GRR! Tom rims of doom!!!!

[Doc]

I think I have very nice single-stroke roll speed, and power... But...

I normally find myself being forced to do rolls on only 2 toms at a time at most, this is to avoid hitting my sticks on the rims of my drums. More specifically, I can't really make it from my left rack tom to my last floor tom without hitting the rims (at least not at the speed I want to go.)

I keep my toms at a very comfortable angle, I can work with them fine if I approach them rack toms, or floor toms by themselves. I HATE setting the toms up at an extreme angle, because it's both ugly and uncomfortable, regardless if the rims are not in the way; and I keep seeing drummers like Keith Carlock, and Dave Weckl set up their toms almost flat; yet they easily pull off the type of rolls I'm talking about.

I keep a nice between level, and yet I still have problems. Is there some kind of tip, or trick I'm missing when trying to pull of these types of fills? I try my best to always strike the center of the tom, but as I move down the line it I always strike the rim. IF I HEAR ONE MORE TOM RIM CLICK I WILL GO NUTS!

Help me. =(

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

Can you do paradiddles? They are great for moving around the kit quickly. If you're just playing single stroke rolls, for the last two strokes use the same hand. While that hand is playing the last two strokes, move your other hand into position to continue the roll on the next tom.

[Raymond Bloom]

I keep a nice between level, and yet I still have problems. Is there some kind of tip, or trick I'm missing when trying to pull of these types of fills?
the answer is simple - you lack coordination! I had the smae problem when I switched to trad grip as my main grip - my left hand hand't got the coordination I wanted, so... I practiced!!

Practice singles around the toms in any kind of combination you like (for example - 4 strokes on the snare, 4on the 1st tom, 4 on the 2nd tom, 4 on the flor tom and repeat, then do it backwards, then mix it up, try 2 strokes on each drum, maybe change the order etc)

do it at the speed you're comfortable with and you're not hitting rims, play these exercises dynamically - from very soft to very loud mix it up etc

do these exercises every day as a warm up, after some time the problem will be solved!

[k3ng]

I think there's a little clip on the clinic section that might help... dunno if you've checked it.

http://www.drummerworld.com/Drumclinic/Billy_Ward.html

You just need to learn to move your whole body abit...
If it's not really a technique problem, perhaps your toms are too high and not just the angle?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Without changing the angle can you lower the toms or maybe sit closer. Just aguess.

[Deathmetalconga]

This is a common problem. It even happens to me sometimes. Doing rudiments up and down the toms will help a lot. It will come with practice.

[bighaibigdrums]

If you need to angle your toms to play them properly then do so. Playablity is 10000000X more important than looks.

[finnhiggins]

The problem is that you're trying to run before you can walk. Assuming that your setup is ergonomically sensible and you *can* do the sequence of drums you're after without having to make unnecessary arm movements, the rest is - as mentioned - just about practice.

But not, note, practice of the "keep doing it wrong and it'll right itself.." optimistic variety. Practice doing it right. If that means slowing down to 30bpm, slow down to 30bpm. Go slow enough that you can do the phrase right, every time, then crank the metronome in 2-5bpm steps until you can no longer achieve perfection. Drop back to the highest speed at which you can still execute the phrase right, and keep practicing. Every day try to move that speed up a bit, and before you know it you'll be playing rolls around the toms without hitting the rims...

[d.c.drummer]

I used to have that problem. Then I slowed down. I concentrated on geting sound instead of sounding fast.

One thing that should help you though is to raise your arms when going to the toms. Check out an Aaron Spears of Spanky video on you tube for a demo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6WKdIEVb8