7-Stroke Roll Practice Guide

Hands down, the 7-Stroke Roll is the most foundational roll for the American and British style.

The 7-Stroke Roll appears in French and German styles, though less frequently.

In the American and British tradition, the 7-Stroke Roll is played exclusively on the Left Hand, even though most of their other rolls alternate.

In the French style, the 7-Stroke Roll is also exclusively played on the Left Hand because French rolls always end on the Right-Hand (except 5s, which do alternate when played fast).

For that reason, we’ll focus on exercises to develop a Left-Hand 7-Stroke Roll.

We’ll focus on the Triplet Style 32nd Note version, which is most commonly used, but we’ll also try a brief exercise for the Duple Style 32nd Note version seen in some early French music.

To learn more, check out the History of the 7-Stroke Roll.

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

what is a 7-Stroke Roll?

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

A 7-Stroke Roll is a short double stroke roll made up of 7 strokes, always played starting on the left:

Left 7-Stroke Roll – 2 on the Left – 2 on the Right – 2 on the Left – 1 hard stroke on the Right

Exercise 1: Bounced Stroke 7-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 7-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 three 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. ALWAYS start with the Left Hand and end with the Right Hand.

Exercise 2: open to closed 7-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 7-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.

mastering the timing of the 7-Stroke Roll

As I mentioned above, there are a few different “types” of 7-Stroke Rolls. This refers to the underlying rhythm of the roll, which changes based on time signature and use.

The most important types of 7-Stroke Rolls are:

• Duple style 32nd Notes – used in some older French marches and faster 19th C American beatings
• Triplet style 32nd Notes – the primary style

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

We’ll start with the less common version, since they’re a little easier for newer drummers.

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” twice. This represents a first stroke to set the beat, the middle double that falls on the right hand, and the final stroke of the roll.
• Play the “Skeleton” twice. This represents a first stroke to set the beat and then the basic rhythm (counted “1e&a2 (&)”).
  • Notice the 2nd & is written (&). This is because it’s a silent rest between rolls.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 2 rolls.

You can see this style 7-stroke roll written out in some of the Philidor Marches.

To purchase a copy of Philidor’s music interpreted and transcribed in modern notation, check out my store.

Tips:

• When you transition to the rolled portion, keep your hands moving evenly from the first single stroke into the double strokes.
• NOTE: The first stroke is NOT part of the roll. It’s simply to establish the beat, since 7-stroke rolls generally begin off-beat and roll into the beat.

Exercise 4: Triplet Style 32nd Note 7-Stroke Roll

In both Common Time (2/4, 4/4, C) and Triplet Time (3/8, 6/8), the American and British drumming style play 7-Stroke Rolls as Triplets.

The basic concept works the same as above, except that the roll portion will be tighter.

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).
• 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” twice. This represents a first stroke to set the beat, the first stroke of the 7 and the final stroke of the 7.
• Play the “Skeleton” twice. This represents a first stroke to set the beat and then the basic rhythm.
  • NOTE: The 7-stroke roll doesn’t begin until the 2nd click. The triplet is quick enough to end by the 3rd click.
  • Notice the 2nd & is written (&). This is because it’s a silent rest between rolls.
• Play the Skeleton with double strokes to complete 2 rolls.

This exercise will be helpful for nearly all American and British marches, quicksteps, and troops.

Tips:

• Lift your hands after the first Right Stroke before commencing the 7-Stroke Roll.
• NOTE: The first stroke is NOT part of the roll. It’s simply to establish the beat, since 7-stroke rolls generally begin off-beat and roll into the beat.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. You are probably starting the roll too early. Listen closely to the metronome and continue to count out loud: “1 & 2”. The 7-Stroke Roll begins on the “&”. Allow the full rest after the first stroke.
• Getting behind the beat. You’re probably not playing the triplet quick enough, which is opening up the roll so that it ends after the beat.
  • Focus on the Skeleton for a while until you can play the triplet quickly and evenly.
  • If that doesn’t help, your Double Strokes are probably not clean enough to keep up with the speed. Work on your sustained, alternating Double Strokes for a while. Or, try this exercise at a slower tempo (40bpm) and increase as your triplet roll gets better.

Final Thoughts on the 7-Stroke Roll

As a British or American drummer, or a modern drummer in a Fife and Drum Corps, the 7-Stroke Roll is the most important roll you’ll learn.

Be sure to master the triplet rhythm – this will create a tight, even roll that fits the style.

Also be sure to master the timing – the triplet 7 begins on the “&” of the beat.

Download a pdf of the 7-Stroke Roll exercises for practice purposes.

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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 9-Stroke Roll Practice Guide
• The Double Stroke Roll – Advanced Practice Guide
• The Three Camps Practice Guide
• The Double Drag Practice Guide