I know we here at DrumChat often suggest people practise rudiments to improve skills. I also know that DrumChat is always joining new members, some of which are new to drumming altogether. So to aid newer (and older drummers) I thought it would be a good idea to post a bunch of rudiments and ask everyone to post any I've forgotten.
Practice Pad at the ready!
1. Sticking Technique: Works on isolating both hands. Play steadily (with a metronome if possible, and build up speed gradually). All these are 8th notes. Also, make sure to reverse these exercises and play with the left hand leading.
Single Strokes - RLRLRLRL
Double Strokes - RRLLRRLL
Random Skill Builders:
RRRLLLRL
RRRRLLLL
RRRLRRRL
RRLRLRRL
RRRRRRR
LLLLLLLL
The Paradiddle - The basic paradiddle can be moved so that the doubles land in different places.
Basic Paradiddle - RLRRLRLL
Alterations:
LRRLRLLR
RRLRLLRL
RLRLLRLR
Double Paradiddle - RLRLRR LRLRLL
Paradiddlediddle - RLRRLL LRLLRR
As with paradiddles, you can move them to give new exercises.
2. Rolls:
Rolls become a little more difficult, as the object is to control the stick to bounce.
5-stroke roll:
RRLLR
7-stroke:
RRLLRRL
9-stroke: (take one beat)
RRLLRRLLR
etc. etc.
3. Subdivision:
Subdivision is interesting, it involves breaking the note values that you play down into faster notes. i.e. from quarters, to 8ths, triplets, 16th, pentuplets, sextuplets, 32nds.
Keep the tempo going with your bass drum and work as follows:
Quarters:
SD|o-------o-------o-------o-------|
BD|o-------o-------o-------o-------|
8ths:
SD|o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---|
BD|o-------o-------o-------o-------|
Triplets:
SD|o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-|
BD|o-----o-----o-----o-----|
If your having trouble with triplets, try counting (1 trip-let, 2 trip-let etc, or 1 + a, 2+a). Note: You sticking will reverse when playing triplets (RLR LRL RLR LRL)
16ths:
SD|o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-|
BD|o-------o-------o-------o-------|
Pentuplets:
I'm only just adding these into my subdivisions now, as they are quite tricky to play. Your sticking will reverse like triplets because you're playing an odd number of strokes (RLRLR LRLRL RLRLR LRLRL)
SD|o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-|
BD|o---------o---------o---------o---------|
If you're having trouble, try counting hip-o-pot-a-mus or any other 5 syllable word you would like.
Sextuplets: Like two groups of triplets in the space of one beat. There's lots of ways to think about how to do this, like splitting them into two triplets (RLR LRL) or thinking in straight 8ths (RL RL RL) while counting the triplet (1 and a) for the rights. or counting 1 trip-let and-trip-let. Whatever works best for you.
SD|oooooooooooooooooooooooo|
BD|o-----o-----o-----o-----|
32nds: Double Time 16ths!
SD|oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo|
BD|o-------o-------o-------o-------|
When you can work your way up and down this exercise, you know you're drumming well.
The Flam: The Flam is used to give a bigger sound or accent a hit. It's played by hitting the drum with one hand a fraction of a second earlier than the other hand. Some rudiments can be found here.
The Drag: Similar to the flam, except that it involves playing a double stroke a fraction earlier than the hit. I can't find any exercises to put up, so I hope you can grasp the idea.
LLR RRL etc.
That's all I can think of for the moment,
Post if I've forgotten anything.
HB58
p.s. OH! Here's an interesting sticking exercise. Play it like sextuplets and accent the single strokes. Move the single strokes around the kit. Sounds great when built up to speed:
R LL RR L
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