Help re: Developing strong double strokes

[Jonathan Khoo]

Hi all,

Recently i've come to a point in my playing where i feel i need to really
get back to the basics of my technique and get all my dysfunctional playing
habits/incompetencies sorted out. :) In trying to rework my double strokes
(which are way weaker compared to single strokes), I'm not sure which method
or technique to pursue. I was wondering if any of you guys could shed some
light on how you went about developing them.
When i first started learning, i worked thru some of stick control, which i
will do for sure again. My doubles currently consist of an initial stroke
with the wrist, then trying to snap the 2nd note back into the hand with the
fingers. When i practiced it, i didn't accent the 2nd note, just worked more
with the bounce of the stick. I find that this method doesn't hold up too
well when going to the toms, where head tension is looser - i find myself
losing power and definition very quickly. Overall, this method feels weak
and uneven sounding to me - I'm not sure whether I'm approaching it
correctly?

One method (from Weckl's Back to Basics vid) involves accenting the 2nd note
of the double so that it remains strong and even when the tempo is
increased. Is this a good way to go?

Can anyone break down how the wrist and the fingers work with the double
stroke at a slow and at a fast tempo? Does the technique change after a
certain point in speed?

I'll be tracking down my old teacher soon to get some lessons with all this,
as well - but i was just wondering what other ways there are out there of
approaching this.

Thanks in advance :)
Jon

[Dan Radin]

"Jonathan Khoo" <jkhoo@NOSPAMiinet.net.au> wrote in message
news:3f52eb8b$0$23608$5a62ac22@freenews.iinet.net. au...
> One method (from Weckl's Back to Basics vid) involves accenting the 2nd
note
> of the double so that it remains strong and even when the tempo is
> increased. Is this a good way to go?

IMHO, no. Just p[ractice aiming for consistency with no accenets, and on
every surface you can find: all different drums, pillows, your bed, your
shoe sole, your thigh, the carpet, etc. But don't use the bounce. Stroke it
out with your fingers. You need to develop those muscles and get your brain
to understand how to make them fire.

> Can anyone break down how the wrist and the fingers work with the double
> stroke at a slow and at a fast tempo? Does the technique change after a
> certain point in speed?

Wrist makes one stroke; fingers makes two. That's why it's a double stroke.
It's like dribbling a basketball or yo-yoing. Think throw and catch. Yes,
obviously, there will be a certain tempo when you'll need to switch back
over to just using the bounce, the the point is to gain the control to never
need to.

> I'll be tracking down my old teacher soon to get some lessons with all
this,

There's your ideal approach.

In article <k7L4b.833$Qk4.801@nwrdny03.gnilink.net>, Dan Radin
<dan.radin@verizon.net> wrote:


>
> Wrist makes one stroke; fingers makes two. That's why it's a double stroke.
> It's like dribbling a basketball or yo-yoing. Think throw and catch. Yes,
> obviously, there will be a certain tempo when you'll need to switch back
> over to just using the bounce, the the point is to gain the control to never
> need to.
>

I've always thought of the accenting the second hit as a way of
developing the "throw and catch" feel as well as fostering a more even
dynamic level