Nothing will improve your drumming technique more than playing rudiments. A drum rudiment is a set of patterns and strokes that are used to create sounds on a drum, it's really that simple. Rudiments can be played anywhere on a drum kit. Rudiments can be used during fills, beat and solos, and if they are used effectively they can give your whole drumming style an original and unique edge.
What Rudiments Should I Learn?
The simple straightforward answer to this question is - all of them! There are 40 rudiments in total, and to master them all takes years, however most of them are built on only six. If you learn to master these six basic rudiments then the others will be a breeze.
In the example below R stands for right hand, and L stands for left hand. Brackets indicate ghost notes. The notation below is written for right-handed drummers, reverse sticking applies if you are left-handed.
Single stroke roll - This is the first rudiment any drummer should learn. The single stroke roll uses a very simple stick technique - R L R L R L R L
Double stroke roll - Another very simple rudiment. Like the single stroke roll, only you hit the drum twice with each hand - R R L L R R L L
Multiple bounce roll - This is what most people know as the drum roll. The multiple bounce roll can often be heard in drumlines. There is no specific sticking for this roll as it requires the drummer to simply bounce the sticks against the drum skin.
Paradiddle - The paradiddle is a very tricky rudiment. It can sound great when it is played on multiple drums and when it's incorporated into drum beats - R L R R L R L L
Flam - The flam is two taps on the drum. The first note is a ghost note, meaning that it should be played gracefully, whilst the second note should be played at full volume - (R) L
Drag - The drag is very similar to the flam, however it utilizes two ghost notes at the beginning rather than one - (RR) L
Once you can competently play these six rudiments then you should move onto learning the variations. It's important that you don't rush learning these six rudiments, as you will only slow down your progress if you move on before you are ready.
How Often Should I Practice Drum Rudiments
I would recommend that you practice rudiments on a daily basis. Focus on one specific rudiment each day, and try to play it for roughly five minutes both before and after your main practice session. If you don't have a drum kit, or have issues with noise then a practice pad can be a great way to improve your rudiments.
Learning drum rudiments is very important if you want to expand your overall drumming vocabulary, as they will help you to improve your speed, power, control and strength. Remember to take your time, and try to have fun. It takes a lot of dedication to master all 40 rudiments, but if you get there your drumming will be on a whole other level.
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Playing the drums is a huge commitment, nobody said it would be easy. To make your practising more enjoyable you should always be learning new techniques, and pushing yourself further.
Want to find out more about how you can improve your drumming? Visit: Practice Drum Rudiments
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