Paradiddle-Diddle — Metal Drumming Technique | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Paradiddle-Diddle?

The paradiddle-diddle is a six-note sticking pattern - right, left, right, right, left, left (RLRRLL) - that opens with a single right-left pair before closing with a double stroke on each hand. It sits alongside the single paradiddle and double paradiddle in the paradiddle family: shorter than the double paradiddle's six-note RLRLRR LRLRLL cycle, but built from the same idea of alternating single strokes with a closing double, only here the "diddle" portion is doubled up at the end instead of appearing once per hand. Because the pattern packs two consecutive double strokes back to back, it produces a distinctly rolling, legato feel compared to the sharper accent shifts of the plain paradiddle. In metal drumming, the paradiddle-diddle is most useful as a building block for fills and linear phrases that need a smoother, more connected feel than single-stroke-based patterns provide - the back-to-back doubles let a drummer cover more surface area on the kit with less physical effort per note, which is valuable when constructing fast, technical fills across toms.

How fast are paradiddle-diddles played?

Paradiddle-Diddle is typically played around Any.

Who is the best paradiddle-diddle drummer?

Mike Mangini (Dream Theater) is among the most cited Paradiddle-Diddle drummers, alongside Gavin Harrison, Matt Garstka. See the full list on MetalForge.

What are the different types of paradiddle-diddles?

Paradiddle-Diddle has 4 main variations: Standard Paradiddle-Diddle (The base six-note pattern (RLRRLL) combining a single pair with two closing doubles); Reverse Paradiddle-Diddle (Sticking starts on the double-stroke portion before resolving into the single pair); Double Paradiddle-Diddle (An eight-note extension adding an extra pair of singles before the two closing doubles); Linear Paradiddle-Diddle (The six-note sticking split between hands and feet so no limb repeats consecutively).