The 26 Polyrhythm Rudiments

by PETER MAGADINI
layout & music notation by SPIROS DAMIANOS
*note:
When learning & playing "The 26 Polyrhythm Rudiments" an underlying basic pulse is required and is written
below each rudiment.
This is vital because this is what makes the rudiments polyrhythmic. Utilizing a metronome or tapping your foot
(i.e. playing the bass drum) is suggested or you may prefer doing both at the same time.
$
The 5 Stroke Roll $ (5)

1. Five Stroke Roll " !! # # # # # # # # # #

R R L L R L L R R L

! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
As written

!
" ! # (5) # # (5) # # # # # # # # # # # # #
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L

1
01
In the polyrhythm

!! $ !! $ !! $ !! $ !! $ !! $

i2
6 6

in
" ! # (5) # # (5) # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # ad # # #
ag
R R L L R R L L R R L L
rM

*(q=126)
Polyrhythm of 6 over 4 = quarter note triplets (rhythmic ratio 1½ beats to 1)
e

*Metronome tempos are suggested only.

P et
ht

The 7 Stroke Roll (7)

ig

" ####### #######

yr

2. Seven Stroke Roll

op

L L R R L L R L L R R L L R
C

! ! ! ! !
$ $ $ $ $
©

!
"!# # (7) # # # # # # # # etc.
R L R L R L R L R L

In the polyrhythm
$ !! $ !! $ !! $ !! $ !!
5 5

!
"!# # (7) # # # # # # # #
#
R L
# R
# L
#R #
L R
# L
# R
#L
(q=110)
Polyrhythm of 5 over 4 (rhythmic ratio 1¼ beats to 1)
Note - Alternate stickings may be applied eg. L R
 $
The 9 Stroke Roll

3. Nine Stroke Roll " !! # # # # # # # # # %

1. R R L L R R L L R
2. L L R R L L R R L
As written

!! $ ! $ ! $ ! $
!
"! # (9) # #! (9) # #! # #! #
R R L L R R L L

In the polyrhythm

!! !! $ !! !! $ ! !! $ !! !! $ !! !! $
# #!
7 7

1
!
"!# # # # # # # # # # # #

01
& etc.

i2
#
R
#R L
# L
# R # R
#L # L R
#

in
(9) (9) R
(q=106)

ad
Polyrhythm of 7 over 4 (rhythmic ratio 1¾ beats to 1)
ag
e rM
et

The 11 Stroke Roll

P

" ########### %
ht

4. Eleven Stroke Roll

ig

1. R R L L R R L L R R L
yr

2. L L R R L L R R L L R
As written
op

!! $ !! $ !! $ !! $
C

'
"!( # ( # ( # ( #
©

(11) (11)
R L R L R L R L

In the polyrhythm

!! $3 !! $ !! $
3

"!(
! (11)
( ( (11)
( ( (
(q=122) # # # # # # # #
R L R L R L
Sticking may
be reversed.

Polyrhythm 0f 3 over 4 = half note triplets (rhythmic ratio ¾ beats to 1)

4
Polyrhythm is slower than the basic 4 pulse
 The 13 Stroke Roll
$
5. Thirteen Stroke Roll " !! # # # # # # # # # # # # #
1. R R L L R R L L R R L L R
2. L L R R L L R R L L R R L

As written

!! $ ! $
!
"! ( (13)
# % (! (13)
# %
R R L L

In the polyrhythm

!! ! $ ! ! $
(! (! (!
3 3

1
! ( ( (

01
"!

i2
(q=176) # # # # # # # #
R (13) R L (13) L

in
ad
ag
Polyrhythm of 3 over 4
erM
P et
ht

6. Flam
ig
yr
op

As written
C

! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # # # # # #
"! # # # # # # #
©

LR RL LR RL LR RL LR RL

In the polyrhythm
4 4

* ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # # # # # #
"! # # # # # # #

