Drumming Terminology Pet Peeve

[ethanpack]

I decided to finally vent...

It's slightly annoying to keep seeing people refer to the charted drum fills as "rolls." They are NOT drum rolls people!

I've purchased no DLC to this point, so I'll speak to the 58 songs on disc. There are a few fills that are close to single stroke roll speed in the game. There is also the "one charted note" that corresponds to a buzz roll in "Wanted Dead or Alive," but almost every other "roll" in the game is simply a fill that is charted.

So - in conclusion, there are "charted fills" and there are "drum rainbow fills" or "overdrive activation fills." There are NO (read: there are very few) true rolls charted in this game.

*Exhales* That feels better.

[ForgottenHero]

So those longs reds in Train Kept A Rollin aren't snare rolls?

[abacab]

Only songs that do have rolls I can think of are:

Wanted Dead or Alive (even though you don't play it all)
Cherub Rock
Rock Rebellion (even though the didn't chart every note)

In Train Kept A Rollin' and Working Man, for example, you can hear each hit. Drum rolls are supposed to be like a long hold note for drums.

[ethanpack]

So those longs reds in Train Kept A Rollin aren't snare rolls?

If we're speaking in rudiments, then the sticking and pattern would be categoried as a "Single Stroke Roll," however the speed that it is played at is simply sixteenth notes at a pretty good clip, but not at the speed of say a drum corps snare line single stroke roll.

Train Kept A Rollin' sounds like this (say it fast:) dig-gah dig-gah dig-gah dig-gah dig-gah...

A "fast" single stroke roll sounds like this: blrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlrlr

It's like comparing the speed of an eagle flapping it's wings to a hummingbird flapping it's wings, I guess as a semi-applicable metaphor.

EDIT: Here's a pretty decent video of the single stroke roll at "16th note versus 32nd note" speeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3GuVulafdw&feature=related

[afterstasis]

Only songs that do have rolls I can think of are:

Wanted Dead or Alive (even though you don't play it all)
Cherub Rock
Rock Rebellion (even though the didn't chart every note)

In Train Kept A Rollin' and Working Man, for example, you can hear each hit. Drum rolls are supposed to be like a long hold note for drums.

this is correct.

[mct685]

Calm down. Who gives a ****.

[Cranioclash]

Calm down. Who gives a ****.
I've had the same pet peeve for a while; I guess i care.

[Gocino]

People keep using the term "drums" when referring to their "video game peripheral" but I don't mind.

[ethanpack]

People keep using the term "drums" when referring to their "video game peripheral" but I don't mind.

:rolleyes:

That's strange, I swear I've been using drum sticks with this particular video game peripheral... :)

[ASPSAX]

Who cares if it's wrong? It's just a freaking video game, nobody's going to test us on our musical knowledge. I get enough of that at college. -.-

[Gocino]

I sure hope so. Of course you could use pencils or pipes and get the same effect. You know, just like real drums.


:rolleyes:

That's strange, I swear I've been using drum sticks with this particular video game peripheral... :)

[R33DH4M]

Welcome Home has single strokes towards the end.

[A7x4RockBand]

a drum roll is a drum roll.......no matter if it is 90bpm or 220bpm.

there are different types rolls though......such as there are no 5 stroke rolls in the game or (RRLLR)

[orange_black]

If we're speaking in rudiments, then the sticking and pattern would be categoried as a "Single Stroke Roll," however the speed that it is played at is simply sixteenth notes at a pretty good clip, but not at the speed of say a drum corps snare line single stroke roll.

i like this guy already.

welcome to the forums, dude.

I'll also add.... not counting buzz rolls.... a roll is typically played RRLLRRLLRRLL etc...

so you could actually play a "roll" at say... 60 bpm.... by double stroking or single stroking.... in which case it could be a typical "roll" or a single stroke roll.... or depending on who's deciding.... sixteenth notes.

