Double Drag Tap

The Double Drag Tap is a rudiment (#33 of the 40 P.A.S. certified essential or standard rudiments) which combines two unaccented Drags with an accent in 6/8. This is a hand-to-hand pattern which means it alternates between starting on the Right Hand and the Left Hand.

As in rudiment #32 the Single Drag Tap, the term 'Double Drag Tap' is somewhat confusing. A 'Tap' or 'Tap Stroke' is  actually a control stroke starting low and ending low. We use these to play an unaccented note and prepare for an unaccented note right after. So perhaps we should be calling this rudiment the 'Double Drag Accent' from now on.

Sticking

llr llr L   rrl rrl R

Counting

tk1.tkn...M.tk2.tkn...M.tk (nt1.nt2...3.nt4.nt5...6.nt)

or

&a1.&a2...3.&a4.&a5...6.&a

As with any Drag rudiment, how you would count this depends greatly on the tempo. Thinking of 16th notes and doubling up the last and the 2nd 16th note to 32nd notes at a tempo of 8th note = 120 bpm is a good starting point.

Still a bit confused? Just listen to the Double Drag Tap at a slower tempo on the MIDI player below and you'll know what I mean.

Double Drag Tap

Exercises

33a

Here we play the Double Drag Tap in an alternate rhythm, so watch your counting.

Counting

tk1...nkt.M.tk2...nkt.M.tk

or

&a1...2e&.3.&a4...5e&.6.&a