Inverted Paradiddle Control via Ted Reed’s Syncopation Part 1

Much has been said about the flexibility and usefulness of the classic drum book, “Syncopation.” There are many applications for the 9 pages of syncopation exercises that begin on page 37, and certainly, new possibilities will continue to be thought of by industrious and creative drummers.

Recently, I discovered a great new way of using these pages–applying the rhythms on those pages to inverted paradiddles as accents. Ray LeVier, a very talented drummer and good friend, is the person who showed me this application.

Here’s how it works. Looking at “Syncopation,” all of the notes that fall on the quarter note in each measure become the accent on the first note of a group of four sixteenth notes. All of the notes that fall on the “and” of any measure become the accent on the last note (the “A” as in “1-E-And-A”) of that group of four sixteenths.

Play the inverted paradiddle sticking (RLLR LRRL) continuously, and apply the accents as described above using “Syncopation” exercises #1 through 8.

Showing you an example will clarify.

I took exercise #1 on page 37 of “Syncopation” and translated it for you using this system. The PDF offered here shows you the sticking only at the very beginning of the page because it is the same throughout. Having spent a little time working on this, I can tell you that not only did it give me more control over what I can do with this sticking, but it gave me a lot of new ideas about what to do with the accents.

Any of you who have worked on using inverted paradiddles in your playing know that this is one of the most useful stickings. And now, you’ll have more control over it.

Check it out. Here’s the PDF: Inverted Paradiddle Control Part 1. Print it out and take it to the practice room.

Let me know how it goes in the comments section below.

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Mark Feldman

Mark Feldman is a session drummer from NYC.

He first gained attention as one of the winners of Modern Drummer magazine's very first drum solo contest, judged by Rush's Neil Peart.

He's played with Oz Noy, Will Lee, Alison Krauss, Curtis Stigers, Emily Remler, Joel Hoekstra, GE Smith, Andy York, Marshall Crenshaw, Tony Shanahan, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Big Brother and The Holding Company, and many other artists.

For more info: onlinesessiondrummer.com

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