The Beat Beginner
Lessons
Songs Beats & Fills Technique Rudiments Drummers Gear

The Paradiddle-Diddle Turnaround Pyramid

Jared Falk  /  UPDATED Aug 23, 2022

Looking for something fun to work out on the pad? Here’s a paradiddle-diddle turnaround pyramid, which you might have also seen from Pat Petrillo or Tommy Igoe.

It starts with four rotations of paradiddle-diddles (RLRRLL) leading with your right hand, followed by a single paradiddle (RLRR) to turn it around. Then it’s four paradiddle-diddles leading with your left hand and a single paradiddle turnaround. Next, it’s three rotations of paradiddle-diddles and a single paradiddle – leading with the right, then the left – and then two rotations, one rotation, and so on.

Here’s the sticking:

RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRR
LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLL
RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRR
LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLL
RLRRLL RLRRLL RLRR
LRLLRR LRLLRR LRLL
RLRRLL RLRR
LRLLRR LRLL
RLRRLL RLRR
LRLLRR LRLL

Try it on the pad or on your full kit. The paradiddle-diddle is another useful skill to add to your vocabulary!

Share a video of you doing this exercise on the Drumeo members forum or on social media using the hashtag #drumeochallenge.


Jared Falk is a lifelong drummer, drum teacher, and the co-founder of Drumeo. For over 18 years, Jared has been a leader in the online music education industry, publishing his first online video lessons in 2003 and founding Musora in 2005.

Improve your speed on the drums with El Estepario Siberiano’s FREE course.
Enter your email to get all 10 exercises sent to your inbox.

By signing up you’ll also receive our ongoing free lessons and special offers. Don’t worry, we value your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.