paradiddle Mus.
(ˈpærədɪd(ə)l)
[Echoic.]
A basic drum roll, produced by alternate beating with the left-hand and right-hand drumsticks.
| 1927 Melody Maker Aug. 804/3 The ordinary paradiddle is greatly to be recommended. This is a wonderful exercise for getting out of ‘one-hand’ playing, and there are some variations of this beat which are invaluable to the dance drummer. 1934 Metronome Feb. 47 Either the single paradiddle or the flam paradiddle may be used during a marching step. 1941 Amer. Speech XVI. 229/2 The ramatacue and the paradiddle are advanced rhythmic drum movements, the words possibly being onomatopoeic. 1956 L. McIntosh Oxford Folly 153 Fiona thought hard for a moment of a negro Staff-Sergeant in the American Air Force whom she had once seen throwing the whole of the University Jazz Club into a prolonged ecstasy with an erotic and protracted paradiddle... But the drumsticks in her inexpert hands refused to make a smooth roll. 1960 K. Amis Take Girl like You xvii. 210 A great saccharine growl came from the organ and a slow-motion paradiddle from the drums. 1961 A. C. Baines Mus. Instruments 337 At a steady march tempo, with eight strokes on the drum in each bar, the sound of the paradiddle is fascinating. 1976 D. Munrow Instruments Middle Ages & Renaissance 33/4 The specialized techniques of the side drum, such as the roll, flam, drag, and paradiddle developed in the first instance to fulfil a practical object: to encourage friend and frighten the foe. |