Double Paradiddle

The Double Paradiddle (#17 of the 40 P.A.S. certified essential or standard rudiments) is a sticking consisting of four Single Strokes and one Double Stroke. The first Single Stroke is accented. This is a hand-to-hand pattern which means it alternates between starting on the Right Hand and the Left Hand.

The Double Paradiddle can be seen as a six note sticking which reverses hands automatically. It can also be seen as a twelve note sticking because it takes this many notes for the pattern to resolve completely. Do not debate this. Time is precious. Play. Don't argue.

Sticking

RlrlrrLrlrll

Counting

1tntmt2tntmt

or

1&2&3&4&5&6&

Dynamics

DTTUTT (Down Tap Tap Up Tap Tap)

The Double Paradiddle

Exercises

17a

Now we play the Double Paradiddle in a triplet feel. First in 8th note triplets, then in 16th note triplets.

In the 16th note triplet example notice that one sextuplet equals two sixteenth note triplets. It's not at all customary to use these interchangeably unless necessary. In this case I did to illustrate this point.

Counting 8th note triplets 

1nm2nm3nm4nm

or

1triplet2triplet3triplet4triplet

Counting 16th note triplets 

1jtnjt2jtnjt

or

1triplet&triplet2triplet&triplet