Discovering Rhythms Inside the Paradiddle Besides being one of the most popular rudiments, the single paradiddle is a good example to illustrate the overlap between linear and rudimental drumming, and it’s great for working on an open-handed approach (right hand on the snare and left hand on the hi-hat, or vice versa if you’re left-handed). The following sixteen building blocks are all derived from paradiddle stickings. The first and third columns substitute one part of the sticking with the bass drum. The next steps are to come up with combinations of those building blocks and to add some dynamics. To do this, use patterns from the fi rst and third columns of the building blocks for counts 1 and 3 of a 4/4 groove, and patterns from the second or fourth column for counts 2 and 4. Almost any combination sounds interesting. Here are two options. Inverted paradiddle variations can […]

May 2014 Issue