________________________________


























RUDIMENT CONTROL
________________________________

_____________________
_____________________
Rudiment Combinations
&
Rhythmic Variations

_____________________
_____________________

Matthew Lemieux
www.fatmattdrums.com
Summer 2014 Edition

    


























Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome!
This collection of exercises is based on two main ideas: that certain pairs of rudiments can be thought of as
rhythmic corruptions of the same stroke combinations, and that rudiments should be rehearsed with different
rhythmic speeds and interpretations in order to develop better control of the sticks and a stronger rudimental
vocabulary. Rather than merely build chops, this packet should give the performer a greater command over the
space between notes, ensuring confidence in rhythmic accuracy over a range of musical and rudimental contexts.

______________________________________________________

This packet is divided into three main sections:

I. "Juxtapositions"
These exercises juxtapose rudiments with different rhythmic interpretations of themselves, as well as with other
rudiments that consist of the same sequence of strokes. The exercises are all of the same simple construction,
and while some of the combinations might seem very left-fieldincluded for the more adventurous among
rudimental drummersa great many of them should prove beneficial to drummers of all playing levels. The
collection is by no means exhaustive, and if you think of juxtapositions that are not included in this packet, I
would love to hear about them.
For thorough practice:
The exercises with accents should also be performed with all notes at a single height.
The exercises that are not doublestop-based should additionally be performed "off the left,"
whether or not the rudiments switch hands.
The order of the juxtaposed rudiments can be reversed.
Variations of the same rudiment can be mixed with each other: for example, Slurred Tap-Fives can
be juxtaposed with Tight Tap-Fives without including the base rudiment.

II. "Modulations"
This section introduces some basic accent patterns into which different rudiments can be fit. The goal here is to
juxtapose different rhythmic speeds of the rudiments. I do not intend to include an exhaustive list of
rudimental applications for each pattern; the exercises are merely included to give the performer an adequate
sense of how to extend each pattern to different rudiments. Don't forget to do it all off the left as well!

III. "Off-Hand Control"

These exercises juxtapose rudiments that consist of the same lead-hand breakdown as each other. The
performer is not only challenged to control the non-lead hand in order to transition between the different
rudiments, but should also pay attention to the slight differences in how the lead hand must perform. Even
though the one-handed breakdown might be apparently the same (as with pataflaflas and inverted flam taps),
there will be slight variations in timing (and possibly stick height) when the two hands are put together,
depending on which notes of the breakdown are taps and which ones are grace-notes.
The included exercises are merely examples intended to convey this concept and give you some starting points;
the sky is really the limit when it comes to these kinds of exercises. For example, if the lead hand is playing
bucks (R r R r), there are countless possibilities for what variations can be done with the off hand, be they added
grace-notes, added drags, added inner beats, or any combination thereof.

______________________________________________________

I hope that you will find this packet beneficial to your growth as a rudimental drummer, and I encourage you to
share this collection with your peers. Questions, feedback, and suggestions for improving this packet should be
directed to mdlemieu@ncsu.edu
Cheers!

Matthew Lemieux

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Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
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Table of Contents

______________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________

I. Juxtapositions

(Paradiddle Rudiments)

Rolls and Drags

Cloned Singlestrokes
Tap-Fives
Tap-Fives
Tap-Fives
Six-Stroke Rolls

::
::
::
::
::

Cloned Doublestrokes
Slurred Tap-Fives
Tight Tap-Fives
Tap-Drag-Diddles
Slurred Six-Stroke Rolls

Six-Stroke Rolls
Tap-Nines
Tap-Sevens
(Duple) Lead-Hand Drags
(Duple) Off-Hand Drags

::
::
::
::
::

Stressed Six-Stroke Rolls

Slurred Tap-Nines
Slurred Tap-Sevens
Slurred Lead-Hand Drags (1)
Slurred Ruffs (1)

(Triplet) Lead-Hand Drags :: Slurred Lead-Hand Drags (2)

(Triplet) Off-Hand Drags :: Slurred Ruffs (2)
Downbeat Drags :: Downbeat Slurred Drags

Paradiddle diddles
Double Paradiddles
Double Paradiddles
Double Paradiddles

::
::
::
::
::

Same Diddle, Diff. Release

Downbeat Tight Drags
Mills
Slurred Tap Drags
Same Diddle, Diff. Initiation

Tap Drags
Tap Drags
Tap Drags
Five-Stroke Rolls
Five-Stroke Rolls

::
::
::
::
::

Inverted Paradiddles
Tight Tap Drags
Tap-ruffs
Slurred Five-Stroke Rolls
Tight Five-Stroke Rolls

Four-Stroke Rolls
Single-Stroke Fours
Singles
Singles
Singles

::
::
::
::
::

Open Roll
Single-Stroke Roll
Single-backs
Inverted Single-backs
Single-Stroke Ruffs

Fivelet Ruff Thing (1)

Herta Thing 1
Herta Thing 2
Fivelet Herta Thing

12

Double Paradiddles :: Fivelet Ruff Thing (2)

Double Paradiddles :: Mod. Ratamacues
Mod. Double Paradiddles :: Ratamacues

13

10

Paradiddle Rudiments
Paradiddle diddles
Doublestop Huckadigs
2-Accent Paradiddle diddles
Paradiddle diddles

::
::
::
::

Five-Stroke Pickups
Cloned Six-Stroke Rolls
Modified Six-Stroke Rolls
Fivelet Drag Thing

::
::
::
::

Flam Rudiments

Downbeat Drags
Downbeat Drags
Downbeat Drags
Tap Drags
Tap Drags

Hertas :: Single-Stroke Fours

Hertas :: Slurred Hertas

_________________________

Flams
Flam Accents
Flam Accents
Flam Accents
Flam Drags

::
::
::
::
::

Swung 16th Notes

Modified Hertas
Flat Flam Accents
Shifted Paradiddles
Slurred Flam Drags

14

Flam Drags
Flam Drags
Flam Drags
Cheeses

::
::
::
::

Inverted Flam Paradiddles

Tight Flam Drags
Modified Paradiddles
Slurred Cheeses

15

Cheeses
Cheeses
Cheeses
Flam Fives

::
::
::
::

Flammed Mills
Tight Cheeses
Bad Cheeses
Slurred Flam Fives

16

Flam Fives :: Tight Flam Fives

Flam Fives :: Bad Flam Fives
Flam Taps :: Triplestroke Rolls
Inverted Flam Taps
Pataflaflas
Swiss Army Triplets
Swiss w/ Kick

::
::
::
::

Triplet Accents
Modified Paradiddle diddles
Doubles
Flams

Swiss w/ Flam Kick :: Eggbeaters

Para Flam Taps :: Slurred Tap-Fives
Flam Paradiddles :: Not Shirley Murphies

17
18

19

Drag Rudiments
11

Double Ratamacues :: Slurred Double Ratamacues

Ruffs :: Triplestroke Rolls
Fivelet Ratamacues :: Inverted Double Paradiddles

20

Drag Paradiddles :: Slurred Drag Paradiddles

21

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Rudiment Control
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(Table of Contents)

_________________________

II. Modulations

_________________________

Modulations in 3

::

22

Modulations in 4

::

24

Modulations in 5

::

26

Modulations in 6

::

28

Modulations in 7

::

30

______________________

III. O!-Hand Control

______________________

Flam Accents
Swiss Army Triplets
Swiss Army Triplets
Swung Flam Taps

::
::
::
::

Para Flam-Tap Flam-Taps

Off-Hand Swiss w/Kick
Hertas
2-Accent Paradiddle diddles

32

Pataflaflas
Pataflaflas
Flam-Taps
Tap-Fives
Double Paradiddles

::
::
::
::
::

Inverted Flam Taps

Single-Stroke Fives (Pickup)
2-Accent Single-Stroke Fives
Ruffs
Tap Flam-Fives

33

Lesson 25 :: Slurred Ruffs

Modified Pataflaflas :: Accented Single-Stroke Fives

34

Up first... Rolls and Drags

...................
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Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
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Rolls and Drags

Cloned Singlestrokes : : Cloned Doublestrokes

44

Also, split the hands up: rehearse singles into doublestrokes

>3 >3 >3 >3 > 5 > 5 > 5 > 5

>3 >3 > 5 > 5
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
44 ! ! ! !

