Ra Simple Practice Guide - Historic Drumming

Want to improve your performance of French duty calls and learn a foundational French rudiment? Then use this practice guide to master your performance of the Ra Simple, or French 4-stroke roll.

The Ra Simple is the main role used in the French style. They often use it much like the English / Americans use the 7-stroke roll to either open or close a beating. They also use it where one might expect a 5-stroke roll, much like Scottish bagpipe drummers use 64th note 5-stroke rolls.

For an example check out the Massed Band drum beatings for pipe bands.

Specifically, look at the 1st line of the 4/4s or the 2nd line of the 6/8 and see how files are being used.

Mastering an authentic 18th century French style requires a strong command over the Ra Simple.

Good control of the Ra Simple is also helpful for pipe and drummers. In the Scottish style, these are often referred to as Swiss Ruffs, since they came into the style via Basel drumming.

To learn more, check out the History of the French 4-Stroke Roll / Ra Simple.

what is a French ra simple?

In the English and American style, an even stroke roll has a double accent at the end.

In the French style, however, even rolls begin with a single stroke and end with a single stroke.

The Ra Simple is a four-stroke roll that begins with a single right and ends with a single right. Between them are quick left hand doubles.

Use the exercises below to first master the sticking and then to develop your timing and control.

Exercise 1: open to closed 4-stroke roll / ra simple

In this exercise, you’ll play at one consistent tempo but progressively increase the rhythm until you’re playing a closed Ra Simple.

To perform this exercise:

Set a metronome to 60 BPM, with two clicks per beat.
If your metronome cannot subdivide, set your metronome to 2x the tempo (120bpm).

Exercise 1: Slow to Fast Ra Simple, French 4-Stroke Roll.
This exercise improves sticking and rhythm control for the Ra Simple.

Technique:

Play the right hand strokes strong and clear.
Allow for the correct amount of rest between the first right stroke and the left hand doubles. Paying good attention to this in the slower rhythms will help you to internalize the correct rest at the faster rhythms.

Note: The historic performance of the French Ra Simple is always right handed. However, if you’re interested in using this rudiment for a modern context, you should practice it on both hands.

mastering the timing of the Ra Simple

The two most challenging parts of the Ra Simple:

Developing the correct timing.
Maintaining closed, 64th note doubles.

Most of you may be more comfortable playing 7-stroke rolls. These begin on the ‘&’ of the beat, or directly in the middle.

They Ra Simple, on the other hand, begins on the ‘a’ of the beat, or between the ‘&’ and the following beat.

To help master the timing, try the exercises below.

Exercise 2: 2/4 skeleton + ra simple

How to perform this exercise:

Set a metronome for 60 beats per minute, with four clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it for 4x the beat (240bpm).
To start, listen to the metronome. Now count along with it saying: “1 e & a 2 e & a” etc.
Continue to count aloud to the metronome as you perform the exercise.

Exercise 2: 2/4 Skeleton + Ra Simple
This exercise improves timing and keeps the roll movement tight.

This exercise will be helpful for Aux Champs, La Retraite, and any 2/4 Marches.

Tips:

Wait the full rest. Be sure to play the first right on the ‘a’, or the fourth click of every beat.
Doing so will force the left hand doubles tight and clean. This will prevent you from getting off the beat.

Problems & Solutions:

Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the first right too early. Listen closely to the metronome and continue to count out loud: “1 e & a 2”. This will help you find where you should be playing.
Getting behind the beat. If your first right is landing on the ‘a’ of the beat like it’s supposed to, but you are consistently landing the end of the roll after the downbeat, your doubles are too open. Focus on keeping them closed and clean. Consider returning to the open to close exercise above.

Exercise 3a: 6/8 skeleton + ra simple

The Ra Simple is performed slightly differently in 6/8 than in 2/4.

Instead of starting on the ‘a’ of the beat, it begins on ‘nee’, or the 3rd beat of the triplet.

Instead of starting on the ‘a’ of the beat, it begins just after the ‘nee’, or the 3rd beat of the triplet.

How to perform this exercise:

Set a metronome for 60 bpm, with 3 clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 3x the beat (180bpm).
To start, listen to the metronome. Now count along with it saying: “1 na nee 2 na nee” etc.
Continue to count aloud to the metronome as you perform the exercise.

Exercise 3a: 6/8 Skeleton + Ra Simple
This exercise improves timing and keeps the roll movement tight.

This exercise will be helpful for La Fasçine, La Prièr, Pas Accéléré (Quickstep), and variations on the quickstep.

For common problems and solutions, see above.

Exercise 3b: 6/8 Skeleton + Ra Simple (off beat)

In 6/8, the Ra Simple often occurs inside the beat. It will have the same rhythm.

For extra practice, try this exercise.

Exercise 3b: 6/8 Skeleton + Ra Simple (off beat)
This exercise improves timing and keeps the roll movement tight.

This exercise will be helpful for La Générale, La Prièr, and several 6/8 beatings in Philidor.

Final Thoughts on the Ra Simple

Mastery of the French duty calls, beatings in Philidor, and many 19th century French beatings require a strong understanding of the Ra Simple.

Use these exercises to develop your sticking, timing, and tightness of this fundamental movement.

Download a pdf of the Ra Simple (French 4-Stroke Roll) exercises for practice purposes.

Interested in learning more about Double Stroke Rolls and their History? Check out:

Roll Rudiments and learn about types of rolls, like 4s, 5, 7, etc.
Historic Performance the Double Stroke Roll
Understanding Roll Rhythms
When Did Drummers Start Rolling?
The Ruffle

Want to learn more about French duty calls and other French music? Check out:

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