How to Do a Fast Snare Drum Roll

Knowing how to do a fast snare drum roll is a crucial skill for any drummer. The type of roll described below is called a double-stroke roll, which is the type of roll used to create a machine gun-like sound in marching band and rock music. In a double-stroke roll, each stick strikes the drum two times per stroke (so, twice with the left hand then twice with the right). It'll take some practice to get it right, but you'll find it's well worth it to easily be able to do such a great-sounding roll.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Snare drum
• 2 drumsticks

1. Practice bouncing the sticks twice with each hand before trying the roll. In a double-stroke roll, each stick needs to bounce off the drum two times.

2. Push down with your hand after the first bounce and release the pressure after the second bounce to control the bounce.

3. Experiment with different amounts of pressure to see what produces the fastest bounce. The harder you press down, the faster the bounce will be.

4. Practice. After you've mastered the bounce with both hands, practice bouncing both sticks in succession to create the roll.

Tips & Warnings

• To do a more powerful and skillful roll that accents either the first or second bounce, apply pressure with your hand for one bounce and with your fingers for the other.