The Only 3 Rudiments You Need To Know

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Struggling with your hand technique? Lost in a sea of exercises? It’s time to take it back to the basics.

Rudiments are the building blocks of everything drums, and in this video Rob “Beatdown” Brown shows you the three that make up virtually all drumming vocabulary – the single stroke roll, the double stroke roll, and the single paradiddle – and how you can start practicing them.

But what about flams? Or dragadiddles? Or even the Shirley Murphy?

Don’t worry – the other rudiments are valid and have their own applications, and there are many reasons to work your way through all 40 rudiments. But there are only three that you absolutely need to know:

Single stroke roll

There are two techniques you want to develop: fingers and wrists. Don’t just alternate left, right, left, right for ten minutes. Put intent and purpose behind it. Switch between strokes controlled by the fingers (French grip, where palms face each other) and strokes controlled by the wrist (German grip, or palms facing down).

Double stroke roll

Like the single stroke roll, practice double strokes using fingers and then wrists separately. Get used to switching between grips and techniques. Be honest with yourself and start slowly so you can get them super clean.

Single paradiddle

A single paradiddle combines single strokes and double strokes. Keep your hands loose and your arms relaxed as you practice fluid and smooth motions. This will make it easier when you start moving patterns around the kit.

With these three rudiments under your belt, you’ll be able to accomplish virtually anything on the drums.

We’ve put together a playlist with drumless tracks at different tempos so you can practice your exercises over real music:

Having trouble getting your rolls and paradiddles up to speed? Try ‘The Fastest Way To Get Faster’, a free video course that’ll help you nail the techniques you need to go quick!

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Rob Brown has become a favored online educator well regarded for his simple breakdown style of teaching. His educational YouTube channel has grown exponentially with millions of views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Professionally, Rob 'Beatdown' Brown has played with a wide range of artists in the contemporary Christian, jazz, R&B, pop-rock and pop-country scenes and he has played with award-winning artists such as The Stellas and Jess Moskaluke, and with Jacob Moon.