In this first Dragadiddle orchestration concept each hand will just play a different drum. For example, in the first exercise the right hand plays the floor tom and the left hand plays the high tom. I discussed in the previous lessons using this orchestration idea that this is a great way to help learn a rudiment as it gives it a melody and this is particularly true of paradiddle based rudiments.
Remember, you hands will always be playing a Dragadiddle in all exercises on this page. In the later exercises the orchestration switches at various points in the bar. I have included feet in all exercises, it may be worth removing them whilst you are learning the orchestration then adding them back in later. Experiment with using different feet patterns from our previous lessons. Playing the drag on toms can be tricky due to the lower tension of the skin.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
TASKS
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all exercises up to a tempo of at least 120bpm with good hand technique.
- Create your own feet patterns for the exercises.
- Play all 6 exercises as a continuous 6 bar pattern, then repeat.
- Experiment with using the given parts as fills.