Rudiment 33 of 40 · Drag rudiments
Double Drag Tap
Also called: double drag
The double drag tap is two drags and an accented tap: llR llR L, rrL rrL R. It alternates hands each group and has a three-count feel.
- Sticking
- llR llR L rrL rrL R
- Accents
- The tap after the two drags.
- Family
- Drag rudiments
- Strokes before it repeats
- 6 plus grace notes, alternating lead hands
- Original 26 rudiments
- Yes (1933)
- Starting tempo
- About 60 BPM
Hear it, then play it
Note values as on the PAS chart. Sticking under each note: R right hand, L left; small letters are grace notes.
Press Play to watch the sticks
Put it in RockBlocks
The practice version on a snare line at 60 BPM, accents and all, to build on or play with your other beats. RockBlocks has no grace notes or sticking, so flams and drags arrive as their main notes.
Play it on the drum kit
Four beats built on the Double Drag Tap: a fill, a groove, a fill around the toms, and a pulse to practice over.
How to play the Double Drag Tap
- Read the sticking. The Double Drag Tap is llR llR L rrL rrL R. Say the letters out loud before you play them.
- Find the accents. The tap after the two drags. Start accents high and keep taps low, so the difference comes from stick height.
- Place the drags. The small lowercase letters are grace notes, played by the other hand just before the main note: soft, low and close to it.
- Play it slowly with a click. Start around 60 BPM, or slower, and play it until every stroke is on the right hand and every accent is in place.
- Open, close, open. Speed up a few BPM at a time to as fast as you can play it cleanly, then slow back down without stopping.
- Lead with the other hand. Play it starting with your left hand too: rrL rrL R llR llR L.
Tips
- Play the two grace notes as a soft, quick bounce close to the head. They should sound like a short rasp leading into the main note.
- Both drags have the grace notes in the same hand.
- Count it in threes: drag, drag, TAP.
Double Drag Tap questions
What is the sticking for the Double Drag Tap?
llR llR L rrL rrL R. R is the right hand and L the left; lowercase letters are grace notes played by the other hand. It switches lead hands every group.
Where are the accents in the Double Drag Tap?
The tap after the two drags. With accents marked: llR llR >L | rrL rrL >R.
How many notes are in the Double Drag Tap?
The pattern as written by the Percussive Arts Society has 6 main strokes, not counting grace notes, then repeats.
What tempo should I practice the Double Drag Tap at?
Start slowly enough to play every sticking and accent correctly, around 60 BPM or below. Then practice open–close–open: speed up a few BPM at a time, and slow back down.
Is the Double Drag Tap one of the original 26 rudiments?
Yes. The Double Drag Tap is one of the 26 American rudiments standardized in 1933, and is rudiment #33 of the 40 PAS International Drum Rudiments, in the drag rudiments.
Sticking, accents and note values follow the Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments (© 1984 PAS). The chart is RockBlocks' own drawing.
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