Are the basic rolls always used in songs?

Hi all,

I've been sticking with the basic rolls every night, and trying to incorporate them into songs i know. The chord changes are getting easier and it's slowly making tunefull sense.

With some songs though, and i'm talking about just your every day stuff you listen to on the radio or your favourite band, when you try and fit rolls to it, it doesn't seem to fit when doing it by ear.

Are there times when your drift from the rolls but they remain the main ingredient so to speak? Is this a common problem when trying to play tunes by ear rather than by tab?

It's not a major thing, the tunes kind of sound the same but might have a little variation here and there.

Thanks,

Calv.