38-How to Play the Drums: Roll Rudiments

This lesson is part of the series: Drumming Practice: Rudiments, Drumming Lessons-Advanced, Drumming Lessons: Basics through Advanced

In this lesson, we will learn about another family of rudiments - the roll rudiments. To start with, we'll learn how to denote these rolls in shorthand. This will allow you to recognize these rolls in the music you're playing and to understand what you should be playing. At a high level, this shorthand involves the depiction of a quaver with slashes through its stem.

After we understand rolls shorthand, Jim will teach us the 5-stroke roll, the 7-stroke roll, and the buzz roll. The 5-stroke roll is the shortest and simplest of the roll rudiments. The 7-stroke roll involves a dotted note and should be practiced on both hands. The buzz roll is different to the double stroke roll, and is sometimes called the press roll, or multiple bounce roll. It is different from the other rolls we've discussed because it is not measured (and we can't count the number of strokes we play).

This lesson is excerpted from a broader course available from www.begindrumming.com. The Begin Drumming course is a 100% comprehensive drumming course which takes you from absolute beginner to expert soloist without any gimmicky short cuts! Through a combination of video and written lessons, the course will teach you proper technique as well as how to read drum music.

A through explanation of how rolls are notated leads this lesson off. Then, 5 stroke and 7 stroke rolls are shown and explained in their slow form, then the speed is increased. The usage of both 5 stroke and 7 stroke rolls in music is also explained.

Buzz rolls are also introduced and explained in their basic form. The best practice for learning buzz rolls is demonstrated with lots of explanation and demonstration.

• Once you purchase this lesson you will have access to these files:
• 38.pdf

Let me introduce myself. My name is Jim McCarthy. I'm a drum clinician and teacher and have specialized in pure technique for many years. I consider myself still a student as well, because I have a passion for constantly learning. I learn every day when I watch other drummers, and I analyze what works and what doesn’t. Performing, Educating and Learning have been my life and my living for well over 20 years.

I've had a tremendously broad background in drumming. I've played in rock bands, orchestras, marching bands - everything from high-brow contemporary music to Latin American stuff.

I spent six years at university studying percussion performance full time, and I ended up with a...

This lesson has not been reviewed.

Please purchase the lesson to review.