The five stroke roll
— doubles with a landing.
R-R-L-L into an accented release: the shortest real roll, and the bridge from rudiment practice to actual fills. Playable, with sticking and accents marked.
The five stroke roll is where the double stroke roll earns its keep: two doubles driving into a single accented release on the beat. The accent wedge (>) over the release and the sticking letters below make each example self-explanatory — brush up with the notation guide if needed.
Step 1: the roll, with air around it
One five stroke roll starting on beat 1 (R-R-L-L into an accented R on beat 2), rest, then the mirrored roll leading with the left. The space after each release gives you time to reset and check: were the doubles even? Did the release land with the click?
Step 2: link them end to end
Now the releases fall on the beats and the doubles fill the space between — each roll hands straight into the next with alternating leads. This continuous form is how the rudiment actually flows in solos.
Step 3: hide it in a groove
Play the money beat for three beats, then four quiet doubled sixteenths on beat 4 — and when the bar loops, the crash on beat 1 IS the release. Congratulations: that "drum fill" is a five stroke roll, and the audience never knew it was a rudiment.
Five stroke roll FAQ
What is a five stroke roll?
Two double strokes plus an accented single: R-R-L-L-R (then mirrored, L-L-R-R-L). The four doubles are quiet sixteenths and the fifth stroke — the release — lands accented on the beat. It's the shortest complete roll and the first place your double strokes get used in real music.
How do you count a five stroke roll?
The classic placement puts the four doubles on "1 e & a" and the release on beat 2 — count "1 e & a 2". The release is the anchor: practice landing it exactly on the click and let the doubles fit evenly in front of it.
Why does my five stroke roll sound lumpy?
Usually the second note of each double is dying (fix that in the double stroke roll itself) or the release is early because your hands rush toward the accent. Slow down and think of the roll as aiming at the release, not escaping the doubles.
Where are five stroke rolls used in real drumming?
Everywhere short snare figures appear: marching and rudimental solos, jazz comping, and as quick one-beat fills in grooves — four quiet sixteenths into a downbeat crash is a five stroke roll wearing kit clothing.
Drill it in DrumShed
Loop each step at your tempo with a spoken count-in, then explore the rest of the family — paradiddles mix singles and doubles the same way.
Capture it. Shed it.
Keep it.
Four quiet, one loud, right on time.