Long Roll Drill

The long roll is the most distinctive ornament in Irish music. It consists of three evenly spaced notes: the main note, a cut on the same pitch, and a tap on the same pitch. Done correctly it creates a shimmering, wave-like effect that gives reels and jigs their characteristic lilt. Master cuts and taps first — this exercise assumes you can already produce both cleanly.

Tab Notation

Use this notation as a reference while practising. Each row is a phrase; dots represent covered holes.

long roll skeleton: three even notes then the full roll (cut + tap decoration)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Play three plain E notes of equal length: E — E — E. This is the rhythmic skeleton of the long roll.
2
Add a cut to the second E: E — E(cut) — E. The cut turns the middle note into a decorated version of itself.
3
Add a tap to the third E: E — E(cut) — E(tap). All three should be perfectly even in duration.
4
Speed up gradually with a metronome. The roll is only successful when all three notes are indistinguishable in length from each other.
5
Practice rolls on each note of the scale that supports them: E, F#, G, A, B.
6
In context: play a repeated-note passage like E-E-E in a tune, and replace one group with a roll. This is how rolls are used in real music.

Practice Tips

Use a metronome and practice at 50 bpm before attempting session speed. An uneven roll at speed is worse than no roll at all.
The most common beginner error is making the second note (the cut) too short — all three notes must be equal.
Start each practice session reviewing cuts and taps individually before combining them.
In a fast reel, the long roll typically fits over a dotted quarter note or a beat of three eighth notes.

Common Mistakes

!Rushing the cut so the first two notes blur together.
!Uneven note lengths — the three notes of a roll must sound like a triplet at any tempo.
!Attempting rolls before cuts and taps are clean individually.

Ready to Apply This in a Real Tune?

Technique only sticks when you use it in music. Browse the tab library to find a tune that lets you practise what you have just learned.

Related Exercises

Beginner10 min

Cut Ornament Drill

Learn the cut — the simplest and most versatile Irish ornament — on every note of the scale.

Beginner10 min

Tap Ornament Drill

Master the tap (also called a strike) — the downward counterpart to the cut used in Irish rolls and ornamental passages.

Advanced15 min

Cran Drill

Learn the cran — a series of cuts on low D borrowed from uilleann piping that adds power and drive to your D notes.

Long Roll Drill

Step-by-Step Instructions

Play three plain E notes of equal length: E — E — E. This is the rhythmic skeleton of the long roll.

Add a cut to the second E: E — E(cut) — E. The cut turns the middle note into a decorated version of itself.

Add a tap to the third E: E — E(cut) — E(tap). All three should be perfectly even in duration.

Speed up gradually with a metronome. The roll is only successful when all three notes are indistinguishable in length from each other.

Practice rolls on each note of the scale that supports them: E, F#, G, A, B.

In context: play a repeated-note passage like E-E-E in a tune, and replace one group with a roll. This is how rolls are used in real music.

Practice Tips

Use a metronome and practice at 50 bpm before attempting session speed. An uneven roll at speed is worse than no roll at all.

The most common beginner error is making the second note (the cut) too short — all three notes must be equal.

Start each practice session reviewing cuts and taps individually before combining them.

In a fast reel, the long roll typically fits over a dotted quarter note or a beat of three eighth notes.

Related Exercises

Beginner10 min