Paradiddle drum beat

Paradiddle groove sticking

R is the right hand, L the left; accents in bold. 16 strokes a bar.

The pattern

Each column is a sixteenth. x is a hit, a bold X an accent.

▶ Hear itPlays it twice at 84 BPM.

How to count it

Count: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Kick on 1 and 3; the hands on every sixteenth, the right on the hi-hat and the left on the snare. Said aloud: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

How to practise it

1. Say the sticking aloud as you count: R L R R, L R L L, R L R R, L R L L.
2. Play the hands on their own.
3. Add the kick, on 1 and 3.
4. Lead with the other hand: L R L L, R L R R, L R L L, R L R R.
5. Play it through as DRUMY does: 8 bars at 84 BPM, about 23 seconds.

What DRUMY judges

Each note is judged on when it lands, within 140 ms, and on which drum, not on how hard: the accents are drawn, not judged. All of what DRUMY judges.

• The hi-hat foot. A pedal chick with no note to meet is an overhit.

Easy songs near 84 BPM

Easy songs at 83 to 85 BPM, picked for their tempo alone, not for this pattern.

BabydollDominic FikeThe JokerSteve Miller BandClint EastwoodGorillazThe ReasonHoobastankDo I Wanna Know?Arctic Monkeys

All easy drum songs →