(q=110) # # # #R # #
L R RL LR RL L RL LR RL

Polyrhythm of 4 over 3
7. Flam Tap

As written

! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
"! # # # # # # #
LR R RL L LR R RL L LR R RL L LR R RL L

In the polyrhythm

1
01
4 4

* ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

i2
"! # # # # # # #

in
#R #L # #R #L #
ad
L R RL LR R RL L L R RL LR R RL L
(q=106)
ag
rM

Polyrhythm of 4 over 3 (sub-divided into 1/8th notes)

e
P et
ht
ig

8. Flamacue
yr
op

As written
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
C

") )" ") )" ") )" ") )"

" !! # # # # # #
# # # # # # ## # # # # # ## # # # # # ##
©

LR L R L LR LR L R L LR LR L R L LR LR L R L LR

In the polyrhythm

$ $ 6
$ $ $ $ 6
$ $
! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")
## # # # ## ## # # # ## ## # # ### ## # # ###
"!
(q=120) # # R #R L R L# R #R L R L# R #R L R L# R
LR L R L L L L L L L L

Sticking may be reversed

Polyrhythm of 6 over 4
9. Flam Accent

As written

$ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3
! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")
## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # # # # ## # # ## # # ## # # #
"!
LR L R RL R L LR L R RL R L LR L R RL R L LR L R RL R L

In the polyrhythm

1
3 3

$ 3 $ $ 3 $ 3 $ $ 3

01
3 3

! ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # #

i2
"!

in
(q=172) # # L R # L R #L R #L R L # R L # R L #R L
ad
L R L R R L R L R
ag
Polyrhythm of 3 over 4 - (the '3' sub-divided into triplets)
e rM
P et
ht

10. Flam Paradiddle

ig
yr

As written
op

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
C

! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")

## # # ### # # ### # # ### # # # # # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # # #
"!
©

LR L R R RL R L L LR L R R RL R L L LR L R R RL R L L LR L R R RL R L L

In the polyrhythm

$ $ 3 $ $ $ 3 $
! ") ") ") ") ") ")
## # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # #
"!
(q=126) # # L R L# L R L# R R #L R L L# R L R# R L R# L L
L R L R R R L R L R

Polyrhythm of 3 over 4
11. Swiss Army Triplet

As written

$ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3
! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")
# # # ## # # ## # # ## # # # # # # ## # # ## # # ## # # #
"!
LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L
(R L L R)

In the polyrhythm

1
5 5

$3 $ 3 $ 3 $3 $ 3 $3 $ 3 $ 3 $3 $ 3

01
! ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ") ")
# # # ## # # ## # # ## # # # ## # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # # ## # #

i2
"!

in
# # # # # # # #
ad
L R R L R R L R R L R R L
L L R R L
L L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L LR R L
( L L R)
R
(q=110)
ag
rM

Polyrhythm of 5 over 4
e
P et
ht

12. Flam Paradiddle Diddle

ig
yr
op

As written
$ $ $ $
C

' ") ") ") ")

## # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # #
"+
©

LR L R R L L RL R L L R R LR L R R L L RL R L L R R

In the polyrhythm
6 6
$3 3 $3 3 $ 3 3 $3 3 $3 3 $ 3 3

! ") )" )" ") )" )"

" ! # # # # # ### # # # # ### # # # # #
# # # # # # # ## # # # # # ## # # # # # #
(q=74) # # L R L L# R R R L#R R L L #L R L L R#R R L R R# L L L R#L L R R
RL R R L L
L R L R L R

Polyrhythm of 6 over 4
13. Drag

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
As written

!
" ! ### ### ### ### ### # ## # ## # ##
LL R RR L LL R RR L LL R RR L LL R RR L

In the polyrhythm

$ $ $5 $ $ $ $ $5 $ $
" !! # # # ### ### ### ### # ## # ## # ## # ## # ##

1
01
# # # # #L # # #

i2
LL R RR L LL R RR L LL R RR LL R RR L LL R RR L
(q=124)

in
Polyrhythm of 5 over 4
ad
ag
rM

14. Single Drag Tap

e
et

As written
P

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
ht

" !! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ### # # ## # ### # # ## #

ig
yr
op

LL R L RR L R LL R L RR L R LL R L RR L R LL R L RR L R
C

In the polyrhythm
©

$ $ $ $ $ $ $
7

!
" ! ### # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # #
#
RLL L RRL R
# LLR L RRL
#
R LLR L RRL
# R LLR L

