9-Stroke Roll Practice Guide

The 9-Stroke Roll is a medium-length numbered Double Stroke Roll.

9-Stroke Rolls appear frequently in British, American, French, and Prussian duty calls. They’re used as the main roll in Double Drag beatings and appear regularly in 19th century American marches.

In this Guide, we’ll work on each major type of 9-stroke roll.

To learn more, check out the History of the 9-Stroke Roll.

To learn more about types of rolls, check out Understanding Roll Rhythms.

what is a 9-Stroke Roll?

Double Strokes Rolls are two strokes on each hand, alternating at rapid speeds to create a closed roll.

A 9-Stroke Roll is a short double stroke roll made up of 9 strokes:

Right 9-Stroke Roll – 2 on the Right – 2 on the Left – 2 on the Right – 2 on the Left – 1 hard stroke on the Right

Left 9-Stroke Roll – 2 on the Left – 2 on the Right – 2 on the Left – 2 on the Right – 1 hard stroke on the Left

Exercise 1: Bounced Stroke 9-stroke roll

This exercise is for beginners at Double Stroke Rolls.

Instead of playing open double strokes, we’ll play buzzed strokes or multiple-bounce strokes to get the idea of a 9-Stroke Roll.

Need to learn how to play a buzzed stroke or multiple-bounce stroke? Check out this Beginners Guide to Double Strokes Rolls.

In this exercise, you’ll play four bounced strokes and a final, hard stroke. Start slow so your bounced strokes are clean and even, then progressively try to increase your speed.

Notice the sticking marked below. Play just the top line until comfortable, then switch to the second line until comfortable.

Once you can play those, practice alternating (a right-hand 9, then left-hand 9, etc.)

Exercise 2: open to closed 9-stroke roll

In this exercise, you’ll try to play with actual double strokes.

To facilitate a clean movement from open (slow) to closed (rolling), you’ll play at one consistent tempo but progressively increase the rhythm until you’re playing a closed 5-Stroke Roll.

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).
  • Increase by 5bpm (10bpm) increments until 90bpm (180bpm).

Technique:

• Play the first stroke of the doubles a little harder than the second.
• Lift your hands up high after each set of doubles. During the slower movements, try to lift them back to eye level. As you get faster, lower the height. At a full roll, your goal is to still have your sticks coming 6-8 inches off the drum head.
• Be mindful of the timing of the final stroke. In the slower phases, wait the appropriate time between to develop rhythm control.

Note: This exercise is written for alternating 9-stroke rolls. You can play it as just right-hand 9s if you want to keep a European-style focus, or just left-hand 9s if you need more practice.

mastering the timing of the 9-Stroke Roll

As I mentioned above, there are a few different “types” of 9-Stroke Rolls. This refers to the underlying rhythm of the roll, which changes based on time signature and use.

The most important types of 9-Stroke Rolls are:

• Duple style 32nd Notes
• Triplet style 32nd Notes
• Triplet style 32nd Notes with Flams

To get a better sense of how these work and master their rhythm, try the exercises below.

Exercise 3: Common Time Duple Style, 32nd Notes

How to perform this exercise:

• Set a metronome for 60 beats per minute, with two clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it for 2x the beat (120bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (10bpm) increments until 120bpm (240bpm).
• To start, listen to the metronome. Now count along with it saying: “1 & 2 &” etc.
  • Continue to count aloud to the metronome as you perform the exercise.
• Play the “Test Pattern” 4x. This represents the first stroke, middle stroke, and final stroke of the rolls and will match the metronome.
  • Notice the 2nd & is written (&). This is because it’s a silent rest between rolls.
• Play the “Skeleton” 4x. This represents the basic rhythm (counted “1e&a 2 (&)”).
  • Again, the 2nd & is silent.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 4 rolls.

This exercise will be helpful for the Prussian Locken, as well as some 19th Century American marches.  

