9 Key Rudiments For Mastering The Drum Set

9 Key Rudiments to Master the Drum Set
https://youtu.be/QRpd0G6fxXk
Welcome to my personal favorites,- as far as the rudiments that have the most use on a set of
drums. Most of these are from the official 40 rudiments list. But some are personal adaptations and
variations of them. I really believe it is best for every drummer to pick their 5-10 favorite rudiments and
then OWN THEM, by way of practicing them with all kinds of variations through the years. These
ones here continue to be my favorite ones for getting the job done.
DON’T EVEN THINK about doing these with just your hands alone. The whole idea is that after
mastering them with your hands, (no matter how long it may take, ) then begin to make substitutions with
the feet. (Ex… every time it says R hand you can make it a R or L Foot instead). Then substitute the other
foot etc. Remember that these are for drum set…so don’t be afraid to develop all your limbs equally.
Whenever you find that one way is the most difficult……..spend extra time on that until it becomes your
strong point. Scott
1. 6 STROKE ROLL…….continuous triplets sticking RLLRRL, RLLRRL (and the

reverse) etc. with slight accents on the single notes.
You’ll notice that the 6 stroke roll is made up six notes. The best way to get proficient
on this rudiment is to practice both halves separately. I call these variation #1 and #2.
Variation #1 …….continuous triplets with sticking of RLL, RLL. Again the single R stroke is
accented. This is usually the harder variation to practice as it works your left hand more……..So as you might
expect this drum professor to say…….”DO THIS ONE MORE!!
Variation #2 ……continuous triplets with RRL, RRL etc. useful for going around the drums and
cymbals with triplets leading with your right hand. Again, the single L stroke is accented.
Notice that when you put these two variations together, one immediately after the other that
The whole six stroke roll is produced. You can then mix and match them according to when
You want the accents to show up on either the downbeat, or offbeat. For an advanced training
video on this incredibly effective rudiment, feel free to visit the “shop” page on the website.
http://drumprofessor.net/shop
.
2. PARADDIDLE DIDDLES…….RLRRLL, RLRRLL…

Play on snare and put the first note of each group of six on any cymbal (together with bass drum) thus
making your right hand a “traveling” hand. For a complimentary advanced video on this how I use
this rudiment, go to https://youtu.be/9RIwBdcc1mg
3. SINGLE STOKE ROLL…

Don’t get me started!! For beginners you can play sixteenth notes around drums leading with the same hand
every time you change drums. Then as you get more advanced, go to groups of five. (Every time you change
drums you will start with a different hand). Then groups of six. (now you won’t change hands every time you
change drums). Then mix and match…go around with 6’s s and every once in a while stick in a five etc. for
only for one beat, then go back to the 6’s etc. Try all the numbers out switching to a different number
whenever you feel like it, or need to end up on a different hand. Then, over time, replace one of the hands with
the bass drum and let your mind expand greatly.
4. 70’s Rock Fill…Simple math - It’s two strokes on the hands and one on the bass drum. Practice this with
it’s three forms. The basic one listed above will put the bass drum as note #3 in the group of three notes.
Also practice the ones with the bass drum as note #2 (middle position) and as note #1 (first position).
(these next ones are shown on the “9 Killer Rudiments” Part Two)
https://youtu.be/j5-0k1c0XlE
5. Flams…
In every way, shape or form when you least expect ‘em.
6. Single Paradiddles… RLRR, LRLL

For me, the biggest reason to use paradiddles on the set is the fact that they allow one be able to switch drums
with one hand whenever the other hand is playing the double notes. I like this one because when played on the
snare, the first note of each four hits will be played with alternating hands, that can “travel” around the drum
set. I also recommend Dave Weckl’s “Back to Basics” DVD where he demonstrates lots of paradiddles for the
set.
The version of the inverted paradiddle that I demonstrate on the video “for real fast speeds” is done like this:
RLLR LRLL … with the R hands being played by the bass drum and the left hand on the snare. This still
leaves the right hand free to play half notes or quarters on the cymbal.
7. The “Dave” Fill…

It’s like the 70’s rock fill but it’s a group of four notes instead of three, with the first three notes done by the
hands (on any drum) and the last one on the bass. Practice this one with all the inversions of the bass drum
(bass on 1st note, bass on 2nd note, bass on 3rd note,) in addition to the regular way with the bass drum being
the last note.. Guess you can tell l I like Dave Weckl?
8. 5 Stroke Roll…
Very helpful for putting high speed flourishes on the hi hat and putting the “single” note on a different drum or
bass drum.
9. Doubles…
Ideally practice doubles so that the second stroke (the rebound) is as loud or louder than the first. Then they
will sound strong around the drums. (Virgil Donati is such an expert at this, both in doubles with his hands, and
doubles with his 2 bass pedals). Be able to switch between doubles and singles for any length of time without
anyone being able to hear the difference. Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson were masters at this.
Good luck with all of these. Mastering just a few of these with your own personal variations
can change one’s drumming forever in a big way. Hope to see you around the website
www.drumprofessor.net
I’m available for Skype lessons there (on the shop page) as well.

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9 Key Rudiments to Master the Drum Set

1. 6 STROKE ROLL…….continuous triplets sticking RLLRRL, RLLRRL (and the

2. PARADDIDLE DIDDLES…….RLRRLL, RLRRLL…

3. SINGLE STOKE ROLL…

6. Single Paradiddles… RLRR, LRLL

7. The “Dave” Fill…

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