A double stroke roll is one of the most important drum rudiments you’ll ever learn. It shows up in nearly every genre, from rock and funk to jazz and metal. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly what it is, how to play it cleanly, and how to practice it the smart way.
If you’ve been struggling to get your double strokes sounding crisp and even, you’re not alone. I’ll cover the technique, the common mistakes, and the practice routines that finally make the strokes click.
Table of Contents
What is a double stroke roll in drumming?
A double stroke roll is a drum rudiment consisting of two strokes on one hand followed by two strokes on the other hand in an RRLL pattern, played repeatedly to create a continuous roll.
What Is a Double Stroke Roll?
A double stroke roll is a drum rudiment made of two strokes on one hand followed by two strokes on the other hand. The pattern is right-right-left-left, repeated over and over again. That simple RRLL sequence is the foundation of the rudiment.
It belongs to the family of drum rudiments, which are the building blocks of drumming vocabulary. The double stroke roll is one of the 40 essential rudiments recognized by the Percussive Arts Society. If you learn just a handful of rudiments, this one should be near the top of your list.
When written in drum notation, the double stroke roll looks like a series of paired notes connected by a slash at the stem. Each pair belongs to one hand. The first note is the primary stroke, and the second note rides on the rebound of the first.
You play it at low tempos as a slow, controlled pattern and at high tempos as a smooth, fast roll. The same physical motion works at both ends of the tempo range. Only the stroke height and rebound speed change.
Most drumming teachers introduce the double stroke roll right after the single stroke roll. It’s the natural next step because it builds hand strength and introduces rebound control. Without it, your fills and fast snare work will always feel stuck.
How to Play a Double Stroke Roll: Step-by-Step Technique
Here’s exactly how to play a double stroke roll, broken into the steps I teach my own students. Take it slow at first. Speed comes later, only after the strokes sound clean and even.
Step 1: Set up your grip. Use a matched grip with both hands. Hold the sticks loosely, with the back fingers wrapped around but not clamped. Your thumb and index finger should pinch lightly near the fulcrum, the balance point about a third of the way up the stick.
Step 2: Drop the first stroke. From a relaxed starting position, let the stick fall under gravity onto the practice pad or snare drum. Allow the stick to bounce back up to its full height. This is your first note.
Step 3: Catch and re-stroke the rebound. As the stick rebounds upward, squeeze the fingers to push the stick back down for the second stroke. The second note happens because you guided the rebound, not because you lifted the stick manually.
Step 4: Switch hands. Now repeat the exact same motion with your other hand. Two strokes on the right, two strokes on the left. Right, right, left, left. RRLL.
The motion is part wrist, part fingers. The first stroke comes mainly from a small wrist turn. The second stroke comes from finger control as the stick rebounds. I noticed a real difference in my own playing when I stopped trying to muscle the second note and started letting the stick do the work.
Wrist vs Finger Technique
Most beginners want to know: should I use wrist or fingers for double strokes? The honest answer is both, but in different amounts. The first stroke is mostly wrist. The second stroke is mostly fingers.
Your wrist provides the broad, full stroke that drops the stick down with controlled force. Your fingers provide the delicate rebound control that shapes the second note. Trying to do everything with the wrist leads to tense, lopsided strokes. Trying to do everything with the fingers leads to weak, uncontrolled strokes.
I tested this myself by recording my hands with a slow-motion camera. The first stroke always had a clear wrist turn. The second stroke was almost entirely finger work. Once I understood that split, my doubles became much more even.
The Role of Rebound
Rebound is the secret to playing double strokes at speed. When the stick bounces off the drumhead, that energy returns to your hand. If you catch it cleanly, you have a free second stroke almost handed to you.
On a high-rebound surface like a tight practice pad or a well-tuned snare, the rebound is generous. On a low-rebound surface like a pillow, a floor tom, or a couch cushion, the rebound is poor. Practicing on low-rebound surfaces actually builds finger strength because you have to create the second stroke yourself.
Practice Tips to Build a Clean Double Stroke Roll
Most drummers don’t fail at the double stroke roll because of the concept. They fail because they skip the slow, deliberate practice that makes the strokes clean. Here are the tips that worked for me and for the students I teach.
Tip 1: Start painfully slow. Set your metronome to 60 BPM and play the doubles as sixteenth notes. Each pair should sound like two distinct taps, not a buzz. If the second stroke is too quiet to hear clearly, slow down more.
Tip 2: Focus on even spacing. The space between stroke one and stroke two should equal the space between stroke two and the next stroke one. Count “trip-let, trip-let” if that helps. Uneven spacing is the number one giveaway of a beginner.
Tip 3: Listen for matching volume. Both strokes should be the same volume. If your first stroke is louder than your second, you are using too much wrist on the second. Soften the finger push and let the rebound speak.
Tip 4: Use a mirror or record yourself. Visual feedback is huge. Place a mirror to the side of your drum and watch your hands. You’ll spot tension, height differences, and stick angle problems in seconds. Or film yourself with a phone and play it back in slow motion.
Tip 5: Practice on a pillow once a day. Spend five minutes on a pillow or folded towel. The dead surface strips away the rebound and forces your fingers to do all the work. When you switch back to the practice pad, the doubles will feel easier.
