Triple Paradiddle

The Triple Paradiddle (#18 of the 40 P.A.S. certified essential or standard rudiments) is a sticking consisting of six 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 Triple Paradiddle can be seen as an eight note sticking which reverses hands automatically. It can also be seen as a sixteen 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

RlrlrlrrLrlrlrll

Counting

1tnt2tnt3tnt4tnt

or

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a

Dynamics

DTTTTUTT (Down Tap Tap Tap Tap Up Tap Tap)

Tip

Notice the "Tap Tap" being added in between the Down Stroke and the Up Stroke to go from Single (SP) to Double (DP), and from Double to Triple Paradiddle (TP) :

SP: DUTT

DP: DTTUTT

TP: DTTTTUTT

Triple Paradiddle

Exercises

18a

This exercise combines 16th and 8th notes per four beats while playing the Triple Paradiddle sticking.

Counting

1tnt2tnt3tnt4tnt1.n.2.n.3.n.4.n.1tnt2tnt3tnt4tnt1.n.2.n.3.n.4.n.

or

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.

18b

This exercise combines two beats of 16th and two beats of 8th notes. During the 16th notes we play the Triple Paradiddle sticking. We play the 8th notes as either R.l.r.l. or L.r.l.r. depending on which hand leads.

Counting

1tnt2tnt3.n.4.n.1tnt2tnt3.n.4.n.

or

1e&a2e&a3.&.4.&.1e&a2e&a3.&.4.&.

18c

This exercise combines six beats of 16th and two beats of 8th notes. Again, during the 16th notes we play the Triple Paradiddle sticking. And again we play the 8th notes as either R.l.r.l. or L.r.l.r. depending on which hand leads.

Counting

1tnt2tnt3tnt4tnt1tnt2tnt3.n.4.n.1tnt2tnt3tnt4tnt1tnt2tnt3.n.4.n.

or

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a1e&a2e&a3.&.4.&.1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a1e&a2e&a3.&.4.&.