How to Play a Double Stroke Roll
Master the foundational RRLL double stroke roll on a practice pad using proper fulcrum balance, wrist mechanics, and finger snaps to build clean speed and rebound control.
This guide shows how to play a double stroke roll in 25-35 minutes. Start with establish grip and neutral playing position; follow the safety notes and step checkpoints below.
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- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap See 20-second demo if you want to understand it first.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free help, or Voice-only if you do not want to use the camera.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Pair of 5A wood-tip drumsticks
- ✓ Silicone practice pad
- ✓ Snare drum stand or sturdy table
- ✓ Digital metronome app or device
- ✓ Smartphone with front-facing camera
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Printed sticking chart (RR LL pattern)
- ✓ Practice journal
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Maintain a relaxed grip without clenching to avoid wrist strain and repetitive motion injuries.
- • Adjust practice pad height to resting elbow level to eliminate shoulder and neck tension.
- • Take a 2-minute stretch break if you feel burning or tension in your forearms.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Establish Grip and Neutral Playing Position
Set your practice pad at navel height so your forearms form a slight downward angle. Form a fulcrum by pinching the drumstick between the pad of your thumb and the first knuckle of your index finger, roughly one-third up from the butt end. Wrap your remaining fingers lightly around the stick, keeping the back of your hands angled at roughly 45 degrees.
- • Camera shows relaxed elbows spaced 2-3 inches from torso
- • Stick tips rest 1 inch above the pad center forming a 90-degree angle
- • Squeezing the stick tightly with the back fingers, choking the rebound
- • Resting forearms on the edge of the table or legs
Execute the First Primary Wrist Stroke (The Drop)
Lift your right stick 8 to 10 inches off the pad using wrist hinge motion only, keeping your forearm stable. Strike the center of the pad cleanly and let the stick immediately rebound back to the starting height without grabbing it. Keep the fulcrum secure while allowing the stick to pivot freely inside your palm.
- • Stick tip rebounds instantly to full height off the pad surface
- • Wrist remains relaxed with no tension in the forearm tendons
- • Pushing the stick down with elbow or shoulder force instead of wrist rotation
- • Stopping the rebound abruptly at the pad surface
Engage the Second Stroke with Finger Snap (The Pull)
As the stick rebounds off the primary stroke, catch the rebound with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers and snap them into your palm to produce an immediate second hit. Both strokes should share identical volume and tone. Reset the wrist to the starting position immediately after the second tap.
- • Back fingers clearly close toward the palm on stroke two
- • Two distinct, equally loud taps are produced from one wrist drop
- • Second stroke sounds significantly weaker than the first stroke
- • Making two separate full-wrist motions instead of using finger rebound
Isolate Hand Mechanics at Slow Tempo
Set your metronome to 60 BPM in 4/4 time. Play continuous pairs exclusively with your right hand (R-R-R-R) on eighth-note subdivisions, ensuring each pair consists of one wrist drop and one finger snap. Switch to your left hand and repeat the same isolated drill for two full minutes.
- • Strokes land precisely on the beat and the upbeat clicks
- • Left hand stick height matches right hand stick height
- • Rushing the second stroke and creating an uneven, swung rhythm
- • Letting the weaker hand play at a lower height or volume
Alternate Hands in the RRLL Sticking Pattern
Combine both hands into a continuous sixteenth-note flow: Right-Right-Left-Left (RRLL). Focus on the transfer point between hands, making sure the gap between the second right stroke and first left stroke is identical to the gap within the double itself. Maintain steady metronome alignment at 65 BPM.
- • Stick tips alternate smoothly without colliding in the center
- • Rhythm sounds like an even, machine-like flow of four notes per beat
- • Flamming (both hands hitting simultaneously during the transition)
- • Accenting the first note of each pair, causing a galloping sound
Build Dynamic Consistency and Velocity
Gradually increase your metronome tempo by 4 BPM every two minutes, moving from 65 BPM up to 90 BPM. As speed increases, naturally lower your stick height from 10 inches to around 4 inches to allow fingers to do more work. Ensure every strike retains clean articulation rather than turning into a muddy buzz roll.
- • Stick heights lower symmetrically as tempo rises
- • Clear double-stroke sound definition remains audible at higher tempo
- • Pressing the sticks hard into the rubber pad to fake speed with multiple bounces
- • Tensing up the upper arms as tempo reaches the upper limit
Don’t have everything?
- No Practice pad? Thick mousepad or hardcover book topped with a towel
- No Hardware metronome? Free smartphone metronome app or browser metronome