How to Build Speed and Precision with Paradiddles.
Paradiddles are an invaluable rudiment for developing speed, precision, and dynamic control in drumming. A common way to add musicality and control is by accenting the first note of each paradiddle group. This accent placement helps develop independence, articulation, and dynamics, all while building speed.
Understanding the Accented Paradiddle
The basic accented paradiddle sticking is:
Rlrr Lrll
This accent on the first note brings out the single strokes, forcing your hands to differentiate between louder and softer hits. The challenge here is to maintain the flow of the pattern while playing consistent accents without altering the tempo.
Practice tip: Use a metronome and ensure even dynamics between the non-accented strokes (ghost notes) and the accented ones.
Start Slow
While speed is the eventual goal, the key to precision lies in starting slow. Focus on playing each accent cleanly and with control:
Wrist action: The entire rudiment should be played from the wrist. Try not to move the arms too much as you will use up valuable energy which will stop you from reaching higher tempos.
Stick height: Your accents will have higher stick heights, while ghost notes should be played as close to the head or pad as possible.
Aim for consistency between your accented and non-accented strokes. Gradually increase your tempo, but never sacrifice clarity for speed.
Building Speed
Accented paradiddles can feel awkward when speeding up due to the dynamic shifts between notes. To overcome this:
Increase tempo incrementally: Don’t rush into high speeds. Slowly build speed, maintaining even strokes between accented and ghost notes.
Focus on evenness: Each stroke should feel controlled. The gap between the accent and ghost notes should remain consistent regardless of speed.
Adding Paradiddle Variations
Once you’re comfortable with the standard accented paradiddle, try applying accents to paradiddle variations like:
Double Paradiddle: RLRLRR LRLRLL
Triple Paradiddle: RLRLRLRR LRLRLRLL
Paradiddle-diddle: RLRRLL
Accent the first note of each group in the same way. Practicing variations will strengthen your hand independence and create more dynamic contrast in your playing.
Applying Paradiddles to the Drum Kit
Here are some practical ways to incorporate accented paradiddles into your drumming:
Grooves: Play the accented strokes on the hi-hat while keeping ghost notes on the snare. This will give your groove more bounce and dynamic texture.
Fills: Move the accent around the kit while keeping the ghost notes quiet on the snare or toms. This gives your fills an exciting, rhythmic quality.
Practicing with Subdivisions
Accented paradiddles can be played with various rhythmic subdivisions:
Start with eighth notes
Move to sixteenth notes
Try 8th note triplets and 16th note triplets without changing the accent pattern. This creates some tricky polyrhythmic exercises.
Switching subdivisions while maintaining accents will challenge your timing and boost your rhythmic flexibility.
Muscle Memory and Repetition
Developing speed and precision with paradiddles takes time and repetition. By making this a daily practice routine, you’ll gradually build muscle memory, enabling your hands to effortlessly switch between accented and ghost notes at high speeds.
Incorporating Paradiddles into Your Style
Once you’ve mastered accented paradiddles, start applying them creatively in your playing. Whether it’s in grooves, fills, or solos, accents add a dynamic flair that transforms basic patterns into expressive musical ideas.
Conclusion
Mastering accented paradiddles takes time and dedication, but it’s a powerful tool for any drummer aiming to enhance both speed and dynamic control. Focus on clean execution at slower tempos, then gradually increase speed while maintaining even accents and ghost notes. This practice will not only build technical prowess but also open up new creative possibilities in your drumming.
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