Double Paradiddle

What the double paradiddle is

Read it, hear it, and slow it down until it is even.

Four single strokes then a double, six notes per group, which makes it sit naturally in a triplet feel rather than in sixteenths (semiquavers). That extra pair of singles is what makes it the go-to rudiment for 6/8 and for jazz and shuffle fills. Practice it slowly against a triplet count — the trap is rushing the four singles and arriving at the diddle early.

How to practice it

• Count it in triplets — "1 trip-let 2 trip-let" — because six notes per group sit naturally in a triplet feel, not in sixteenths.
• The trap is rushing the four singles and arriving at the diddle early. Play the four singles alone against the click first.
• Accent only the first note of each group of six.
• Move it to the kit in 6/8 or over a shuffle, where it fits the underlying feel without any adjustment.

Where it leads

The double paradiddle belongs to the diddle rudiments family, and it feeds directly into the triple paradiddle, and triplet fills in 6/8 and shuffle grooves. Get it even at a slow tempo before you move on — every rudiment built on top of it inherits whatever unevenness you leave here.

Reading the notation above

Both hands play the snare drum, so every notehead sits in the third space of the staff and the sticking cells underneath tell you which hand plays which note, with the count under every stroke. Capital letters are full strokes; small raised letters are grace notes. There are no grace notes in this rudiment, so every note is a full stroke. The > marks above the staff are accents: hit those notes harder. Full details in the drum notation guide.

Tempo ladder

Tap a rung to set the speed. Play 8 clean loops before moving up.