drum rolls
Anticipation-building rhythmic flourishes
A drum roll is a sustained sound produced by rapidly alternating drumstick strikes, creating a continuous rumble.
Drum rolls build tension before announcements, climactic moments, or reveals: And the winner is—drum roll, please—.
The phrase often appears figuratively to mark anticipation, sometimes ironically for trivial revelations: Drum roll... I finally cleaned my room.
Device for catching prey
- timpaniTunable orchestral percussion
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
sticks · rudiments · double stroke · paradiddle · flam · rimshot · mallet · drumhead
State of awaiting something
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- tensionStretched or strained state
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
waiting · suspense · climax · reveal · payoff · pause · silence · hush
Large instrumental ensemble
- bandGroup playing music together
- soloPerformance by one
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- concertLive musical performance
march · parade · circus · theater · stage · pit · finale · overture
Ceremonial brass announcement
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- heraldOfficial news announcer
- proclamationFormal public announcement
- unveilingAct of first revealing
reveal · presentation · entrance · arrival · debut · opening · ceremony · emcee
snare
Device for catching prey
cadence · sticks · rudiments · double stroke · paradiddle · flam · rimshot · mallet · drumhead · technique
anticipation
State of awaiting something
- buildupGradual accumulation over time
- tensionStretched or strained state
- crescendoGradual increase in loudness
countdown · waiting · suspense · climax · reveal · payoff · pause · silence · hush · breathless
orchestra
Large instrumental ensemble
concert · march · parade · circus · theater · stage · pit · finale · overture · accompaniment
fanfare
Ceremonial brass announcement
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- heraldOfficial news announcer
- proclamationFormal public announcement
unveiling · reveal · presentation · entrance · arrival · debut · opening · ceremony · emcee · spotlight
- drum lessonsrudiments, practice pad, stick control, rhythm training, private lessons
- drumsbongo, tambourine, snare, djembe, conga
drum rollsrimshot
Percussive joke closer
single stroke · cymbal crash · one-shot · silence · paradiddle