[chaser334]

I have been really working on my double strokes lately, and they have gotten to a pretty nice speed. But thats on the snare drum, and practice pad only. Now i can still play them at the same speed or maybe slightly less on the toms, but its very bleak and undistinctive. You can barely hear the strokes and it doesent have that nice clean sound it has on my snare drum. So basically im wondering how i can get a better and more distinct sound on my toms with my double stroke roll?

[xxvenom13xx]

If I were you I would practice doubles on one tom, and make them full out strokes.

And practice into a pillow as well...mmmmmmm...I don't feel like typing anymore so I am going to go(:

[slingerland59]

The answer probably has more to do with the way you tune and muffle the toms, than with your technique. If you were playing orchestral tympani, you'd want an even drone sound with no distinct double strokes and that's what I like from my floor toms. If you want distinct strokes then you'd need to tune your toms higher and muffle the batter heads -- like your snare with the snare strainer off.

[chaser334]

Hey Venom what do you mean by full out strokes? and singerland how would i muffle my toms more? my snare has that thing inside the drum that presses up against the batter head which is very helpful for muffling but toms dont have that sooo?

[xxvenom13xx]

Full out strokes mean putting your stick heights at 15" when you play; every stroke comes to 15 inches. It helps dynamics as well as chops.

[chaser334]

15 inchs? above the head?

[Tainojim]

Aim more towards the middle during practice. Sounds to me like your aim needs to be where the sticks can bounce more upward. You need to hold and aim your sticks properly to get it smooth.

Try the Moller Technique. It will help.

[orionsbelt77]

I am assuming that you are speaking of a roll, where you obtain two strikes of the head surface with every stroke of the stick. Unless your tom heads are as tight as your snare, you cannot expect the same results, with the same delivery. Use shorter, faster single strokes, starting on the snare and traveling to the toms. Unless you need to fill an auditorium with deafening toms, increasing your stick travel in distance above the heads will only slow you down. Physics and common sense is the key.

[xxvenom13xx]

Dude, I'm just trying to tell him to get his chops better by working with the tom heads that way...well, that and a pillow.

And yes, 12-15 inches. Develop slowly.

[DannyMeazell]

Sorry but I respectfully disagree about muffling. The only things I muffle is my basses. but barely. Muffling takes the sound of the wood and the resonance away. You might as well be playing on boxes or old tires and save your money! With my basses I put a 1 inch ring of foam door insulation around the outer inside edge of both front and rear heads with the edge against the shell! Anymore and you loose the natural punch. orionsbelt77 is dead on the mark! Toms will never sound out like a snare. And they shouldn't. Praticing with a pillow is great too, I know personally Buddy Rich did it often, by his own admission!
Good Luck
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