But Stop! That kind of flare only comes after a lot of practice. All drummers want to be fast and fancy around the kit but in order to get to that level you have to learn how to play the drums the right way. That means starting from the beginning. So I’m going to give you my three tips on how to get started playing the right way so that you’ll get to that point easier and faster.
Step One
For brand new drummers you must decide on your basic stick technique first. This may sound elementary but trust me on this because you don’t want to develop bad habits. So start here.
Decide on standard classical grip or matched grip. In high school we were forced to play standard but I later changed to matched because I felt I had more control. Pick one and stick with it. Work on your grip and learn to relax your writs and let the stick float in your hand.
Step Two
Learn at least five basic rudiments, and learn them well. The paradiddle, single stroke and double stroke roll are my favorites. They are like the bread and butter of most drum patterns. You will use these over and over again throughout your playing. In fact, you can do most anything in drumming using only a few basic rudiments.
It’s important to know them well and be able to play them with ease, including all of their variations. Take this seriously because your rudiments are your basic building blocks and every great drummer can perform them with ease.
Step Three
Practice. Yup, you’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again. Of course this goes without saying but if you want to progress and reach various milestones, you have got to put in the time.
What and how you practice is just as important too. Set aside at least 30 minutes a day to work on your fundamentals. Mix it up by using a practice pad sometimes and a snare at other times. Focus on one particular rudiment or hand technique. But most of all make sure you practice every day.
Learn to play the drums the right way by following these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to becoming a great drummer.
Learn to Play Drum Rudiments – The Single Stroke Roll
The single stroke roll is one of the forty drum rudiments which you have to properly master in order to become an effective drummer. This rudiment is among the most basic of the drum rudiments and you should aspire to master it.
Learning it properly will enable you to move forward and learn the more advanced drum rudiments.
Don’t overlook the single stroke roll. It could be considered the most simple, but this basic rudiment is very important because it builds stamina and strengthens your wrists and fingers while playing.
The benefits of practicing this drum rudiment are worthwhile because it helps set your foundation for more advanced rudiments. So don’t underestimate it’s effectiveness or neglect it as part of your practice routines.
How to execute
To perform the single stroke roll properly, you simply strike the drum alternately with the sticks in a smooth and controlled fashion.
Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left.
It is a simple and basic stroke, but pay close attention to your stick grip and technique. Your goal is to achieve uniform strokes, making sure each drum beat is rhythmic and that the tone of the drums sounds the same for both left and right hands.
Don’t rush it. Remember, your end goal is to learn the proper sticking technique and execution first. After you’re comfortable with the method you can later move on to adding accents and improving speed.
Over time your speed will increase which will make the single stroke roll sound like….a roll.
Practice methods
You can practice executing this drum rudiment in specific two ways. One is by using a timer or stopwatch. Use the timer to measure the number of beats you can do in a minute. Doing so will considerably improve your speed and strength.
Your ultimate goal here is to increase the number of strokes you can perform within your specified time frame.
Another way to practice the single stroke roll is by using a metronome. The metronome is an excellent tool because it helps in teaching you timing and keeping a steady pace.
Set it at a low speed in the beginning, and then go for higher speeds later as your endurance and stamina improve.
The single stroke roll is among the most basic of all the drum rudiments and a great place to start for the beginning drummer. It’s important because it helps build a foundation for your drumming and prepares you for more advanced rudiments.