Flams

Flams give drummers the means to thicken up the sound of any given note by adding a grace note alongside the main note.  A grace note is a note that functions as ornamentation of the main note.  It is written as a very small note directly before the main note.

The grace note is played closer to the drum than the main note thereby striking the drum just before the main note producing a fuller sound than just a single note alone.

Pay close attention to your stick heights when working on flams: the grace note is low and the main note is high.  Remember that your hands are in fact playing at the exact same time.  It is the difference in stick heights that give us the fuller sound. 

Be sure not to lift your sticks before playing a flam.  Just play straight down in to the drum from the starting position.  Likewise be sure that when you finish your flam that you are in position for a flam in the opposite hand.

Pay attention to the sound being produced.  You will get a very distinctive and unpleasant sound if your sticks land together.  This can happen if you lift the grace before playing a flam, keep it low and do not lift your sticks before playing.  Having the two strokes land too far apart from each other is another problem to watch for.   This will happen if you are not moving your hands at the exact same time.

Take your time with this exercise as it is a challenge to keep track of the opposing stick heights.  Having a good drum teacher can really help with avoiding bad habits.   – Time to get drumming!