Tips:

• During the Skeleton, keep the fives strokes even. The dominate hand (the hand that starts and ends the rolls) will line up with each click.
• Don’t rush to start the next 9. Listen to the clicks so you’re starting and ending a roll on a click.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the first stroke 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.
  • It also helps to keep counting through the rest: “1 e & a 2 (e & a)”.
  • You can also try a “ghost stroke” on the 2nd “&”. After the roll, play a fake stroke on the 4th click. This helps you to keep the movement of the tempo and fill in that long rest, without adding an actual stroke. Over time, omit this “ghost stroke”.
• Getting behind the beat. You’re probably waiting too long to play the second stroke in the roll, which is extending the entire roll.
  • Focus on just the Skeleton for a while to get the rhythm correct. If you’re keeping the dominate hand on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd click, then switch focus to your doubles.
  • You might be struggling to alternate your double strokes, leading to a pause between each set of doubles. Spend some time on a sustained double stroke roll to clean up your alternating. Alternatively, slow down the metronome and try a slower version of this exercise until you fix the problem, then slowly increase the tempo.

Exercise 4a – 4c: Triplet Time Triplet Style, 32nd Notes

Triplet Style 9-Stroke Rolls are played essentially the same way, just tighter and in a slightly different spot in the beat.

To play exercise 4a:

• Set a metronome to 50bpm, subdivided with triplets. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 3x the beat (150bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (15bpm) increments until 75bpm (225bpm).
• Play the “Check Pattern” 2x. This represents a stroke on the beat, then the first stroke, middle stroke, and final stroke of the rolls. All 4 strokes will match the metronome.
• Play the “Skeleton” 2x. This represents a stroke on the beat and then the same skeleton as before (counted “1 2e&a 2 (na nee)”).
  • The “na nee” are silent rests to fill the measure.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 4 rolls.

This exercise will be helpful for a number of duty calls:

For British and early-American drummers, this is necessary for Double Drag beatings.

For French drummers, this is necessary for Le Drapeaux.

For Prussian drummers, this is foundational for the 6/8 version of Reveille and Vergatterung.

Tips:

• Make sure not to rush into the 9. There is a slight pause after the first Right Stroke.
  • NOTE: The first Right Stroke is NOT part of the Triplet 9-Stroke Roll. It’s simply a placeholder to get a sense of how this roll fits into the beat.
  • If you were marching to this exercise, you’d step on the first Right Stroke and on the end of the 9.

To play exercise 4b:

• Set a metronome to 50bpm, subdivided with triplets. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 3x the beat (150bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (15bpm) increments until 75bpm (225bpm).
• Play the “Skeleton” 1x. Notice this is now three 9-Stroke Rolls in a row. (Play all Right-Handed or Alternating.)
• Play the Roll pattern 1x.

This exercise will be helpful for Double Drag beatings and for the French La Générale.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the following 9-stroke rolls too soon.
  • In Exercise 4a, you focused on not rushing from the first stroke into the 9. This remains true in this exercise, where you want the same amount of rest at the end of a 9 before the next 9.
  • You can return to Ex 4a to work on that timing. Or simply focus on the metronome and be sure to start and end each roll on a click.

To play exercise 4c:

• Set a metronome to 50bpm, subdivided with triplets. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 3x the beat (150bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (15bpm) increments until 75bpm (225bpm).
• Play the “Skeleton”. This represents a skeleton 9 that starts on the beat (counted “1e&a2 2e&a2 1e&a2 2 (na nee)”).
  • The “na nee” are silent rests to fill the measure.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes.

This exercise will be helpful for the French La Générale.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the following 9-stroke rolls too soon.
  • In this example, you are starting the 9 on the beat, or when you’d take a step on the march. There is still the same amount of rest at the end of the roll before the next one as we practiced in Ex 4a.
  • You can return to Ex 4a to work on that timing. Or simply focus on the metronome and be sure to start and end each roll on a click.

Exercise 5a – 5b: Flammed Triplet, 32nd Note 9-Stroke Rolls Opt 1

In the Germanic style, rolls are generally meant to end with a flam. This is a challenging addition because it forces your left hand to play a Double Stroke right into a grace note for the flam (3 strokes in a row).

This exercise will help you to develop that triple movement and then incorporate the Flam into the 9-Stroke Roll.

How to perform exercise 5a:

• Play the test pattern: Hard Left Stroke into Right-Hand Flam.
• Play the practice pattern: Double Stroke with Left Hand into Right-Hand Flam.
• Make this movement fast and aggressive, with the goal to have no space between.

