Hand Technique for Two Stroke Roll

[Untalented Dolphin]

Hey everybody, its my first post here.

I don't play drums yet but I got a practice pad and a couple drumsticks and I have been practicing rudiments. I looked up how to hold drumsticks and that parts ok. But when I try to do the two stroke roll I can only do it if I only hold on with my index finger and thumb and let it pivot freely. Is this OK? Thanks

[Anthony Amodeo]

this is a very complex question and the answer can get very hairy and tangled when answered in text

I recommend finding a good instructor and exploring all the wonderful possibilities the world of drumming offers us

you will be very glad you did

but in short..to answer your question

in my opinion this technique you describe is not really ok , your back fingers are very important

you will see why when your teacher explains it to you


...and welcome aboard

keep sheddin

[Untalented Dolphin]

Hmm its not ok? Ill have to do something about it. Right now im saving up to take some drum lessons, hopefully i can get it sorted out.

How do you get the stick to bounce back when the other fingers are holding on?

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

For the moment, start slow and make two distinct wrist motions. You won't always do this and there will indeed come a time where you speed up enough to rely on rebound and fingers in order to strenghten the second stroke. But by trying to play too fast, too early, holding the stick with just the thumb and forefinger and not getting your hands/wrists used to the action, you're in danger of developing a very weak and sloppy double stroke.

Bad habits are hard to break mate. Do it correctly from the outset.

[Untalented Dolphin]

Ok, sounds good. I definitely don't want to have bad technique, especially because I have barely even started

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

Originally Posted by Untalented Dolphin

Ok, sounds good. I definitely don't want to have bad technique, especially because I have barely even started

Watch this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1oUOtla9w and you'll be well on your way to a strong double stroke roll. He plays trad grip, but the concept doesn't change. As always, start SLOW. Push the speed only when you have control.

Control is the key to anything you're gonna do on a drum kit. Remember, fast and sloppy is still just sloppy.

And lessons....as soon as you can!! :-)

[Untalented Dolphin]

Originally Posted by Pocket-full-of-gold

Watch this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1oUOtla9w and you'll be well on your way to a strong double stroke roll. He plays trad grip, but the concept doesn't change.

Thanks! that vid was really helpful and that guy is amazing!

[Toolate]

As a relative begineer I cannot emphasise enough how important this is to get right. I am re-learning after a year or so, how to hold my hands and the difference in my playing is noticeably different week to week.

Do not take this lightly! Its the most important thing in drumming for a beginner. Have someone teach you and watch you occasionally- it might take you 6 months to get doubles up to speed FYI... Dont get discouraged.. Everyone has their own pace and the rewaqrds are worth the work.

[ronyd]

I'm glad I'm not the only beginner drummer perplexed about the double stroke roll. I get confused myself about this myself.

I still don't understand the difference between the second hit as the "rebound". So as you get faster, does this become really a double bounce, and not a double stroke?

Once I get my speed up using double strokes (say 120 bpm), I feel I can't get any faster with my finger control. My teacher tells me at that point is when you switch to a double bounce, where the rebound takes over. It's hard to see in all these videos what's going on. It's also mind boggling that these drummers can be this fast with just double strokes alone.

Now I'm working backwards. Trying to determine how slow I can double bounce before I can switch to double stroke.

I thought the double stroke roll would be a challenge, but I'm destined to get it, i HOPE.

check out Lionel Duperron on youtube. He actually does all the rudiments on the practice pad in slow and easy instruction. when you get to the site, select DrumLessons link on top of the page.

http://www.drumlessons.com

[NUTHA JASON]

i recently shot a vid about this. have a look and let me know if this helps...

http://youtu.be/G0CLmYPMfxo

j

[ronyd]

Well that video explains it. you start as a double bounce which he call the open/closed wrist
technique, then faster speeds switch to roll (with index finger and thumb, with butt end of stick free to move).

this is what my instructor has been trying to drill into my head.

nice video on the hands... thankx

[bigd]

Do yourself a favor and go find a teacher that is well educated and understands how to teach. You'll thank yourself later.

[Untalented Dolphin]

Originally Posted by NUTHA JASON

i recently shot a vid about this. have a look and let me know if this helps...

http://youtu.be/G0CLmYPMfxo

j

That video was the exact answer to my question. In my first post what I described was me doing the "cup" technique. I should be able to do all 3 of those techniques well right?

[NUTHA JASON]

I should be able to do all 3 of those techniques well right?

yes and be able to switch between them as the dynamics or tempo demands. but this takes time so in the meantime spend time perfecting the sound of what you can do already.
also watch this vid for the open close 'gear' by Gordy Knudtson
http://youtu.be/RiqtelZs_2I