Best Flam Tap Drummers — Who Plays It | MetalForge
Discover which pro metal drummers use flam tap. Gear setups, videos, and tutorials for flam tap players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Flam Tap?
The flam tap is one of the Percussive Arts Society's 40 essential rudiments, built by pairing a flam with a tap on the same hand before switching sides - a flammed right stroke followed by an unaccented right tap, then a flammed left stroke followed by an unaccented left tap, repeating in a steady eighth-note pulse. The result is a rolling, accented-unaccented pattern that reads as "FLAM-tap FLAM-tap," giving each pair of notes a natural strong-weak shape instead of the even density of a straight roll. Because it is built directly from the single flam - itself one of the first accent rudiments a drummer learns - the flam tap functions as the natural bridge between basic flam control and the more advanced flam rudiments like the flammed paradiddle and flamacue. In metal drumming, the flam tap is a go-to tool for fills and lead-in phrases that need a fat, accented note followed by a softer follow-through: a flam-tap figure across the snare and toms gives a fill instant weight on its downbeats while keeping the connecting notes light enough not to clutter the phrase.
How fast are flam taps played?
Flam Tap is typically played around Any.
Who is the best flam tap drummer?
Mike Mangini (Dream Theater) is among the most cited Flam Tap drummers, alongside Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders), Charlie Benante (Anthrax).
What gear do you need for Flam Tap?
The gear requirements for Flam Tap vary by drummer. Browse MetalForge for complete kit specs from pros who use this technique.