Part 3:Triple Strokes This month we’re going to finish the Fours and Sevens in 7/8 exercise by playing it with triple strokes. As with double strokes, the key to playing high-quality triple strokes is finger control. The challenge is to play all three beats at equal volume, and you do that by using the fingers to add enough velocity that the second and third strokes are dynamically balanced with the first. Mastering this exercise will do wonders for your finger control and your triple strokes, which will show up in many contexts outside of the triple-stroke roll. When you play the triple strokes in the exercise very slowly, all three notes should be executed as free strokes made mainly from the wrist, with the fingers opened up somewhat from the palm. Opening up the fingers allows the stick to breathe and gives the fingers the opportunity to add a bit […]

January 2013 Issue