Roger`s drumming over the years.

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

Holly2003 wrote:

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

From the first time I heard him play, that was the thing that stood out to me and it has always been a massive part of his trademark sound known to, and discussed by, drummers well before Roger mentioned it in the ANATO 'Classic Albums' interview.

Holly2003 wrote:

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

Yeah, in fact there were probably never any drummers in thirty years who listened to Queen and recognised the techniques Roger was using... :P

Holly2003 wrote:

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

Bah, I noticed that years before I saw that video. Pow tic PAZZZT tic Pow tic PAZZZT tic...

NickESB wrote:

But I'd say that virtually every live Roger drum part from 1991 onwards, while not as notable technically as his early work, has been distinctive.

Interestingly, the Made In Heaven album doesn't have that much hi-hat buzz on the snare actually - there's some on MIH (the song), but otherwise it's really not that much. Not as hysterical as here anyway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsjcA_dl-jg

Oscar J wrote:

NickESB wrote:

But I'd say that virtually every live Roger drum part from 1991 onwards, while not as notable technically as his early work, has been distinctive.

Interestingly, the Made In Heaven album doesn't have that much hi-hat buzz on the snare actually - there's some on MIH (the song), but otherwise it's really not that much.

I disagree. It's easily recognisable on Made In Heaven, Let Me Live, My Life Has Been Saved, Heaven For Everyone and A Winter's Tale. OK, it's not for the whole songs (particularly the latter two), but it's there.

Not so evident, but there nonetheless too, on TMLWKY (because of the electric snare overdub?), You Don't Fool Me and Beautiful Day (reprise).

Holly2003 wrote:

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

Probably because you are not a drummer... It has been discussed in drumming magazines for decades, in fact I can remember having a long conversation with Bill Bruford (King Crimson drummer) back in the early 80's when I went to a seminar he held

I'm no expertise on drums... What do you think on Roger's drumming on Runaway? I think it's great!

Holly2003 wrote:

It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p

Does anyone knows if Roger came up with it by himself or did he pick that up from another drummer?

He mentioned in a bonus feature in the ANATO Classic Albums documentary he came up with that little trademark from involuntarily opening and closing the hi-hat. Here's that aforementioned documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-qeq691--w

It's an involuntary movement of the foot, but one that sounded as if it increased the explosiveness of the snare so I think he has developed it further over the years, it's a neat trick and when you do it suddenly you do sound more like him than other drummers, a little like when you mute the guitar strings on a guitar you tend to sound a little more like Brian.

^Well said. As a drummer, I'd say it's a little trick you didn't know you needed. I took to that trick like duck to water, it really brings some life to the snare.

When did he start using the trick?

Sebastian wrote:

When did he start using the trick?

It's present on some Smile stuff, and certainly on Queen's first album, so must have been pretty early on in his playing I'd guess...

Killer_queenIII wrote:

He mentioned in a bonus feature in the ANATO Classic Albums documentary he came up with that little trademark from involuntarily opening and closing the hi-hat. Here's that aforementioned documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-qeq691--w

Ah yes, I forgot about that, thanks! It's just a shame that he doesn't talk about it more than that, though...