How to practise with RudiMaster
RudiMaster puts together two things that usually sit apart on the shelf: the metronome and the rudiment sheet. Notation scrolls from right to left, and whatever sits on the red line is what you play right now. Works for snare, practice pad, drum kit or a couch cushion.
- Pick a rudiment from the list, grouped into rolls, paradiddles, flams and drags.
- Set the time signature and tempo. If you don't know the speed, tap the pulse you have in mind on the tap tempo button.
- Hit play. One count-in bar runs before the rudiment starts.
- Once the pattern feels comfortable, turn on progressive practice and let the tempo climb on its own every few bars.
The 40 rudiments
All 40 Percussive Arts Society international rudiments, in official order, with sticking, accents, flams and drags written in real notation. R and L mark the right and left hand, and can be swapped for left-handed players.
Rolls
- 1. Single stroke roll
R L R L R L R L - 2. Single stroke four
R L R L L R L R - 3. Single stroke seven
R L R L R L R L R L R L R L - 4. Multiple bounce roll
R L R L - 5. Triple stroke roll
R R R L L L R R R L L L - 6. Double stroke roll
R R L L R R L L - 7. Five stroke roll
R R L L R L L R R L - 8. Six stroke roll
R L L R R L L R R L L R - 9. Seven stroke roll
R R L L R R L L L R R L L R - 10. Nine stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R L L R R L L R R L - 11. Ten stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R L L L R R L L R R L R - 12. Eleven stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R R L L L R R L L R R L L R - 13. Thirteen stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R R L L R L L R R L L R R L L R R L - 14. Fifteen stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R - 15. Seventeen stroke roll
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L
Paradiddles
- 16. Single paradiddle
R L R R L R L L - 17. Double paradiddle
R L R L R R L R L R L L - 18. Triple paradiddle
R L R L R L R R L R L R L R L L - 19. Paradiddle-diddle
R L R R L L R L R R L L
Flams
- 20. Flam
R L R L - 21. Flam accent
R L R L R L - 22. Flam tap
R R L L - 23. Flamacue
R L R L R L R L R L - 24. Flam paradiddle
R L R R L R L L - 25. Single flammed mill
R R L R L L R L - 26. Flam paradiddle-diddle
R L R R L L L R L L R R - 27. Pataflafla
R L R L R L R L - 28. Swiss army triplet
R R L R R L - 29. Inverted flam tap
R L L R - 30. Flam drag
R L L R L R R L
Drags
- 31. Drag (ruff)
R L R L - 32. Single drag tap
R L L R - 33. Double drag tap
R R L L L R - 34. Lesson 25
R L R L R L - 35. Single dragadiddle
R L R R L R L L - 36. Drag paradiddle #1
R R L R R L L R L L - 37. Drag paradiddle #2
R R R L R R L L L R L L - 38. Single ratamacue
R L R L L R L R - 39. Double ratamacue
R R L R L L L R L R - 40. Triple ratamacue
R R R L R L L L L R L R
Frequently asked questions
What are drum rudiments?
They are the basic sticking patterns that make up a drummer's vocabulary, such as the double stroke roll, the paradiddle and the flam. Combining these blocks is how fills, grooves and solos get built. Practising rudiments is the drummer's equivalent of practising scales.
What tempo should I start at?
Start slow enough to play the pattern with no mistakes at all, usually somewhere between 50 and 70 bpm. Move up in steps of five only after two clean minutes. RudiMaster's progressive practice does this for you.
What do the accents and letters in the notation mean?
The sign that looks like a greater-than symbol marks an accented stroke, played louder and from a higher stick height. The letters under the staff show which hand plays each note. The small notes before a main note are flams, with one grace note, and drags, with two.
Do I need a drum kit?
No. Most rudiment work happens on a practice pad, which is quieter and demands more control. A firm cushion or a folded magazine will do to get started.
Does it work on mobile and offline?
Yes. The interface was designed for phones first and the site can be installed to your home screen. After the first load it runs without a connection.