Applying the Six Stroke Roll to Jazz Time

In this final part of looking at the six-stroke roll, I thought I would show you some ways to use it as a fill and apply it to playing jazz time.

Simply all I've done is moved the accents to the cymbals and added the bass drum, and then placed it into time.

Exercise 1. is the 2nd triplet inversion from Idea #8 (pt.2) and fits nicely because the accents come where the cymbal time would be. The same thing is presented in the PDF (Ex.3) as sixteenths and eights notes for faster tempos.

In the PDF, you will also find two more exercises with the six-stroke roll in its original pattern (RRLLRL), both as triplets and as sixteenths & eights notes, with the accents coming at the end. These applications are a bit reminiscent of Tony Williams.

Remember these licks or fills should help the time flow not overpower it.

Note >>> All the cymbal cymbal accents that finish on the "and" of 4 should also be played a tied notes with the time beginning again on beat 2.

When comfortable, move the snare drum notes around the kit and experiment with other voicing ideas too.

This was originally posted on "Jazz Drumming Blog" and in the "Ideas for Jazz Drumming" e-book (no longer available). This post has been revised and expanded from the original.