Developing Paradiddle Speed - Free Drum Lessons 

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Hello Mike. I am 70 years old and have been playing drums since I was 13. Paradiddles have always been hard for me until I saw your video. Never too old to learn, I mumbled. So off I went and practiced. Well, lo and behold, and at last, something resembling a paradiddle. Thanks...will keep up the practice. My best regards, John Baker Australia.

Just spent 8 min watching a video about a technique on an instrument I don’t play. That’s the sign of an engaging teacher!

This guy is a great teacher. Doesn't waste time talking about unrelated BS, promote products or his channel, and doesn't try to be a comedian. He gets right down to the business of why we are all watching the video. Thanks Mike, great work.

“Once I started to get past the weirdness of it... it started to fall into place.” How true of so many things...

Me as a new drummer who's just learning the paradiddle 1:03 - "Nice he's going pretty......holy shit....holy shit how is that even possible!?"

I'm 46 and have played the drums since I was 17. I covered paradiddles in my first year of playing but never been able to get tight or fast on them. Your lesson shows signs of changing that - I got faster in an afternoon. Not only on paradiddles but on doubles, snare roll and triplets. Excellent lesson. I was particularly inspired with the comment from the 70 year old drummer!

I'm another 70 year old. I made good money playing drums, mostly part time, from the mid-sixties through the mid-seventies. I played all genres. In addition to clubbing and party work, I did some pit orchestra work for musicals, as well as symphonic timpani. After marriage, 43 years ago, I gave up music for, what turned out to be, a successful business career. I even sold in 1979, most regrettably, my Ludwig Super Classic kit and Zildjian cymbals, hardware, and cases. I'm back at re-learning what I knew...stick control, rudiments and sight reading, just to keep the old brain from shrinking. Your video explains better than I ever could how to develop a fast paradiddle. You are a drummer's drummer. Please keep up the great work. If Neil Peart were alive, (R.I.P), he would approve of this message.

His hand is faster than my internet connection

Thank you so much. I learned more in 7 minutes than two weeks of class

Seriously the best explanation of paradiddle speed I've ever seen. 40 years of playing, and I just doubled my speed on this.

What I love about every one of your videos; is that you consistently remind the viewer of your own difficulties when learning techniques. It really limits the frustration anyone can have learning a new technique or when going back and revamping to play with less effort. Your "Don't worry, you'll get it." attitude makes tackling something new or difficult so much less intimidating. For that sir, we thank you!

Me: perfects this on right hand Left hand: am i a joke to you?

Teacher: "Din't take long. About a month." Everyone: "A MONTH?!"

Excellent lesson, not only about how to get a fast paradiddle but how to analyze its components and adjust one's thinking and technique toward a goal. I don't play drums, but in trying to improve my guitar playing I stumbled into the goldmine of videos by expert drummers who are both crafty and crystal clear in their thinking about the fundamentals of playing percussive instruments, of which the guitar is one. I fell into a tendency which is quite common, I think, among guitarists, of concentrating on fingerings, scales and chord progressions, and reading music. These things are important of course, but the path to improvement is laid on a foundation of fundamentals about the use of the hands that are very important and sometimes very subtle. The great drummers are experts in this area.

Best paradiddle lesson I have ever heard.

Mike is so easy to listen to he takes the calm approach to drumming and in my experience that is the best way to learn. Thank you Mike.

Good video. Love how you talk about the thought process and development. Top notch teaching.

By far best paradiddle lesson I've seen

Such a great tutorial for people who were stuck in that wrist rut and were hunting for the 'bounce'. Opens door for push-pull and Moeller too!

Hi Mike I just turned 67 (yesterday) and like John Baker below I had always struggled to maintain an even sound and develop speed with the paradiddle until I came across your channel. I have since purchased and subscribed through Drumeo, your Drumming system. I have to say Mike you are a clear and concise teacher and love your tuition and tips. 18 months ago I had broken my left elbow and had surgery to put a steel implant in and so had not been able, or even thought, I could return to drumming. But thank God, although I will never be able to fully straighten my left arm, I now have probably have 60-70% of my strength back and working my way through this exercise, is helping me to strengthen my left hand and hand grip, as well as loving the progress I am making due to your fabulous tips.

I love how the sticks look when playing paradiddles fast. It's hypnotic!

