Roll Rudiments · hard · start at 50 BPM
Triple Stroke Roll
The triple stroke roll plays three controlled strokes per hand, RRRLLL, and is used heavily in jazz and orchestral playing. It develops finger control and an even three-note bounce.
Sticking
RRR LLL RRR LLL
How to practice it
Play three even notes per hand slowly, ensuring all three are equal in volume before increasing tempo, using fingers to control the second and third strokes.
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GrooveSteps practice notes · Updated 2026-10-18 · How these examples are made
Read the sticking accurately
The displayed sticking is RRR LLL RRR LLL. Read uppercase R as right hand and L as left hand. A space separates a written group; it does not by itself specify the musical duration.
A focused pad exercise
Work on three controlled notes from each hand. Listen especially to the third note, which can become weak or late as the rebound fades. Practice the right and left groups separately, then connect them without adding a pause at the hand change.
- 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
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