Tap-Fives : : Slurred Tap-Fives

R ll rr L rr ll R ll rr L rr ll

R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

R ll rr L rr ll R l l r r L r r l l

> 3
> 5
> 3
> 5
!
!
!
!

R

ll

rr

ll

rr

>

> 3 > 3 > 3 > 3

>
>
>
>
> 3 > 3 >
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
44 ! !

Tap-Fives : : Tight Tap-Fives

R ll rr L rr ll R ll rr L rr ll

> 3
>
!
!

R

ll

rr

ll rr L

rr ll R

> 3
>
! ! ! !

rr

ll

ll

rr

ll rr L

rr ll

! !

rr

R ll rr L rr ll

>

ll

ll rr L

rr ll

>3 > 3 > 3 >3 >

>
>
>
> 3 > 3 >
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
4
4 !

Tap-Fives : : Tap-Drag-Diddles

R ll rr L rr ll R ll rr L rr ll

R ll r r L rr l

l R ll r r L rr l l

> 3
>
> 3
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
R

ll

rr

rr

ll

rr

rr

R ll rr L rr ll R ll r r L rr l l

>

>
>>
>>
>>
> > 6 >> 6 >> 6 >> 6 >
44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Six-Stroke Rolls : : Slurred Six-Stroke Rolls

R ll rr L R ll rr L R ll rr L R ll rr L

> >> >> 6 >> 6 >

! ! ! !

R ll rr L R ll rr L R l l r r L R l l r r L

R l

r r L R l

r r L R l

r r L R l

> >> 6 >> >> 6 >

! ! ! !
R ll rr L R l l r r L R ll rr L R l l r r L

r r L

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
-4-

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

>
> >
> >
> >
> > 5:3 > > 5:3 > > 5:3 > > 5:3 >
! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Six-Stroke Rolls : : Stressed Six-Stroke Rolls

R ll rr L R ll rr L R ll rr L R ll rr L

> > > > > 5:3 > > 5:3 >
! ! ! !

R l

r r L

R l

l r r L

R l

r r L

> > > 5:3 > > > > 5:3 >
! ! ! !

R ll rr L R ll rr L R l l r r L R l l r r L

R l

>

R ll rr L R l l r r L R ll rr L R l l r r L

l r r L

9
9
9
9
>
>
>
>
> 5
> 5 > 5 > 5
44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Tap-Nines : : Slurred Tap-Nines

>

R ll rr ll rr L rr ll rr ll R ll rr ll rr L rr ll rr ll

9
9
>
>
! ! ! !

>
! ! ! !
5

ll

rr

ll

rr

R l l r r l l r r L r r l l r r l l R l l r r l l r r L r r l l r r l l

rr

ll

rr

ll

ll

rr

ll

rr

9
9
>
>
> 5
> 5
! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

ll

rr

ll

rr

L r r l l r r l l R

L r r l l r r l l

>

> > > >

> 7 > 7 > 7 > 7
> > > 7 > 7
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
44 ! ! ! ! ! !

Tap-Sevens : : Slurred Tap-Sevens

R ll rr ll R ll rr ll R ll rr ll R ll rr ll R l l r r l l R l l r r l l R l l r r l l R l l r r l l R ll rr ll R ll rr ll R l l r r l l R l l r r l l

>
>
>
>
7
7
!
!
!
!
!
!

R

ll

rr

ll

R l

r r

l R

ll

rr

ll

R l

(Duple) Lead-Hand Drags : : Slurred Lead-Hand Drags

44 ! ! ! ! ! !

r r

>

R

rr l rr l r r l r r l

! !

rr l r r l rr l r r l

44 ! ! ! ! ! !

! !

rr l rr l rr l rr l

r r l r r l r r l r r l

(Duple) Off-Hand Drags : : Slurred Ruffs

3

r ll r ll r ll r ll

r l l r l l r l l r l l

r ll r ll r l l r l l

r ll r l l r ll r l l

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
-5-

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

(Triplet) Lead-Hand Drags : : Slurred Lead-Hand Drags

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
6

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

! ! ! ! ! !
6

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

rr

(Triplet) Off-Hand Drags : : Slurred Ruffs

rr

rr

r r l r r l r r l

r r l r r l r r l rr

! ! ! ! ! !
9

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
6

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

! ! ! ! ! !
6

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

ll

r l

l r l

l r

ll

ll

ll

r l

l r l

l r l l

l r l

! ! ! ! ! !
9

Downbeat Drags : : Downbeat Slurred Drags

3

44 ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr l r ll r l rr l r ll r l

!
3

rr

r r l r

!
3

rr

l l r l

r r l r
3

l l r l

rr l

r ll r

l r r l r

l l r l

Also perform these exercises with accents on the quarter-note downbeats.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2014 Matthew Lemieux

-6-

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

Downbeat Drags : : Same Diddle, Different Release

44 ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr l

r ll r

l rr l

r ll r

r r l r

l l r l

r r l r

l l r l

rr

r ll r

r r l r

l l r l

This should force you to focus on the rebound of the second note of each diddle.

!
3

rr

rr

Downbeat Drags : : Downbeat Tight Drags

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr

ll

rr

ll

rr l r

! !

rr

ll

ll r l

rr l r

ll r l

! !

rr

ll

! ! ! !
3

rr

ll

rr l r

ll r l

Downbeat Drags : : Mills

44 ! ! ! ! ! !

rr l

r ll r

l rr l

r ll r

r r l r

l r l r r l r

! !
3

ll

l r l

rr l

Tap Drags : : Slurred Tap Drags

ll

ll

r r l r l l r l

44 ! ! ! ! ! !

r ll r

l rr l

r ll r

l rr l

r l l r

l r r l

r l l r

l r r l

ll

ll

ll

l rr l

! !
3

r l l r

l r r l

Tap Drags : : Same Diddle, Different Initiation

44 ! ! ! ! ! !

r ll r

l rr l

r ll r

l rr l

r l l r

!
3

ll

l r r l

r l l r

l r r l

!
3

ll

r ll

l rr

r l l r

l r r l

Also perform these exercises with accents on the quarter-note downbeats.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2014 Matthew Lemieux

-7-

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

Tap Drags : : Inverted Paradiddles

44 ! ! ! ! ! !
3

r ll r

l rr l

r ll r

l rr l

r l

l r

l r r l r l

l r

l r r l

! !
3

ll

ll

ll

l rr l

r l l r l r r l

Tap Drags : : Tight Tap Drags

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
3

ll

rr

ll

rr

!
r

ll

ll r l

rr l r

ll r

! !

