Chapter 8 of 13 · All chapters

Part 1 · Rhythm basics

  1. 01The beat and tempo
  2. 02Bars, beats and 16 steps
  3. 03Kick, snare and hi-hat

Part 2 · Your hands on the pads

  1. 04The 16-pad layout
  2. 05Which fingers play what
  3. 06Tap, don't press

Part 3 · Grooves

  1. 07The basic beat
  2. 0816th hats and finger rolls
  3. 09Syncopation
  4. 10Fills

Part 4 · Feel and style

  1. 11Accents and ghost notes
  2. 12Swing
  3. 13Beats in different styles

Learn · Part 3: Grooves · Chapter 8

16th hats and finger rolls

Fast hi-hats are where fingers beat a single drumstick. Put the same hat sound on two pads, alternate two fingers, and each finger only plays half the notes. That's the basic finger roll.

The finger roll

A finger roll is two or more fingers taking turns on the same sound, or on two pads that carry the same sound. It's the finger drummer's version of a drummer alternating sticks. With two fingers you can play evenly at speeds one finger can't reach, and each finger stays relaxed.

16th-note hats with two fingers

"Hat 1" plays on every 8th note, "Hat 2" fills the 16ths in between. Mute both and play them yourself: index finger on Hat 1, middle finger on Hat 2. Always start the bar with the same finger.

72 BPM

Listen for a smooth "tss-tss-tss-tss", not a galloping rhythm. Practise hats in Groove →

The same trick on the kick

Two kick pads let you play a fast double kick. Here the kick hits on "3" and the "e" right after it. Play the first with your middle finger on the lower kick and the second with your ring finger on the upper kick.

84 BPM

Mute "Kick 1" and "Kick 2" and play the double kick with two fingers.

Practice tips

  • Even volume. Your middle finger is usually weaker. Listen for both fingers sounding the same.
  • Start slow. Begin at 60–70 BPM and only speed up when the rhythm stays smooth.
  • Measure it. The two-finger tester in chapter 6 shows how even your 16ths are.