Fixing the “Machine Gun” Sound
Beginners often produce a “machine gun” sound where the strokes blur together into one continuous buzz, even at slow tempos. This happens because the second stroke fires before the first stroke finishes its sound.
To fix this, exaggerate the gap between strokes one and two. Play them as almost separate taps at first, like double-tap snare drum exercises. As your control improves, bring the strokes closer together until they sound like a smooth roll but the notes still feel distinct.
Another fix is to practice the first stroke by itself. Play only the first stroke of every pair, alternating hands, until it feels natural. Then add the second stroke back in. This rebuilds the motion from scratch.
The machine gun sound is also a tension issue. If your grip is too tight, the second stroke fires too quickly. Loosen your fingers and let the stick breathe. I dropped my grip pressure about 30% and my doubles cleaned up within a week.
Exercises and Drum Set Application
Once the basic RRLL pattern feels comfortable on your practice pad, it’s time to take it to the drum set. The double stroke roll is a workhorse rudiment. It powers drum fills, snare drum solos, and fast tom passages across every style.
Exercise 1: Eight on a Hand
Play eight sixteenth notes on your right hand, then eight sixteenth notes on your left hand. Repeat for one full minute without stopping. Use a metronome at 60 BPM and gradually increase tempo by 5 BPM every few days.
This exercise builds the endurance to keep the second stroke clean even when your hand is tired. Most beginners can manage four clean strokes before fatigue ruins the second note. Eight on a hand forces that number to grow.
Exercise 2: Doubles Around the Kit
Play a double stroke on the snare, then move to the high tom, then the mid tom, then the floor tom. Two strokes on each drum, alternating hands as you move. This is the foundation of a classic linear drum fill.
Start at 70 BPM. Focus on consistent volume from drum to drum. Once it feels smooth, bring it up to 100 BPM and beyond. You’ll hear this exact pattern in countless pop and rock fills.
Exercise 3: Double Stroke Fill in a Groove
Play a basic rock beat on the hi-hat, snare, and kick. On bar four, replace the snare with a double stroke roll moving from the snare to the high tom. One bar of groove, one bar of fill, repeat.
This trains you to drop the rudiment into a real musical context. Drummers often have great technique in the practice room but freeze up when they try to use it in a song. Drilling the fill inside a groove solves that problem.
Song and Style Applications
Listen to the opening of “Wipeout” by The Surfaris. The drum intro is built entirely on double stroke rolls. The same rudiment drives the tom fills in countless Led Zeppelin songs. Funk drummers like Bernard Purdie use double strokes to create ghost note patterns at the snare. The double stroke roll is everywhere once you start listening for it.
If you play gospel, R&B, or fusion, the double stroke roll becomes even more important. Fast snare work, press roll textures, and tom cascades all depend on it.
Double Stroke Roll vs Single Stroke Roll vs Buzz Roll
The single stroke roll alternates hands: RLRLR. The double stroke roll pairs strokes: RRLL. The buzz roll (also called a press roll or multiple bounce roll) presses the stick into the head so it bounces multiple times per hand. Each rudiment has a distinct sound and feel.
Singles are great for speed and endurance. Doubles give you a fuller, warmer roll sound and let you play fast rhythms around the kit. Buzz rolls create a sustained snare wash used for swells, dynamics, and classic rock grooves. They’re related but never interchangeable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you do a double stroke roll?
Hold the sticks in matched grip, drop the first stroke with a small wrist turn, let the stick rebound, then squeeze the fingers to push the stick down for the second stroke. Repeat with the other hand in an RRLL pattern. Start at 60 BPM on a practice pad and focus on even volume between the two strokes.
Is double stroke roll hard?
The double stroke roll is moderate difficulty for beginners. The concept is simple, but getting both strokes to sound clean, even, and equally loud takes weeks of focused slow practice. Most drummers need 1 to 3 months of daily practice before the second stroke becomes consistent.
What is the difference between a buzz roll and a double stroke roll?
A double stroke roll plays exactly two distinct strokes per hand. A buzz roll presses the stick into the drumhead so it bounces many times per hand, producing a sustained, smooth wash of sound. Doubles are articulated and rhythmic. Buzzes are sustained and textural.
How long does it take to master the double stroke roll?
Beginners usually need 4 to 8 weeks of daily practice to play clean double strokes at moderate tempos. Reaching speed and endurance typically takes 3 to 6 months. Consistent slow practice on both practice pad and low-rebound surfaces speeds up the process.
Why are my double strokes uneven?
Uneven double strokes usually come from too much wrist on the second stroke, a grip that is too tight, or insufficient finger control on the rebound. Slow the metronome way down, soften your grip by about 30%, and focus on making the second stroke a finger-driven rebound rather than a wrist-driven hit.
Final Thoughts on the Double Stroke Roll
The double stroke roll is one of the most practical rudiments in drumming. It powers your drum fills, your tom work, and your snare textures. Master this rudiment and a huge chunk of drumming vocabulary opens up to you.
Start slow on the practice pad, keep your grip loose, and let the rebound do the work. After you’ve nailed the RRLL pattern at clean tempos, take it around the kit and into your grooves. The double stroke roll is a rudiment you will use for the rest of your drumming life.