RUDIMENT #1 OF 40 · ROLL RUDIMENTS

Single Stroke Roll

The single stroke roll is simply alternating hands, right, left, right, left. It is the first rudiment most drummers learn and the one they keep practicing for life, because it is the basis of speed, evenness and fills around the kit.

Sticking

R L R L R L R L

Capital letters are main notes. Small letters are grace notes played just before the main note.

How to practice it

  1. Play it at a slow tempo with the click, counting out loud.
  2. Listen for evenness: every double should have two equal notes.
  3. Raise the tempo 5 BPM at a time. When it gets messy, drop back 10.
  4. Keep both sticks at the same height. If one hand is louder, the roll will gallop instead of sounding smooth.

Where you will use it

Fast fills around the toms, snare rolls in marching music, and blast beats in metal all come from single strokes.

Single Stroke Four →

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