Tips:

• In the test pattern, think about leaving your left hand low following the hard stroke. Squeeze the stick slightly after it strikes the drum head to keep it low.
• As the Left Hand plays the Double Stroke, start raising your Right Hand so it’s in place for the Flam.

How to perform exercise 5b:

• Set a metronome for 50 beats per minute, with three clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it for 3x the beat (150bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (10bpm) increments until 80bpm (240bpm).
• Like Exercise 4a, play the “Skeleton” twice. This represents the basic rhythm (counted “1 2e&a 2 (na nee)”). This time, there’s a Flam on “1” and “2”.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 2 rolls.

This exercise will be helpful for the Prussian 6/8 Reveille option and Vergatterung.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the 9 too soon. Listen closely to the metronome and start the 9 on the 2nd click and end on the 4th click.
• Getting behind the beat. You’re probably waiting too long to play the flam at the end of the 9.
  • Return to Exercise 5a to develop your speed.
  • If that doesn’t help, return to Exercise 4a and work on the timing of the second stroke in the roll. See notes in Ex 4a for improving this.

Exercise 6a – 6b: Flammed Triplet, 32nd Note 9-Stroke Rolls Opt 2

Where the Germanic style often ends the rolls with a flam, the French and Swiss style often start a roll with a flam. This is similarly challenging because the Left Hand needs to play the Grace Note in the Flam, pause very briefly, and then play a set of Doubles.

These exercises will help you to develop that triple movement and then incorporate the Flam into the 9-Stroke Roll.

How to perform exercise 6a:

• Soft Left + Hard Left – start with left hand low in a Grace Note position, then quickly come up and play a hard stroke
• Flammed Double + Hard Left – play a Right-Hand Flam, immediately play another stroke on the Right (try for a bounced stroke), and then immediately play a Hard Left.
• Soft Left + Left Double – start with left hand low in a Grace Note position, then quickly come up and play a Left-Hand Double
• Right-Flam + Left Double – play a Right-Hand Flam and then immediately play a Left-Hand Double

Tips:

• Note: These exercises do not need to be played as a sequence; they are simply different ways to approach breaking down the beginning of this Flammed roll.

How to perform exercise 6b:

• Set a metronome for 50 beats per minute, with three clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it for 3x the beat (150bpm).
  • Increase by 5bpm (10bpm) increments until 120bpm (240bpm).
• Like Exercise 4c, play the “Skeleton” twice. This represents the basic rhythm (counted “1e&a2 2 (na nee)”). This time, there’s a Flam on “1” and “2”.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 2 rolls.

This exercise will be helpful for some French beatings in 6/8. 

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably playing the second flam too early. Listen closely to the metronome. The 9 starts on click 1 and ends on click 3. The second flam comes on click 4. Make sure to rest for click 5 & 6.
• Getting behind the beat. You’re probably struggling to transition from the Flam into your Doubles.
  • Return to Exercise 6a to develop your speed.
  • If that doesn’t help, return to Exercise 4c and work on the timing of the second stroke in the roll. See notes in Ex 4c for improving this.

Final Thoughts on the 9-Stroke Roll

The 9-Stroke Roll is a great rudiment to help build your Double Stroke Roll ability. Shorter rolls can be difficult because of how quickly they transition out of the double strokes; loner rolls can be difficult to simply sustain the roll.

9-Stroke Rolls are a great roll for beginning and intermediate drummers to focus on to develop their rolls at different speeds and with different rhythms. Plus, they are heavily utilized in duty calls, making them essential learning.

Download a pdf of the 9-Stroke Roll exercises for practice purposes.

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For more help, check out my video Drum Lesson 9-Stroke Rolls to learn how to play this rudiment.

Historic Drumming Lesson 18 | Drum Rudiment 9-Stroke Roll

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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 more practice guides?

• Authentic Right-Hand Grip Practice Guide
• The Flam: Sticking Control Practice Guide
• Double Stroke Roll – Beginner Practice Guide
• The Ra Simple / 4-Stroke Roll / Swiss Ruff Practice Guide
• The 5-Stroke Roll Practice Guide
• The 7-Stroke Roll Practice Guide
• The Double Stroke Roll – Advanced Practice Guide
• The Three Camps Practice Guide
• The Double Drag Practice Guide