Music Lesson: Exploring "Ashley's Roach Clip"

So that was a break from a tune called "Ashley's Roach Clip" by Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers.

About the Band

• Quite a well-known and very well-sampled band from the 70s.
• This track has been sampled in various hip hop tunes by artists such as EPMD, Eric B and Rakim, among others.

Key Features of the Break

• The break has a slightly swung feel.
  • The swing primarily comes from a tambourine part that sits prominently in the mix.
• Many musicians play this break as if the hi-hat were performing the tambourine part, creating a double feel or swung feel.

Hi-Hat Technique

• It might sound something like this, but on the record itself, the drummer actually plays:
  • Single strokes on the hi-hat.
  • The tambourine fills in that double feel.

Groove and Fills

• The groove is pleasant and worth mastering.
• Another feature of this track includes:
  • Nice fills that the drummer employs to conclude sections.
    • The fills often feature:
      • Offbeat hi-hat strokes.
      • A quick release followed by a step down on the hi-hat.
      • A round-the-world fill on the toms ending with a double kick.

Final Crescendo

• The drummer also executes a crescendo with:
  • A heavy fill on the floor tom and snare drum at the end of the sections.

Conclusion

• Overall, it's a really nice swung, bouncy groove.
• It's no surprise that many people have used this break in various scenarios.

"Ashley's Roach Clip" by the Soul Searchers is definitely a groove worth exploring!