Flam Rudiments · easy · start at 70 BPM
Flam
A flam is a single accented note preceded by a quiet grace note from the opposite hand, written lR or rL. It thickens a single stroke and is the foundation of all flam rudiments.
Sticking
lR rL lR rL
How to practice it
Set the grace-note hand low and the accent hand high so they strike a hair apart, producing one fat 'flam' sound rather than two distinct notes.
Practice on the full machine →
GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
Read the sticking accurately
The displayed sticking is lR rL lR rL. Read uppercase R as right hand and L as left hand; lowercase letters are quiet grace notes placed before the following main stroke. A space separates a written group; it does not by itself specify the musical duration.
A focused pad exercise
Prepare one stick lower than the other so the grace note is quiet and leads the main stroke. Practice one ornament at a time, then connect it to the following taps. The grace note should thicken the attack rather than sound like another equally spaced beat.
- Speak the sticking while tapping lightly on one surface. Stop and reset if you lose the hand sequence.
- Repeat four clean phrases at a comfortable speed. Keep the same spacing when changing lead hands; do not raise the tempo while the sequence is uncertain.
- Apply the phrase to a simple fill, then land on a clear downbeat. Listen for the transition back into the groove, not just for the fastest possible roll.
What the browser example demonstrates
The grid is an even-pulse timing aid. It does not reproduce full rudimental notation, grace-note spacing, stick height or acoustic rebound. Use the sticking above for hand order and the Percussive Arts Society reference for standard notation and demonstrations. The notes here are GrooveSteps practice guidance, not a claim of PAS endorsement.
Keep practicing
Apply a simple fill · Explore the rudiment library
Found a mismatch between the explanation and the player? Send a correction with the page address and the step or count that needs attention.