Which timpanist stroke is indirect, heavy, sustained?

• A. float
• B. wring
• C. dab
• D. slash

Answer: (B)

In timpani technique, the way you strike the drum shapes the attack, tone color, and how long the note sustains. The stroke that is indirect, heavy, and sustained is wring. It involves a wrist twist that drives the mallet into the head along a slightly off-center path rather than a straight downward hit. This indirect contact creates a strong, weighty onset, but the attack isn’t sharp; the head’s resonance is allowed to ring, producing a powerful, enduring tone.

Float yields a light, airy sound because the mallet is allowed to barely touch and rebound, giving a bright tone with little attack. Dab is a quick, light touch that produces a short, muted note. Slash delivers a direct, forcible strike with a clear, short decay for a punchy, accented effect.