Three from each hand, clean enough to count.
The Rudiment
The triple stroke roll sits between the measured double stroke roll and the uncountable buzz: three controlled strokes from each hand before switching. Unlike the multiple bounce roll, every note is meant to be heard distinctly and evenly, so the pattern reads as a clean stream of threes — a triplet feel built into the hands themselves. It develops rebound control beyond the double and gives a smooth, flowing quality prized in jazz and by players chasing effortless speed.
Sticking
The standard sticking groups three strokes to a hand: RRR LLL RRR LLL. Each group of three is a controlled combination of a stroke plus two rebounds — a struck note followed by two evenly bounced ones — and the pattern naturally aligns with triplet or sextuplet subdivisions. The goal is three matched notes per hand, not a stroke and a blur.
How to Play
Play the first note of each triplet with a wrist stroke, then let the fingers guide two even rebounds, keeping all three at the same volume and spacing. The trick is controlling the second and third bounces so they do not decay or rush — light finger pressure regulates them. As with the double stroke roll, evenness between the hands matters more than raw speed; a clean triple roll at a moderate tempo is worth far more than a sloppy fast one.
In Practice
The triple stroke roll flows through jazz solos and comping, fusion fills, and any passage that wants a rolling triplet texture with definition. It extends the control learned in the Double Stroke Open Roll and contrasts with the pure texture of the Multiple Bounce Roll.