Proper double stroke technique is something I’ve had to go over with almost every student I’ve ever taught. Why? Because…rebound is the enemy.

Don’t get me wrong, using rebound to our advantage is an important part of playing the drums. But, when it comes to playing consistent double strokes, most of us rely too much on rebound. That is fine when playing on a practice pad because most practice pads have a TON of rebound – allowing us to achieve decent double strokes. The problem is when we start to play doubles on surfaces that lack rebound and tension on the drum head (detuned snare heads, floor tom heads, etc).

What is the cure? That is what the video lesson above is all about. In it, I detail how to get started with proper double stroke technique and then cover four exercises that will help you perfect your newly acquired double stroke technique. The secret is a throwing motion generated from the wrist, allowing the stick to rebound naturally, and then generating the second stroke of your double stroke from ‘snapping’ the fingers.

Sound easy?

It isn’t. Making sure your fingers are doing the bulk of the second stroke is very difficult, and not a natural motion when first learning this technique. ESPECIALLY if you have spent most of your life not using your fingers as a key part of your hand technique. Most people only really use the thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger when playing. We often neglect our ring finger and pinky – making our strokes weaker and putting a limit on our speed, especially when it comes to doubles.

If you want to tighten up your doubles and make them more powerful, consistent, and quicker – watch the lesson above and then download the sheet music below. Learning a new technique is slow work, so try not to rush the process. Learning this technique correctly will change your drumming life.

Happy drumming!