Thought I would share a simple warm up that I used to use a lot and still do. My students also get this one as a rule as it works the double stroke roll in short bursts and if practiced correctly, you are able to feel what it’s like to use the roll on different parts of the bar. This simply means that you’re able to apply the roll rudiments more competently in context because you know how to ‘feel’ them more competently.

This warm up uses five, nine and thirteen stroke rolls.

If you’re unsure of these rudiments, here they are (Accent is underlined):

5 Stroke Roll | RRLL R or LLRR L
9 Stroke Roll | RRLL RRLL R or LLRR LLRR L
13 Stroke Roll | RRLL RRLL RRLL R or LLRR LLRR LLRR L

Each of the rudiments are a continuous double stroke roll for a timed period. You can see by the above that the 5 stroke roll has one set of doubles (RRLL) followed by an accent. The 9 stroke roll has two sets of doubles followed by an accent and the 13 stroke roll has three sets of doubles followed by an accent. Now, today, we’re only doing the three rolls but for the record, the 17 stroke roll as four sets of doubles followed by an accent – RRLL RRLL RRLL RRLL R

My point here is that I don’t think of the roll as numbers 1-13 etc. I simply ‘feel’ how many sets of doubles I use. It makes it easier when you’re smashing along at higher tempos.

The warm up itself (download PDF below) is a rotation through the rolls permutating the accent through each part of the bar. In other words, I’m playing the exercise and then shifting it by a crotchet each time so that the accent ends up being on all 4 beats at some stage. As I mentioned, you’re then able to feel what it’s like to use the roll on different parts of the bar.

I’ve written the exercises in cut common time (2/2). It still looks like 4/4 but I’m feeling the exercises twice as fast so instead of 8th and 16th notes, I’m feeling 16th and 32nd notes. Just double time basically.

Anyway, a simple lesson in theory, but get creative. There’s some more advice on the PDF. Check it out.

Enjoy the vid.

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