In order to explore some of the funky possibilities of the single flammed mill rudiment on the drumset, move the right-hand notes from the medium tom to small tom to snare drum while playing hi-hat with the left stick, and then move the left-hand notes from the small tom to snare to medium tom while playing the ride cymbal with the right hand. The flams should be played "flat" between cymbal or hi-hat and the drums. The four inversions of the rudiment provide some intriguing syncopations. The exercise may be accompanied by bass drum patterns of your choice. Stickings are as follows: B = both, R = right, L = left.

Hear the audio file

Jeff Salisbury is drumset instructor at Johnson State College and University of Vermont.