Diddle rudiments · 16 of 40
Single Paradiddle
The famous one. Accent moves hand to hand — keep the taps low.
RLRRLRLL
Big letter = full stroke · filled = accent. Notation reads as on a practice-pad sheet: accents marked >, slashed small notes are grace notes, z on the stem is a buzz. R rings higher than L, so you can hear the hands.
80BPM
What it is
The famous one: R L R R, L R L L. A single, a single, a double, and because the double swaps the lead hand, the accent moves from hand to hand every repetition. It is the most useful sticking in drumming; fills, hi-hat patterns and linear grooves all lean on it.
How to practise it
- Taps an inch off the head, accents from the shoulder. Without the contrast it is just alternating strokes.
- Move the accent to the second, third and fourth notes once the standard version is clean.
- Start where every stroke is deliberate, around 60–80 BPM, and only speed up when it feels boring. When it is clean, take it to the tempo trainer and let trainer mode climb from where you are.
Take it further
- Open in the rudiment trainer →Step through all 40, shuffle, and (for members) random practice that deals you a new one every few loops.
- Log the sessionNote the BPM you reached, and next time starts where this one stopped.
- Why rudiments matter, and where to startThe five to learn first, and how to get them off the pad and onto the kit.
More diddle rudiments
The paradiddle family: singles and doubles mixed so the accent moves between the hands. The most-used stickings in drumming.
- Double ParadiddleSix notes, sextuplet feel. Great over triplet grooves.
- Triple ParadiddleEight per side — singles into the diddle.
- Single Paradiddle-DiddleSame lead every time — it never alternates.