Paradiddle

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The paradiddle , a drum rudiment , is a special exercise or percussion technique for percussion instruments (mainly drums , but also other percussion instruments ). It is a combination of single and double hits . The strokes are equally spaced, e.g. B. played as a sixteenth note. The particular challenge for the drummer is that he can play the single hits normally, but the double hits are performed with a special double hit movement. The succession of two single hits and a double hit is onomatopoeically described as "Para-Diddle".

The Paradiddles have evolved from 16 basic beats (basic patterns), which are first practiced individually and later combined with each other in a patchwork process in order to create increasingly complex rhythms.

The simplest practice method is to alternately hit with your right hand (R) and left hand (L). Usually the exercises are practiced in groups.

For a group of four strokes there are only 16 possibilities in total. The "Diddles" (double hits) that result from this are highlighted in blue or green. A combination of single and double hits and thus a paradiddle are 1) 2) 4) 7) 8) 11) 13) and 14). 

1) RRRL        9) LRRL
2) RRLR       10) LRLR
3) RRLL       11) LRLL
4) RLRR       12) LLRR
5) RLRL       13) LLRL
6) RLLR       14) LLLR
7) RLLL       15) LLLL
8) LRRR       16) RRRR

Example of a practice sequence with all 16 patterns

R = right hand L = left hand

Basic strokes
  • LL LL , RR RR , RLRL, LRLR
A blow to the left
  • LR RR , RL RR , RR LR, RR RL
One hit with the right
  • RL LL , LR LL , LL RL, LL LR
Couples
  • RR LL , L RR L , R LL R , LL RR

By stringing these patterns together and combining striking techniques, a large number of new patterns and rhythms can be assembled from this simple exercise.

Variations

A distinction is made between different types of Paradiddle: Single Paradiddle, Double Paradiddle, Triple Paradiddle and Paradiddle-Diddle.

Single Paradiddles
  • RL RR - LR LL
Double paradiddle
  • RL RL RR - LR LR LL
Triple paradiddle
  • RL RL RL RR - LR LR LR LL
Paradiddle-diddle
  • RL RR LL - RL RR LL or
  • LR LL RR - LR LL RR

Here, too, all possible sequences can be combined as desired.

Single and double paradiddle combined
  • RL RL RR - LR LR LL - RL RR - LR LR LL - RL RL RR - LR LL

See also