rr

ll

rr l

rr

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
r

ll

rr

ll

rr

r ll r

! !
r

ll

rr

r ll r

l rr l

! !

l rr l

ll

rr

ll

rr

Tap Drags : : Tap-ruffs

3

ll r l

rr l

! ! ! !
3

ll

rr

r ll r

l rr l

Five-Stroke Rolls : : Slurred Five-Stroke Rolls

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr ll r ll rr l rr ll r ll rr l

r r l l r l l r r l r r l l r l l r r l

rr

ll

rr

ll

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr ll

ll rr l

rr ll

ll rr l

rr ll r

! ! ! !
3

rr

ll

ll

rr

ll rr l

rr ll r

ll rr l

! ! ! !
3

rr

ll

ll

rr

Five-Stroke Rolls : : Tight Five-Stroke Rolls

rr ll r ll rr l r r l l r l l r r l

! ! ! !
3

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
3

rr ll

ll rr

rr ll r

ll rr l

Also perform these exercises with accents on the quarter-note downbeats.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2014 Matthew Lemieux

-8-

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

Four-Stroke Rolls : : Open Roll

44
3

r r

r r

r r

r r

r r l l

r r l l

r r l l r r l l

r r l l r r l l

r r l l

r r l l

Single-Stroke Fours : : Single-Stroke Roll

44
3

r l r l

r l r l

r l r l r l r l

Singles : : Single-backs

r l r l

r l r

r l r l r l r l

l r l

r l r

l r l

r l r l

44
3

r l r

l r l

Singles : : Inverted Single-backs

44
3

l r l

r l r

l r l

r l

l r l

r l

Contrast this rhythm with the swung pattern in the next exercise. The tendency will be to swing the eighth-note space here.

Singles : : Single-Stroke Ruffs

44
3

l r l

r l r

l r l

r l

r l

l r l

r l

Also perform these exercises with accents on the quarter-note downbeats.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

2014 Matthew Lemieux

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Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Rolls and Drags)

Hertas : : Single-Stroke Fours

44
3

r l r l r l r l r l r l r l r l

r l r l

r l r l

Note how the lead hand remains constant throughout.

r l r l

r l r l

Hertas : : Slurred Hertas

r l r l r l r l r l r l

r l r l

44
3

r l r l r l r l r l r l r l r l

r l r l

r l r l

r l r l

r l r l

r l r l r l r l r l r l r l r l

Also, add accents to the third triplet partial to check consistency between the herta interpretations.

Up next... Paradiddle Rudiments

...................
Practice Tip: Keep a journal of the things you need to work on.
Make a table with all the exercises and performance repertoire you need to work on. With the exercises, keep a record of
which tempi you can play them at, and at which heights/dynamics. Keep track of what you struggle with at the different
tempi. Maybe the accents feel forced at a certain height when you get too fast; maybe the space on a tap roll is inconsistent
beyond a certain tempo; maybe your upstrokes are very uncomfortable for fast tap-fives with 12-inch accents. It's okay to be
messy with your notes... what's important is that you write these things down!
With the performance repertoire, break the music down into short passages, and break the learning process into a set of
demands that you hope to achieve. Your hierarchy of demands might look something like this: "accents being in time, timing
on all rhythms, accent-tap contrast, phrase shaping/dynamics, consistency of touch"... You may have milestones specific to
the passage, too: "releasing the paradiddle-diddle in time, lining up the eighth-note with the sextuplet rhythm, getting the first
diddle down to 3-inches, getting the second diddle up to 6-inches", and so on.
If you are in a drumline setting, you should also populate this notebook with comments you get from staff members,
especially if you are auditioning for an ensemble. In an audition situation, what instructors really look for are students who
apply the things that they say, especially if a comment is made specifically to the student. It's easy to underestimate just how
mentally draining it can be to play in a drumline setting; take it for granted that you will forget things, and write down
anything that might be important. Of course, be courteous: wait until you are no longer on a drum to write your notes down.
Use this journal to set goals for yourself, keep track of what you've worked on, keep track of what you've achieved, and
ensure that you do not overlook something that you need to be spending time on. It doesn't have to be neat... it just has to be
there. You will be surprised by the things that you would have forgotten, and you will be satisfied every time you can check
off something that you used to be unable to do.
And, of course: your work isn't done just because you've practiced something enough to get it right. Practice it enough to get
it right consistently.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 10 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Paradiddle Rudiments

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
>
>
>
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
4
4 ! !

Paradiddle diddles : : Five-Stroke Pickups

R l

r r

l R l

r r

l R l

r r

l R l

> 6 > 6 >

>
!
!
! !

r r

l rr ll R

l rr ll R

l rr ll R

> 6 >
> 6 >
!
!
! !

R l r r l l R l r r l l R l rr ll R l rr ll

R l r r l l R l rr ll R l r r l l R l rr ll

l rr ll

>

R

>
>
>
>
>
>
>3
>3
>3
>3
>3
>3
44

Doublestop Huckadigs : : Cloned Six-Stroke Rolls

>

>3

>

>3

>

>> 6 >> 6 >> 6 >> 6

>> >> >> >> >> 6 >> 6 >> >>
44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

2-Accent Paradiddle diddles : : Modified Six-Stroke Rolls

R L r r l l R L r r l l R L r r l l R L r r l l R L rr ll R L rr ll R L rr ll R L rr ll R L r r l l R L r r l l R L rr ll R L rr ll

>> 6
> >
>> 6
> >
!
!
! !
R L

rr

ll

R L

rr

ll

>

R

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
!
!
!
44 !

Paradiddle diddles : : Fivelet Drag Thing

R l r r l l R l r r l l R l r r l l R l r r l l

> 6 > 6 > 5 > 5

! !

R l r r l l R l r r l l R l rr l l R l rr l l

R l rr l

l R l rr l

l R l rr l

> 6 > 5 > 6 > 5

! !
R l r r l l R l rr l l R l r r l l R l rr l l

l R l rr l

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 11 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Paradiddle Rudiments)

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
!
!
!
4
4 !

Paradiddle diddles : : Fivelet Ruff Thing

R l r r l

l R l r r l

l R l r r l

l R l r r l

> 6 > 6 > 5 > 5

! !

R l r r l l R l r r l l R l r r ll R l r r ll

R l r r ll R l r r ll R l

r r ll R l

> 6 > 5 > 6 > 5

! !
R l r r l l R l r r ll R l r r l l R l r r ll

r r ll

>

R

>
>
>
>
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
!
!
!
!
44

Double Paradiddles : : Herta Thing 1

R l r l r r L r l r l

l R l r l r r L r l r l

>
> 6 > 6 >
!
!

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l rr L r l r ll

l r l rr L

r l r ll R

l r l rr L

> 6 >
> 6 >
!
!
R l r l r r L r l r ll R l r l r r L r l r ll

r l r ll

>

R

>
>
>
>
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
!
!
!
!
44

Double Paradiddles : : Herta Thing 2

R l r l r r L r l r l

l R l r l r r L r l r l

>
> 6 > 6 >
!
!

