First, we’ll squash the five-stroke roll. Let’s invert the sticking and apply it to 16th notes. For all of the exercises in this lesson, keep quarter-note time with your hi-hat foot.

Next, play the crash and bass drum simultaneously on each accent.

Now we’ll apply the same idea to 16th-note triplets.

Once again, move the accents to the crash cymbal and bass drum.

Let’s take a seven-stroke-roll sticking, invert it, and play it as 16th notes.

Next, move the accents to the crash cymbal and bass drum.

Now apply the seven-stroke roll to 16th-note triplets. Happy practicing!

James Murphy is an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, an international clinician, and a drumset player for the Blue Man Group in Boston. He also runs the website PeaceAndDrums.com, which offers pre-recorded video lessons for all playing levels on topics such as technique, fills, and grooves.