Blazing single strokes.....

[jonescrusher]

Was just going through my single stroke paractice routine and thought i'd share my ideas on how to develop very quick rolls.
My number 1 tip is to look at the typical RLRLRLRL roll as made up of two components - a portion of RH single strokes being combined with a portion of LH single strokes.

Therefore practise should consist of repeated one handed single strokes, e.g 32 RH strokes followed by 32 LH strokes, followed by 32 two handed stokes- it is important that these two handed strokes are not flammed and you ensure that stick height on the rebound, strike position, and wrist +f inger technique on the pad is EXACTLY the same in both hands.
If you concentrate on getting the technique even on both hands and repeat this exercise for as long as you can stand, you should find that individual strokes in the RLRLRLRL roll are now much more even, relaxed and faster.

Doing these exercises i have been able to sustain single strokes at 230 - 250 bpm much more consistently, and is much easier to transfer technique from practise pad to drum kit. Hope this is of use to someone:)

[theduke86]

Working individual hands is nothing new, but it's one of the best ways... Billy Gladstone, George L. Stone and Joe Morello all taught (or teach) like this. If you pick up the book "Master Studies" by Joe Morello, he's got an exercise in there called the "Stone Killer". It's great for endurance. I'll give you the first little bit...
4 RH eighth notes, followed by 4 LH eighth notes
8 RH eighth notes, followed by 8 LH eighth notes
12 RH eighth notes, followed by 12 LH eighth notes
16 RH eighth notes, followed by 16 LH eighth notes...
Keep relaxed all the time, play as fast as you can without interruption in controlled technique, or else it defeats the purpose. Pick up Master Studies for more on this. Great book.
Thanks for bringing this up... these are terrific ideas! Keep them coming.

[jamndrummer]

250? WOW, you should enter the WFD for sure with those speeds.(And Im not being sarcastic)

[JohnMunsey]

Nice job man!

I love the singles of Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham and Art "The Godfather" Verdi. Those guys smoke --- smmmokkkinnnn!!!!!''''''''

[theduke86]

By the way, if you can maintain singles at 250 bpm, all hats go off to you. That is a FEAT. I have 240 bpm for about eight measures or so perfect, and then it gets tense and uncontrollable. Oh well, I still have so much to work on... To quote Jeff Porcaro:
"My Chops Suck".
Also... WFD speed is about 280-300 BPM for an entire minute. Or so says Mike Mangini when I saw him in clinic.

[jonescrusher]

Guys, thanks for the appreciation, good to know people are up for pooling their knowledge. I'm still not at a perfect minute at 240 - 250, but after warming up a good little while with these single handed ideas i can hold 240 - 250 for 30 -40 seconds, something i could never do before concentrating on getting the action of both hands absolutely even.
I really wanted to get this down to get my jazz swing up to speed, a la Jim Chapin as found in the clinics section of drummerworld. That swing is brutal.

[drumzalicious]

Working individual hands is nothing new, but it's one of the best ways... Billy Gladstone, George L. Stone and Joe Morello all taught (or teach) like this. If you pick up the book "Master Studies" by Joe Morello, he's got an exercise in there called the "Stone Killer". It's great for endurance. I'll give you the first little bit...
4 RH eighth notes, followed by 4 LH eighth notes
8 RH eighth notes, followed by 8 LH eighth notes
12 RH eighth notes, followed by 12 LH eighth notes
16 RH eighth notes, followed by 16 LH eighth notes...
Keep relaxed all the time, play as fast as you can without interruption in controlled technique, or else it defeats the purpose. Pick up Master Studies for more on this. Great book.
Thanks for bringing this up... these are terrific ideas! Keep them coming.
im going to have to get that book.

[skinny]

You guys left out Sonny Emory who has a smoking single stroke