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l rr L r l r ll

R l r

l rr L r l

r ll R l r

l rr L r l

> 6 >
> 6 >
!
!
R l r l r r L r l r ll R l r l r r L r l r ll

r ll

>

R

> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
44

Double Paradiddles : : Fivelet Herta Thing

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

> 6 > 6 > 5 > 5

> 6 > 5 > 6 > 5
>

R l r l r r L r l r l lR l r l r r L r l r l l

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 12 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Paradiddle Rudiments)

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
!
!
!
4
4 !

Double Paradiddles : : Fivelet Ruff Thing

R l r l r r L r l r l

l R l r l r r L r l r l

> 6 > 6 > 5 > 5

! !

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l rr L r l r ll

R l

r l rr L r

l r ll R l

r l rr L r l r ll

> 6 > 5 > 6 > 5

! !
R l r l r r L r l r ll R l r l r r L r l r ll

>

R

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
!
!
!
4
4 !

Double Paradiddles : : Modified Ratamacues

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

R l r l

rr L r l r

ll R l r l

rr R l r l

rr

> 6 > 6 > 6 > 6

> 6 > 6 > 6 > 6
>
!
!
! !

R l r l r r L r l r l lR l r l

rr L r l r

ll

R l r l r r L r l r

ll R l r l r r L r l r

ll

Modified Double Paradiddles : : Ratamacues

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
!
!
!
44 !
6

r l r L r r l r l R l l r l r L r r l r l R l l

6
6
6
>
>
>
>
!
!
6

r l r L r r l r lR l l r l r L

rr l r l R

ll

r l r L

rr l r l R

ll r l r L

rr l r l R

6
6
6
>
>
>
>
!
!
6

r l r L r r l r l R

ll r l r L r r l r l R

ll

ll

Up next... Flam Rudiments

...................
Practice Tip: Film videos of your playing.
Although a mirror is a very effective practice tool, mirrors serve a different purpose than videos. A mirror allows you to
observe your playing in real-time, along with the real-time adjustments you make in response to what you see in the mirror.
A video allows you to scrutinize your playing without being distracted by the adjustments you are trying to make.
Furthermore, you can share your videos with peers to see what feedback they might have for you.
Do not get stuck trying to get a "perfect take." You can overlook the mistakes that you know you're making, because the
video will reveal the mistakes that you don't know that you are making: especially the ones that you overlook in the mirror
because you are preoccupied with other demands. All of these mistakes will end up on your "fix it" list.
If you have video editing softwarelike Apple's iMovieuse it to watch your video in slow motion. Even at 90% speed,
you should be able to get really picky with rhythmic accuracy and notice the inconsistencies that, in real-time, tend to blow
past your ear too fast for you to notice what's wrong.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 13 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Flam Rudiments

> > > > > > > >

j
4
4 j j j j j j j

> 3> > 3> > 3> > 3> > > > > > 3> > 3>
j
j
j
j
j

Flams : : Swung 16th Notes

>

>

R r L l R r L l R r L l R r L l

>
>
>

3

>

>
>

>3 >3 >3 >3

>3
>3
>3
>3
j
j
j
44
j

L r l

R l r

L r l

l R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l

R l r r L r l

R l
l

r r r
L

l R l
l

r r r
L

r
L

r
L

>3 >3 >3 >3

>
>
>
>
j
j
j
44

Flam Accents : : Shifted Paradiddles

R l r

L r l

R l r

L r l

l R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l

>3 >
>3 >
j

R l r r L r l

L r

>

l R
l

r r
L

>3 >3 >

>
j

R l r

L r l l R l r r L r l

R l r r L r l

>

> 3
> 3 > 3 > 3
j

L r l l R l r r L r l

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
j

R

> 3 > 3 >3

>3
j

R l r r L r l

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
>3 >3 >3 >3
j
j
j
44
r

>

R r L l R r L l

R l r

>3 >
>3 >
j

3

Flam Accents : : Flat Flam Accents

Flam Accents : : Modified Hertas

R l r

>

R

>3 >3 >3 >3

>3
>3
>3
>3
>3 > 3 >3
>3
44 j ! j ! j ! j ! j j j j j ! j ! j j

Flam Drags : : Slurred Flam Drags

R ll r

L rr l

R ll r

L rr l

R l l r

L r r l

R l l r

L r r l

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
j
j
j
j
! !
3

ll

R ll r

L rr l

ll

>

R l l r

L r r l

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 14 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Flam Rudiments)

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
j
j
j
j
!
!
!
4
4 !

>
>
>
>
j
j
j

Flam Drags : : Inverted Flam Paradiddles

ll

rr

ll

>3 >3 >

>
j
j
j
!
!

R ll r

L rr l

R l l r

rr

L r r l

R ll r

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
j
j
j
j
!
!
!
4
4 !
ll

rr

ll

>3 >3 >

>
j
j
j
!
!
!
!

R ll r

L rr l

R ll r

rr

L rr l

>3 >
>3 >
j
j
!
! j
L r r l

Flam Drags : : Tight Flam Drags

>

R ll r

ll

>
! j

rr

>3 >
>3 >
j
j
!
!
! j !
R ll r

L rr l

R ll r

L rr l

L r r l

>
! j

ll

>

>
! j

rr

>

R

>3 >3 >3 >3

>3
>3
>3
>3
>3 > 3 >3
>3
j
j
j
j
j
44 ! ! ! ! ! !

Flam Drags : : Modified Paradiddles

R ll r

L rr l

R ll r

L rr l

l R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l

>3 >3
>3 >3
j
j
! !

R ll r r L r r l

LL r l

RR l r

LL r l

3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

R R l r

L L r l

R R l r

L L r l

> 3
> >3
> 3
> >3
! j j ! j
3

RR

L rr l l R l l r r L r r l

R ll r r L r r l

> 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 >>

>>
>>
>>
j !
j !
j !
j !
j
j
j
j
4
4

Cheeses : : Slurred Cheeses

RR l r

R ll r

> 3 > 3 >>

> >3
! j ! j j

RR l r

LL r l

RR

>

>

3
3

R R l r

L L r l

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 15 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Flam Rudiments)

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
! j ! j ! j !

Cheeses : : Flammed Mills

44

RR

LL

RR

LL

>3
>3 >>j !
j
j
!

RR l r

LL r l

R r l r

> > > > j

j
j

R

RR l r

44

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
! j ! j ! j !

RR

LL

RR

>3
>3
>
>
j !
j !
j !
!

RR l r

LL r l

RR l r

LL

LL

RR l r

LL r l

RR l r

>

>
!

LL

LL r l

>
!

RR

L l r l

>
!

>

R

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
>3 >
>3 >
>3 >
>3 >
! j ! j ! j !
3

RR

LL

RR

LL

l R R l

r L L r

l R R l

r L L r

To better understand this rhythm: take out the written accents and rehearse with
downbeat accents. Feel the rhythmic push to the second triplet partial.

> 3 > 3 >3 >

>3 >
3
j ! j !
3

RR l r

LL r l l R R l r r L L r l

ll

LL rr

RR

ll

LL rr

> 3 > 3 > >5

>>5
j ! ! j ! ! j j

RR ll r

LL rr l

R R l l r

L L r r l

RR l r r L L r l

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
! ! j ! ! j ! ! j ! !

RR

> 3 >3 >

> 3 >3 >
! j !
3

Flam Fives : : Slurred Flam Fives

44

RR l r

>
!

