Doubles and Diddles
- Dexter Verrill
- Apr 20, 2016
- 4 min read
I have heard these two terms (doubles and diddles) a number of times while learning new material for better playing. My question: What's the difference between the two?
The simple answer is that they are the same thing. The more complicated answer is that they are the same thing. Easy right?
If you had to distinguish the two, it would be based on how they are played or applied to a certain phrase. When I hear the term "doubles", it usually refers to a double stroke roll, or playing two consecutive notes with one hand and then the same with the other, for however long the phrase demands. The term "diddles" on the other hand, my mind is automatically drawn to think of paradiddles. However, a paradiddle is a combination of two singles (RL or LR) and a set of doubles (RR or LL).
When applying these terms to actual playing, most drum teachers will say one of two things: "Play doubles" or "Diddle it up!" (or something along that line). If an instructor asked me to "double it", I automatically think to play 16th notes instead of 8th notes, 32nd notes instead of 16th notes, or even 8th notes instead of quarter notes. This is because of the term "double time" or twice as fast.
So, definitions...
Doubles: any two consecutive notes which are played by a single limb, the right hand or foot, or the left hand or foot.
Diddles: any two consecutive notes which are played in replace of a single note at double the speed by a single limb, the right hand or foot, or the left hand or foot.
"I thought you said they were the same thing."
They are. But like I said, it's how they are applied that makes them different.
"Then what is a 'diddle'?"
A diddle is a double-timed double. When written on manuscript paper (or a score sheet), there will be a single note at whatever value (quarter note, 8th note, 16th notes, etc.) with a slanted dash in the middle of the stem. Below the notes you may see an R (right hand), an L (left hand), a K (kick drum), or maybe even an H (hi-hat). What the little slanted dash is telling us to play is two consecutive notes with the limb within the note value--if it's a quarter note, play two 8th notes, and if its an 8th notes, play two 16th notes. Sounds a lot like doubles.
Now that you know the difference, don't confuse yourself with paradidles. Paradidles are a combination of singles and doubles, not diddles. All four notes of the paradiddle are played within one subdivision or value. If your singles are 16th notes then set of consecutive notes are 16th notes as well. The same applies to the paradiddle-diddle. It is two singles and two sets of doubles all within the same subdivision.
Paradiddle
Paradiddle-diddle
"Why do they write diddles like that?"
This is usually to combine the notation. So instead of writing 50 8th note doubles, they can write 25 quarter note diddles. As long as they inform your of what the slanted dash means, like what I'm doing here, you'll know what to do.
Note: You may see more than one slanted dash on the stem of a note. The rule of thumb is that for every dash, there are two more notes to be played within that note value. If you have a quarter note with three dashes, this indicates that there are 6 notes (RRLLRR or LLRRLL) that need to be played before the next quarter note. If there are two dashes, there will need to be 4 notes (RRLL or LLRR) played before the next note.
"I can't play my doubles fast enough for that."
A good way to increase your speed is to muscle out the doubles. In other words, play RRLL or LLRR without using rebound or the finger technique (use your wrists only). This will develop the muscles in your arms which creates muscle memory and a certain ease when it comes to playing doubles again. When you reach higher speeds, loosen your grip from the stick and let the stick rebound a little.
I noticed at first that my first note of the two was louder than the other on both hands. If this happens, which I'm positive it will, go back to using strictly wrists but accent the second note for each hand. I like to play this exercise in 16th notes (RRLLRRLLRRLLRRLL, 1e+a 2e+a 3e+a 4e+a) where I would play doubles and accent the e's and a's of each beat. You should see that your second notes of your doubles will sound a lot more even.
This same exercise can be applied to paradiddles as well (RLRRLRLLRLRRLRLL, 1e+a 2e+a 3e+a 4e+a). If played with 16th notes as written in the parentheses, accent the e's for every beat. This, like the doubles will make your paraddidles sound more even, especially after doing this with your doubles.
Work hard on your doubles and diddles, your paradiddles and your paradiddle-diddles. It will be worth it to have smooth sounding rudiments that are fast and even. But just as hard as you work on your other rudiments, don't forget to practice your singles. They can be boring and the most basic, but that is what makes them so important.
Cheers,
The Instructor
Comments