Supplement 20D: The Closed (Buzz) Roll | Part 2 of 3
This lesson introduces the buzz motion used to play a closed or buzz roll — the fifth hand motion presented in this course, after the tap stroke, the preparation stroke, the accent without rebound, and the accent with rebound. Unlike other strokes, after the initial stroke you apply pressure so the stick doesn’t return to a high position, staying close to the head for fast, multiple rebounds. Control comes mainly from the fulcrum or grip: on striking the drum, relax the fingers underneath so the stick can move freely, with the roll’s speed set by the tempo of the music. Measured closed rolls are counted using 8th notes, 8th-note triplets, 16th notes, 16th-note triplets or 32nd notes, according to tempo (Supplement 20D):
- 50–70 bpm → 32nd-note rolls
- 72–90 bpm → 16th-note triplet rolls
- 92–140 bpm → 16th-note rolls
- 142–200 bpm → 8th-note triplet rolls
- 202 bpm and up → 8th-note rolls
Develop good control with each hand separately to produce a long, smooth buzz sound — tempo isn’t the priority yet; the roll will smooth out as your control and speed of the buzz motion improve.