RR

Cheeses : : Bad Cheeses

44

>3
>
>3
>
! j ! j ! j !

LL r l

L l r l

Cheeses : : Tight Cheeses

> 3 >> 3 >! j j ! j

L l r l

RR l r r L L r l

>

R

>>5
>>5
>>5
>>5
j
j
j
j

R R

L L r r

R R

> 3 >>5
> 3 >>5
! ! j j ! ! j

RR ll r

L L r r l

RR ll r

L L r r l

L L r r

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 16 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Flam Rudiments)

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
! ! j ! ! j ! ! j ! !

Flam Fives : : Tight Flam Fives

44

RR

ll

LL

rr

RR

ll

>3
>3
>
>
j ! ! j ! ! j ! !
!
!

RR ll r

LL rr l

RR ll r

LL

LL rr l

rr

>
! !

RR ll

>
! !

LL rr

>
! !

RR ll

>3
>
>3
>
! ! j ! ! j ! ! j ! !

RR ll r

LL rr l

RR ll r

LL rr l

>
! !

LL rr

>

R

> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
>>
>>
>>
>>
j ! !
j ! !
j ! !
j ! !
4
4
3
5:4

Flam Fives : : Bad Flam Fives

ll

rr

ll

rr

3
5:4

3
5:4

l R R l l r

r L L r r l

3
5:4

l R R l l r

r L L r r l

To better understand this rhythm: take out the written accents and rehearse with downbeat
accents. Feel the rhythmic push to the third triplet partial.

> 3 > 3 >5:4

>
>5:4
>
3
j ! ! j ! !

3

R ll r

> 3 >5:4
>
> 3 >5:4
>
j ! !
j ! !

3

L rr l l R R l l r r L L r r l

R ll r r L L r r l

R ll r r L L r r l

>

R

> - > - > - > - > - > - > - > - > - -6 > - - > - -6 > - - > - -6 > - - > - -6> - 44 j j j j j j j j j

Flam Taps : : Triplestroke Rolls

R r

>

L l

R r

>
j

L

L l

>
j

R r

L l

R r

>
j

L

L l

R R R L L L R R R L L L R R R L L L R R R L L L

> - -6> - - > - -6> - j

R

> - > - > - -6> - - > - > - > - -6> - j j j j

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 17 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Flam Rudiments)

> > > > > > > >

j
4
4 j j j j j j j

> 6> > 6> > 6> > 6>

j

Inverted Flam Taps : : Triplet Accents

R l

>

L r

>
j

R l

L r

>
j

R l

L r

>
j

R l

L r

R l r L r l R l r L r l R l r L r l R l r L r l

6
6
>
>
>
>
j

6
6
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
j
j
j
j

R l r

R l r

R l r

>

> 6 >-> 6 >-> 6 >-> 6 >j

>
> >
> >
> >
>
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
44

Pataflaflas : : Modified Paradiddle diddles

R l r

R l r r L L R l r r L L R l r r L L R l r r L L

> > > > > 6 >-> 6 >> > > 6 >-> > > 6 >>
j j
j j
j j
j j

R l r

R l r

R l r r L LR l r r L L

R l r

R l r rL LR l r

R l r rL L

Swiss Army Triplets : : Doubles

> 3- > 3- > -3 > 3>- >- >- >> -3 > -3 > - > 44 j j j j j j j
R R l

R R l

R R l

R R l

R R l l R R l l R R l l R R l l

> -3
> > -3
> j
j

R

> 3- > > -3 > > -3 > > -3 >

44 j j j j

Swiss w/ Kick : : Flams

R R L

R R L

R R L

R R L

> 3- > >

j

j
R

>
j

L

> -3 > >

j

j

>

R R l

>

> > > > > > > >

j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

R

R R l

R R l l R R l l

> 3- > > -3 > > > > >

j
j
j
j
j
j

R R L

R R L

>

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 18 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Flam Rudiments)

> -3 > > -3 > > -3 > > -3 > > - 5- - - > - 5- - - > - 5- - - > - 5- - - > -3 > > -3 > > - 5- - - > - 5- - 44 j j j j j j j j j j j j j

Swiss w/ Flam Kick : : Eggbeaters

RR

RR

RR

RR

RRRL LRRR LLRRR L LRRR L L RR

> -3 > > - 5- - - > -3 > > - 5- - j j j j

RR

>

RRR LLRRR L L

- >
- >
- >
>
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
j
j
j
j
44

Para Flam Taps : : Slurred Tap-Fives

> - > - > 5 > 5

j j

R l

r r L r

l l R l l r r L r r l l

R l

r L r

l R l

> - > 5 > - > 5

j j
R l

r r L r r l l R l

r r L r r l l

r L r

>

R

>
>
>
>
> 5 > 5 > 5 > 5 >
>
> 5 > 5
44 j j j j j j j

Flam Paradiddles : : Not Shirley Murphies

R l r r

L r l l

R l r r

L r l l

R l r r r L r l l l R l r r r L r l l l

>
> 5
>
> 5
j j
R

R l r r

L r l l

R l r r r L r l l l

>

R

Up next... Drag Rudiments

...................
Practice tip: Play along to music at least as much as you play with a metronome.
Efficiency and endurance are two qualities that are the most tedious to work on, but you can develop these skills while also
training your ear if you play along to music. Pick an exercise, and decide to repeat it for the duration of a song. Pick a song
that has a consistent tempo and solid timing (easily taken care-of if it's electronic dance music or hip-hop); then, just go for
it. Maintain the mental focus to keep doing the right things with your hands (or pushing for the right adjustments) while also
feeling how the music you play interacts with the music you are listening to.
It can be the simplest, most repetitive exercise in the world, but there is still an interaction going on. Think of music like a
conversation: the same word spoken by the same person can mean different things depending on the dialogue around it.
You will find that certain tunes lend themselves well to certain exercises, and you should keep track of what songs go well
with which exercises and at what tempi. Eventually, you should have a sizable list of tracks to jam out to.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 19 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Drag Rudiments
Double Ratamacues : : Slurred Double Ratamacues

- 6 - 3 >
- 6 - 3 >
- 6 - 3 >
- 6 - 3
>
44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
R

ll

ll

rr

rr

ll

ll

rr

rr

- 9 - 9 - 9 - 9 >
>
>
>

ll

rr

rr

- 9 - 9 >
- 6 - 3 >
- 6 - 3 >
>
! ! ! !

ll

L r

6
6
-9 -9 > - -3 >
> - -3 >
! ! ! !

ll

ll

r l r L r r l r r l r l R

ll

ll

>

r l r L r r l r r l r l

> > > > > > > > > - - 6 > - - > - - 6> - - > - - 6 > - - > - - 6 > - 44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Ruffs : : Triplestroke Rolls

>

R rr L ll R rr L ll R rr L ll R rr L ll

>

rr

ll

>

>

rr

> - -6> - - > - - 6> -

R R R L L L R R R L L L R R R L L L R R R L L L

ll

>
>
> - -6> - - >
>
> - -6> - ! ! ! !

rr

ll

rr

ll

>

> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
!
!
!
!
44

Fivelet Ratamacues : : Inverted Double Paradiddles

R ll r l r L rr l r

l R ll r l

r L rr l r l

> 5 > 5 > 6 > 6

! !