This is the ultimate explanation I have been looking for. This is the explanation to my problem and to many other drummers out there.Thank you very much Mike, you just revived my career after a two year break, I am highly grateful.

Simple in its theory, horrifically difficult in its application. Definitely a months long project. Love the lesson. Thank you.

He is one of my favorite for giving lessons. How lucky are we to have this available at our finger tips!!! So amazing!!!

Thanks Drummersfor watching !!! It's nice to see that there's only 1 dislike and 784 likes… :) That made my day! Happy Drumming

Wow, I drum 20 years now and never learned to play the paradiddle. Now, a few hours of practice later, i am really starting to feel it. Best video on youtube.

Finding Drumeo after years of terrible technique has truly been a game changer for me. Your teachers have such a down to earth approach and respect for the drummers of all levels.

I am absolutely thankful for this video, I know it was posted a while ago, but this is literally the best explanation of technique and execution I have ever seen, I'm trying to re train my left hand due to nerve damage, because of the damage I have only been able to maintain my singles and doubles, anything else I get fatigued way quicker than my right hand and my left has gotten sloppy again due to the loss of mobility, so, I have been trying to work on paradiddles and other basic steps again to re train my hand. this video has helped me so much, thank you!

Wow. This man is insanely good

Hey Mike, you have demystified this rudiment for me and I’ve been playing for 42 years. You’re excellent, thank you!

I've been following Drumeo since they only had couple of thousand views on their videos. I was always found them to get better with time .Today it's #1 drum channel on RU-vid. They helped me become better drummer than before and still inspire to keep pushing. Thank you Drumeo for sharing ur journey with me.

When I was in middle school band, just starting out in 6th grade, this is exactly how our band teacher taught us. Cool stuff.

I almost can't express the excitement I feel after watching this, it's like you've just opened up a doorway to a whole new drumming world of possibilities! Really excellent explanation that is in plain English. I can totally see now the secret of the paradiddle

Another old guy here that has played the drums since I was a young teenager and just getting back into it after a 7 year hiatus. I’ve never had that musical quality to my drumming so I really appreciate your approach to helping me out at getting better.

the best guy i've seen explaining anything, not only drums! amazing how deep you can go on a subject, mike! thanks for that

I wish this was available when i first started, the mental and physical side to this pattern completely explained, absolutely brilliant video!

Genius. You saved my sanity. I've been practicing the Paradiddle for a few months but hadn't had the epiphany to make the transition to working it with controlled rolls. This... just... works. Thank you for being real and stressing patience and time. Now there is hope.

Brilliant - I have just revisited the rudiments after years of 'just playing' (something to do during lockdown) and was really struggling with paradiddles. I didn't realise how slow I was on them and just couldn't get the speed up. This lesson really did the trick - thanks so much.

One of the first exercises my jazz drumming instructor gave me back in the 60's was the single paradiddle with accents on the single note in the right hand, then the left and then using those single notes on the different drums. This was instantly rewarding and I've been using these ever since. A great hand exercise is to practice it with brushes on the snare drum with the strainer released. You will develop muscles while learning to relax the hands and fingers at the same time. Paradiddles rule!!!!!!!

best indepth explanation i've seen so far - thanx for sharing.

This is the defiantly the best break down of the paradiddle I have ever seen... Thank You!

Thanks Mike. I have your entire system on DVD from DRUMEO. I don't think it is available on DVD anymore as everything is going totally digital these days. Your drumming skills and knowledge are amazing. Digital video and formats such as U-Tube have greatly increased access to great teachers like yourself by many. Thank you for taking the time to help all of us out here. Many thanks also to DRUMEO for introducing many professional drummers to the world.

Hold my beer, I can do the paradildo with one hand

God damn parradiddles, my hands won't listen to my brain!!!! This might help, but I really need a practice pad

This was extremely helpful!!!

Ive watched a lot of lessons on the paradiddle but this is the best by far. What’s good is that you revealed the insight that you perceived in understanding a paradiddle. Taking your insight and applying it is the secret. Thanks!!

I’ve been drumming for 15 years and this video opened my eyes. Can’t wait to get started on trying this

OMG I did! I started playing drums when I was 9 years old and the paradiddle was the bane of my existence. I never could really get it right. I'm 38 now and haven't played seriously in quite some years, but I keep a set of stick near by at all times. I play on my mouse pad as practice when I'm slow at work (work from home). This lesson has helped me do a thing I've been trying to do for nearly 30 years! The pattern, skill, movement; it's never been so clear to me! Thank you!!! I've got a lot more practice to do in order to get it 100%, but, again, I did it!

