THE CHALLENGE:
Let's say you are playing a tap triplet roll for one measure. The goal is to play this entire roll clean, but there are some key checkpoints that have to happen for this to actually be clean.
STEP 1: PLAY THE RHYTHM (THE CHECK)
First, the rhythm must be perfectly in time (on the grid) so the hand motions can support the roll. Play this as many times as needed to feel comfortable with the check pattern.
STEP 2: PLAY THE FIRST DIDDLE
Once you have the rhythm down, add the first diddle in the tap roll. Make sure the hand motions stay the same, the space between the first and second partials should not change, and the rhythmic value of the diddle should be exactly double the rhythm of the check. Play this as many times as needed to feel comfortable with the interpretation of the diddle.
STEP 3: PLAY THE ENTIRE ROLL
Once you fully understand the interpretation of the diddle (rhythm & feel), apply that to the rest of the roll. While doing this, make sure the rhythm of the check and the feeling of the first diddle exactly the same from your previous reps.
ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO WORK ON TAP ROLLS? YES!
There are many different ways to work on tap rolls, but these are helpful checkpoints to get you started. A few other ways we like to break this down is by isolating the “Follow Hand Diddles” and the “Lead Hand Diddles”. This helps you understand the demand of each hand.