$ $ $ 7
$ $ $ $
" ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # #
RR
#L R LLR L
# RR L R LLR
#
L R RL R LLR
# L RRL R

Polyrhythm of 7 over 4
15. Double Drag Tap

As written

$ $ $ $
!
" ! # # ## # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # # # # # # ## # # # #
LL R LL R L RR L RR L R LL R LL R L RR L RR L R

1
In the polyrhythm

01
i2
$ 3 $ 3
$

in
" !! # # # , , # # # ( ### , , ### ( ### , , ### (
ad
ag
LL
(q=160) #
R
# L # L #
R LL L RR RR
#
R
# R
LL
# R L# LL
erM
P et

$ 3
$ 3
$
ht

, ,# ## ( # , ,# ## ### , , ### (
" # ## (
ig

##
yr

#
L
# R
L
# R # R
#
L
# L # L R #
op

RR RR LL LL RR RR
C
©

Polyrhythm of 3 over 4
16. Single Paradiddle

As written
$ $ $ $
" !! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Single Paradiddle
As Written
# L
R R R
#
L R L L
#
R L R R
#
L R L L

In the polyrhythm

1
01
i2
6

$ 3
$ $
3
$ 3 3
$3 3
$
3 3

in
" ##! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
!
ad
ag
#
R L R R L
# L R L R R L# R L L R L R# R L R L L
R L
e rM
P et
ht
ig

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
8

" ! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ##
yr

!
op
C

# # # #
R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L R L R R L R L L
©

q = 76

Polyrhythms of: 6 over 4 ... & 8 over 4 (rhythmic ratio = 2 to 1)

17. Double Paradiddle

As written

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
" '+ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
R L R L R R L R L R L L R L R L R R L R L R L L

In the polyrhythm

$ $ 6
$ $ $ $ 6
$ $

1
!
"!# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

01
# # R R L# R L R# L L R# L R L# R R L# R L R# L L

i2
R L R L
(q-180)

in
ad
ag
Polyrhythm of 6 over 4
e rM
P et
ht

18. Triple Paradiddle

ig
yr

As written
op

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
C

" !! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
©

R L R L R L R R L R L R L R L L R L R L R L R R L R L R L R L L

In the polyrhythm

$ $ $ $ $ 3$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 3$ $ $ $
!
" ! # ## ## ### # ## ## ### # ## ## ### # ## ## ### # ## ## ### # ## ## ###
(q=90)
# # # # # #
RLRLRLRRLRLRLRL LRLRLRLRR LRLRLRL LRLRLRLRRLRLRLRL L
# #

Polyrhythm of 3 over 4
19. Single Ratamacue
As written
$ 3 $ 3 $ 3 $ 3

-
" ! ### # # # ### # # # # ## # # # # ## # # #
LL R L R L RR L R L R LL R L R L RR L R L R

In the polyrhythm

5 5
$ $ $) $ $

1
3 3 3 3 3

" !+ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

01
i2
LL
#
R L R L
# L R # L R # R L R L# L #R L R # R L R # L
RR LL RR LL

in
(e=120)

ad
ag
rM

Polyrhythm of 5 over 4
e
P et

20. Double Ratamacue

ht
ig
yr

As written
op

$ 3 3 $ $ 3 3 $
C

" '+ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # ## # # # # ## # ## # # #
©

LLR LLR L R L RRL RRL R L R LLR LLR L R L RR L RR L R L R

In the polyrhythm

$ $ $ $
6 6
33 3 3

!
" ! ### ### # # # ### ### # # # # ## # ## # # # # ## # ## # # #

# R L #R L #L L R # L R
RLL LL RR RR LL
# R L #R L #L L R #L R
R LL RR RR

(q=106)

Polyrhythm of 6 over 4
21. Triple Ratamacue

As written

3 $ 3 $
!
" ! ### ## # ## # # # # ## # ## # ## # # # #
LLR LLR LLR L R L RRL RRL RRL R L R

In the polyrhythm

3
$ 3
$

1
3 3

" !! # # #

01
## # ## # # # ( ## # ## # ## # # # (

i2
#
R
LL LLR
# LLR L
# R L
# RR
#
L RRL
# RRL R
# L R
#

in
(q=172)

ad
ag
Polyrhythm of 3 over 4
e rM
P et

22. Lesson 25
ht
ig
yr

As written
op

$ $ $ $
C

" -! # # # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # #
©

LLR L R LLR L R LLR L R LLR L R

(R R L R L)

In the polyrhythm

$ $7 $ $ $ 7 $ $
!
" ! ### # # ### # # ### # # ### # ### # # #### # #### # #
#
R L R
LL
# R L R # R L R # R L R# R L # R R L# R R #L R
LL LL LL LL LL LL

(q=100)

Polyrhythm of 7 over 4
23. Three Stroke Ruff

As written
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
!
" ! ### ### ### ### ### # ## # ## # ##
LRL RLR LRL RLR LRL RLR LRL RLR

In the polyrhythm

$ $ $5
$ $ $ $ $ 5
$ $
*
" ! ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ###

1
# # # # # #

01
RRL LRL RLR LRL RLR LRL RLR LRL RLR LRL

i2
(q=82)

in
ad
Polyrhythm of 5 over 3
ag
e rM
P et

24. Four Stroke Ruff

ht
ig
yr

As written
op

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
C

" !! # # # # #### #### #### #### #### #### ####

©

LRLR RLRL LRLR RLRL LRLR RLRL LRLR RLRL

In the polyrhythm

$ $ 4
$ $ $ $ 4
$ $
*
" ! #### #### #### #### # ## # #### # ## # ####

(q=76)
#L
RLR LRLR
# RLRL
# LRLR RLR
#L LRLR
# RLRL
# LRLR

Polyrhythm of 4 over 3
25. Double Stroke Roll
Play alternating double strokes over a steady pulse with gradual increasing
(polyrhythmic) hand speed.

As written:

" !! # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L

1
In the polyrhythm

01
i2
3 4 5

" ##! ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ##### ##### ####

3 3 3 3

in
! #### ####
# ####
# ####
# ##### ####
# #
ad
ag
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L etc... R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L
rM

(q=92)
e
P et
ht
ig
yr

6 7

" #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### ######## ########
op

# # # # # # # #
C

R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L etc... R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L etc...
©

" ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ##
R R L L R R L L R R L L R R L L etc...
Sticking may be reversed
26. Single Stroke Roll
Play alternating single strokes over a steady pulse with gradual increasing
(polyrhythmic) hand speed.

As written:

!
"!# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

1
01
In the polyrhythm

i2
3 4 5
$ * $ 3
$ 3
$ $ $3
$ 3
$ $ $ $ $
" ##! ## # # ## # # ## # # ## # # ## ### ## ### ## ### ## ### ## ### # ###
in
!
# # ###
# # ####
# ###
ad
ag
R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L etc... R L R L R L R L R L R L etc...

(q=84)
e rM
et

$ $ $ 6$ $ $ $ $ $ $7 $ $ $
P

" ## ### # ### # ### # ### # ### # ### # ### # ### # ### # #### ### # #### ###
ht

# # # # # # #
ig
yr

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L etc... R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L etc...
op
C
©

$ $ $ $ 8
$ $ $ $
" ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ##
R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L etc...

Sticking may be reversed

*#26 Accents are optional

The 26 Polyrhythm Rudiments by Peter Magadini

© Copyright 2010 by Peter Magadini (e-mail protected)