In this post, I want to focus on some practice tips for two things many drummers don’t often put together:
Double Strokes and Triplets
These exercises will challenge your sticking control, rhythm control, and vastly improve your Double Stroke Rolls.
Why Should You Exercise Double Strokes as Triplets?
There are a lot of good reasons for this kind of exercise.
- Many drummers have weak triplets.
- Practicing triplets as doubles switches up the pattern and will help you spot problems.
- Double Stroke Rolls have both Duple and Triplet patterns.
- Understanding how double strokes feel in open triplets will translate to better control over closed triplet rolls.
- (Note: 7-stroke rolls in historic performance are always triplet based. 5s in fast movements like Three Camps and Single Drags are also triplet based.)
- Understanding how double strokes feel in open triplets will translate to better control over closed triplet rolls.
- Improved performance of The Singlings of the Troop, the American and British Assembly Call.
- The main structure of the Assembly is double strokes in a triplet.
Exercise 1
Try this basic triplet rhythm using Double Strokes.
What makes this exercise tricky is that Beat 1 comes on the beginning of a double, while Beat 2 comes on the second stroke of the double.
I highly recommend setting a metronome to 75bpm with triplet subdivisions (or, at 225bpm, which will click out triplets). Using the subdivisions will ensure that you’re keeping a nice even rhythm while performing your doubles.
If you’re struggling at that speed, try starting at 50bpm (150bpm for triplets) and increasing by 5bpm (15bpm for triplets).
Exercise 2
Once Exercise 1 feels comfortable, try this more challenging rhythm.
This exercise is based on the sticking and rhythm of the Singlings of the Troop, or the Assembly for the British and early-American armies.
As you play, be very careful not to bounce your doubles.
Again, set the metronome to 75bpm with subdivisions to triplets.
If needed, start at 50bpm and increase by 5bpm.
Exercise 3
Once Exercise 2 is comfortable, try playing the Singlings of the Troop, or the British / American Assembly Call.
To play this clean, be very aware of how long each rest takes. For example, give the dotted quarter notes in Measures 3 and 7 a full beat (3 clicks if your metronome is set to triplets).
First, set the metronome to 75bpm with subdivisions to triplets.
Later, set the metronome to 75bpm without the subdivisions. Your goal is to maintain an even rhythm and keep the tempo.
Want to learn how to play the Singlings of the Troop, or Assembly? Check out my YouTube channel for how to play American and British Duty Calls.
Interested in improving your performance of Double Stroke Rolls? Check out:
Want to know more about the Assembly and how the Troop was performed? Check out:
