Why are Rudiments Important

[Slazaar]

Sorry for not understanding the importance of such a basic part of drumming, but can someone explain to me how and why rudiments are important, and how it complements the playing of a drummer.

[intooder]

Rudiments are the grammar rules of the drumming language. Without them you might be able to get across a few words but for your playing to really matter and for you to be able to get across your point you will need some rudiments.

[larryace]

Drummers rudiments are like the words in the language of rhythm

[Colerosity]

Drummer's rudiments hold some semblance to a pianist's scales.

[blink44]

Dave Weckl said in a video if i can remember correctly that he only practices 5 rudiments.
single/dbl/paradiddles/flams/drags.... i think.

[thecraponline]

Rudiments are essentially just hand technique, and the various basic muscle movements that your hands perform while drumming. Even if you aren't playing rudiments verbatim (i.e., you could pick out exact rudiments from a transcription of your own playing,) rudiments are still involved, to some extent, in just about everything you play.

Rudiments are, obviously, linked to rudimental snare drum playing, which is alive and well today in the form of drum an bugle corps and marching bands. The connection of rudiments to drum set playing is a little bit less clear, since most of what we play is different from limb to limb and does not take place on one drum. Rudiments are very useful, as I said before, for the techniques and muscle movements they contain. Your knowledge of rudiments will also come through when it comes to fills or soloing, or any kind of embellishment to a groove.

The better your know your rudiments, the less thought you will have to put into what is going on hand-to-hand. The muscle movements will be ingrained (even if you are not exactly playing rudiment in particular) and will allow you to focus on other things, such as your musicality, time, feel, groove, etc.

For a good example of a drummer with a strong rudimental foundation, look at Steve Gadd. Much of what he plays connects to military-style snare drum playing. You can also hear plenty of rudiments, such as paradiddles, in his linear grooves.

Good luck with your playing!

[KCDrummer]

Dave Weckl said in a video if i can remember correctly that he only practices 5 rudiments.
single/dbl/paradiddles/flams/drags.... i think.

This is great advice. I think a drummer should be at least familiar with all of the rudiments, but the ones Weckl mentioned are undoubtedly the most commonly used and the most useful.

From a technical standpoint, rudiments are how we learn technique. They're also how you can maintain and advance your technique. If there is something inconsistent or incorrect about your technique, rudiments will expose it.

[blade123]

Rudiments are to drums as notes are to a trumpet.

I *DARE* you to play something that is not a rudiment, combination of rudiments, or a modified rudiment. Write out something that you think doesn't have rudiments in it and I will prove you wrong. If I can't prove you wrong, I will walk to your house and personally give you $100.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to play something that isn't a rudiment. You simply cannot do it.

[Wavelength]

Rudiments are to drums as notes are to a trumpet.

I *DARE* you to play something that is not a rudiment, combination of rudiments, or a modified rudiment. Write out something that you think doesn't have rudiments in it and I will prove you wrong. If I can't prove you wrong, I will walk to your house and personally give you $100.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to play something that isn't a rudiment. You simply cannot do it.

Blast beats with all notes played in unison.

[blade123]

Blast beats with all notes played in unison.

That is a single stroke roll with rests for the lefts and the rights being played with all four limbs.

EDIT: or flams on the top and bottom with the grace note amplified and delayed.

[Dawson49]

Rudiments are important because they provide a meaningful, useful foundation for virtually everything we play as drummers.

Obviously, some rudiments or portions of rudiments find their way into our music more often than others, but they're all "tools". If you were a carpenter, would you rather have only a couple of tools in your kit bag, or a bag full of tools so that you could pull out the appropriate tool at the appropriate moment?

[Abstsbtsb]

That is a single stroke roll with rests for the lefts and the rights being played with all four limbs.

EDIT: or flams on the top and bottom with the grace note amplified and delayed.

Blast beats contain no rudiments what-so-ever... Give the man $100.

[jazzsnob]

I used to be kind of scared of rudiments. I didn't understand why other drummers got all worked up about them. I saw them do crazy things, but when I sat down on a pad I didn't really get anywhere. I had a major breakthrough when I realized that every note you play is a rudiment. It's not about sounding like a Pratt piece or something, any time you hit a drum with your right stick, followed by something else with your left, you are playing single strokes. If you play two rights in a row, there's a double. Almost everything we play boils down to singles, doubles, some layered together as all sorts of flams, some multiple bounce strokes, buzzes and some other striking/special techniques that you could absolutely transcribe and connect on paper. It does not matter which limb, sound source, combination, layering, dynamic level or rhythm of the strokes. Everything you play is a rudiment, the serious question of if they need special attention depends on how much time and thought you are willing to spend organizing and focusing on your pad technique using the useful tools we have around like the standard 40 rudiments. I know it may seem like a lot of time, but if you spent 15 minutes on singles a day at one tempo, 15 on doubles at one tempo and 30 on an extra PAS rudiment that you would really take your time with and perfect over weeks or months at a time, you'd see improvement. The key is STICKING TO A PLAN. Have a method, write out the order of rudiments and tempos you want to work on, take your time, be patient and don't jump ahead before you're ready. However long it takes, I guarantee you that being able to sit with a metronome and run through the 40 rudiments at tempos you know you're comfortable with certainly will not damage your playing in any way. Dafnis Prieto has a great quote, something to the tune of "a drummer is only as good as his snare drum playing."

Good luck whatever you decide to work on!


Besides, if I ever question whether I should spend the hours on the pad, I think about all my favorite drummers and realize that all all of them spent way more time on a pad than I have up to this point and I' better get to work before I get hit by a bus or something!

[Therma lobsterdore]

Blast beats contain no rudiments what-so-ever... Give the man $100.

The alternating style blastbeat is just a single stroke roll, the all together blastbeat could be seen as flams as blade said, but yeah doesn't really contain any rudiments per se.

[Wavelength]

That is a single stroke roll with rests for the lefts and the rights being played with all four limbs.

EDIT: or flams on the top and bottom with the grace note amplified and delayed.

Yeah, and a paradiddle is a single stroke roll with an added double stroke and an accent. It can also be a flam tap without the flam and with some added notes. Or it could be a ratamacue minus a few notes and a displaced accent. Or it could be the entire Wilcoxson book with a slight personal twist.

You're interpreting rudiments pretty liberally, if you ask me. Apparently your definition of a rudiment is "one or more strokes with any limb combination". If that's the case, then yeah, you can't play anything without using rudiments. Personally I don't see the link between a single stroke roll and a basic rock beat. You can and should work on your hi-hat ostinato by practicing the single stroke roll, but that's a different thing altogether. A continuous stream of single handed notes isn't a rudiment of any kind -- it's a half of a rudiment at best.

[Hercraft]

Rudiments are to drums as notes are to a trumpet.

I *DARE* you to play something that is not a rudiment, combination of rudiments, or a modified rudiment. Write out something that you think doesn't have rudiments in it and I will prove you wrong. If I can't prove you wrong, I will walk to your house and personally give you $100.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to play something that isn't a rudiment. You simply cannot do it.

In free jazz, sometimes I stand in my throne, i hold the sticks, then i throw them up in the air and i let them fall random at my drums, then i pick them and redo...

I live in Argentina, Buenos Aires, it seems you gonna walk a way!!
And, here we are devaluated and your $100 its like $300 to me, thanks!!!!

[Wavelength]

Here's another one:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Ho8H5Ygv6fp5vM:http://cache.spreadshirt.com/users/340000/339493/motives/969/339493_2227969_medium.gif

Anyone can play that, right? Which rudiment is that?

[h3r3tic]

Blast beats with all notes played in unison.

You mean a hammer-blast (all notes in unison)

Well as in a "rudimentary language" they can be called as flat flams on the hands while the feet play a single stroke roll.

[h3r3tic]

I think that rudiments can help you with your soling and some phrasing as well.
Yes WaveLength, there is no rudiments involved when playing a basic rock beat, but if you wanna try and be more creative with fills and even with some certain grooves, rudiments can help you a lot... It's that "personal twist" that make them more "special.

It all depends on how we interpert them.

[bongodoggie]

The rudiments are at first shackles from which you break free, stronger than you've ever been.

[jazzsnob]

Here's another one:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Ho8H5Ygv6fp5vM:http://cache.spreadshirt.com/users/340000/339493/motives/969/339493_2227969_medium.gif

Anyone can play that, right? Which rudiment is that?

I just don't see the negative aspect of thinking of that as the first beat of a single stroke roll. The goal is to demystify the rudiments. Everything is a rudiment, practice your rudiments and you will see your playing improve, unless you are practicing incorrectly. The more time you put in, the more you will improve. The main reason beginner and intermediate players don't feel like they can use rudiments on the drumset stems from the fact that they haven't devoted nearly enough time to each rudiment to play them at multiple tempos with ease on a pad, much less around a drumset creatively.

[tomgrosset]

Personally I don't see the link between a single stroke roll and a basic rock beat.

Have you ever heard of a basic 16th note rock beat?

I guess not.

[stasz]

Here's another one:

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Ho8H5Ygv6fp5vM:http://cache.spreadshirt.com/users/340000/339493/motives/969/339493_2227969_medium.gif

Anyone can play that, right? Which rudiment is that?

I don't understand. all i see is a gravy ladle.

[stasz]

In free jazz, sometimes I stand in my throne, i hold the sticks, then i throw them up in the air and i let them fall random at my drums, then i pick them and redo...

I live in Argentina, Buenos Aires, it seems you gonna walk a way!!
And, here we are devaluated and your $100 its like $300 to me, thanks!!!!

My vote for post of the year.. decade. Nicely done.

[Dawson49]

The main reason beginner and intermediate players don't feel like they can use rudiments on the drumset stems from the fact that they haven't devoted nearly enough time to each rudiment to play them at multiple tempos with ease on a pad, much less around a drumset creatively.

While I don't disagree with this basic premise, I'd like to put a slightly different spin on it, based upon experience.

Playing rudiments (or anything, for that matter) only on a pad can be boring beyond belief. So, I encourage my students to first play a given rudiment only on their snare drum, then add bass & hi-hat (simple: BD - 1&3 / HH - 2&4 at first), then stretch out — playing the same rudiment on their snare drum, toms, cymbals, etc. Beginning with slow tempos and gradually increasing speed, never playing faster than you can (cleanly and articulately) is the key.

It's amazing how this, along with incorporating both feet into rudimental exercises can create more interest, challenge and positive results.

My instructor, Alan Dawson, incorporated this into his teaching method years ago, and it's worked for me and my students for decades, too.

[jay norem]

If there is something inconsistent or incorrect about your technique, rudiments will expose it.

All the more reason to stay away from them!

[Wavelength]

Have you ever heard of a basic 16th note rock beat?

I guess not.

I meant the 8th note version and you know it.

[jazzsnob]

I meant the 8th note version and you know it.

Right hand plays 8th note single strokes on the hi-hat. Bass drum plays single strokes on 1 and 3. Snare drum plays single strokes on 2 and 4. Rudiments!

[Wavelength]

I just don't see the negative aspect of thinking of that as the first beat of a single stroke roll. The goal is to demystify the rudiments. Everything is a rudiment, practice your rudiments and you will see your playing improve.

Practicing your rudiments will improve your playing, that's a fact. The techniques developed by working on rudiments do apply to the entirety of drumming, but I still don't see how one single stroke or one double stroke can be a rudiment. It's like saying that one single note on a piano is an entire scale.

[Wavelength]

Right hand plays 8th note single strokes on the hi-hat. Bass drum plays single strokes on 1 and 3. Snare drum plays single strokes on 2 and 4. Rudiments!

Single stroke != single stroke roll.

[Dawson49]

Right hand plays 8th note single strokes on the hi-hat. Bass drum plays single strokes on 1 and 3. Snare drum plays single strokes on 2 and 4. Rudiments!

Yep!

And, taken to the next logical level, the same thing also applies to ¼ notes played on the hi-hat.

More rudiments.

[Hercraft]

My vote for post of the year.. decade. Nicely done.

Thanks mate!
--------------------

[EDrums]

All, I think the point was lost someone where in this thread. The point is that rudiments are important because they teach stick control which can be expanded from snare to an entire kit to produce stick and foot control. The basic truth is that if you can master the rudiments there is nothing you can't play. I will have to agree that singles, doubles and the multiples of paradiddles make up the key rudiments the others are just as important to advancing your skills. Slazaar I hope this answers your question.

[aydee]

In free jazz, sometimes I stand in my throne, i hold the sticks, then i throw them up in the air and i let them fall random at my drums, then i pick them and redo...

I live in Argentina, Buenos Aires, it seems you gonna walk a way!!
And, here we are devaluated and your $100 its like $300 to me, thanks!!!!


wow.











................................................

[tomgrosset]

I meant the 8th note version and you know it.

Well even so, you're still using single strokes with your right hand and incorporating your other limbs to execute single strokes. If you didn't practice your single strokes, there's a good chance that your 8th note rock beat would sound atrocious especially at faster tempos.

[Wavelength]

Well even so, you're still using single strokes with your right hand and incorporating your other limbs to execute single strokes. If you didn't practice your single strokes, there's a good chance that your 8th note rock beat would sound atrocious especially at faster tempos.

I whole-heartedly agree with this post. An 8th note rock beat is made of single strokes, and practicing single strokes and the rudiment called "single stroke roll" will improve your 8th note rock beats.

Still... the 8th note rock beat is not a rudiment and doesn't contain rudiments.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

In free jazz, sometimes I stand in my throne, i hold the sticks, then i throw them up in the air and i let them fall random at my drums, then i pick them and redo...

I live in Argentina, Buenos Aires, it seems you gonna walk a way!!
And, here we are devaluated and your $100 its like $300 to me, thanks!!!!

You must have all of the good drugs. Standing on your throne.!!!!!

[tomgrosset]

I whole-heartedly agree with this post. An 8th note rock beat is made of single strokes, and practicing single strokes and the rudiment called "single stroke roll" will improve your 8th note rock beats.

Still... the 8th note rock beat is not a rudiment and doesn't contain rudiments.

I'm sorry but that doesn't make any sense at all. How can you say that an 8th note rock beat is made up of single strokes but at the same time the 8th note rock beat doesn't contain rudiments?? Single strokes = rudiments (in any situation!)

[Wavelength]

Single strokes = rudiments

http://www.pas.org/resources/rudiments/rudiments.html

Please point me to the exact spot where they tell that a single stroke is a rudiment.

[tomgrosset]

http://www.pas.org/resources/rudiments/rudiments.html

Please point me to the exact spot where they tell that a single stroke is a rudiment.

I see what you're saying. But ya know, you could play an 8th note rock beat using a single stroke roll. All you need to do is play the right strokes the way they are and ghost note the left hand strokes and then you've got a 8th note rock beat that grooves. =)

[Ian Ballard]

I whole-heartedly agree with this post. An 8th note rock beat is made of single strokes, and practicing single strokes and the rudiment called "single stroke roll" will improve your 8th note rock beats.

Still... the 8th note rock beat is not a rudiment and doesn't contain rudiments.

The pas.org site shows "snare drum rudiments", those which make up the fundamentals of snare drum playing for various purposes.

New purposes of drumming give way to new "rudiments" that produce the basic structures of the music played with modern drum sets. The old snare rudiments are used for hand development and to create certain fill and solo ideas, as well as some groove concepts. However, the true "rudiments" of modern rock and pop drumming, as well as the jazz drumming the preceded it, are contained in books like "Realistic Rock", "Jazz Drum Cookbook" and others. While they are not accredited as "official rudiments", they are the basic fundamental (read: rudimentary) elements of modern music, much like the snare rudiments were once the backbone of marching and concert drumming, before jazz and rock came along.

We have to start extending the idea (qualitatively and quantitatively) of what "rudiments" are on the modern drum set.

So while I agree with you literally, if we acknowledge that snare rudiments make up the majority of marching and concert drum concepts, we have to consider that the standard "rock beat" is a rudiment of rock drumming.

[intooder]

Single stroke != single stroke roll.
Correct in theory, but a better representation is:

Single stroke http://whatis.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/elem-of.gif Single stroke roll

I'm not sure this specific aspect warrants all this discussion.

[Wavelength]

Correct in theory, but a better representation is:

Single stroke http://whatis.techtarget.com/WhatIs/images/elem-of.gif Single stroke roll

I stand math-geekified. :-)

[Hercraft]

You must have all of the good drugs. Standing on your throne.!!!!!

Our only drug is the music. I will be putting together some bizarre free jazz stuff in a myspace, I ll keep you informed. LOL :- )

[caddywumpus]

It all depends on what "list" of rudiments you're referring to. The standard list of rudiments contains 40 rudiments and is promoted by the Percussive Arts Society. If you start talking about hybrid rudiments and "rock rudiments" and such, then I guess anyone on the internet or anyone who publishes a book could say anything they want, and EVERYTHING could be a rudiment. Heck, even Cage's 4:33 is considered music...

If you're referring to the officially ordained list of 40 rudiments (26 founded by NARD, 14 added by PAS), then there are plenty of things that could be played on a drum set that aren't considered rudiments, including the standard 8th note rock beat.

[samthebeat]

Just to spice up the debate a little, to me rudiments are essentially excerises to develop technique, there are 3 types of strokes.

Reboud (free)
Down (controled)
Up (controled)

There are two accepetd methods of exceuting them, Moller and Gladstone. You can go into the fine points of these methods as much as you like : i.e the dynamcs, stick hights, fingersm wrists, arms etc, they still break down to the same three stokes.

These strokes break down into the key rudiments and drumset playing like this.

Single Strokes - Rebound
Double stokes - Rebound
Paradidles - Rebound and Controled
Flams - Rebound and Controled
Drags - Rebound and Controled
Buzz - Continued Controled and Rebound (as you are constantly both boucing the stick and squeezing it to control the rebound speed, in the same way you stop it for a down stroke)

When Playing Grooves,

Back Beat (Snare)- Down stroke as a rule, allowing for any ghosting, ofcourse accenting is a combination of Rebound and Controled.

Hi Hat - Generally rebound, ofcourse accenting is a combination of Rebound and Controled.

To honest i am not in the debate of rudiments are the "scales of drumming", I.E you must learn all 40 to be a great drummer because it is simply not true, they are the be and end all, and scales are not the be and all for thoes folks with notes. For starters you can be can be a great guitarist and only know the pentatonic and three chords (BB King). I believe in developing your technique to the point of mastery, this generally involes playing a lot rudiments.

Personally I enjoy the journey of learning and practicing through to pefecting rudiments, I like the direction they have taken my drumset playing. I also enjoy the traditional aspect of it, i enjoy learning rudimental solos, even though i might not be marching drummer, I like what it does for my playing and there is something about the herertige i like.

[junglelord]

Dave Weckl said in a video if i can remember correctly that he only practices 5 rudiments.
single/dbl/paradiddles/flams/drags.... i think.
Times two....need to do everything equal and opposite, so ten in truth.
Five times two.
Now hard could it be to learn that?
LOL.
You could count on your fingers.
So please learn how to do that.
Its way simple.

When they say 40 rudiments, its built from 5 fundamental items.
So learn how to use four hand counts....there is the 40...no big deal.
Once you identify the five, the 40 play out naturally.

[Hercraft]

Times two....need to do everything equal and opposite, so ten in truth.
Five times two.
Now hard could it be to learn that?
LOL.
You could count on your fingers.
So please learn how to do that.
Its way simple.

When they say 40 rudiments, its built from 5 fundamental items.
So learn how to use four hand counts....there is the 40...no big deal.
Once you identify the five, the 40 play out naturally.

Up, Down, Full, Tap, Flam :- )