Paradiddle

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The paradiddle is a 4 note sticking pattern consisting of 2 alternating notes followed by a diddle. The basic pattern is RLRR LRLL, where the pattern itself always alternates; i.e. the first paradiddle starts with one hand, the second starts with the other, etc.

The paradiddle is one of the basic building blocks (or rudiments) in drumming, in addition to flams, drags, and rolls. Paradiddles are typically one of the first rudiments taught to beginning snare drum students and can later be applied to the whole drum set, especially during fills.

There are four variations on the single paradiddle. They can be written as follows, where R represents the right hand and L represents the left hand:

1. RLRR LRLL (single paradiddle)
2. RRLR LLRL (reverse single paradiddle)
3. RLLR LRRL (inward single paradiddle)
4. RLRL LRLR (outward single paradiddle)

Other rudiments in the paradiddle family are:

1. RLRLRR LRLRLL (double paradiddle)
2. RLRLRLRR LRLRLRLL (triple paradiddle)
3. RLRRLL or LRLLRR (paradiddle-diddle) note that this one does not alternate when repeated!

The paradiddle families and variations can be combined in lots of interesting ways to achieve different effects, whether on a single snare drum, multiple tenor drums, or a drum set.

Example #1: single paradiddle variation #1 followed by variation #2:<p>

• RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL | RRLR LLRL RRLR LLRL

Example #2: 2 single, 2 double, and 2 triple paradiddles:<p>

• RLRR LRLL | RLRLRR LRLRLL | RLRLRLRR LRLRLRLL

Example #3: (2 paradiddles and 1 paradiddle-diddle) twice, then the whole pattern reversed:<p> RLRR LRLL RLRRLL | RLRR LRLL RLRRLL | RLRRLL RLRR LRLL | RLRRLL RLRR LRLL<p> Steve Reich used a melodic (not simply percussive) version of the paradiddle in Phase Patterns and Different Trains.de:Paradiddle