Gregg Bissonette calls it a ‘four limb single stroke roll’, which involves two and four limb coordination. You can alternate this roll between your limbs like this:
Right hand, right foot
Left hand, right foot
Right hand, left foot
Left hand, left foot
Not only will this exercise help with your note spacing, but it’s a cool idea to use in a solo or at the end of a song.
Gregg suggests playing a roll between your left hand right foot while your right hand plays a pattern on the ride cymbal. You might even try striking a tom with your left hand and playing right-left on a double pedal as your right hand keeps the pattern going (watch the video to see what this looks like).
One of Gregg’s ‘what are you playing’ moments comes from Vinnie Colaiuta: RH LF LH RF
When he was learning it, he found that if he phrased it like a triplet, he ‘forgot’ about his feet. Gregg recommends leading with the hands and letting your feet fall into place.
Take it slow and be patient!
Gregg Bissonette is one of the most versatile drummers in the music business. His incredible range of styles from jazz, rock, Big Band, blues, latin, and fusion has allowed him to work with many of the world’s top artists. A Grammy Award-winning drummer, his impressive resume includes Santana, David Lee Roth, Maynard Ferguson, Toto, Joe Satriani and Ringo Starr, and you’ll find his name on many TV and movie scores.
