Tom Roll Help

[schist]

Hi guys.

I have come to realize that, after much deliberation, my single-stroke rolls on kit (particularly on toms) SUCK. Hard.

It seems that I can't get a half-decent one in, and if I do, it's always apprehensive sounding.

I don't get a lot of kit time, and I consequently spend most of my time on a practice pad doing rudiments and such, and obviously the feel of a drumhead and a practice pad are miles apart.

I've tried loosening the heads on my toms to lessen the rebound, but to no avail. I've also been doing the '2-50' exercise as of late to help with my grip strength, as this might be a catalyst in the matter.

Any suggestions/help would be much appreciated.

[Styx]

Hey Schist.

Not sure why you'd want to loosen the tom heads if you're having a problem playing singles on the toms. I'd tune the heads up quite a bit in order to get the rebound which in turn would make it easier to single stroke on the toms.

Regards

Styx

[hitman050]

I know you must have heard it all before

Start at 60BPM, and do 16ths on the snare, and then the 3 toms. Keep doing it for 10 minutes every day, and always stay relaxed.

I GUARANTEE, within one week, you will notice a difference.

[schist]

Hey Schist.

Not sure why you'd want to loosen the tom heads if you're having a problem playing singles on the toms. I'd tune the heads up quite a bit in order to get the rebound which in turn would make it easier to single stroke on the toms.

Regards

Styx

Hey Styx

I've now realized that the sole cause of the botched singles is my naturally loose left-hand (weak hand) grip. It's always the left hand that sees the sticks being dropped/screwing up the fills.

That said, I've started work on an exercise which I've posted as a separate thread here.

Cheers

[Styx]

Yeah, the dredded weaker hand!!!!

Good luck in mastering the single stroke and getting your left on par with your right. That 2-50 exercise is a fantastic exercise and am sure it will benefit you in the long run.

Good Luck

Regards

Styx

[Mook]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's the 2-50 exercise? Sounds like something that might help me...

Thanks.

[abe]

Here I describe it:

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34600

[sssssssss]

For me, the greatest exercise so far to enable BOTH of my hands to play fast rolls between the drums was the stuff Virgil Donati taught on his "Power Drumming" video. It's about practicing each hand to go randomly from a drum to another playing sixteenth notes against a click that increases in tempo every 8 bars. First, you do 4 beats on each drum, than 3, than 2, 1 etc. - and you can kind of customize the exercise to your liking. For instance, you can start with 8 beats on each drum or whatever, any variation possible. And than you practice 32nd notes, so you play with both hands, single strokes: 8 on each drum, 6, 4, 2 etc.
However, I guess the single most important thing you might need (that I needed too when I first thought my tom rolls suck:))) is to learn how to work with the rebound of each drum. And, just like Styx said, you might want to tune the toms a bit higher, just to get a response that is closer to a snare drum.
The thing I'm thinking about when playing tom rolls? Keeping a bit of a space in my hand where the stick can move and vibrate freely. And also loose wrist.
Hope this helps, it's about as deep as I could get :D

[Wavelength]

I've managed to improve my kit facility by playing doubles spread around two different parts of the kit. This allows you to work on moving around the kit precisely and one hand at a time. Try playing some LLF LLF LLF LLF or RRF RRF RRF RRF patterns around the set and increase speed as you progress.