Rolls

What You'll Learn

The roll is the most iconic ornament in Irish music — a combination of cut and tap played in rapid succession on one note. Master the long roll and the short roll.

The Long Roll

A long roll on one note follows this pattern: note → cut → note → tap → note

The main note is played three times, separated by a cut (above) and a tap (below). It takes one full measure of 4/4 time.

Long Roll on A

Play A, cut A (lift hole 2), play A, tap A (strike hole 4), play A. Five events total in one smooth motion.

A - cut - A - tap - A | A - cut - A - tap - A |

- cut - - tap - | - cut - - tap - |

Rhythmically: long short long short long (crochet-quaver-crochet-quaver-crochet).

Long Roll on G

Play G, cut G (lift hole 3), play G, tap G (strike hole 5), play G.

G - cut - G - tap - G | G - cut - G - tap - G |

- cut - - tap - | - cut - - tap - |

The Short Roll

A short roll is like a long roll but without the final note: note → cut → note → tap

Used in faster tunes (reels) where there's not enough time for a full long roll.

Practice Tips

• Master cuts and taps separately before attempting rolls.
• Practice the long roll on each note: G, A, B, D, E.
• Start at a slow tempo (40 BPM) and gradually increase. Clean rolls at slow speed are more valuable than sloppy rolls at fast speed.

Common Mistakes

• Uneven rhythm — the cut-tap should be rhythmically even. Use a metronome.
• Air stops during the roll — keep a steady stream of air. The roll is all finger movement.
• Roll is too slow — if listeners hear three distinct notes with gaps, you're playing too slowly. The roll should sound like a decorated single note.