To summarize, The Three Cheers / Rolls / Chords, The Flam, and The Camp Taps are the main methods of commencing the different beatings and duty calls.
SUMMARY: COMMENCING BEATINGS
- Any beatings by the Orderly Drummer alone: commence at will.
- Any beating by several drummers all together: a Flam and Rest.
- The Troop, The Retreat, The Tattoo and The General
- The Camp Taps – down the line
- Drummer’s Call – by all the guard drummers together
- Signal Strokes – down the line
- The Three Cheers – by all the drummers
- A Flam – by the lead drummer
- The Beating
- The Signal Strokes – down the line?
- The Three Cheers – by all the drummers
- Close the Beating
- The Reveille
- The Camp Taps – down the line
- A Flam? – by the lead drummers
- The Reveille – by all the guard drummers
- The Drummer’s Call
- The Camp Taps – down the line
- A Flam – by the lead drummers
- The Drummer’s Call – by all the guard drummers
Do you have any thoughts or observations on The Three Cheers, The Signal Strokes, or commencing beatings? Contact me or comment below.
If you found learning about this Duty Call interesting, check out my discussions on the major duty calls: