Performing the Three Camps, or Points of War

Want to improve your performance of The Three Camps?

When it comes to performing the Three Camps properly, well-formed rolls and good rhythm are essential.

Technically there are three ways to perform the Three Camps, in terms of how you play the rhythms of the rolls.

In this practice guide, we’ll focus on the two faster approaches, sometimes also known as the Points of War.

To improve your performance of The Three Camps, we’ll talk about two different types of rolls:

• 5-Strokes Rolls (triplet-based)
• 10/11-Stroke Rolls (triplet and quintuplet based)

I would recommend focusing your energy first on the 5-stroke roll exercises, as those will set you for the 10/11-stroke roll exercises.

Triplet 5-Stroke Roll Exercises

If you play the Three Camps slowly, the 5-stroke rolls are duple-based (&a1 or 1e&). The only way to play this beating fast, however, is to turn the 5s into triplet rolls.

• If this is confusing, check out this discussion of how to understand roll rhythms.

The two best methods for developing your rolls:

• Slow to Fast Method
• Skeleton + Roll Method

Example 1: Slow to Fast 5-Stroke Rolls

This method helps to develop sticking control and fast, clean doubles. You’ll need this control to maintain fast roll movements in the Three Camps.

Many modern methods simply have drummers play 5 double strokes, then get faster and faster until they’re playing a closed roll. In this exercise, you’ll play at one tempo and progressively get faster by changing the rhythm.

This exercise will help you internalize the different types of 5-stroke roll rhythms.

Check out my Practice Guides for the Double Stroke Roll to learn more about this method and practice philosophy.

To play this exercise:

• For the first line, set a metronome to 60bpms, two clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 2x the beat (120bpm).
• For the second line, set a metronome to 60bpms, three clicks per beat. If you need to, set it to 3x the beat (180bpm).

Technique:

1. Try to emphasize (not necessarily accent) the second stroke in the doubles.
2. Focus on sharp, clear accents on the final strokes.
3. Take the full rest between the rolls to prevent rushing and driving the tempo up.

Exercise 2: Skeleton + 5-Stroke Roll

This exercise breaks the roll down to just the rhythm. This helps you to internalize the rhythms of the hand exchanges without the complication of the double strokes.

Two triplet 5s are basically just a sextuplet, accents on notes 1 & 4. Notes 2,3 & 5,6 are double strokes.

To play this exercise:

• Set a metronome to 60bpm, subdivided with 8^th notes. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 2x the beat (120bpm).
• The accents on notes 1 & 4 will match the clicks from the metronome.

Try the same exercise, but for the longer run of 5-stroke rolls at the end of each line.

Technique:

• Keep the accents strong and crisp.
• Relax between the 5s, so you don’t rush into the next one and crush the sound.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. Focus on hitting the 4^th stroke on the “&” click from the metronome to gauge how opened to play the triplets. OR, set the metronome to 60bpm with 3 clicks per beat (set to triplets). If your metronome can’t subdivide, set it to 210bpm. Your right hand lines up with each click, which will help you to open up and not rush the sextuplet.
• Uneven Sextuplets. You are most likely rushing to the 2^nd stroke and then slowing down to catch the beat. Set the metronome to 60bpm with 3 clicks per beat (set to triplets). If your metronome can’t subdivide, set it to 210bpm. Your right hand lines up with each click, which will help you to open up and keep the sextuplet even.
• 5s don’t sound distinct from each other. Most likely your accents on the final stroke of the roll aren’t very strong / clean. Particularly, your left-hand accents are likely to be weak. Try the two exercises below. The first exercise will improve accent strength and control. The second will help improve control while shifting between types of strokes (doubles and accents).

Develop your Accents

To perform this exercise:

• Set a metronome to 120bpm. If needed, start at 80bpm and work up to 120bpm.

To perform this exercise:

• Set a metronome to 120bpm. If needed, start at 80bpm and work up to 120bpm.

10/11-Stroke Rolls in Three Camps

To really improve your Three Camps performance, you’ll need to clean up your extended rolls – the 10s and sometimes 11s – that appear in the beating.

The rhythmic structures of 10s and 11s are actually the same, so we can deal with them together here.

Depending on how you chose to interpret the beating, the 10s/11s can be performed one of two ways:

• As sextuplets
• As quintuplets

The first way, as sextuplets, keeps the rhythm the same as the 5s and so the rolls almost bleed together as a nearly continuous sound. This is the most common performance heard today.

The second way, as quintuplets, adds a rest between the 5s and 10s/11s. This forces the 10/11s to occupy half a beat, and so it has a very tight structure.

This is a less employed interpretation. However, if you want to improve your historic approach to the Three Camps, you should seriously consider this method.

For a much more in-depth discussion of the authentic performance of The Three Camps, check out ‘The Mother and Three Camps’ by Fred Johnson.

Continue reading for some exercises to improve your 10s and 11s for both interpretations.

Exercise 1: Open to Closed 10s/11s

Just like with the 5s, we’ll start by developing the sticking control needed for clean 10s/11s.

This exercise remains at the same tempo, but progressively cuts the rhythm.

To play this exercise:

• Set a metronome to 60bpm, subdivided with 8^th notes. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 2x the beat (120bpm).

The only difference in the exercise for 10-stroke rolls is the double accent at the end.

Technique for 10s:

• Keep final accents strong and clear.
• At faster rhythms, keep the double accent closed. It should sound like an open Flam.

Exercise 2: 10s/11s as Sextuplets

For the “standard” approach to Three Camps, the 10s/11s are sextuplets and have the same skeleton as the triplet 5-stroke rolls.

To play this exercise:

• Set a metronome to 60bpm, with 3 clicks per beat (triplets). If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 3x the beat (180bpm).
• Unlike the 5s, only the strokes on the beat are accented. The right hand strikes on each click; use these internal clicks to keep the rhythm smooth.

The only difference in the exercise for 10-stroke rolls is the double accent at the end.

Problems & Solutions:

• Getting ahead of the beat. Make sure to use a metronome that is subdivided to triplets (3 clicks per beat; or set to 3x the desired tempo). Focus on striking the drum on each click with the right hand. If you’re still rushing, then your left hand is coming in too soon. Focus on hitting the left hand exactly between each click.
• Uneven Sextuplets. You are most likely rushing to the 2^nd stroke and then slowing down to catch the beat. See the comment above.
• Getting behind the beat. Your double stroke rolls are likely not strong enough for the sustained roll. Continue to work on improving your double stroke speed and control. Check out my Double Stroke Roll Practice Guide for some tips and exercises.
• No distinct difference between 11s and 10s. Most likely your double accent in the 10-stroke roll aren’t very clean, making your 10s sound like 11s. Specifically, your left-hand accent is probably weak. Try the accent “strengthening” exercises listed above under the 5-stroke roll.

Exercise 3: 10s/11s as Quintuplets

In the alternative, potentially more period correct version, there is a rest between the 5s and the 10s/11s. This roll forces these rolls to only take up half a beat and so they must be tighter rolls.

In this exercise, you’ll work on the quintuplet rhythm and then incorporate the tighter rolls.

To Perform this Exercise:

• Set a metronome to 60bpm, with 2 clicks per beat. If your metronome cannot subdivide, set it to 2x the beat (120bpm).
• The roll / quintuplet begins on the “&” click and ends on the beat.
• You may find it helpful to start at 40 or 50bpm and gradually work up to 60bpm.

The only difference in the exercise for 10-stroke rolls is the double accent at the end.

Problems & Solutions:

• Gap between the double strokes and the final stroke(s). Often drummers will start the rhythm too fast and then pause slightly before hitting the final stroke. If you hear this happening to you, relax and open up the rhythm so you have a smooth movement from the doubles to the final stroke.
• Dragging behind the beat on the skeleton. If you can’t get the single strokes in the quintuplet fast enough, reduce the tempo until you can. Then, slowly build up to 120bpm by increments of 5bpm or 10bpm. To help improve your speed, relax your grip and wrists.
• Dragging behind the beat on the roll. If you can play the skeleton up to tempo, but can’t get the roll fast enough, reduce the tempo until you can and slowly build up to 120bpm by increments of 5bpm or 10bpm. To help improve your speed, relax your grip and wrists. Also, check out my Double Stroke Roll Practice Guide for some tips and exercises.

Final Thoughts on Performing the Three Camps

Maintaining clean triplet-based 5-stroke rolls is the first major step in performing a masterful version of the Three Camps.

After that, cleaning up your 11s/10s will solidify your command of this challenging beating.

Download a pdf of these Three Camps exercises for practice purposes.

Arguably, the triplet-based 10s/11s are the easier version. This is because the rhythm of the rolls never changes and the 10s/11s are more open. The quintuplet-based 10s/11s require you to switch back and forth between the tighter quintuplets and the looser sextuplets in the 5s.

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Interested in learning more about The Three Camps? Check out:

• The American Reveille: A British Origin?
• The Three Camps
• History of the 5-Stroke Roll

Want more practice guides?

• Authentic Right-Hand Grip Practice Guide
• The Double Stroke Roll Practice Guide
• Double Drag Practice Guide
• The Ra Simple / 4-Stroke Roll / Swiss Ruff Practice Guide