Down & Up Strokes

Staccato

Down Strokes

Staccato

A Down Stroke, also known as a Staccato Stroke, starts in the up position (high) and finishes in the down position (low).  

When an accent is followed by a regular note (tap/up) or a rest, on the same hand, then a down stroke is used. However, if an accent is followed by another accent, a full stroke is used.

Up Strokes

Staccato

An Up Stroke, starts in the down position (low) and ends in the up position (high).

When a regular note is followed by an accent (down/full), on the same hand, then an up stroke is used. if a regular note is follwed by another regular note or a rest, then a tap is used.

The up stroke is often the most underdeveloped and neglected of all the stroke types. This stroke should go as fast up as the down stroke goes down.

Practice Tips

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

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

Also be sure to practice at multiple tempos. Focus on keeping all notes even and connected. At slow to medium speeds, the wrist is used. As tempos start to increase, however, the wrist will not be able to keep up and note groupings may start to become disconnected. At this point, the fingers will start to open and the moeller whip stroke will be needed.

Exercises

Buck 4s

  • Each group of four is played Down-tap-tap-up
  • Focus on the up stroke before each accent
    • Don’t whip (usually caused by playing a tap and then hesitating)
    • Up strokes will help connect each group of four to the next group of four
  • Focus on the inner beats (low notes)
    • There are more inner beats than accents and yet we tend to focus our attention elsewhere
    • Taps are low but not weak
    • Try starting with a measure of taps and then gradually increasing accent heights. Sneak in a small accent without interrupting the flow and sound quality of those taps. Gradually increase the accent height while keeping the taps the priority.

Buck 3s

  • Each group of three is played Down-tap-up

Buck 2s

  • Each group of two is played Down-up

Buck 332s

  • Mixed Bucks

Tap Offs

  • Be careful not to play downstrokes at the end of measure two. Let go and use your fingers for the Full Strokes beginning on count 3.

Drop the left Bucks

  • Don’t change the right hand when the left is added or removed
    • The right continues to play buck 2s even with the left added between each note.
    • Make sure not to hesitate or rush when 16ths are added.
  • Continue to focus on inner beats, make them a priority
  • Develop the space on the left hand taps
    • Don’t swing the left but work to play even and straight

Drop the Right Bucks

  • When isolating the left hand like this, it is easier to practice when the left hand is on the beat. However, this will eventually help prepare the left hand to play accents on Es and As.
  • Try replacing the last beat with a paradiddle and then connecting this to the previous right hand lead exercise.

Drop the Left Buck 332s

  • up strokes

16th Accent Grid

  • Each hand takes turns playing bucks
  • Be sure to practice each measure seperately but don’t forget to work the transition accross each barline.
    • Don’t whip on the transitions, know where each upstroke occurs

16th 2 Accent Grid

  • Both hands are now responsible for playing bucks back to back
  • Practice bucks as double stops and then learn to offset that as you come down.

Triplet Accent Grid

  • The up immediately after accent

Video Tutorials

Playlist

Transcript

Transcript

Where to Next?

Maybe paradiddles

Down Strokes

Staccato

Down Strokes

Staccato Strokes

A Down Stroke, also known as a Staccato Stroke, starts in the up position (high) and finishes in the down position (low).  

When an accent is followed by a regular note (tap/up) or a rest, on the same hand, then a down stroke is used. However, if an accent is followed by another accent, a full stroke is used.

Up Strokes

Staccato Strokes

Up Strokes

Staccato

An Up Stroke, starts in the down position (low) and ends in the up position (high).

When a regular note is followed by an accent (down/full), on the same hand, then an up stroke is used. if a regular note is follwed by another regular note or a rest, then a tap is used.

The up stroke is often the most underdeveloped and neglected of all the stroke types. This stroke should go as fast up as the down stroke goes down.

Practice Tips

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

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

Also be sure to practice at multiple tempos. Focus on keeping all notes even and connected. At slow to medium speeds, the wrist is used. As tempos start to increase, however, the wrist will not be able to keep up and note groupings may start to become disconnected. At this point, the fingers will start to open and the moeller whip stroke will be needed.

Mp3

100 BPM
60 BPM

Exercises

Buck 4s

  • Each group of four is played Down-tap-tap-up
  • Focus on the up stroke before each accent
    • Don’t whip (usually caused by playing a tap and then hesitating)
    • Up strokes will help connect each group of four to the next group of four
  • Focus on the inner beats (low notes)
    • There are more inner beats than accents and yet we tend to focus our attention elsewhere
    • Taps are low but not weak
    • Try starting with a measure of taps and then gradually increasing accent heights. Sneak in a small accent without interrupting the flow and sound quality of those taps. Gradually increase the accent height while keeping the taps the priority.

Buck 3s

  • Each group of three is played Down-tap-up

Buck 2s

  • Each group of two is played Down-up

Buck 332s

  • Mixed Bucks

Tap Offs

  • Be careful not to play downstrokes at the end of measure two. Let go and use your fingers for the Full Strokes beginning on count 3.

Drop the Left Bucks

  • Don’t change the right hand when the left is added or removed
    • The right continues to play buck 2s even with the left added between each note.
    • Make sure not to hesitate or rush when 16ths are added.
  • Continue to focus on inner beats, make them a priority
  • Develop the space on the left hand taps
    • Don’t swing the left but work to play even and straight

Drop the Right Bucks

  • When isolating the left hand like this, it is easier to practice when the left hand is on the beat. However, this will eventually help prepare the left hand to play accents on Es and As.
  • Try replacing the last beat with a paradiddle and then connecting this to the previous right hand lead exercise.

Drop the Left Buck 332s

  • up strokes

16th Accent Grid

  • Each hand takes turns playing bucks
  • Be sure to practice each measure seperately but don’t forget to work the transition accross each barline.
    • Don’t whip on the transitions, know where each upstroke occurs

16th 2 Accent Grid

  • Both hands are now responsible for playing bucks back to back
  • Practice bucks as double stops and then learn to offset that as you come down.

Triplet Grid

  • The up immediately after accent

Video Tutorials

Playlist

Transcription

Transcription

Where to Next?

Maybe paradiddles

Enter your username and password to log into your account