Invert Your Rudiments (M.D. excerpt)

[JFunky]

Modern Drummer March 2008



Invert Your Rudiments

The Power Of The Paradiddle

By Jim Riley (Drummer/Bandleader - Rascal Flatts)


   I'm a big believer in the practical application of rudiments.  Rudiments are the building blocks of solid and creative drumming.  Of course, every drummer I've come in contact with can play a paradiddle.  But what about an "inverted paradiddle?"


   There are three ways to invert a paradiddle.  For this article, we're going to focus on one of those inversions.  Example 1 shows an inverted paradiddle that has the double strokes in the middle.  Take a moment to get the sticking under control.

Example 1:   (Use 16th Note Sub Division. 4/4 time sign.)   
 
                  R L L R   L R R L   R L L R   L R R L


   
   Example 2 adds an accent at the beginning of each grouping.  Remember to bring your stick up high for the accents, while keeping everything else low to the drum.


Example 2:    (Use 16th Note Sub Division. 4/4 time sign.) 

                          R L L R   L R R L   R L L R   L R R L

[mingusfingus]

The second way is RRLR LLRL but what`s the 3-rd?
Hm, "stick control" begins with such basic stuff.

[JFunky]

...I'm thinking its...


    R L L L   L R R R   L R R R   R L L L

[Jedi3]

The third is R L R L  L R L R

[mingusfingus]

The third is R L R L  L R L R

ow... right

[E.R.]

Great Post. Great Article.

[JFunky]

Great Post. Great Article.

...great article indeed.  I like the grooves.  Jim is definetly the truth.

[E.R.]

...great article indeed.  I like the grooves.  Jim is definetly the truth.

Yeah, I was air drumming while reading along. haha.

[JFunky]

Yeah, I was air drumming while reading along. haha.

...lol.  I was tapping it out on my lap at the office. lol  I know people thought I was crazy but oh well, I'm just a drummer. lol

[E.R.]

...lol.  I was tapping it out on my lap at the office. lol  I know people thought I was crazy but oh well, I'm just a drummer. lol

Lol. I get that alot. We have concrete floors, my desk mates get agitated when I practice my foot techniques. They say its loud, but with my noise cancellation head phones, I can't hear anything. 

[b_jizzle20]

Great info!!

[dude-on-drums]

Nice!    Practicing right now, in front of the computer with my sticks and pad.   

[b_jizzle20]

Lol. I get that alot. We have concrete floors, my desk mates get agitated when I practice my foot techniques. They say its loud, but with my noise cancellation head phones, I can't hear anything. 

LOL I always do that too. Im still learning my rudiments and I practice them everywhere I go... at church (during the preaching ), school, dinner table, in the bus shelter, on the bus....I dont know, Is this natural??

[L.V.Drumma]

LOL I always do that too. Im still learning my rudiments and I practice them everywhere I go... at church (during the preaching ), school, dinner table, in the bus shelter, on the bus....I dont know, Is this natural??

Yes, LOL.  I do that too.  Other students in my class look at me like im stupid when i beat on my desk with pencils.  The room could be dead silent then ill start a "groove" loudly and make faces sometimes, but when i realize what im doin' ill put my head down like>>

[min_amw]

Excellent topic! Inverting rudiments.......but that would infer that one must KNOW rudiments before inverting them, right?. LOL!

[JFunky]

Excellent topic! Inverting rudiments.......but that would infer that one must KNOW rudiments before inverting them, right?. LOL!

...absolutely sir.  I'm only on #7.  Did you know that JoJo Mayer didn't know all of his rudiments when he came over here to the U.S. (N.Y.)  He was 26.  I'm 27.  I don't feel bad.  At least I know I'm headed in the right direction. lol

[SabianKnight]

...I'm thinking its...


    R L L L   L R R R   L R R R   R L L L

You are correct JFunky.

And yes Stick Control does begin with these.
The thing is that most of us have not mastered these basic sticking patterns called Rudiments let alone their Hybrids.

Once we invert a rudiment we should starting adding various ruff/diddle grace notes and randomly placed grace notes to create flams. Both of the upgrades tend to point out a weakness in our control of stick heights. Through in some accents and we never pick up the Book Stick Control,  .
VICIOUS CYCLE TO GREATNESS OR MEDIOCRITY

[SabianKnight]

...absolutely sir.  I'm only on #7.  Did you know that JoJo Mayer didn't know all of his rudiments when he came over here to the U.S. (N.Y.)  He was 26.  I'm 27.  I don't feel bad.  At least I know I'm headed in the right direction. lol

BTW I picked up my tix yesterday for his (Jojo's) clinic this Friday!

[E.R.]

BTW I picked up my tix yesterday for his (Jojo's) clinic this Friday!

Hallelujah!!! I will be with you in Spirit!!!

[b_jizzle20]

Yes, LOL.  I do that too.  Other students in my class look at me like im stupid when i beat on my desk with pencils.  The room could be dead silent then ill start a "groove" loudly and make faces sometimes, but when i realize what im doin' ill put my head down like>>

lol whenever I start "grooving" on the desk all the black people start bobbin their heads and it usually leads to a cypher. Then the teacher gets  , and we all get sent out into the hallway or the office