The Paradiddle. We all play it – but I would bet most of us are VERY tired of playing paradiddles. As drummers, we have a habit of learning a rudiment and then quickly finding a way to apply it to the drum set. We play that one variation for a little while and then we get bored of it.

Then what?

We find another rudiment. Learn it quickly. And then find a way to apply that new rudiment to the drum set. And then we get bored of it…and so on. When we get caught in the cycle of learning, getting bored, learning a new rudiment, getting bored, learning a new rudiment – this cycle breeds shallow learning. We are only learning one use for a rudiment that has an INFINITE application to the drum set.

That is why I created this lesson. My buddy Seamus (over at DrumGab) put out a challenge for people to find new ways to use the paradiddle, and it inspired me to actually put a few options down on paper and teach them. While these three variations are a good start, that is all they are – a start. The bigger take away from this lesson should be the system I used to create these variations.

So watch the lesson and download the free sheet music and audio files below. If you want more information about learning a system that will allow you to apply any rudiment or fill in creative ways to the drum set you can visit this page.