flam

IPA/flæm/
KK[flˈæm]IPA/flæm/

flam — noun

  • flamsingular
  • flamsplural

1. A flam is a drumming technique in which the player strikes two quick notes so cl

1.noun
Definition

A flam is a drumming technique in which the player strikes two quick notes so close together that they sound like one short burst, with the second hit being slightly louder than the first.

Example

The drummer practiced the flam until both sticks hit the drum almost together.

play / practice a flam

Diego's teacher showed him that a flam starts with a very quiet first stroke.

flam starts with [quiet first stroke]

Common collocations
  • play a flam
  • perform a flam
  • practice the flam
  • crisp flam
  • loud flam
  • smooth flam
  • flam stroke
  • flam rudiment
Synonyms
  • grace note

    A broader term for any short, unaccented note played just before a main note. A flam is a specific type of two-note grace-note pattern in drumming.

Usage Note

Typically used in the context of snare drum rudiments. The first stroke is called a grace note and is barely audible; the second stroke carries the accent. Beginners often play both strokes at equal volume, which makes the pattern sound like a regular double stroke instead of a true flam.

Common Mistakes

A flam is two notes played at exactly the same time.
A flam is two notes played very quickly one after the other, with a tiny gap between them.
The strokes are extremely close but not perfectly simultaneous.
In a flam, the first note is louder.
In a flam, the second note is louder.
The accent falls on the second stroke, while the first is a soft grace note.

Word family

  • flammed
    adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Flam, drag and ruff are all drum rudiments that involve two or more quick strokes as a lead-in to a main beat. The key difference lies in the number and spacing of the grace notes. A flam uses exactly two strokes — one very soft grace note followed by a louder main stroke — with a tiny gap between them. A drag (or 'half drag') uses two soft grace notes played before the main stroke, creating a slightly longer, rolling sound. A ruff (or 'triple-stroke ruff') uses three soft grace notes before the main stroke. In practice, a flam sounds tighter and more punchy than a drag or ruff. Beginner drummers often start with the flam because its two-stroke pattern is simpler to control.

flam ↗drag ↗ruff

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • play a flam
  • perform a flam
  • practice the flam

Etymology

English

The word 'flam' first appeared in English drumming manuals in the late 19th century. It is likely an onomatopoeic word — invented to imitate the short, two-stroke sound that the technique produces. The term became part of the official Standard 26 American Drum Rudiments, which were codified by the National Association of Rudimental Drummers in 1933.