How to play a paradiddle
The paradiddle is the rudiment that makes drummers grin. It mixes single and double strokes into a pattern that magically switches lead hands — perfect for moving around the kit and dropping accents wherever you like. Here's how to play it cleanly.
A single paradiddle is R L R R, then L R L L. The name even spells the sticking: "para" = two singles (R-L), "diddle" = a double (R-R). Because the second group mirrors the first, it loops forever and keeps flipping which hand leads.
Lock the rhythm first
A paradiddle only grooves when it's perfectly in time. Our free arcade drills the note values behind it — keep this guide open and jump in whenever.
The sticking, broken down
- R L — two single strokes ("para")
- R R — one double stroke ("diddle")
- Then the mirror: L R L L
- Put together and looped: R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
Notice that each group starts with a different hand. That automatic switch is the paradiddle's superpower — it lets you keep alternating naturally while still placing doubles where you need them.
The accent makes the magic
Play the first note of each group louder — the R in RLRR and the L in LRLL. That accent gives the paradiddle its bouncy, recognizable feel and is what lets drummers move a strong note around the kit. Keep the other three notes softer and even.
Reading it: a rhythm exercise
On the page, a paradiddle is four even notes per group — usually sixteenth notes — with the sticking below and an accent mark (>) over the first note of each group. Knowing how long each note lasts keeps the pattern locked to the beat, which is why rhythm reading is the foundation here too.
Rhythm Match
Match each rhythm symbol to its name — eighths, sixteenths, and the rests — so your paradiddle stays glued to the beat. No instrument needed.
A step-by-step practice plan
- Say it before you play it: "R-L-R-R, L-R-L-L," slowly and out loud.
- Play flat (no accents) on a pad at a slow metronome until the sticking is automatic.
- Add the accent on the first note of each group while keeping the rest soft.
- Count "1 e & a, 2 e & a" so each group lands squarely on the beat.
- Speed up gradually — only push the tempo when it's clean and the accents pop.
Common fixes
- The "diddle" sounds lumpy? Use the rebound for the doubled stroke instead of muscling it.
- Accents not standing out? Lift the accented stick higher and keep the others low.
- Losing the loop? Slow down and feel how each group starts with the opposite hand.
The real secret: make practice fun
The drummers who get clean, fast hands are the ones who put in the most reps — and people repeat what they enjoy. That's the whole idea behind BANDROOM.GAMES: free, retro-arcade games that quietly drill the rhythm sense behind every rudiment.
- Rhythm Match — note values and rests, the timing behind the paradiddle.
- Echo — call-and-response that sharpens your timing and ear.
- Clef Match — note reading for when you move to tuned percussion.
- Tuner — a free chromatic tuner for your section's pitched instruments.
Play the arcade
No sign-up, no install. Pick a game and start turning "I should practice" into "one more round."
Frequently asked questions
What is the sticking for a single paradiddle?
R L R R, then L R L L. It combines two single strokes with a double stroke, and it naturally flips which hand leads each time, so it loops smoothly: RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL.
Where does the accent go in a paradiddle?
On the first note of each group — the R in RLRR and the L in LRLL. Accenting that first stroke gives the paradiddle its signature feel and makes it useful for moving accents around a drum kit.
Why is the paradiddle so useful?
Because it automatically alternates lead hands, it lets you move smoothly around the drums and place accents wherever you want. Drummers use it for fills, grooves, and orchestrating ideas across the kit.
Keep learning: Note values & rests · Ear training · all guides · more articles