How SLOW can you buzz roll?

[Blankso]

How slooooooooooooooow?
I need something to compare my buzzes too.

[birks10]

Showing my "dumb" here, but not sure i understand. You say a ssslllooooooowwww "buzz" roll. You mean, how many multiple rebounds that create a "buzz" sound can be done and it still be a "buzz" roll as a opposed to a multiple bounce that may sound like 5 or 6 rebounds per hand in a continuous fashion? Why would you want to do that?
Just askin'...

Kelly

[AtomicFlapjack]

Showing my "dumb" here, but not sure i understand. You say a ssslllooooooowwww "buzz" roll. You mean, how many multiple rebounds that create a "buzz" sound can be done and it still be a "buzz" roll as a opposed to a multiple bounce that may sound like 5 or 6 rebounds per hand in a continuous fashion? Why would you want to do that?
Just askin'...

Kelly

I think what the OP means is how slow as in, how good is your technique at creating the buzz, that you can afford to play slower strokes but still achieve the continuous consistent buzz sound (terrible English but it's the only way I can think to explain it).
And if I'm right, my answer is not very slow haha. My technique isn't the best, still working on it.

[Duckenheimer]

I start my buzz rolling playing 8th notes at 30bpm quarter note on a towel but it's certainly not a "buzz" sound... As for a buzz sound, I don't really know. It sounds okay to me at 100bpm quarter note triplets but I've a long way to go before it's great quality at any tempo.

[wsabol]

I was always taught that you know you can get good buzz rolls when you can get one buzz to last one full quarter note at 52 bpm. Obviously thats not a practical speed but a standard to check your technique, tuning, and stick combination. Get each buzz to touch to the next quarter note and youre golden.

[Blankso]

I think what the OP means is how slow as in, how good is your technique at creating the buzz, that you can afford to play slower strokes but still achieve the continuous consistent buzz sound (terrible English but it's the only way I can think to explain it).
And if I'm right, my answer is not very slow haha. My technique isn't the best, still working on it.

I think that is what I mean.

[birks10]

Oh, ok.... going with Atomic's interpretation, followed by Blanc's confirmation, then i would say that it's nothing i've tried consciously to do: playing fewer rebounds slowly and still attempting to achieve a seamless shear smooth roll. I guess I would still ask, why would you want to do that? If you can achieve a seamless roll with any number of "buzz's (multiple rebounds), why bother trying to see if you acheive the same sound with less? Not trying to be argumentative here, just looking for the practicality in the original question. :>)

K...

[Dr_Watso]

I suppose you could just loosen your snares and get a relatively long buzz with a single stroke if one were inclined. I think the key you should really be shooting for is "how relaxed can I do my buzz rolls". A relaxed player can make it look like they are barely playing when in fact it's hundreds of strokes per min.

[dmacc]

One idea on how to help improve it is to check out Joe Morello's Master Studies.

It has an 8th note and a triplet not section on "buzzing". Certainly develop the speed on them but even more challenging is when you really slow it down. At slow tempos, tying those buzzed notes all the way to the next note will help ensure you are relaxed and loose enough.

[Boomka]

I was always taught that you know you can get good buzz rolls when you can get one buzz to last one full quarter note at 52 bpm. Obviously thats not a practical speed but a standard to check your technique, tuning, and stick combination. Get each buzz to touch to the next quarter note and youre golden.

This sounds about right.

The thing is, once you've gotten a fairly smooth, long buzz sound, you simply increase or decrease the subdivision to achieve a smooth roll at your desired tempo. The ability to start and finish your rolls on either hand is helpful to be able to cover all tempos, too. That's why you see 5s and 10s covered in Stick Control, for instance.

There have been a number of threads on buzz rolls around here over the past couple of years. Do a search. There's lots of good advice in them.