R ll r l r L rr l r l R l l r l r L r r l r l

R l

l r l r L r r l r l R l

l r l r L r r l r l

> 5 > 6 > 5 > 6

! !
R ll r l r L r r l r l R ll r l r L r r l r l

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
- 20 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Drag Rudiments)

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
>3
>3
>3
>3
44 ! ! ! !

Drag Paradiddles : : Slurred Drag Paradiddles

R ll r l r r L rr l r l l R ll r l r r L rr l r l l

R l l r l r r L r r l r l l R l l r l r r L r r l r l l

>
>
> 3
> 3
6
6
! !
6

ll

rr

>
>3
>
>3
6
6
! !
6

ll

L r r l

ll

L r r l

>

R

Up next... Modulations in 3
...................
______________________________________________________________________________________________
- 21 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Modulations in 3

>
43

>

Accents

> > >j >j >

. .

>

>

> > >j >j

>
. . ..

>

>3 >3 >3 > > > >

>3 >3 >3 > > > >
>
3
4 ..

Triplet Accents

R l r L r l R l r

L r l R l r L r l R l r

L r l R l r L r l

R l r L r l R l r L r l

(Try with different accent, diddle, and grace-note placements:

e.g., flam drags, tap-fives, downbeat drags, etc.)

>3 >3 >3 > > > >

>3 >3 >3 > > > >
>
3
4 ..

Slurred Ruffs

R l l R l l R l l

R l l R l l R l l R l l

R l l R l l R l l

R l l R l l R l l R l l

(Try with different three-note rudiments:

e.g., swiss army triplets, swiss w/ kick, etc.)

> > >

> 4:3> > 4:3>
> > >
> 4:3> > 4:3>
>
3

.
4
.

Bucks

(Try with fill-in

i.e., add L.H. 16th-note inner beats to the eighth notes, etc.)

> > > > > > > >4:3> > > >4:3> > > > > > > > > >4:3> > > >4:3> >
43 j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j ..

Flams

>- >- >j

43 j j

Flam-Taps

R r

L l

R r

> -4:3> - > - 4:3> j

j
j
j

L l

R r

L l

R r

>- >- >j

j
j

L l

R r

L l

(Try with different two-note rudiments:

e.g., inverted flam-taps, cheese inverts, etc.)

Doublestrokes

> -4:3> - > -4:3> j

j
j
j
..
R r

L l

R r

L l

>

R

>

R

43 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ..
rr ll

rr ll rr

4:3

ll

rr ll

4:3

rr ll rr ll

rr ll

4:3

rr ll

rr ll

rr ll

rr ll

4:3

rr ll rr ll

rr ll

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 22 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Modulations in 3)

>
>
>
> 4:3
> 4:3
> 4:3
> 4:3
43

Paradiddles

>
>
>
> 4:3
> 4:3
> 4:3
> 4:3
>
..
L

(Try with different four-note rudiments:

e.g., flammed mills, inverted paradiddles, six-stroke rolls etc.)

> 5
> 5
> 5
> 5:3
> 5:3
> 5:3
> 5:3
43

Slurred Tap-Fives

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

.
5

L r

l R l

5:3

r L r

R l

5:3

r r L r r

5:3

R l

5:3

r r L r

>
>
>
>
> 6
> 6
> 6
43

Double Paradiddles

R l

r r L r

l R l

r r

L r

l R l

l r r L r

l R l

r r

>
>
>
>
> 6
> 6
> 6
>
..
L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

(Try with different six-note rudiments:

e.g., paradiddle-diddles, slurred six-stroke rolls, shirley murphys, etc.)

Up next... Modulations in 4
...................
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 23 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Modulations in 4

> > > >

4
4

> >3 > > >3 >

> > > >3 > > > > >3 > >
.. .. ..

Accents

>3 >3 >3 >3 > >9 > > >9 >
>3 >3 > >9 > >3 >3 > > 9 >
>
4

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Triplet Accents

R l rL r lR l rL r l R l rL r lR l rL r lR l r L r l

R l rL r lR l r L r lR l r L r lR l rL r lR l rL r l

(Try with different accent, diddle, and grace-note placements:

e.g., flam drags, tap-fives, downbeat drags, etc.)

>3 >3 >3 >3 > >9 > > >9 >
>3 >3 > >9 > >3 >3 > >9 >
>
44 .. .. ..

Slurred Ruffs

R l lR l lR l lR l l R l lR l lR l lR l lR l lR l l

R l lR l lR l lR l lR l l R l lR l lR l lR l lR l l

(Try with different three-note rudiments:

e.g., swiss army triplets, swiss w/ kick, etc.)

> > > > > 3 > >3 > 3 > >3
> > > 3 > >3 > > > 3 > >3
>
4
4 .. .. ..

Bucks

R r R r R r R r

R r R r R r R r R r R r

R r R r R r R r R r

R r R r R r R r R r

(Try with fill-in

i.e., add L.H. 16th-note inner beats to the eighth notes, etc.)

> > > > > > > >

j
44 j j j j j j j

> >3 > > >3 > > >3 > > >3 >
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

Flams

> > > > > >3 > > >3 >
.. j j j j j j j j j j
R

>
j
4
4

Flam-Taps

> j

> j

>
j

L

> - > - > -3 > - 3> .. j j j j j

r

> > > > > >3 > > >3 >
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
..

>
j

(Try with different two-note rudiments:

e.g., inverted flam-taps, cheese inverts, etc.)

>
j

L

>3
j

>
j

-3

> - > - > -3 > - 3> j

j
j
j
j
..
L

>
j

>

..

>3
j

L

..

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 24 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Modulations in 4)
Doublestrokes

44 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! .. .. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ..
3

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

>
>
>
>
> 6 >
>6
> 6 >
>6
44 ..

Paradiddles

R l

r L r

l R l

r L r

R l

r L r

l R l

r r L r

l R l

>
>
> 6 >
>6
>
>
> 6 >
>6
.. ..
R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l l R l r r

L r l l R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l l

r L r

>

R

(Try with different four-note rudiments:

e.g., flammed mills, inverted paradiddles, six-stroke rolls etc.)

Up next... Modulations in 5
...................
Practice tip: Don't forget to bring a towel! (The "towel method")
The phenomenon known as "pad hands" is the result of developing muscle memory for playing on one surface (a practice
pad) and not being able to apply it to a different surface (a drum). This happens when you generate a feedback loop whereby
the brain sends messages to the hands, and then makes adjustments based on what is seen and heard; i.e., there is an
over-reliance on the assumption that hitting the drum will feel a certain way.
If you practice extensively on different surfaces, even if none of them are actually drum heads, then your "feedback loop"
will also incorporate how it feels to hit a surface that responds a certain way; i.e., you will train your hands to be more
touch-sensitive and to make better use of a surface's rebound. This increased awareness will help you adjust to the feel of a
drum more naturally.
To apply the "towel method," grab a towel and place it on your drum or practice pad. There is one "layer" on the drum now.
Fold the towel over once; there are two layers now. This offers three different "rebound conditions": bare drum, one layer,
and two layers. You can do more if you'd like... To make each rebound condition more drastically different, it may be
appropriate to double-fold the towel initially and treat that as one layerit depends on the thickness of the towel.
Pick a rudiment or exercise that you can practice ad nauseam (i.e., a whole lot) and decide how long to play it at each
rebound condition. For example, maybe you will work on tap-drags at 144 BPM for 20 minutes at each rebound condition.
Start with two layers, and after 20 minutes you will unfold the towel once. 20 minutes after that, you will remove the towel.
20 minutes after that, you should be a lot better at tap-drags.
The diminshed rebound of the towel will force your muscles to work for each stroke, butunlike using a pillow as a
practice padyou will gradually re-introduce the rebound. This gradual transition to the bare drum allows your hands to
learn how to play aggressively enough to excite the drum heads while being relaxed enough to allow the stick to rebound.
You gain both chops and efficiency.
You can develop your own regimen based around the towel method. When I used this method, I would walk up and down
the tempo and height ranges at one rebound condition before moving on to the next one. Conversely, you could walk up and
down the range of rebound conditions at a single tempo before moving on to the next one.
This can be a tedious process if you let it be, but it should be mentally engaging if you are thinking about the right things;
play along to music (see page 19) to make it more interesting!

