Education
Max Roach Drum Solos: 13 Transcriptions and the Order to Learn Them
Oct
If you want to learn how to solo on the drums in a jazz setting, there is no better teacher than Max Roach. One of the founders of bebop drumming, Roach played with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell, and in the 1950s co-led the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet – one of the greatest small groups in jazz history.
His solos are melodic. Instead of stringing licks together, he states short motifs, develops them and plays the form of the tune, so you can almost hear the melody in his drum phrases. That is exactly why transcribing them is so valuable – and why we have written out thirteen of his solos note-for-note.
How to learn a Max Roach solo
- Listen until you can sing it. Before you touch the kit, listen to the solo many times and sing the phrases. If you can sing a phrase, your hands will learn it much faster.
- Find the form. Most of these solos follow the structure of the tune (a 12-bar blues, a 32-bar AABA song). Mark the sections on the sheet music.
- Learn two bars at a time. Play each short phrase slowly and evenly, then join it to the next.
- Keep the swing. Even at half speed, play with a triplet-based swing feel – never practise bebop “straight”.
- Raise the tempo gradually. Add a few bpm a day. The fast solos (300+ bpm) take weeks, and that is normal.
- Steal the ideas. When you have learned a solo, take two or three favourite phrases and use them when you trade fours.
Step 1: medium tempos (♩ ≈ 140)
Start with the solos at medium tempos, where every idea is clear:
- Jordu – a Duke Jordan tune from the quintet’s first album Clifford Brown & Max Roach. Clear phrases and an easy-to-follow structure make it the perfect first Roach solo.
- Delilah – Victor Young’s theme gets a Middle Eastern colour, and Roach answers with melodic phrases around the toms.
- Sandu – Clifford Brown’s blues from Study In Brown. A model for soloing over a 12-bar blues.
Step 2: the classics (♩ ≈ 160–200)
- Joy Spring – Clifford Brown’s most famous tune. Roach’s solo is beautifully structured and follows the form closely.
- The Scene Is Clean – a Tadd Dameron tune from At Basin Street, with Sonny Rollins on tenor. Great for studying how Roach develops one idea over several bars.
- Flossie Lou – another Dameron tune from At Basin Street, fast but full of space.
- What Is This Thing Called Love – the Cole Porter standard, a bebop favourite and a masterclass in melodic phrasing.
Step 3: fast tempos (♩ ≈ 240–310)
- Daahoud – a tricky Clifford Brown line, and a solo that is fast, melodic and swinging.
- Gertrude’s Bounce – a Richie Powell tune from At Basin Street.
- I’ll Remember April – the standard played at around ♩ ≈ 300.
- Powell’s Prances and Love Is A Many Splendored Thing – both above ♩ ≈ 300. Learn them slowly; clarity matters more than speed.
Step 4: Cherokee (♩ ≈ 360)
Cherokee, from Study In Brown, is the legendary up-tempo test piece of bebop. Roach’s solo at around ♩ ≈ 360 is one of the most famous fast drum solos ever recorded – and even here, the phrases are clear and musical. Save it for last, and give yourself time.
Get the complete set
The Max Roach Drum Solo Transcriptions Collection includes all thirteen solos at 35% off the single price – a complete course in bebop drumming. You can also buy solos individually; buy any three and the fourth is free.
When you have worked through Roach, explore the rest of the jazz drum solo transcriptions, including Art Blakey’s This I Dig Of You and Tony Williams’ Seven Steps To Heaven.
Frequently asked questions
Which Max Roach solo should I learn first?
“Jordu” is a great first choice – the tempo is moderate and the phrases are clear. “Sandu” and “Delilah” are good next steps.
Are these complete solos?
Yes. Every solo is transcribed note-for-note from the original recording, from the first phrase to the last.
Do I need to read well to learn these solos?
Basic reading is enough to start with the medium-tempo solos. Reading jazz solos is also one of the best ways to improve your reading.
Start with the Max Roach collection or browse all jazz drum sheet music – and if there is a solo you want that isn’t here yet, order a custom drum transcription.
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