water falls and paradiddles flow

Michael Dubin

Paradiddle Flow EX

Posted by Michael Dubin on Friday, June 5, 2015

So, what makes my paradiddle different from anyone else's paradiddle? First off that's a funny word, but if you say it you can play it. You understand? Then it's a feeling, and really, when you take the time to break it down, it's a motion. The genius of the way that this was taught to me by my teacher Freddie Gruber, is in the hand motion. Then the trick is to get that motion to flow.  In the left hand, you are playing from the grip or the crotch of the hand. You can play it match it doesn't really matter. In the right hand you are palm down and the weight of the stick is over the middle finger. You can play this thumb up too doesn't matter.  But, what's important is that you release the stick in the hand when you come up! When you come up, the weight is in the front of the stick and when you strike there is a whip like motion shifting the weight of the stick to the back or the butt end before you follow through with the strike. Upon the strike you are going to squeeze the index finger and the thumb. This will focus the strike and give you tone! The bead of the stick will want to rebound up but you are going to control it with that, "squeeze" between the thumb and forefinger. Which, will put the brakes on for a split second stopping the stick, leaving it in the perfect position to start your next sequence. It's exactly like playing a note on the guitar with a pick, you squeeze the pick between your thumb and forefinger upon picking the note. And, then you relax the fingers immediately after. Same thing with a punch. You are loose, then you strike and clench your fist, then relax the hand again. This way all the energy is going right to the bead of that stick which sends a wave at the point of impact to the head spreading the sound out. If you are stiff and gripping the stick the energy will go back up into your fingers, hand, then arm causing damage. If you are loose the whole time the energy will not be focused and you will get no tone. The drum set is a live sparring partner. It is not an in adamant object that you just beat on. When done correctly the drums will hit back!

I don't know if it's kinetic energy have to ask my friend and fellow Gruberian, Neal Sausen. We have discussed this at length, I forgot what he called it? Anyways, Back to the paradiddles, this exercise is designed to create flow from 6/8 to 4/4 to 6/8 and back to 4/4 into cut time and then back to 6/8. You start with the hands down always returning to the down position about an inch or two off the center of the head. Your hands are in a release and then you, Go! Of course you have to feel this in order to understand the flow. 

"The flow is the most important thing."
-- Martial Arts Legend Guro Dan Inosanto

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