Single Stroke Roll

Learn How To Play A Single Stroke Roll

The single stroke roll is the most common used rudiment drum on the drum set. Often played in beats, fills, and drum solos. It does not matter if you are new to drums, or you have been playing for years, the single stroke roll is absolutely needed. Here is the notation of the single stoke roll:

As you can see, it's played with simple alternating strokes (R,L,R,L). It's better to practice on a drum pad. once you are able to stabilize your tempo, you can try it on the kit. Once again, don't forget with the tempo. Play it with a metronome and start with a slow tempo. Once you can lay it perfect in a slow tempo, try to speed up the tempo to increase your overall speed and endurance. Always play in a perfect tempo.

Try to keep all the stokes in even volume. Watch how your sticks come up for each stroke, and be sure that they reach the same height, and don't make it to high. Higher stick rise will produce louder sound. Practice in front of a mirror is highly recommended cause you can keep your eye to your hands while you do your sticking.

Single Stroke Roll - Drum Set Exercises

Here is how you might incorporate the single stroke roll into a drum beat:

Exercises three incorporates the single stroke roll into a drum fill:

For you that are new in drum and still confuse in reading the drum notation, don't worry. I will explain the way to read the drum notation on my next post, so stay tune. ;)