Definition

A trap roll is a fast burst of repeated hi-hat notes, often shifting between sixteenths, thirty-seconds, and triplets, that is a signature of trap drum programming.

Example

Under a trap beat you hear the hi-hat suddenly accelerate into a stuttering "t-t-t-t" run, then drop back to a steady pattern. That accelerating-and-decelerating hi-hat figure, sometimes pitched or panned, is the trap roll.

Why it matters

The trap roll is one of the defining ornaments of modern trap and its many offshoots. It adds energy, tension, and forward motion to an otherwise sparse beat, and varying its speed and placement is a core part of the genre's drum vocabulary.

How to play or configure

The easiest route is Note Repeat: hold the hi-hat pad and change the rate live to speed up or slow the roll. You can also step-sequence the roll by placing fast subdivisions on the hi-hat row. Vary velocity across the roll so it crescendos, and quantize lightly so it stays tight without sounding completely lifeless.

Further reading

Finger Drumming for Beginners builds the speed needed for rolls.