Which timpanist stroke is indirect, light, quick?

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

Answer: (B)

In timpanist technique, different strokes create distinct attacks and feels, shaping how a note begins and ends. The flick is the one that delivers an indirect, light, quick attack: a rapid wrist snap that makes the stick contact the head briefly and rebound, producing a crisp, short articulation without a heavy blow. This quick, wrist-driven motion is ideal for fast, precise passages where you want clear separation between notes.

Float tends to produce a longer, singing sound with more legato and sustain, not the sharp, momentary attack you’re aiming for here. Slash is a heavier, more driving stroke with a stronger contact, giving a more forceful sound rather than a light, quick one. Dab is a very light touch but more direct and controlled, lacking the rapid, wrist-snapped rebound that characterizes a flick.