I agree with the majority that a "roll" feel isnt present in any of the songs I've played so far. The closest is prolly train kept a rolling.. however by listening to his accenting.. im 99% sure hes single stroking it as 16's.

:)

[Progged]

Calm down. Who gives a ****.

Drummers do - Thank you and please drive through.

[Apples]

What gets me is when people call it a "kick pedal"... you don't kick it!

I think "stomp pedal" is better and more accurate. ;)

[Mex]

You know it's just easier to call it a "roll". Most of us aren't real drummers anyway. C'mon, let's just call it a "roll" ok? :)

[RedJaguar]

ROFLMAO - I literally JUST posted about 30 seconds ago this SAME thing about my pet peeve with people using the term wrong in the thread about Wanted Dead or Alive .... I AGREE!

They are RUNS, not ROLLS

[ethanpack]

Everyone who is getting bent of shape with this - please calm down. It's a pet peeve, not an edict demanding change! Just sayin'!

I'm glad my fellow drummers and percussionists in some form share my thoughts on this :)

[ethanpack]

i like this guy already.

welcome to the forums, dude.

Thanks Dave! You're feeling me on this quirk/pet peeve/issue/what-have-you.


I'll also add.... not counting buzz rolls.... a roll is typically played RRLLRRLLRRLL etc...

so you could actually play a "roll" at say... 60 bpm.... by double stroking or single stroking.... in which case it could be a typical "roll" or a single stroke roll.... or depending on who's deciding.... sixteenth notes.

I totally agree. Your average, run of the mill, rock drummer will play buzz rolls and double-stroke rolls. I've found that guys who truly master their craft (of course) have strong, rapid, and crisp single stroke rolls that sound marvelous.


I agree with the majority that a "roll" feel isnt present in any of the songs I've played so far. The closest is prolly train kept a rolling.. however by listening to his accenting.. im 99% sure hes single stroking it as 16's.

:)

Bingo. A roll - in the "drum roll please" sense - doesn't typically have rhythmic accenting.

[dagware]

You know it's just easier to call it a "roll". Most of us aren't real drummers anyway. C'mon, let's just call it a "roll" ok? :)

I can understand being bothered by the incorrect use of the term "roll", if that incorrect usage caused confusion. Like if someone said they ran out of memory on their computer, when they really meant their hard drive filled up.

What's the alternative? Do you really want someone to have to say something like "those snare notes that come really quickly"? Chances are pretty good that most people will have no idea if they're 16th or 32nd notes, or whatever. But if they use the term "roll", come on, you know what they're referring to.

So give us all a break. If you understood what's being asked, then get over it. I'm happy for you that you are so knowledgeable on the subject. Good for you. But most of us really don't care. :rolleyes:

Dan

PS: On the subject of "kick" vs "bass": I really don't care one way or another. However I've done a lot of MIDI programming in the past using programs like Cakewalk. Cakewalk always referred to them as "kick drum" sounds. I find that interesting, because if that's the wrong term, I would have thought Cakewalk would know better...

[RedJaguar]

What's the alternative? Do you really want someone to have to say something like "those snare notes that come really quickly"? Chances are pretty good that most people will have no idea if they're 16th or 32nd notes, or whatever. But if they use the term "roll", come on, you know what they're referring to.


Use the term 'run' like 'run of snare notes'.


PS: On the subject of "kick" vs "bass": I really don't care one way or another. However I've done a lot of MIDI programming in the past using programs like Cakewalk. Cakewalk always referred to them as "kick drum" sounds. I find that interesting, because if that's the wrong term, I would have thought Cakewalk would know better...

The reason it is referred to as a 'kick' pedal is because the beater 'kicks' the head.

So this is not incorrect. Kick pedal/Bass pedal are both correct.

[orange_black]

to clear up the "kick" issue.

BEFORE bass drum pedals existed, the drummer would "kick" the bass drum head... hence the term "kick pedal" came.

