Ba Dum Tsh – The Joke Drum Sound
Ever wonder what the name for that classic joke drum sound is? It’s called “The Sting”!
It’s a drum fill that’s commonly used at the end of a bad joke. Here you have it!
How to Play The Sting
If you play drums then you won’t need much tuition on how to play it!
‘The Sting’ on drums is commonly just played with 2 notes on the snare and 1 on the crash cymbal. Try right hand, left hand, then a crash, leaving a little space before the cymbal if that suits the joke. There is no compulsory sticking or exact rhythm; listen to the example and match its short, punchy finish.
Alternatively, the second note can sometimes be played on the floor tom, and the crash cymbal is sometimes choked.
Facial expressions – you can either stay completely deadpan or add a big cheeky smile along with an eye wink. Up to you. It’s not something that should be prescribed, use it based on the situation.
The Wikipedia page for the Sting even includes the sheet music notation for this, if you’re so inclined to check that out!
A sting and a ‘Rimshot’
People also call the joke sound a rimshot, and dictionaries recognize that use. In drum technique, though, a rimshot is a stroke where the drummer strikes both the drum head and the rim at the same time. The distinction is between the name of a short fill and the way you play an individual stroke.
This produces a sharp, strong accent, and it’s great to use for accented notes. A cross-stick is different again: the stick rests across the head and strikes the rim for a clicking sound.
Sometimes you might play a rimshot within the sting. When explaining it to another drummer, ask for the short joke fill or demonstrate the “ba-dum-tss” rhythm so the intended sound is clear.
As for where ‘The Sting’ originated… we’re not actually sure, we couldn’t find any information on it.
Where is it used?
It’s commonly used in circus acts and cabaret shows, but it’s used in pop culture as much as the Trombone ‘womp womp womp’ sad sound effect.
Conclusion
So that’s it, the joke drum sound is called ‘The Sting’, and you’ll also hear people call it a rimshot.
We’ve all learned something new today!
