls. That's all for now, thanks for watching!

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