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 25 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Modulations in 5

>j

>
5
4

Accents

>

>

>j
>j

>
.. ..

>

>
..

>
>
> 3 > 3
>
> 3 >
> 3
>
5

.
.

.
4
. .
.

>
>
> 3 > 3
>
> 3 >
> 3
>
5

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Triplet Accents

L r

L r

L r

(Try with different accent, diddle, and grace-note placements:

e.g., flam drags, tap-fives, downbeat drags, etc.)

Slurred Ruffs

(Try with different three-note rudiments:

e.g., swiss army triplets, swiss w/ kick, etc.)

>j
>
>3
>3
>
>3
>
>3
>
5
4 . .. .. . ..

>j
>
>3
>3
>
>3
>
>3
>
5

.
.

.
.
.
4

. .
.

Tap-Drag Breakdown

r r

l l

r r

r r

r r

(Add grace-notes to accents in order to work on flam-drags)

Paradiddle-Diddle Breakdown

r r

r r

r r

r r

r r

r r

r r

r r

>
>
> 6 > 6
>
>3 3 >
> 6
>
5
4 .. .. ..

Double Paradiddles

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

(Try with different six-note rudiments:

e.g., paradiddle-diddles, slurred six-stroke rolls, shirley murphys, etc.)

> 4:3 > 4:3 >

>
> 4:3 >
> 4:3 >
>
45 .. .. ..

Paradiddles

R l r r L r l l

L r l l R

L r l l

(Try with different four-note rudiments:

e.g., flammed mills, inverted paradiddles, six-stroke rolls etc.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 26 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Modulations in 5)

> -4:3> - > -4:3> - > - > - > - > > -4:3> - > - > - > -4:3> - > - > 45 j j j j j j j j .. .. j j j j j j j j ..

Flam-Taps

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L r

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

>

R

(Try with different two-note rudiments:

e.g., inverted flam-taps, cheese inverts, etc.)

> >4:3> > > >4:3> > > > > > > > > > > >4:3> > > > > > > >4:3> > > > > > >
45 .. .. ..

Doublestrokes I

R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L

R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L

6
>
5
4 .. .. ..

Doublestrokes II

(Pay attention to the eighth-note subdivision.)

r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l

r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l r r l l

> 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:4 > 5:4

> 5:3 > 5:4 > 5:3 > 5:4
>
5

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Slurred Tap-Fives

R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

Up next... Modulations in 6
...................
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 27 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Modulations in 6

>j

>
6
4

Accents

>

>

>

>j

>

>

>

>

>
..

>
>
>3 >3 >3 >
>
>3 >3 >3
>
6
4 ..

Triplet Accents

R l r L r l R l r

L r l R l r L r l

(Try with different accent, diddle, and grace-note placements:

e.g., flam drags, tap-fives, downbeat drags, etc.)

>
>
> 3
> 3
> 3
6
4

>
..

Slurred Ruffs

(Try with different three-note rudiments:

e.g., swiss army triplets, swiss w/ kick, etc.)

>j
>j
>
>3 >3 >3
>
>3 >3 >3
>
6

.
.
.
4

Tap-Drag Breakdown

R l l

r r

l l L

>j
>
46 .

Paradiddle-Diddle Breakdown

r r R

l l

L r r

l l

>3
>3
>3

R

r r

r r

r r

r r R

l l L

r r

>
..
R

>
>
> 6 > 6 > 6
>
>
> 6 > 6 > 6
>
6
4 ..

Double Paradiddles

R l r l r rL r l r l lR l r l r rL r l r l lR l r l r r L r l r l lR l r l r rL r l r l lR l r l r rL r l r l l

(Try with different six-note rudiments:

e.g., paradiddle-diddles, slurred six-stroke rolls, shirley murphys, etc.)

> 4:3 > 4:3 >

>
>
> 4:3 > 4:3 >
>
>
>
6
4 ..

Paradiddles

R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l l R l r r

L r l l R l r r L r l l R l r r L r l l

(Try with different four-note rudiments:

e.g., flammed mills, inverted paradiddles, six-stroke rolls etc.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 28 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Modulations in 6)

> - 4:3 > - > - 4:3 > - > - > - > - > - > - > 46 j j j j j j j j j j

Flam-Taps

(Try with different two-note rudiments:

e.g., inverted flam-taps, cheese inverts, etc.)

> >4:3> > > >4:3> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
46

Doublestrokes I

R R L

L R R

L R R

>
..

>
..

3
3
3
3
3
3
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
6

.
4
.

Doublestrokes II

r r l l r r l l r r l l rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr

l l r r l l r r l l r r ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

> 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:4 > 5:4 > 5:4 > 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:4 > 5:4 > 5:4
>
6
4 ..

Slurred Tap-Fives

R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r

L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

Up next... Modulations in 7
...................
Practice tip: Splitting up the hands, one-handed breakdowns, and cloning.
When rehearsing certain rudiments or musical passages, it can be helpful to split the hands up between different surfaces;
i.e., play either the right or left hand on the rim, on your leg, or some other surface. This will allow you to focus on one hand
to better hear timing or dynamic inconsistencies that you can then correct. It is also a great way to discover the cool grooves
that can develop from splitting certain rudiments between surfaces; for example, check out how flam paradiddle-diddles
sound when the hands are split up.
It can also be helpful to simply focus on a single hand's part, paying special attention to stroke heights and how the stick
moves. One-handed breakdowns can only take you so far, as much of the difficulty of flam passages comes from
coordinating the hands together in order to achieve appropriate grace-note placement. Nonetheless, isolating one hand
removes that layer of difficulty, allowing you to focus on the physical demands of the music (for example, flam passages
often involve series of three or four taps on the same hand, diddles placed directly after taps on the same hand, and quick
upstrokes: demands that are not often practiced outside of flam contexts).
To go one step further, clone it: i.e., play the one-handed breakdown as doublestops. After assessing the technical demands
of the passage with the one-handed breakdown, you should play it with both hands at the same timeideally in front of a
mirrorto make sure that both hands are attempting to meet these demands in the same way. Cloning will take you a long
way in terms of matching motion and sound quality between hands.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 29 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Modulations in 7

> > > > > > >j >j

> > > > >j >j >j >j >
74 . . .. .. . . ..

Accents

>3 >3 >3 >3 > > > >

>3 >3 > > >3 >3 > >
>
7

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Triplet Accents

R l r L r l R l r L r l R l r L r l R l r L r l

R l r L r l R l r L r l R l r L r l

(Try with different accent, diddle, and grace-note placements:

e.g., flam drags, tap-fives, downbeat drags, etc.)

