Drum Rudiments are a Needed Skill

By Andrean Gonzales

Drum rudiments are the basics---the essentials of drumming. Learning drum rudiments is like learning how to play or do anything. You need a good solid foundation of what you are doing so you can be the best at what you do. If you become really good at playing drum rudiments, you will have the tools necessary to become a good drummer. And believe me; it will take practice to become proficient.

There are 40 drum rudiments one should be proficient. These include single stroke, roll, flam, include the flam, paradiddle, and drag. These are the basics to being a complete and well-rounded drummer. If you have ever watched experienced drum and bugle corps, you will see the drum line knows their rudiments extremely well. Below is a listing of the basic rudiments.

Single Stroke Rudiments---Single Stroke Roll, Single Stroke Four, Single Stroke Seven

Roll Rudiments--- Multiple Bounce Roll, Triple Stroke Roll, Double Stroke Roll, Five Stroke Roll, Six Stroke Roll, Seven Stroke Roll, Nine Stroke Roll, Thirteen Stroke Roll, Fifteen Stroke Roll and Seventeen Stroke Roll

Flam Rudiments--- Flam Accent, Flam Tap, Flamacue, Flam Paradiddle, Single Flammed Mill, Flam Paradiddle-diddle, Pataflafla, Swiss Army Triplet, Inverted Flam Tap and Flam Drag

Paradiddle Rudiments--- Single Paradiddle, Double Paradiddle, Triple Paradiddle and Paradiddle-diddle

Drag Rudiments--- Ruff, Single Drag Tap, Double Drag Tap, Single Dragadiddle, Drag Paradiddle #1, Drag Paradiddle #2, Single Ratamacue, Double Ratamacue and Triple Ratamacue

When learning to play rudiments, be sure you can play them slowly at first before speeding up. Like most things, practicing mistakes will reinforce the mistakes. So, make sure you start slowly and increase your speed slowly. Some rudiments will be easier to play in the beginning than others so all won't be mastered at the same speed. Some will be frustrating so just slow down. Again, don't practice mistakes.

Rudiments can be practiced almost anywhere as long as you have a good surface which provides enough resistance to resemble a snare or practice pad. You can practice with no sticks but may not really help as much as one would believe. Practice with sticks. Remember to start slowly, increase speed a little at time, do not get frustrated and have fun. You will get better faster than you think. - 18423

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