rim shots

Comedic percussion accents

A rim shot is a drumming technique where the stick strikes both the drumhead and the rim simultaneously, producing a sharp, accented crack.

In comedy, a rim shot—typically the "ba-dum-tss" pattern on snare and cymbal—punctuates a punchline or corny joke: He delivered the pun and waited for the rim shot.

The comedic use has become so associated with groan-worthy humor that rim shot alone can signal "that was a bad joke."

Related

snare · rimshot · punchline · staccato · jazz · comedic timing · beats · stand-up comedy · comedy club · open mic night · sound effect · Johnny Carson · vaudeville · ghost note · tom-tom · syncopation · sitcom · laugh track

Categories
Opposites
comedic response/audience reaction

rim shotsapplause

Collective hand-clapping approval

belly laughs · dead silence · standing ovation · crickets · thunderous applause

basketball shot quality

rim shotsswish

Soft rushing sound

nothing but net · splash · air ball · brick

drumming technique/location

rim shotsghost notes

Softer notes between accents

brush strokes · rolls

Family

rim, shot, rims, shots, rimmed, rimming, shooting, shooter, shooters

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G