Drum rudiment identification quiz

Question 1

Which basic roll uses the shown continuously alternating single-hand strokes?

Accepted Answer

Single Stroke Roll. The hands alternate one stroke at a time. The card isolates sticking; the source notation supplies the rhythmic presentation.

Question 2

Which basic roll matches these repeating pairs of strokes by the same hand?

Accepted Answer

Double Stroke Open Roll. The displayed pattern repeats two right strokes and two left strokes. This is the double-stroke hand pattern rather than alternating singles.

Question 3

Which roll is associated with these repeating groups of three strokes per hand?

Accepted Answer

Triple Stroke Roll. Three strokes by one hand alternate with three by the other. The card does not specify the source’s complete rhythmic notation.

Question 4

Which diddle rudiment matches R L R R followed by L R L L?

Accepted Answer

Single Paradiddle. Each leading-hand phrase contains two alternating singles followed by a same-hand double. The second phrase reverses the lead.

Question 5

Which diddle rudiment has a right-leading phrase R L R L R R?

Accepted Answer

Double Paradiddle. Four alternating singles lead into the same-hand double. Its mirrored phrase leads with the other hand.

Question 6

Which diddle rudiment has a right-leading phrase R L R L R L R R?

Accepted Answer

Triple Paradiddle. Six alternating singles precede the double in the leading-hand phrase. Count the singles before the repeated hand, not merely the final two strokes.

Question 7

Which named diddle phrase is shown by R L R R L L?

Accepted Answer

Single Paradiddle-diddle. The phrase has two alternating singles followed by two same-hand doubles. Its timing and accent treatment still come from notation.

Question 8

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R?

Accepted Answer

Five Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 5 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 9

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L?

Accepted Answer

Seven Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 7 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 10

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L L R?

Accepted Answer

Nine Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 9 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 11

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L L R R L?

Accepted Answer

Eleven Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 11 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 12

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L L R R L L R?

Accepted Answer

Thirteen Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 13 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 13

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L?

Accepted Answer

Fifteen Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 15 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 14

Which numbered double-stroke roll matches this expanded phrase: R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R?

Accepted Answer

Seventeen Stroke Roll. The phrase contains 17 individual strokes: same-hand doubles followed by its final single. The source writes the roll with rhythmic notation; this expanded card makes its stroke count visible.

Question 15

Which numbered roll has the displayed six-stroke sticking R L L R R L?

Accepted Answer

Six Stroke Roll. The six-stroke phrase begins and ends with singles around two doubles. Six letters alone are not full rhythmic notation; the hand order matters.

Question 16

A single small opposite-hand stroke precedes a large main stroke. Which basic rudiment is being represented?

Accepted Answer

Flam. A flam has one grace stroke preceding its main stroke, using opposite hands. The small and large marks distinguish their roles; they are not two equal simultaneous hits.

Question 17

Two small same-hand strokes precede an opposite-hand main stroke. Which basic rudiment does that show?

Accepted Answer

Drag. The drag includes a two-stroke grace group before the main stroke. The shown sticking begins with two left grace strokes and a right main stroke.

Question 18

This card shows a flam followed by two alternating main strokes, then a mirrored phrase. Which rudiment matches?

Accepted Answer

Flam Accent. The main strokes alternate in three-stroke phrases, with the flam at the beginning. The card omits the rhythmic values and accents of the full score.

Question 19

This card pairs a right-hand flam/main stroke with another right stroke, then mirrors that on the left. Which rudiment matches?

Accepted Answer

Flam Tap. Flam Tap combines a flam and a same-hand tap before changing lead. Distinguish the small grace stroke from the main-hand letters.

Question 20

Which rudiment adds a flam to the start of each shown paradiddle phrase?

Accepted Answer

Flam Paradiddle. The main-hand sequence follows the paradiddle pattern, while the small opposite-hand note precedes its leading main stroke.

Question 21

In the shown Swiss Army Triplet phrase lR R L, which main hand is repeated before the final L?

Accepted Answer

R. The small l is the grace stroke. Reading only the large main strokes gives R R L; the first two main strokes use the right hand.

Question 22

Which drag-family rudiment matches a drag plus one alternating main tap in each mirrored phrase?

Accepted Answer

Single Drag Tap. Each leading phrase has one two-stroke grace group before its first main stroke, followed by the opposite main hand.

Question 23

Which drag-family rudiment shows two drag groups before the final alternating main tap in each phrase?

Accepted Answer

Double Drag Tap. Two separate grace groups precede the concluding main tap in the leading phrase. Count the grace groups, not just the large letters.

Question 24

Which card-reading description fits the displayed beginning of a Single Ratamacue phrase?

Accepted Answer

Two left grace strokes, then main strokes R L R L. The two small left strokes belong before the first main R. The full rudiment’s rhythmic grouping and final accent are given in the source score.

Question 25

In this Pataflafla phrase, count the main strokes that have a preceding small grace stroke.

Accepted Answer

2. The first and fourth main strokes have small opposite-hand grace strokes. The card preserves that hand relationship while omitting timing and accent notation.

Question 26

Which set names the four top-level rudiment families on the PAS chart?

Accepted Answer

Roll, diddle, flam and drag. These are the chart’s four organizational families. Instrument names and pitch concepts are different classifications.

Question 27

In these sticking cards, what do R and L identify?

Accepted Answer

The hand used for each stroke. The letters mark right and left hand. Timing, dynamic level and instrument choice require separate information.

Question 28

What distinguishes a basic flam grace group from a basic drag grace group?

Accepted Answer

One grace stroke versus two. The source shows one grace stroke before the flam’s main stroke and two before the drag’s. Both still need their full performance context.

Question 29

Does a sticking-only card specify every rhythmic value and accent of the official score?

Accepted Answer

No; full notation supplies additional information. The hand sequence is one layer of information. The source notation separately shows duration, grouping, grace-note form and accents.

Question 30

A player swaps every R and L in the displayed Single Paradiddle pattern while preserving the relationships. What changed?

Accepted Answer

The leading hand. Mirroring the hands changes the lead while keeping the single-paradiddle relationships. The official chart shows both leads.

Feature	Read it as	Do not assume
R / L	Right / left hand	Pitch or fixed duration
Large letter	Main stroke in these cards	Every main stroke has equal duration
Small letter	Grace stroke in these cards	An equal simultaneous main hit
Alternating singles	R L R L relationship	A complete rhythmic score
Same-hand double	R R or L L	A single counted stroke
Flam / drag	One / two grace strokes before a main stroke	A card specifies all performance details
Mirrored hands	The other lead with relationships retained	A new rudiment solely from swapping hands

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A little more about this quiz

Drum rudiment identification reference

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Read main strokes and grace strokes

Count a roll phrase carefully

Use the official notation after recognition

Put it into practice