Seventeen Stroke Roll

The seventeen stroke roll is the last pattern from the drum roll family of drum rudiments that we have to teach you. In this free drum lesson, Lionel Duperron breaks down the seventeen stroke roll on a practice pad, showing you exactly how to play it accurately. You’ll learn how to use the seventeen stroke roll within drum fills and drum beats as well.

The seventeen stroke roll combines eight sets of double strokes with one single stroke, which can be played as either the last or the first note of the seventeen stroke roll. Knowing how to play drum rudiments such as the thirteen stroke roll and the fifteen stroke roll will help you getting through this free drum lesson way faster as well.

On the sheet music below, the first bar is played in a 4/4 time signature and the second bar is played in a 2/4 time signature. The seventeen stroke roll naturally alternates within itself. In the video, Lionel Duperron plays the doubles on the seventeen stroke roll as 32nd notes when he’s on the practice pad, and as 16th notes when he’s on the drum set. Don’t freak out! You can play the seventeen stroke with whichever note value you want to.

Due to the long stream of double stokes within the seventeen stroke roll, getting an even and smooth sounding roll is the main challenge you’ll be facing while practicing it on a single surface.

Drum Beats

Exercise #1 is a two-bar pattern featuring a 16th note drum beat on the first bar and an 8th note drum fill on the second bar. The seventeen stroke roll is played throughout the first bar, ending on count 1 of the second bar with a unison figure between a crash cymbal and the bass drum.

Exercise #2 is a two-bar pattern featuring a 16th note tom-tom drum beat on the first bar and a single stroke roll 16th note drum fill on the second bar. Leading this pattern with the left hand avoids unnecessary crossovers. This is a quite challenging pattern to play if you haven’t practiced the seventeen stroke roll and the single stroke roll while leading with your left hand.

Drum Fills

Exercise #3 is a two-bar drum fill. The left hand is kept on the snare drum playing double strokes. The right hand plays the same rhythmic pattern as the left hand, but does so by going down the toms instead. The seventeen stroke roll ends on count 1 of the second bar of the drum fill with a unison stroke between a crash cymbal and the bass drum.

Exercise #4 is a 16th note drum fill. Taking a look at the sheet music below, you can see that this exercise has the same rhythmic pattern as one of the drum fills on the lesson about the single stroke roll. The only difference here is the sticking pattern. Lionel plays a 16th note double stroke roll for a full measure instead of a 16th note single stroke roll.

Once you’re able to play the seventeen stroke roll and the exercises herein accurately, you can move on to further expand your knowledge of the 40 drum rudiments. We encourage you to check the free drum lessons on the single paradiddle, the flam, and the drag ruff.