Rock Drumming System
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Learn How To Play The Multiple Stroke Roll

(Buzz Roll)

The multiple stroke roll, also known as the buzz roll, is a very simple rudiment to play; however it is a hard rudiment to master. A multiple stroke roll is different than a double stroke roll and triple stroke. To achieve the buzz roll, you want to hold your drum sticks fairly tight so you get a stiff rebound on your drum. You generally want to play this rudiment fairly fast to make it flow; otherwise the roll will sound spread out and uneven. You want to press firmly on the drum to get a number of strokes on your drum that are very close together. Playing this at a quicker tempo will result in a buzz from your snare drum. This is where the name comes from.

There is definitely a place for this rudiment. This fits in great for fills and breaks. It is also used in the tango, and other Latin styles. Make sure when you practice this you are not practicing the double stroke roll instead. They are totally different rudiments that have different sounds to them.  This rudiment helps develop a feel for the drum sticks. Here is what this rudiment looks like:

 

Make sure you are playing this rudiment with the proper stick grip. Practicing any rudiment with incorrect hand placement could hurt you physically, as well as hinder your performance. So check this guide to learn how to properly hold your drumsticks. Also, if this practice is feeling awkward at all, you may be using the wrong stick size. Check out this lesson on selecting the right drum stick for you!

 

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