jef:  Probably too specialized for me, especially 
in regard to jazz terminology, but here are a 
couple of definitions straight from Russ 
Girsberger, "A Practical Guide to Percussion 
Terminology":

Rim Shot:  Drum stroke that strikes the rim and 
the drum head simultaneously.  (Compare with 
"Stick Shot.")

Stick Shot:  Accented drum stroke made by placing 
the tip of one stick in the center of the drum 
head and striking its shaft with the other stick.

The latter is clearly what you intend by "stick 
on stick" and call "traditional."  The former 
could be either your #1 or #2, and you're right, 
"rim" and "hoop" are exactly the same according 
to Russ.

But there's a third technique that I associate 
more with jazz, and I don't have an official term 
for it but I've always called it a "rim pop": 
hold a single stick against the center of the 
head and strike the shaft against the rim, 
leaving the other stick available for cymbals, 
etc.

I have to admit that I can't see the difference 
between your 1 and 2, and I'm not sure what you 
mean by either that changes between rock and jazz 
drumming.  Both require VERY good technique and 
aim, and are what *I* think of as the 
"traditional" rim shot, from the Buddy Rich and 
Gene Krupa generation.

And just to confuse things further, here are the 
comments (intended for those WRITING for 
percussion) by Samuel Z Solomon in "How to Write 
for Percussion: A Comprehensive Guide to 
Percussion Composition":

"A rimshot is executed by holding one stick down 
with the tip touching the center of the head and 
the shaft touching the rim and then striking it 
with the other stick.  This takes half of a 
second to get into positon, and only rhythms slow 
enough to be executed with one hand are 
possible."  [Your #3]

"A rimshot can also be created by striking the 
drum with one stick at an angle to hit both the 
head and the rim simultaneously.  This produces a 
slightly different sound, requires no preparation 
time, and makes two-handed passages possible. 
This rimshot, however, is more difficult to 
execute consistently."  [Your #1 and #2, my Buddy 
Rich.]

"The specification of which type of rimshot used 
is rarely notated and is usually decided by the 
performer based on the passage."  [I would agree.]

"A common abbreviation for rimshot is "R.S.," but 
as with all abbreviations, the first appearance 
in a part should be written out in full. ... 
Rimshots are most naturally and almost always 
executed at a loud dynamic."

"A rim-click (also called side-stick or 
cross-stick) is a technique often found in 
drumset playing whereby one end of the stick is 
held against the center of the head and the shaft 
strikes the rim.  This takes about half of a 
second to get into position."  [And this is my 
"rim-pop."]

I studied rudimental drumming many years ago, but 
have never played set (except for one rather 
unsuccessful New Year's Eve when everybody else 
in town was already booked!), but I would 
normally leave this kind of choice up to my 
drummer.  And of course the MOST important thing 
is to know what your drummer wants to see, and 
what he does NOT want to see.

John





At 7:44 PM +0100 3/7/12, SN jef chippewa wrote:
>trying to simplify the notation, in a recent
>piece i specified the 3 types of rimshot with a
>ø-like symbol (the line is notated vertically
>though) and a word/text above the note:
>
>1) "rim" with one stick (rock)
>2) "hoop" with one stick (jazz rimshot)
>3) "stick on stick" with two sticks (traditional)
>
>but this is total BS because (1) and (2) are not
>limited to rock or jazz playing at all.  not to
>mention that hoop and rim are the same thing :-/
>
>i want to get this straightened out... what are
>the various terms that can be used for these
>things, officially and also words used to
>describe them?
>
>in jazz, for example how would the drummer know
>if (1) or (2) was wanted, would it have to do
>with the volume and style?  like in a subtle
>latin groove i suppose no "pistols" should be
>going off (unless perhaps the mexicans start
>another revolution, this time against the
>druglords).  in rock and pop, (1) would be
>assumed if a rimshot is called for.
>
>independent of whether you use a circled notehead
>(as is typical in jazz) or this symbol i use
>(typical in some new music circles), a word
>should appear each time to clarify whcih type it
>is:
>
>1) rimshot, pistol ... -- "shot" would still have
>this ambiguity problem, "pistol" would be totally
>clear
>
>2) rimshot, rim click, hoop click ... -- "click" should be clear, no?
>
>3) rimshot, stick on stick rimshot -- i suppose
>"trad." could work in all contexts, since it
>implies both the stick holding technique as well
>as this "older" form of rimshot, is a rudimentary
>technique every snare player learns (jazz, rock,
>marching band etc. etc.)
>
>
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-- 
John R. Howell, Assoc. Prof. of Music
Virginia Tech Department of Music
School of Performing Arts & Cinema
College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
290 College Ave., Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411  Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[email protected])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html

"Machen Sie es, wie Sie wollen, machen Sie es nur schön."
(Do it as you like, just make it beautiful!)  --Johannes Brahms

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