Roger Taylor sound

[Dave A]

Hello everyone,
I just joined today and would like a little help from all you knowledgeable people. I've started to learn to play the drums fairly recently and am looking for a certain sound. One of the drummers I admire among many is Queens Roger Taylor. Technically he wasn't a great drummer, but I still love his style and sound, especially during the 70's.
I would like to know what drum heads was he using, both batters and reso's? I've got a Pearl Vision VBX which I'm pleased with, but the supplied heads aren't really what I'm looking for.
In an old video (1974) I notice he had different batters for the floor toms. Any advice?
Cheers,
Dave

[theindian]

Really, he wasn't that good? I disagree. Sure he may not be Steve Gadd or Niel Peart but he is a good drummer and his parts fit Queens over the top music. Check out the drum solo in "Keep Yourself Alive."

As far as his sound, like a lot of drummers in the 70's his drum sound was pretty muffled, so maybe clear Remo Emporers over Abassadors reso with some muffle. He also used a good bit of auxillary stuff like cowbell, triangle, chimes etc...

[Dave A]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean he wasn't a good drummer. I meant he wasn't as technically competent as say Bonham, Gadd or Baker to name a few. He admitted himself that he never learned a lot of the more advanced/complicated skills. I still think he is a very good drummer and as you wrote, his drumming style fitted in very well with Queen.
As to the question of heads. He may have used Emperors, but I never saw him use clears until the 80's. I saw that Remo re-released the coated vintage Emperors. Do you think these over Ambassador whites would work?

[Ian Williams]

Roger Taylor has a jazzy touch included in his drumming, that makes his sound particularly tasted.

[Drums&Beer]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't mean he wasn't a good drummer. I meant he wasn't as technically competent as say Bonham, Gadd or Baker to name a few. He admitted himself that he never learned a lot of the more advanced/complicated skills. I still think he is a very good drummer and as you wrote, his drumming style fitted in very well with Queen.
As to the question of heads. He may have used Emperors, but I never saw him use clears until the 80's. I saw that Remo re-released the coated vintage Emperors. Do you think these over Ambassador whites would work?

Standard Coated Emperors over Clear Ambassadors will definitely get you there.

I haven't used the new vintage Emperors yet, but I have heard nothing but good things about them. I do use Vintage A's and they are the only two-ply head I have ever fallen in love with. Vintage A's have a little less attack than standard Coated Ambassadors so perhaps Vintage Emperors are similar. Nonetheless for that classic killer round warm Rock-n-roll tom sound I'd go standard Coated Emperors over clear Abassadors..

[KarlCrafton]

I'd try Coated Emps over Coated Ambassadors, with medium tension. He was using Remo & Ludwig coateds top and bottom heads at least up until the Chrome kit, and sometimes no bottom head.

Maybe use a sliver of MoonGel to cut down the top end ring to get a more 'thumpy' sound. A small slice does the same dampening as the whole thing, but it lets you retain more resonance.

He also used the longer power toms a lot too, so that has something to do with the flatter tone of his toms--and that they used so much processing and layering on the records.
But you should be able to come close.
I'd try one drum first to see what you get.

Good luck and have fun!

[jordanz]

Don't get me wrong, I like his drumming. But, he has such an odd way of playing that I find it hard to listen to. In particular, he almost always opens his hi-hat when he hits his snare. To my ear, it's like someone with a speech impediment. I find myself getting focused on the oddness of his quirks that it takes away from the music.

[BassDriver]

Roger Taylor's drum sound would be described as, a "big", "boxy", "thumpy" and "boomy" strangely all at once, this was a sought after sound for rock drummers in the late '70s and throughout the '80s. A good head seletection would do the trick.

Certain heads have a sound characterstic associated with them.

Do your research, and find a good combination of top and bottom heads.

General rule is that "Boxy" sounding batter and resonant heads on a drum tuned well will end up with a "boxy" sound.

[Dave A]

Thanks for the advice chaps. Sorry I answered a bit late, but I never had a chance to get on-line over Christmas.
I'm trying the vintage emp's over the coated ambassadors. I'll let you know whether it works.
Cheers,
Dave.

[Ian Williams]

Exactly, that is what I like about his style. The open/close hi-hat while hitting the snare and the tom fills.

Don't get me wrong, I like his drumming. But, he has such an odd way of playing that I find it hard to listen to. In particular, he almost always opens his hi-hat when he hits his snare. To my ear, it's like someone with a speech impediment. I find myself getting focused on the oddness of his quirks that it takes away from the music.

[fusssion]

Guys, guys guys .......

head combination won't get you Roger Taylor's sound ......

How many times must things like this be discussed?

[nickg]

i was a big Queen fan, especially their first three albums.

i'm pretty sure, too, that his sound was also due to the different size of drums he used on those first couple of albums.

if i'm not mistaken i think back then he was using a 14x26 kick, 9x13 rack, 16x16 floor and an 18x20 floor tom as well. damn things sound like cannons.

[KarlCrafton]

He also played (maybe he still does) with the butt ends of the stick, and that changes the sound too.

[Dave A]

Hello again,
I know Roger Taylor played much larger drums than I have, but I can at least attempt a similar sound. I think I read an interview from the early eighties where he complained that the drum companies were making drums too short.
Anyway. I've fitted vintage coated emps as batters, coated ambs as resos and the same on the bass. I must say I'm really pleased with the sound, especially after the shop fitted heads that were supplied. The 16x16 floor tom has a beautiful deep, warm tone that combines perfectly with the bass, so combining the two is great fun. It may not be everybody's sound, but it works for me.
Thanks again to all who answered my questions.
Dave

[KarlCrafton]

Cool! I'm glad you got a sound you like.
Have fun!