The first drum rudiment i’m going to show you is called “Single Stroke Roll”. A roll that consists of single strokes, every hand only hits one time, alternating with the other hand. Here’s how to start playing a Single Stroke Roll…
It’s most important that you never confuse the word “single” with “simple”! Mark that. Never forget this rule. You know, the single stroke is very natural: Give a child some sticks and it will start hitting both hands together. But in the next step it will try to alternate the strokes to make it sound faster…
To alternate a movement is pretty natural, that’s why many people think it’s totally easy. But we drummers want to control the sound and speed of the Single Stroke Roll, we want to master it. And that’s what makes it a little bit harder.
How to start playing a Single Stroke Roll
Relax and start playing at slow speed and don’t hit too hard. Count the strokes in groups of four: | R – L – R – L – | R – L – R – L – | –>
It’s most common to start with the right hand, but you also could start with your left. Don’t start with the other hand just by mistake, try to be aware of what you’re doing.
The first target is to let all strokes sound the same. Okay, nearly the same. You will always receive smaller differences that are coming from the tuning of the drum, the sticks and so on…
Anyway, try to forget if you are right- or left-handed. Listen carefully and watch your hands while playing! Let the volume and rhythm of your Single Stroke Roll be as equal as possible.
Wrong: TA-ta-TA-ta—TAta-TA—ta
Right: ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-
Keep on playing constantly and don’t stop after just a few rounds. Do only speed up if you’re 100% sure that everything looks and sounds alright.