Man the upstroke part is so massively important. My drum teacher is baking these setup motions into my head. The whipping strike really helps with it.

This lesson is actually the key breaker into performing paradiddles. No other drummer has ever described the learning process like this! Thanks so much!

Simply broke down,and to the point. Excellent way to show a beginner,or veteran such as myself that just wants to play them smoother.Great lesson🥁

I think this was the best trick I've ever seen. Thank you so much

Thank you Mike I love the way your teaching is based on sharing your own experience of learning to play drums. Very open and generous and helpful

Hello Mike, this class has been the most shocking experience I´ve had, since I started to play, years ago.... I was frustrated with paradiddles, just as you mentiones, Im 49 and have been playing since I was 16, but never understood what you mentioned, now, just in about an hour I was able to freely and fast acomplish this, in addition, I discovered so many new posibilities on the set, latin rythms, and much more...I cant really wait to finsish work to go back to my set and practice more...I´m feeling just like Iwas 18 again, re discovering the world....I tought I would never be able to play this as fast as I saw many drummers...very frustrating, but there are always secrets envolved and Im willing to discovver them all....Thankls a lot!!!

BEST paradiddle advice on RU-vid. I have watched this video many times in the past few years and always procrastinated on practicing my paradiddles. Until recently when Covid-19 outbreak happened that I have more time at home, and started to follow every single word mentioned in this video. And IT WORKS. It didn't feel like it was working at the beginning but after awhile it happened. I am around 90% his speed, and I know for sure I'll include paradiddles in my practice routines.

The best explanation of how to speed up paradidle. Thanks a lot, Mike!

Been drumming for 63 years and could and would play paradiddles, but mostly rather slowly around the kit or just practice them because they seemed like something good to practice. I've never been able to build the speed I see some other guys have. This video is going to be a great help. I just know it. Thank you Mike.

Nice analysis. I haven't developed patience to practise my rudiments, but after watching this, I will.

That concept of rudimentary drumming is how i learned to be a side drummer in a couple higher level pipe bands as a kid.The use of the rebound is essential in that kind of drumming because of the intricate stickwork.Rudiments are often a forgotten teacher.

I appreciate you being honest with how long this takes to develop ! Makes me feel a lot better about it 🙂

Tips like these never get old. Thanks Mike!

Incredible teaching ability as well as clarity, thank you for your time.

Hi Mike thank you soooo much for breaking that down for me, I’ve been playing the drums for 30+ years & I have the exact same issue you were saying you had, I’m definitely gonna go to the music shop on the weekend to get myself a practice pad & try your method out. Thank you for inspiring me to want to retrain the way I’ve been stuck for soooo many years, YOU ROCK 🤘😆🤘

This video was spot on the most helpful to me after being silent for 40 yrs, Retired and back into it I am again a beginner spending hours trying to regain that left hand rebound using a match grip (traditional grip remembered rebound control; more for some reason)and not just about a paradiddle

This is very very helpful, thank you.

many drummers teach that we must start with right hand, but it's a trap, that's how left is weak, you also must learn start with left hand

The wax on/wax off methodology of mastering the paradiddle. Thank you Mr. Drumiagi.

This video is what helped me break through difficulties I was having with the paradiddle. Very appreciate, thanks for explaining.

I'm on my fifth time viewing this in a row!☺ Your technique is just amazing! This is the drumming equivalent to sweep picking on guitar. Thanks for the great lesson!

Dude, Excellent video. This is extremely helpful. I'm getting that triple stroke roll going as we speak.

The triple stroke-roll is perfect for practising the Moeller technique, that's also why it helps with paradiddles

This is a great tutorial. Got here about a year ago (commented below) and since then actually used this idea of triple roll in a paradiddel and improved my speed by almost double. also passing it down to my students. Tnx guys!!

Me too i'm70, the lights just got turned on .I was 13 to when i started playing,good stuff Mike,thanks.

