Drum & Bass Terms You Pretend You Know, Explained
Imagine you’re standing in the middle of a drum & bass set, the bassline is absolutely filthy, and someone next to you suddenly screams, “THAT’S A FILTHY ROLLER!” Naturally, you nod along enthusiastically, pretending you have any idea what they’re talking about. Before you know it, everyone around you is throwing around terms like doubles, rewinds, and neurofunk, and you’re left wondering when enjoying electronic music started requiring a vocabulary test. With REAPER bringing his BONEYARD Tour to Sunbar in Tempe on November 20, now’s the perfect time to brush up on your drum & bass terminology. Whether you’re a longtime junglist looking to sharpen your knowledge or someone who recently discovered that 174 BPM makes your brain incredibly happy, consider this your unofficial guide to speaking fluent DnB. Don’t worry, I’m here to save you from yourself. First Things First: What Makes Drum & Bass, Drum & Bass? At its core, drum & bass centers on fast, syncopated breakbeats, deep basslines, and an infectious sense of momentum. Most modern DnB sits around 170 to 175 beats per minute, with 174 BPM being something of a sweet spot. The drums move quickly, the bass hits hard, and somehow your body instinctively knows exactly what to do. But not all drum & bass sounds the same, and that’s where things get interesting.
“ROLLERS”
Ever heard a track that feels like it could keep going forever, and you genuinely wouldn’t complain? That’s the magic of a roller. Rather than relying on dramatic drops every few seconds, rollers emphasize continuous rhythmic movement, driving basslines, and a hypnotic groove that keeps the dance floor moving. Think less jumping around and more getting completely lost in the rhythm. Technically, a roller describes how a track feels rather than one specific subgenre.
“JUMP-UP”
Jump-up is drum & bass with a mischievous personality. Expect bouncy, exaggerated basslines, playful rhythms, and drops that practically demand a ridiculous facial expression. The bass often takes center stage with catchy, wobbling sounds that bounce against punchy drums. If the entire crowd suddenly starts moving like they’ve collectively lost their minds, there’s a good chance jump-up is involved.
‘NEUROFUNK”
Neurofunk is the darker, more technical side of drum & bass. We’re talking heavily processed bass, intricate percussion, metallic textures, and sounds that seem to twist, growl, and transform right before your ears. Producers use detailed sound design to create constantly shifting frequencies and mechanical rhythms. It can feel futuristic, aggressive, and slightly intimidating, in the best possible way. If the bass sounds like two alien machines arguing, welcome to neurofunk.
“LIQUID”
Not every DnB track is trying to rearrange your internal organs. Liquid drum & bass embraces melody, soulful vocals, atmospheric synths, and warm basslines while maintaining those signature fast drums. It’s emotional, immersive, and sometimes surprisingly beautiful. Imagine watching the sunrise after a long night with your favorite people, except the soundtrack still has enough energy to keep you dancing.
“REWINDS”
Picture this. The DJ drops an absolutely ridiculous track, the crowd erupts, and suddenly the music stops. Did something break you wonder. Actually, quite the opposite. A rewind, also called a reload or pull-up, happens when a DJ brings a track back to replay a section, often because the crowd reaction was too good to ignore. It’s essentially the dance floor demanding an encore before the song has even finished.
“DOUBLES”
When someone mentions a double, they’re usually talking about a DJ playing two tracks simultaneously, carefully aligning their rhythms so the drums, basslines, and other elements interact. A double drop takes that concept further by timing both tracks’ drops to hit together. When done well, the result can create an entirely new listening experience, with unexpected combinations and twice the excitement.
Consider Yourself Ready for the Dance Floor. Congratulations, you’ve officially expanded your drum & bass vocabulary! Of course, we’ve only scratched the surface. DnB has an entire language of its own, shaped by decades of underground culture, musical experimentation, and people who simply cannot get enough bass. The beauty of it all is that you don’t need to memorize every term to appreciate the music. Understanding the differences just gives you another way to connect with the sounds you love, appreciate the creativity behind them, and maybe even join a conversation in the crowd without having to fake your way through it. With REAPER taking over Sunbar this November, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to put your newfound knowledge to the test. Listen for those rolling grooves, catch the intricate bass textures, and pay attention when two tracks suddenly collide into something spectacular. And if all else fails, you’re more than welcome to dance your heart out and enthusiastically nod along. Nobody’s grading you, anyway.
I found EDM in my early years as a high schooler, with artists like Avicii, Afrojack, Tiësto, Martin Garrix, Krewella, and so many others filling my playlists. In 2017, Voodoo Music Festival became my first festival and live music experience, and honestly, I have not stopped since. Since then, I’ve made my way through 20+ music festivals and at least 43 shows that I’ve actually remembered to count, but the numbers have never been the best part. It’s the people I’ve met, the memories made, the unexpected moments, and that feeling of being surrounded by thousands of people who all came to feel something together. I write because I genuinely love this community and the music that brings us together. My hope with every article, review, and story is to capture even a little bit of that feeling and share it with you. I want you to feel the excitement I feel standing in that crowd, hear the details that made a song stick in my heart, and understand just how much I appreciate the artists, fans, and experiences that make this community so special. There is so much magic in this world of music, and I’m just happy I get to be here for it, listen to it, and put some of that love into words.
