Basically the rudiments used in Pipe Band drumming are the same as the American 26, with a few very interesting variations.
LONG ROLL
All rolls are played closed or buzzed, although recently the open roll is being employed more.
FIVE STROKE ROLL
This roll, apart from its regular form, is used in a unique way. Played hand to hand, the exercise is known as “The Fives” and is the basis of a simple “Strathspey” beating.
Note: The method of writing above and below one line for the snare drum is now widely used. Right hand above the line, left hand below, as in the Swiss style.
The finished effect of this exercise sounds like a continuous roll, with clean accents coming on each of the four beats in the bar.
FLAM
Flams are played very closed, in fact, as close as possible without losing the flam sound.
FLAMPARADIDDLE
This version uses a reverse paradiddle which makes for greater speed of execution. This is obvious from the metronome marking. It would not be possible to get the same effect with a regular paradiddle.
Another flam movement uses the same sticking, but the feel is that of a triplet, with the first beat of each eighth-note triplet doubled.
DRAG OR RUFF
Drags are also played very closed. There is no double-stroke sound, more of a buzz. In fact, really a “jabbed” effect.
DRAG PARADIDDLE
Here, the shortness of the buzz will be apparent. The following exercises are the same as in the flam section.
SINGLE DRAG
The single drag is used to build up another continuous roll effect, giving the impression of an accented shuffle rhythm. Played hand to hand.
It is started slowly with the drags played open, eventually closed, with the drags buzzed as in “The Fives.”
DOUBLE DRAG
Employing the double drag, the same roll effect is produced in 6/8 time.
The sound is of a continuous roll with an accented 6/8 rhythm predominant.
Another way of producing the single drag effect is the use of a Four-Stroke Roll played within a triplet rhythm.
Notice in Exercise B, the change in notation. This sound is known as the Scottish cut note.
The ability to play five-stroke rolls long and short is another part of this technique.
In the first example, all rolls are the same length and are used to give a syncopated sound.
Now, by changing the rhythm to a shuffle or dotted feel, it is necessary to play some five-stroke rolls long, and some short. This has a more swinging sound.
Many exercises used would not fit in to the category of one of the 26.
For instance:
The aim, again, is to produce a sound like a continuous roll with a triplet rhythm predominant. This is a very difficult movement.
Finally, an exercise using unusual hand movements to produce a flam accent on the third beat of an eighth-note triplet, finishing with a hand to hand double flam.
Two excellent sources of information regarding Pipe Band drumming are volumes I and II of the Tutor and Textbook of the Scottish Pipe Band Association. 45, Washington Street, Glasgow, G3, Scotland.
For further studies of accented rolls, see Roll Control by the author of this article. It is published by Belwin Mills Music Ltd., 250 Purley Way, Croydon, CR9 4QD, England.
