Full Strokes

Legato, Piston

Full Strokes

Legato, Piston

A Full Stroke, also known as a Legato Stroke or a Piston Stroke, is played full and connected. These strokes start and end in the same position.

Like bouncing a ball, you throw the stick down and let the drum return it to the up position. Don’t make more work for yourself by stopping each note at the bottom and then needing to immediately pick it back up. Nobody likes playing with a flat basketball. Additionally, this can lead to whipping and inconsistent sound quality.

The Tap Stroke could also be considered a full stroke. The tap starts and ends in the same position. Taps, however, start down or low and end down. Both taps and full strokes use the same technique. 

Practice Tips

The exercises below are designed to build off of each other. Each exercise will help in developing the full stroke while also trying to target such principles as sound quality, attacks, releases, and hand transitions.

Practice each exercise at multiple dynamic levels 1″, 3″, 6″, 9″, 12″, 15″. 

Also be sure to practice at multiple tempos. At slow speeds, a full stroke can be produced with the wrist, similar to striking a bell. As tempos start to increase, however, you will need to use your fulcrum and open up the fingers. I typically try to develop the fingers first, then I’ll add wrist and elbow for more power.

Exercises

1234

  • Work for clean attacks.
    • No flams between you and the met or you and your section.
  • Strive for consistent sound quality with each consecutive note you add.
  • All notes can be played as full strokes from the up position, or you can add a down stroke on the last note of every measure.
  • Master each measure seperately before moving on.
  • Don’t neglect the Left.
    • Typically left hands require as much, if not more, time than the right.

8 on a hand

  • Produce 8 notes on each hand that all sound, feel, and look the same.

Double Stop 8s

  • Double Stops are a great tool for matching heights, technique, and velocity.
    • Compare your left and right hands.
  • Don’t change the lead hand when you add or remove the other hand.
  • No Flams.

3+3+2

  • Frequent hand changes should allow you to hear if the left hand sounds like the right and vice versa.

Twitch 16ths

Twitch Legatos require you to

  • Lower heights.
  • Hang the wrist.
    • Get the palm away from the stick.
  • Twitch the pointer, middle, and ring fingers quickly.

Twitch 3+4

  • Don’t accent the first note on each hand.

Legatos + Twitch

  • 8ths should be played at full heights using fingers, wrist, and elbow.
  • Hang the wrist on the 16th notes and use only fingers.

Drop the Left (offset 8s)

  • Don’t change the right when the left is added or removed
    • The left on the rim could also be played on a leg so more attention is given to the right hand
    • Don’t hesitate or pause when adding or removing a hand
  • Develop left hand spacing
    • For added practice, try swinging the left hand, playing straight, or anywhere in between
      • Intentionally be able to place the left

Drop the Right (offset 8s)

  • The left hand is in charge.
    • Don’t let the right hand push its way to being on the beat.

Drop the Left (16ths and 32nds)

  • Learn to count the lead hand when playing 32nd notes.
    • Don’t hope and pray for the right amount of 32nd notes.
  • Be sure to practice this left hand lead as well.
  • Consider playing the 16ths as double stops and then offset that to create 32nds.

Video Tutorials

Playlist

Transcript

Transcript

Where to Next?

Practice the above exercises at 12″, then cut that in half to 6″, then again to 3″. Once students have a solid 3″ tap, this lends well to now adding accents. Now you can start looking at Down Strokes and Up Strokes.

Alternatively, since we developed alternating 16th notes, you can stay at one height and head on over to some rhythm studies.

Full Strokes

Legato Strokes

Full Strokes

Legato Strokes

A Full Stroke, also known as a Legato Stroke or a Piston Stroke, is played full and connected. These strokes start and end in the same position.

Like bouncing a ball, you throw the stick down and let the drum return it to the up position. Don’t make more work for yourself by stopping each note at the bottom and then needing to immediately pick it back up. Nobody likes playing with a flat basketball. Additionally, this can lead to whipping and inconsistent sound quality.

The Tap Stroke could also be considered a full stroke. The tap starts and ends in the same position. Taps, however, start down or low and end down. Both taps and full strokes use the same technique. 

Practice Tips

The exercises below are designed to build off of each other. Each exercise will help in developing the full stroke while also trying to target such principles as sound quality, attacks, releases, and hand transitions.

Practice each exercise at multiple dynamic levels 1″, 3″, 6″, 9″, 12″, 15″. 

Also be sure to practice at multiple tempos. At slow speeds, a full stroke can be produced with the wrist, similar to striking a bell. As tempos start to increase, however, you will need to use your fulcrum and open up the fingers. I typically try to develop the fingers first, then I’ll add wrist and elbow for more power.

Mp3

100 BPM
60 BPM

Exercises

1234

  • Work for clean attacks.
    • No flams between you and the met or you and your section.
  • Strive for consistent sound quality with each consecutive note you add.
  • All notes can be played as full strokes from the up position, or you can add a down stroke on the last note of every measure.
  • Master each measure seperately before moving on.
  • Don’t neglect the Left.
    • Typically left hands require as much, if not more, time than the right.

8 on a hand

  • Produce 8 notes on each hand that all sound, feel, and look the same.

Double Stop 8s

  • Double Stops are a great tool for matching heights, technique, and velocity.
    • Compare your left and right hands.
  • Don’t change the lead hand when you add or remove the other hand.
  • No Flams.

3+3+2

  • Frequent hand changes should allow you to hear if the left hand sounds like the right and vice versa.

Twitch 16ths

Twitch Legatos require you to

  • Lower heights.
  • Hang the wrist.
    • Get the palm away from the stick.
  • Twitch the pointer, middle, and ring fingers quickly.

Twitch 3+4

  • Don’t accent the first note on each hand.

Legatos + Twitch

  • 8ths should be played at full heights using fingers, wrist, and elbow.
  • Hang the wrist on the 16th notes and use only fingers.

Drop the Left (offset 8s)

  • Don’t change the right when the left is added or removed
    • The left on the rim could also be played on a leg so more attention is given to the right hand
    • Don’t hesitate or pause when adding or removing a hand
  • Develop left hand spacing
    • For added practice, try swinging the left hand, playing straight, or anywhere in between
      • Intentionally be able to place the left

Drop the Right (offset 8s)

  • The left hand is in charge.
    • Don’t let the right hand push its way to being on the beat.

Drop the Left (16ths and 32nds)

  • Learn to count the lead hand when playing 32nd notes.
    • Don’t hope and pray for the right amount of 32nd notes.
  • Be sure to practice this left hand lead as well.
  • Consider playing the 16ths as double stops and then offset that to create 32nds.

Video Tutorials

Playlist

Transcription

Transcription

Where to Next?

I typically practice the above exercises at 12″, then cut that in half to 6″, then again at 3″. Once my students have a solid 3″ tap, this lends well to now adding accents. Now you can start looking at Down Strokes and Up Strokes.

Alternatively, since we developed alternating 16th notes, you can stay at one height and head on over to some rhythm studies.

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