Hey guys, I'm really sorry if this has been asked before, but I can't seem to find it using the search function.

Ayways, I noticed that a lot of people tend to pump their hands when doing high tempo rolls. Now, when I just started playing seriously a while ago, but whenever I try to do those high tempo rolls, my hands get really tense and I the rolls lose quality.

Is there a "proper" way of doing those rolls? If so, can anyone please elaborate on the different hand movements/positions needed to play them. Thank you very much guys.

My only suggestion might be is to use a little more arm.

Don't get me wrong using your wrist is primary! But, at fast tempos, a little bit of arm might be the key ingredient.

I think snare777 is right that you should use alittle more arm. Wrist is key, but most people you watch will have to use some arm, depending on how fast the roll is. As for hand position/movement, I really think it's the same as a normal roll, but you're using alittle extra arm.

Arms become essential at a certain point of speed to keep rolls technically correct, but by arm they mean forearms - the part between your wrist and elbow. Past the elbow isn't ergonomic because it really doesn't help, and it looks kind of stupid .

I had the same problem, and still do just not as much. Like they said, I just starting using my forearm more cause at some speeds Im just afraid my wrist will snap...But just use some forearm to keep the sound good, just dont make it look bad.

Alright, thanks guys. I'll be sure to use a little more arm on my rolls. Also, if you guys don't mind, is there some sort of an online instruction site with some videos of the forearm use? I can't seem to get down the motion of doing it.

Hah it should really be natural. Every stoke contains some arm, wrist, and finger. I may make a video of me rolling and post it one day or you could go look at some I and E solos

Once you get comfortable playing really high stick heights, you'll learn to relax your fingers, even at that volume.

Dont play over your head. Although everyone wants to be able to roll at high tempos, not everyone can off the bat. Best thing is to play up to where your technique is still good with a metronome, and then gradually speed it up every couple of minutes. Also work on tap-space rolls while your at it to make sure you understand your metrics fully.

-Justin

DdDrRaGeX like something serious, I have the exact same problem and I cannot figure out how to revert back to my old style of playing. It seems like my tradish has gone out the window from me trying to learn to use arm with it and it has like no power and my right hand does this weird chicken flapping motion on every stroke I do, and I mean every. Even eights causes tension in my shoulder down and it forces me to do some arm in them, sometimes all arm. I just hurts and feels weird and I know its wrong. It probably has to do with my stick angles.

Any ways how can I fix that?

murray gussak broke down double stroke rolls completly.
at slow tempos you play 2 full strokes, then as you speed up youstart playing the secong by sqeezing the second stroke, and as you get fast(like where you are holding the stick down) thats when you bring your arms in, slightly.
i hope that makes sence. it probably sounded better when he said it.

no that sounds good, i mean, you always want to eliminate arm movement as much as possible. but there is a point where that becomes incredibly hard almost impossible and instead of taking the time to improve the whole line in how fast they can move their wrists together. it is easier to work on the amount of arm each puts into it...you know?

When I get rolling pretty fast, my forearms automatically kick in and they do most of the major motion (less muscle motion for more stick motion). My fingers move to handle diddle control/ quality. My wrist sometimes provides a little extra motion to help my arms out. My sticks stay straight (like an extension of my forearm) when I am using no wrist movement, but adding the wrist allows me to get vertical up & down motion (arm) and normal stick-coming-back motion (wrist). By "stick-coming-back motion" I mean the normal path like your stick would take if you played 8's at 9"-12" where your stick changes angle as it moves to and from the drum. Hope this helped.

You said you just started drumming "seriously" recently right. You may be biting off more than you can chew right now. Work on slow rolls then work up to it. use the technique that is needed to play fast "speedo" rolls while playing slow rolls. in other words practice the fast technique slow. You will better understand what it takes and your muscles will be able to memorize the motions easier.

There is a certain tempo when your roll loses quality but you should always try beefing up your sound. not by height but by velocity. as the tempo increases you wont be able to play the same sound at 250 as you would 120. its impossible. but its okay to lose a little sound. pumping your arms helps flow and add sound to rolls. always lead with the bead and initiate from the wrist. start slow and work up also sustaining rolls at a tempo then bumping it up and pushing works too.

practice double triple beat exercises while pumping hands and arms, if you watch vanguard double beat when he snares do triple beat for decades that's how you technique should be when it comes to fast rolls, although not as exaggerated.

well, i use wrist with arm behind it. arm puts more weight behind it for a bigger sound. dont lock wrists and use arm though. this lessens the quality of the second note and also some of the first. see do a wrist stroke and let it bounce. use only a circular wrist motion. now do the while locking the wrist and use only an arm stoke. hear the difference. i initiate with the wrist and follow through with the arm