Single Stroke Roll

The Single Stroke Roll (#1 of the 40 P.A.S. certified essential or standard rudiments) a.k.a. Singles, is an alternating sticking playing one stroke per hand. The Single Stroke Roll as a rudiment is notated in 16th notes but it can be used in any subdivision or meter.

Of all the stickings available to us, the Single Stroke roll is what we use the most. And for good reason as it’s the most logical pattern we can play. By alternating our hands we play very efficiently because we divide the workload. And we can do so many great things with it. Let’s check it out.

Single Stroke Roll

Exercise #1

1a

Here's an exercise to get used to the idea of doubling the subdivision. We go back and forth between 8th and 16th notes. A.k.a. alternating subdivisions 2 and 4.

Stay relaxed and focus on execution and evenness of sound. Speed will become from doing it often. Sounding well at any tempo comes from focus on execution.

Counting

1.n.2.n.1tnt2tnt

or

1.&.2.&.3e&a4e&a