Im a snare soloist and I suggest a fresh aproach to the snare drum to get your rudements going then switch to traditional grip probably if your gonna be on the line. afterwards I suggest Rudemental cook book at first you will want to start out on diddles r us to get your roll lengths in check then I would step up to a solo called funky fat, it contains enough material to get going as a contemporary snare drummer I guarantee that solo will be able to impress your director, if not then maybe pratt falls or in the kitchen sink. what ever you do, dont buy ziggidabuzz by rowloff it contains alot of concert solos and multi-stuff good luck!

hey y`all shoould go check out my bands website it wroks!!!!!! go to freewebs.com/billylace and just check it out and if you like us go ahead and email me

you won`t get in if you take an easy solo. you should try something that is hard and actually at the college level.

Look at the people who post with proper grammar, they do know what they are talking about.
Free solos are hard to come by esp for beginner/intermediate. For advanced, look at some corps cadences.

Also, I must say HOLY CRAP, EDWARD FREYTAG POSTED HERE! LISTEN TO THAT GUY!!!!!
Tuo Kaerf (Freak Out spelled backwards) was one of the most fun solos I`ve ever taken to contest. "ad lib with hands"
Rudimental Cookbook = GOOD Went through the whole thing

Oh, and some info on other solos books and writers
Jay Wanamaker - Good stuff! A very melodic, methodical writer good for those doing intermediate/advanced stuff.
John S. Pratt - Old School! When I played through this book, I expected to hear a flute accompaniment and see George Washington. This does not, however, take anything away from the solos he presents. Very good stuff. Very rudimental
Edward Freytag - See Above
Marty Hurley/John Wooton - Did a lot for the Phantom Regiment - check out the audition solos .... WOW some of those are TOUGH
Africa Hot is FUN except for the inverts(never liked them, so I got good at them). The tricks are VERY fun to learn.
Portraits in Rhythm by Circone (I think I have that correct)- that is THE concert solo book. It`s quite adept at turning "I`m awesome because I can play some fast stuff" drummers into drooling baffoons (it happened to me). Though I did not find this book fun in any way shape or form, it was probably one of the best things that happened to my drumming.

And the mother of all solo books .... Drum roll please (I had to say it)
Violent Ice Cream
This has some of the most difficult pieces ever published ... mostly because these solos are from the PAS tournament winners. I`m sure you all know Jeff Queen and Nick Angelis? If not, watch Blast .... Jeff Queen does the juggling thing, and most of that solo is in this book. Nick Angelis (I think I`ve got his name right) has INSANE chops, for proof, look at "Train Wreck" from VI. He played that for competitions. "Rodent Tomfoolery" .... I didn`t know people had actually tried playing double traditional grip. "Three" ... has you actually PLAYING WITH 3 STICKS!


You can play all of it! Yes, you! "No way" you think? I never said "Play at tempo"
No matter how dense a passage gets, you can always half or even QUARTER the speed. I`m not joking. Playing this slow is OK, and you learn to read difficult things. Just think of all the material that you can have if you play something difficult slow enough for you to be able to play it.

PS Please stop egging the pit/drumline argument on .... it`s pointless.
PPS Joke: My friend dropped 2 drums and a cymbal. Badoom CHHH

okay okay guys, yea snare does rock...but you gotta work (at least on our line) before you can play it....I`m in 9 grade this up coming year and last year i was pretty much the cream of the crop but this year i didn`t even bother to try out for snare because i know that i still have a ton more to learn before i can take any upper classmen`s spots. right now i`m on first bass...i know i know it sounds lame but it`s actually hard. not the music but the aspect that of it that is dependant on all the other bass drummers. well ttyl......

I made snare in my freshman year. i do a level 6.
If you have a private teacher just ask them.

i finaly got number 1 on my snare folder...im the best in my school

DCI level solos arn`t always the way to go. Sure Jim Baily does make some pretty cool solos and licks for snare and tenor (green lightning), they are commonly overplayed. If you really wanted to impress judges try creating your own solo. But surely order "the rudamental cookbook" by Edward Freytag, it`s a GREAT book! For tenor, "modern multi-tenor tecniques" is awsome.

Im in middle school and play the snare. I can`t wait to get to high school so i can march snare.

I am a freshman in my High School Band and i play snare so all of you 7th and 8th graders keep with it and don`t give up Because all the practice you have did befor pays off so good luck and stay strong!!!!

I was searching on google for snare drum music and I found this page. lol...I just felt like sayin` I`ma freshman and I play snare and I`m luvviinn it.

Just about to start learning with a view to joining a Bagpipes and drums marching band.

Anyone know a source online for free music to help me learn?

Anyone willing to supply tips & helps?

Anne McCourt
Northern Ireland

i play bass guitar in pit for my high school next year im trying out for snare yes pit is horrible

i have played snare and bass and i would pick bass over snare any day

Bass over snare...dude.....no!
Bass is still cool and all, but that`s just my opinion.