Rudiments are Related

"Tweak and Ye Shall Find"
by John Kerr

In this article, I'd like to discuss how some rudiments are only a "tweak" different from one another. The method of tweaking is by compressing the particular sticking of a rudiment pattern. If we "compress" any even single alternation (a RL or LR) we can create a flam. Likewise, an even double (RR or LL) can be compressed to become the "ruff" in a drag. In the following examples, the resulting compression will change the rudiment into another one. The idea of being able to do this, aside from technical proficiency, is to either develop the initiative to create unique vocabulary or at least stretch the capacity of what you know.

First, let's take a set of Paradiddles (PAS #16) as in Ex. 1a where the doubles are compressed turning the phrase into a variant of a Single Drag (PAS #32).

Ex. 1b shows how we might use it in a fill scenario:

In this next example [Ex. 2a], well take a Paradiddle riff in 3/8 and compress the alternate singles to create a flam and voila - a Flam Drag! (PAS #30).

Ex. 2b shows a fill application of this infamous "blidgzhda" (give or take the myriad spelling variations - oei!) in a Chicago Shuffle:

Similar compression in a Paradiddle-diddle (PAS #19) with the single alternations renders a 5-note grouping - a sort of "flam roll" [Ex. 3a], while compressing the double alternations instead creates a variation of a 6-stroke roll (PAS #8) [Ex. 3b]:

Both of these, especially combined, make for a very interesting fill:

Finally, let's look at yet another approach to morphing rudiments - overlapping singles to create a flam. In Ex 4a, a double stroke roll (PAS #6) transitions to a Swiss Army Triplet (PAS #28) by overlapping the last note of the roll into the next note grouping forming a flam (to transition back, just add an extra note at the end of the Swiss Army Triplet!).

...And for a tricky fill using this transition [Ex. 4b]:

Alas, nothing here is new info. For me, players like Tony Williams, Toss Panos, Gregg Bissonette, Dave DiCenso and Frank Briggs always remind me this kind creativity is available to all of us with a little enthusiastic curiosity and experimentation. Have at it!