Paradiddle-Diddle

Grip & Sticking

Also called P-6.

R L R R L L, then L R L L R R. Think of it as a paradiddle with a second diddle bolted on: six strokes per group, and the lead hand alternates every time around. It sits in the official forty international rudiments, and after the plain paradiddle it is the second most immediately useful pattern for building fills.

This is the rolling tom-fill rudiment. Give each group of six one tom and the pattern tumbles melodically around the kit — that singing, descending fill sits on countless rock and soul records. Because the lead hand flips with every group, four groups land you back on your starting hand, ready for the next bar without a stumble.

Play it slowly on one surface against a metronome, accenting only the first stroke of each group and keeping both diddles lighter and even. Watch the second diddle — it is the natural place for the pattern to run ahead of the click. Practise starting on either hand, then spread one group per drum and listen for the wave shape you just made.