:)

[ethanpack]

I can understand being bothered by the incorrect use of the term "roll", if that incorrect usage caused confusion. Like if someone said they ran out of memory on their computer, when they really meant their hard drive filled up.

What's the alternative? Do you really want someone to have to say something like "those snare notes that come really quickly"? Chances are pretty good that most people will have no idea if they're 16th or 32nd notes, or whatever. But if they use the term "roll", come on, you know what they're referring to.

So give us all a break. If you understood what's being asked, then get over it. I'm happy for you that you are so knowledgeable on the subject. Good for you. But most of us really don't care. :rolleyes:

Dan

Dan, I really like your custom Rock Band kit. What Alesis sound module do you have loaded in there? I'm guessing you're triggering MIDI with it for some home recording action - cool stuff.

Okay - now to the topic at hand. I wasn't requesting that everyone - or anyone - who plays this game change their terminology. I was simply stating a pet peeve of mine that several other drummers either can relate to or share.

So my answer is to keep saying roll. :) I like RedJag's suggestion of using the term "run," but one can call whatever one chooses any term one desires.

No need to get sarcastic and flippant - as this topic was "venting" and was not originated due to any question (or the understanding thereof) that anyone may have asked.

To bend Shakespeare a bit: What's in a name? That which we call a roll by any other name would rock as hardcore.

[frizzy_bj]

What gets me is when people call it a "kick pedal"... you don't kick it!

I think "stomp pedal" is better and more accurate. ;)

I call it a "bass pedal". Hopefully that is pretty accurate.:D

[dagware]

Dan, I really like your custom Rock Band kit. What Alesis sound module do you have loaded in there? I'm guessing you're triggering MIDI with it for some home recording action - cool stuff.

Thanks. It's a DM5. No, I'm not using it for home recording -- I don't do that anymore. Too much work, and RB is so much more fun. :p Seriously though, I did the MIDI stuff when I lead worship at church without a band. Then I got a band (if you could call it that), and I learned there are advantages to MIDI tracks. For one, the drum and bass tracks can't have an affair (but I digress)...


Okay - now to the topic at hand. I wasn't requesting that everyone - or anyone - who plays this game change their terminology. I was simply stating a pet peeve of mine that several other drummers either can relate to or share.

OK, that's cool.


To bend Shakespeare a bit: What's in a name? That which we call a roll by any other name would rock as hardcore.

If not "hardcore", certainly "hard" for us non-drummers! :eek:

Dan

[memphus]

I'm going to keep calling them rolls just to piss people like you off.

[ethanpack]

I'm going to keep calling them rolls just to piss people like you off.

Sounds good!

However, I am going to say this one last time - this is a "Drumming Terminology Pet Peeve" thread, not a "I'm Pissed Off About Of The Word 'Roll'" thread.

Thanks for contributing to the quality of this thread and for giving me further perspective as to how and why mankind in general is de-evolving.


:)

[Frederf]

As far as my short wikipedia education goes, any run of notes designed to produce a continuous sound is a roll. It's up to interpretation what BPM constitutes "continuous."

I do realize that most rolls that you want recognized as "true rolls" are other than the single-stroke variety but honestly calling them "runs" is not the answer. I've even tried calling them Long Series of Fast Notes and no one understood me.

I understand pet peeves in terminology well "CPU vs Computer", "Memory vs Storage", etc, but right now I don't have any real word to describe some note patterns in the game that most other people are going to understand and doesn't take a paragraph to describe. The language is insufficient.

[orange_black]

Sounds good!

However, I am going to say this one last time - this is a "Drumming Terminology Pet Peeve" thread, not a "I'm Pissed Off About Of The Word 'Roll'" thread.

Thanks for contributing to the quality of this thread and for giving me further perspective as to how and why mankind in general is de-evolving.


:)

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o44/inverted_cheeze_doodle/hehehmn.gif

EDIT: awwwwwwwww damn.... photos arent allowed yet :(