Dude. Where have you been these last 5 years of me drumming with crappy paradiddles?!?! I literally played a better paradiddle in a matter of minutes compared to years of me just “trying to do it on my own”. Thx bro🤟

Amazing ! I've been struggling to play a fast paradiddle for over 50 years...this video give me a little hope ! Thanks

Another simpler way to explain it is practice paradidles playing that double stroke exactly as you would using rebound technique a la the double stroke roll. Just a different way to think of it.. This guy can really play them fast and he’s an absolutely fantastic natural teacher.. Never could find guys around like this before RU-vid. Bravo!!

Professional drum set, percussionist... fabulous concept. The paradiddle is one of, in my opinion, the most underrated rudiment out there. If you listen to Vinnie, he played a myriad of them. Great vid on speed. Great concept. Never heard it put like this, but so refreshing. Good job.

Excellent tutorial, perfectly explained and thanks for taking the time. This will inspire many drummers beginners and intermediate. Cheers 👍🏻

Holy Crap!! Mike, you have no idea (or you probably do!) how much I have struggled with the paradiddle . . . You just opened the door for a new way to practice this and I now have some hope that I can get this down!! Thank you! You ROCK!!

That MAKES SOO MUCH SENSE ! Which I’ve actually been practicing the triple stroke roll for the last 8 months. #subscribed

Thank You Mike! Way to break down the power of the triplet. This makes sense and will help rebuild my speed of yesteryears.

OMG bro ..I have been a drummer all my life even played in the band at school and this rudiment was the only one I could not get up to speed my tripples was awesome but the diddles not so much I could not figure it out at all I had the concept but just couldn't quite get up the speed like u my hand just was not fast enough I like the way u was able to bring them out with your method I most definitely will try your way..Thanks alot man I really appreciate u sharing

I've always loved drums since I was young and I've always had drumming ability but never put it into action on a kit. Well now that I'm retired that has changed, I bought a used set yesterday waiting for my sticks to arrive in the mail today. I'm watching a lot of videos techniques but I really love your approach I think I'm going to enjoy this a great deal Thank you Mike!

As a beginning drummer at age 52, I used to play guitar, I need all the help I can get. This definitely will help, thank you

Hi Mike, Thanks for your great paradiddle video. In the early 60s when I started out putting rudiments to use in some drum corp drum lines , paradiddles were a big part of it. In those days they were played as 16th notes. It wasn't until years later when the more modern lines were playing things at speeds that I thought impossible. I couldn't understand how they learned to do it. After seeing your video, I thought, well I guess if one puts in the time and effort it is possible. It just takes commitment. So, at 73, with no real reason to learn to play a paradiddle at warp speed I decided to give it a go. And low and behold after weeks of daily beating on a pad all of a sudden my hands just took over and out came a amazing paradiddle. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Thank you.

Thank you for that lesson Mike! I'm a drummer at my church in upstate NY. I'm 53 years old and it's the rudiment that's always stumped me. I don't know if I'll ever get it that fast, but if I could come close it would open up a whole new set of possibilities for me. I don't think it's ever too late to learn something and I thank God for blessing me with good coordination as it will help me in this endeavor. Thanks again, God bless and keep up the fantastic work!

This has been so helpful. After years of avoiding the paradiddle due to not using the roll technique - it now makes sense

My 9 year old Granddaughter is learning to play drums and she was absolutely mesmerised with your paradiddle lesson. She wrote down the sequence and went straight to her practice pad. Thank you for a great lesson.

Mike, this is the best drum lesson that I have ever sat through. Best breakdown of an incredibly important rudiment for me. Thank you.

I've been stuck in the same exact place with the whole wrist thing! Really great breakdown, shows a completely different way of looking at paradiddles!

A great video thanks. It's the first time I've seen a paradiddle played like this and easier to learn I think over the traditional RLRR LRLL pattern.

8 years later and this is still having a massive impact. Thank you so much

This was super helpful!!!

this was an awesome demonstration. It helped alot

The best break down of speed I have ever heard .My paradiddles are so much better now thanks to you.Cheers.

Very relatable description, thanks! Honestly one of the best I've ever seen

when he said i cant play that fast and proceeded to play that fast..

A brilliant tutor, thank you

Hi Mike, I am 59 and started learning drums few weeks ago. My local teaching is good and getting the basics of stick control, timing, etc. Your demonstration of these 2 rudiments is extremely helpful. I know my teacher will get me there. Thanks so much.