Mastering Double Stroke Rolls: Techniques For Drummers

Drumming is made up of single and double strokes, and perfecting these two strokes is key to mastering the instrument. One of the most difficult tasks for students is developing a good double stroke roll, which involves two strokes on each hand, the second louder than the first, progressively made faster until a roll is produced. This paragraph will introduce five ways to improve your double stroke rolls.

Practice at different dynamic levels

Practising at different dynamic levels is one of the most important aspects of mastering the double stroke roll. This rudiment is the foundation for many other rudiments, so it's worth investing the time to get it right. Drumming can be broken down into single and double strokes, and the double stroke roll is a combination of these two strokes, made progressively faster until a roll is produced.

Practising at various dynamic levels will give you more control of the roll, allowing you to play smoother and faster. You should practise playing at a very soft dynamic level, a medium dynamic level, and a very loud dynamic level. This will help you develop a more controlled and consistent sound.

Start by practising at a slow tempo, and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable. You can use a metronome to help you keep a steady tempo. Start at 50 BPM and work your way up to 200 BPM. It's important to be patient and not rush the process. Even just 10 minutes of practice every day can make a big difference.

As you practise, focus on keeping your sound quality consistent and even, regardless of the sticking used. This will help you develop a smooth and clean sound. Try to eliminate any accents from the second stroke of the double stroke roll, as this can get in the way of achieving a fast and clean roll. Instead, strive for two equal volume strokes with each hand.

In addition to practising at different dynamic levels, you can also try practising with a locked grip. Hold your sticks with the ends in the palms of your hands, without gripping too tightly. This will help you develop better control and improve your wrist movement.

Practice daily

Practising your double stroke rolls daily is key to mastering this drumming rudiment. Even just 10 minutes of practice every day will result in tremendous improvement over time. Here are some tips to maximise your daily practice sessions:

Practice at Different Dynamic Levels

Playing at various volumes, from very soft to very loud, will give you more control of the roll. This will help you play smoother and faster.

Use Your Fingers and Wrists

Using your fingers along with your wrists to play the roll will result in a stronger roll. There are various exercises and methods for increasing finger control. For example, try playing the roll with different grips by taking various fingers off the stick. This will give you more control over the sticks and make you more aware of your finger placement.

Practice with a Metronome

Using a metronome at all speeds will help you develop a strong and controlled roll. Start by practising quarter notes, then work your way up to 8th notes, 16th notes, and 32nd notes. At slower speeds, you'll be playing two controlled single strokes with each hand, and as you get faster, you'll start getting two bounces with each hand.

Accent the Second Stroke

While some teachers believe in accenting the second stroke, others suggest eliminating the accent and allowing the stick to bounce twice. You can decide which method works best for you. If you do choose to accent the second stroke, use your full wrist motion to get each stroke clean and powerful, and get comfortable with how this sounds and feels.

Displace Your Doubles

Change up the feel and orchestration by playing inverted doubles (RLLRRLLRRLLR) instead of square/regular doubles (RRLLRRLLRRLL). Work this pattern around the kit with the bass drum on every quarter note, starting with the right hand leading, then switching to the left. This will help you develop a more musical touch.

Use fingers and wrists together

To get better at double stroke rolls, it is important to use your fingers and wrists together. This will result in a stronger roll.

To start, make sure you are comfortable with holding drumsticks and have access to a practice pad or drum. The traditional method of learning double stroke rolls involves starting with double strokes ("pa-pa ma-ma"), where you begin by alternating your right and left hands slowly and then gradually increase your speed until you reach a breaking point. At this point, you can practice controlling your bounces by adding pressure to stop the stick from moving. It is important to ensure that you are not manually making two hits, as this defeats the purpose of the double stroke roll.

Once you have mastered the bounce, you can work on speeding up your double bounces. Spend a lot of time getting used to this, aiming for speed and fluidity in your movements. Remember that practice makes perfect, and even just 10 minutes of practice every day can lead to significant improvement over time.

To further enhance your double stroke rolls, try incorporating grip variations into your practice routine. One exercise is to play the roll while taking various fingers off the stick. Start by removing your pinkies, then try taking off your ring and middle fingers, and finally, release your index finger and thumb. This exercise will give you more control over the sticks and make you more aware of your finger placement.

Additionally, you can practice with a locked grip to improve your wrist movement. Hold your sticks so that the end rests in the palm of each hand without gripping too tightly. By practicing on a pillow or a soft surface, you can focus on generating strokes solely through wrist movement. This exercise will help you develop a stronger and more controlled roll.

Use a metronome

Using a metronome is an essential tool for any drummer wanting to improve their skills and get the most out of their practice time. It is a great way to develop a strong internal sense of timing and will highlight any inconsistencies in your stroke timing. You can buy a physical metronome or download a metronome app.

When first learning a new pattern, it is fine to try it out without a metronome, but you should soon introduce one to help you improve. Start with a slow tempo and work your way up gradually. Set your metronome to 60 BPM and then slowly increase it by 5 BPM at a time. This will help you develop control, and speed will come later.

When practising with a metronome, it is important to be honest with yourself and not move on until you have truly mastered the pattern at that tempo. Don't be tempted to move on too quickly, thinking "it's good enough".

Practising with a metronome will also help you prepare for the challenging rhythms, grooves and fills that you will encounter as your skills progress. It will ensure your hands are well-prepared and that your rudiments sound better.

Accent the second stroke

To get better at double stroke rolls, many teachers suggest accenting the second stroke. This is a concept taught by professionals like Dave Weckl and Thomas Lang. To practice this, start by playing slowly and focus on that accent. As you speed up, the accent will naturally even out. Use your full wrist motion to get each stroke clean and powerful, and get comfortable with how this sounds and feels.

Drumming legend Steve Smith recommends a warm-up exercise that develops your double stroke roll sound quality and improves your speed and smoothness. This exercise also works both hands evenly and improves your transitions between sticking patterns.

It's important to note that some teachers believe that striving for two equal volume strokes with each hand is more beneficial. They argue that after a certain speed, you need to eliminate the accent from the second stroke and allow the stick to bounce twice. Trying to accent the second stroke can get in the way of achieving a fast and clean double stroke roll.

Therefore, it's essential to experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you. Practicing with a metronome at various dynamic levels and tempos will help you develop control, smoothness, and speed in your double stroke rolls.

Frequently asked questions