Drum rudiments for beginners: which 5 to learn first

There are 40 standard drum rudiments, but you don't need all of them to start playing in band. These five show up again and again in beginning band music. Learn them in this order, slowly and evenly, and you'll be ready for most snare parts.

Want to tap along? Practice these rudiments in Percussion Trainer →

What rudiments are

Rudiments are the basic sticking patterns of drumming, like scales for wind players. The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) keeps a list of 40 International Drum Rudiments, and most method books and audition lists use it. Each pattern below shows its PAS number and its sticking: R for right hand, L for left.

Before you start, make sure your grip is relaxed. See how to hold drumsticks.

Single stroke roll

Alternate hands: right, left, right, left. It's the most basic rudiment and the one you'll use most. Focus on making both hands sound exactly the same.

Double stroke roll

Two strokes on each hand: right right, left left. The second stroke of each pair is the hard one. Make it as strong as the first by using your wrist for the first stroke and your fingers for the second, instead of just letting the stick bounce.

Paradiddle

Say it as you play: "pa-ra-did-dle." Two singles and a double: R L R R, then L R L L. Accent the first note of each group. The paradiddle switches which hand leads, which is why drummers use it to move around the drum set.

Flam

A flam is two notes almost at the same time: a quiet grace note just before a louder main note, played by the other hand. Keep the grace note stick low (an inch or two) and the main note stick high, then drop both together. The low stick lands a moment earlier.

Five stroke roll

Two doubles and an accented single: R R L L R. Then start on the other hand: L L R R L. This is the first roll many band books ask for, and it builds on the double strokes you already learned. For the rolls in band music, see buzz roll vs. double stroke roll.

Building tempo with a metronome

• Start slow enough to be perfect. If any note is uneven or the sticking slips, slow down.
• Say the sticking. "R L R R, L R L L" out loud keeps your hands honest.
• Speed up a little at a time. Move the metronome up a few BPM only after a few clean passes.
• Write down your best tempo for each rudiment so you can see your progress.

The Tempo Ladder in Percussion Trainer does this for you: it starts slow, moves up when you play 90% of the notes on time with the right hands, and remembers your best tempo for each rudiment. For a daily routine, see how to practice percussion at home.