>3 >3 >3 >3 > > > >

>3 >3 > > >3 >3 > >
>
7

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Slurred Ruffs

R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l

R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l R l l

(Try with different three-note rudiments:

e.g., swiss army triplets, swiss w/ kick, etc.)

> > > > > 4:3> > 4:3>

> > > 4:3> > > > 4:3>
>
7

.
.

.
4
. .
.

Bucks

R r R r R r R r R r R r R r R r

R r R r R r R r R r R r R r R r

(Try with fill-in

i.e., add L.H. 16th-note inner beats to the eighth notes, etc.)

> > > > > > > > > >4:3> > > >4:3> > > > > > > >4:3> > > > > > > >4:3> >
74 j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j .. .. j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j ..

Flams

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

>

R

> - > - > - > - > -4:3> - > -4:3> > - > - > -4:3> - > - > - > -4:3> - >
74 j j j j j j j j .. .. j j j j j j j j ..

Flam-Taps

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

(Try with different two-note rudiments:

e.g., inverted flam-taps, cheese inverts, etc.)

Doublestrokes

74 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! .. .. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ..
4:3

4:3

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

4:3

4:3

rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll rr ll

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 30 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Modulations in 7)

>
>
>
>
> 4:3 > 4:3 > 4:3 > 4:3
74 ..

Paradiddles

>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
.. ..
4:3

4:3

4:3

R l r r L r l

l R

4:3

R l r r L r l

(Try with different four-note rudiments:

e.g., flammed mills, inverted paradiddles, six-stroke rolls etc.)

> 5:4
> 5:4
> 5:4
> 5:4
> 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:3
74 ..

Slurred Tap-Fives

R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

> 5:4 > 5:4 > 5:3 > 5:3 > 5:4 > 5:4 > 5:3 > 5:3
>
.. ..
R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l R l l r r L r r l l

>
>
>
>
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
74 ..

Double Paradiddles

R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

>
>3 3 >3 3 >
>
> 6 > 6 >
>
.. ..
R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l R l r l r r L r l r l l

(Try with different six-note rudiments:

e.g., paradiddle-diddles, slurred six-stroke rolls, shirley murphys, etc.)

Up next... O!-Hand Control

...................
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 31 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

O!-Hand Control

> 6> > 6> > 6> > 6> > 6

> 6
> 6
> 6
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
44 j j

Flam Accents : : Para Flam-Tap Flam-Taps

R l r

L r l

R l r

L r l

R l r

L r l

R l r

L r l R l

r r

l lR l

r r

l lR l

r r

l lR l

6
6
6
6
>
>
>
>
>
>
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

6
6
6
6
>
>
>
>
>
>
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j

> 3> 3> 3> -3

j
j
j
j
44

Swiss Army Triplets : : Off-Hand Swiss w/Kick

> 3- > 3- > 3> - > 3> j j j j

R r l

R r l R

L l R

- -3
- -3
- -3
- -3
j
j
j
j
44
R

- 3- - 3- - - 3- - - - 3- j j

R R l

R R l R L R L R L R L

>

l l

> >3 - > >3 - > >3 - > >3 j j j j

R

R r l R

Swiss Army Triplets : : Hertas

> 3- > 3> - > 3- > 3> j

j
j
j

L l

r r

L l

R r l R

>

L l

- - 3- - - - 3- - - - 3- - - - 3-

R L R

R L R

R L R

- 3- - - 3- - - 3- - - 3- j
j

R R l R L R L

R R l R L R L

R L R

Swung Flam Taps : : 2-Accent Paradiddle diddles

> 3> > 3> > 3> > 3> >> 6

>> 6
>> 6
>> 6
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
44
R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

> 3> > 3> >> 6 >> 6

j j j

R r

L l

R r

L l R L r r l l R L r r l l

L l

R L r r l l R L r r l l R L r r l l R L r r l l

> 3> >> 6 > 3> >> 6

j j
R r

L l R L r r l l R r

L l R L r r l l

>

R

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 32 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(O!-Hand Control)

>
> >
> >
> >
>
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
44

> > > > > > > >

j j j j j j j

Pataflaflas : : Inverted Flam Taps

R l r

R l r

R l r

R l r

> > > > > > > >

j j j j j j j

R l r

R l r

R l

L r

R l

L r

R l

R l r

>
> >
> >
> >
>
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
4
4
j

R l r

R l r

R l

L r

R l

L r

> > > > > > > >

j j j j j j j
L

Pataflaflas : : Single-Stroke Fives (Pickup)

R l r

L r

R l r

R l

L r

R l r

R l

R l

L r

L r

>

>
>
>
>

R l r l r l R l r l r l R l r l r l R l r l r l

>
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
>
3
j j
j j
j j
j j

R l r

R l r

R l r l r l R l r l r l

R l r

R l r l r lR l r

R l r l r l

> - > - > - >- > - > - > - >- >>--- ->>--- ->>--- ->>--- 44 j j j j j j j

Flam Taps : : 2-Accent Single-Stroke Fives

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

L l

R r

> - > - > - > ->> - - - ->> - -- j j j

R r

L l

R r

L lRL r l r lRL r l r l

L l

R L r l r l R L r l r l R L r l r l R L r l r l

> - > ->> - - - - > - > ->> - - - j j j

R r

L lRL r l r l

R r

L lRL r l r l

>

> 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 > 3 >3 > 3 >3 > 3 > 3 > 3 >3
> 3 >3 > 3 >3
>
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
4
4 ! ! ! ! ! !

Tap-Fives : : Ruffs

R ll rr L rr ll R ll rr L rr ll R rr L ll R rr L ll R ll rr L rr ll R rr L ll

R ll rr L ll R ll rr L ll

> 6
> 6
> 6
> 6
> 3
> 3
> 3
> 3
j ! !
j ! !
j ! !
4
4 j ! !

Double Paradiddles : : Tap Flam-Fives

R l

r r L r

l R l

r r L r

> 6
> 6 > 3 > 3
j ! ! j ! !

R l r l r r L r l r l l R

ll rr L

rr ll

ll

rr

rr

ll

ll

> 6 > 3 > 6 > 3

j ! ! j ! !
R l r l r r L

rr ll R l r l r r L

rr ll

rr

rr

>

ll

______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 33 -

Rudiment Control
www.fatmattdrums.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

(O!-Hand Control)
6
6
6
6
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
r!
!
!
!
!
44

Lesson 25 : : Slurred Ruffs

ll

l R ll r

l R ll r

l R ll r

6
6
>
>
>
>
!
!

l R ll

r l R ll r l R ll r l l R l l r l l R l l

l R l

l R l

l R l

6
6
>
>
>
>
!
!

r l R ll r l l R l l r l R ll r l l R l l

l R l

>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
44

Modified Pataflaflas : : Accented Single-Stroke Fives

L r l

L r l

L r l

>
> > > > >
j j

j j

R

L r l

L r lR l r l r lR l r l r l

L r l

R l r l r l R l r l r l R l r l r l R l r l r l

> > >

> > >
j j

j j

R

L r lR l r l r l

L r lR l r l r l

>

R

Have you done it all o! the left as well?

...................
______________________________________________________________________________________________
2014 Matthew Lemieux
- 34 -