Pronouncing tr and dr in Spanish.
Being unable to trill Spanish Rs can make a beginner sound dreadful. Even I wince when I hear an American novice say "Pero, quiero el carro" with English Rs. I can roll my tongue for 5 seconds straight and I can trill my Rs when the R or RRs start a word or follow a vowel (for example: rojo, cultura). Natives have told me I am good and just need some fine tuning. BUT. . . when the R follows a consonant, I physically can't do it: especially tr and dr (for example traer and drogas). I have read it can take years to get the sound down right. In English tr words have a "ch" component not heard in Spanish. For example: treat and cheat.
I've watched tons of videos, but they tend to focus on trilling an R in general (which I can do). Does anyone know good practice for thrilling an R in a consonant cluster? (e.g. Trabajo). And for native Spanish-speakers: I know soft Rs with vowels sound bad (e.g. carro), but if a tr or dr is not trilled does it sound just as bad?

Question

Pronouncing tr and dr in Spanish.
Being unable to trill Spanish Rs can make a beginner sound dreadful. Even I wince when I hear an American novice say "Pero, quiero el carro" with English Rs. I can roll my tongue for 5 seconds straight and I can trill my Rs when the R or RRs start a word or follow a vowel (for example: rojo, cultura). Natives have told me I am good and just need some fine tuning. BUT. . . when the R follows a consonant, I physically can't do it: especially tr and dr (for example traer and drogas). I have read it can take years to get the sound down right. In English tr words have a "ch" component not heard in Spanish. For example: treat and cheat. 
I've watched tons of videos, but they tend to focus on trilling an R in general (which I can do). Does anyone know good practice for thrilling an R in a consonant cluster? (e.g. Trabajo). And for native Spanish-speakers: I know soft Rs with vowels sound bad (e.g. carro), but if a tr or dr is not trilled does it sound just as bad?

Answer

I think Dani has the key....de-emphasize the T sound in TR.  Dont think of  sounding the T, but trill an R and then try to alter the beginning of the trill only a little. This is how I learned it.

Other tip. Put tip of tongue against back of top teeth, then trill R.  Dont think about sounding a T.

Answer

OK. I don't know why I thought you posted it as a notebook correction and I decided to comment instead of answering, my b. Just one last thing, I think the "tr" and "dr" don't sound as bad when mispronounced, but things like these are what would make someone tell a native speaker from a non native haha, however, here's a link to make you feel a little better:
http://culturacolectiva.com/esternocleidomastoideo-y-las-otras-14-palabras-mas-dificiles-de-pronunciar-en-espanol/

(pretty much any Spanish speaker would have a hard time pronouncing these words, if you can get these, buy yourself triple scoop ice cream)

I hope I helped a little! Let me know if you have any questions please!
Happy learning

Answer

If you can't roll R in TR and DR, the problem may be actually in your (mis)pronunciacion of T/D, as they are also pronounced differently in Spanish than in English (I can't roll R either if I try to use the English T/D).

Have a look at this: https://www.mimicmethod.com/two-tongue-tweaks

Answer

Don't worry so much, It's absolutely common for english speaker because you don't have this sound. Anyway everybody will understand you ;)
But you have the key. Listening and training you will catch the correct pronunciation. So you are following the correct path.
The secret (easy to say being spanish ;)) is relaxing the tongue looking for a quick and soft pronunciation of the syllable.
In the same way that you say "party" "twitter" o "get-up" in your own american style.  I know that the problem is between consonants, but for this reason is a trouble for you, because we can't find a similar pronunciation in your vocabulary ;)

Answer

Hi! I'm native Spanish speaker from Mexico and I'm also a musician (so I'd say I have a pretty good ear). My girlfriend is American and she's had a similar. She's great when she want to sound like a chainsaw an rolls r's like no tomorrow, but the other ones are the harder ones now. THE KEY to mimicking any sound is TO LISTEN, first. Pay attention to how Spanish speakers do it, and also how they position their tongue/mouth. My recommendation then is, to literally practice the hard syllables individually: tra, tre, tri, tro, tru; dra, dre, dri, dro, dru; etc. Start saying tra, and then say: tratratratratratratratratra until you get tired. Practice everyday and you'll be sounding like a native in no time!