How to Do a Paradiddle On The Drums

If you want to be a drummer, there are a few key skills you need to learn. One is the paradiddle. Here's how to do it:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• drumsticks
• drum set or practice pads

1. Hold one drumstick in each hand. You will be playing a four-beat percussion sequence that shifts from one hand to the other. It is called a paradiddle because that's what the rhythm sounds like, par-a-did-dle.

2. Hit the pad or drum with the right drumstick alone, then the left alone, then the right twice.

3. Then hit the drum pad with the left drumstick alone, then the right alone, then the left twice. One beat should not be slower or faster than another. Each is a 16th note.

4. Now put the two pieces together, so the entire sequence looks like this: R-L-R-R-L-R-L-L. Repeat, and continue this pattern on a loop. Each time try to do the sequence a little bit faster.

Tips & Warnings

• You don't need to bash away at the drum or the pad. Try to keep your stroke even. As you get more skilled at doing the paradiddle, try to put a little extra emphasis on the first beat of each sequence.
• Don't white-knuckle your drumsticks. You want a firm grip, but one that allows for movement of the stick.
• Start very slow and build up as you go. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't come to you right away--it's a new kind of coordination, so it can take time to get your muscles accustomed to it.