Drum solo

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A drum solo is an instrumental solo played on a drum kit. A drum solo may be set or improvised, and of any length, up to being the main performance.

Drum solos are unique in that traditionally they are always unaccompanied. All other instruments may play solos accompanied or unaccompanied.

In worship music, a drum lift is a passage in which the singing is backed only by the drums. It is not normally considered a solo, as the primary focus remains on the singing, however it bears some similarity to a solo. A drum lift may be set or improvised, simple or elaborate, and may vary in length from part of a line to an entire verse.

In marching band, drum solos allow the remainder of the band to create challenging formations without worrying about playing at the same time.

Some notable drum solos

Dave Cavalier's drum solo (B.A.S) is a good example of an advanced drum solo.

Moby Dick, A drum solo by John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) reaching up to 30 minutes in length that opened and closed with some instrumental music from the whole band.

Buddy Rich's "Stick Trick" solo[link] is considered a must-see by many advanced jazz drummers.

Neil Peart of Rush is known for his complicated, extremely technical drums solos containing odd time signatures, complicated arrangements and exotic percussion instruments. These solos have been featured on every live album released by the band. On the early live albums, the drum solo was included as part of a song. On all subsequent live albums, the drum solo has been included on a separate track.

All of Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, leaving each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-late 1980s Peart has utilized MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibra-slap. Some purely electronic, description-defying sounds are also used. All are incorporated into each drum solo including:

* [The Rhythm Method] (audio)
* O Baterista
* Der Trommler
* [Floating Snare]
* [The Big Band Finale]
* [The Waltz]
* [From Limbo]
* [Fill workout]
* [Gadd Style fills]
* [YYZ] (3d video based on studio recording)

Toad, improvised solo by Ginger Baker of Cream, released originally on the studio album Fresh Cream and later on the live half of the double album Wheels of Fire.

Tiger Rag, one-bar set introduction by Jock Jacobson.

The Big Noise from Winnetka, bass and drum duet with solo pasages, by bassist and arranger Bob Haggart. Originally recorded with Ray Bauduc on drums, covered by Gene Krupa and many others.
Rat Salad by Black Sabbath (drummer is Bill Ward) has a drum solo that is often compared to the one in "Moby Dick".

Mountain Jam by the Allman Brothers Band features a drum solo with their two drummers, Jai Johanny Johanson and Butch Trucks.

ATTO - an album recorded in 1984 by Vladimir Tarasov (jazz drummer), containing only percussion instruments.

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