Paradiddaloid 2 – what are those notes in the logo?

Paradiddaloid 2 YouTube

The paradiddaloid logo represents this project as a whole. Designing the logo was a top priority – it seemed imperative to complete this task first so that it could serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. The logo emerged effortlessly on paper but stubbornly on the screen.

Embedded in the paradiddaloid logo are two patterns. This is purely by chance, the result of changing all of the d's to notes. The central grouping is Pattern A and the eighth note at the end is Pattern B.

Pattern A

Pattern A is an eighth note followed by two sixteenth notes. It is written in 3/4 time since the paradiddaloid as a whole fits into two measures of 3/4 time. To play the paradiddaloid, Pattern A will be played with both a right- and left-hand lead.

Pattern B

Pattern B is a single tap of the drum. Sounds easy, right? Actually, there are a couple of things to consider about the single-tap pattern. Can a single tap be a pattern? And what about the note value of the single tap – does it matter? The short answer is yes to both, and the longer answer can be found in the Lounge on the main menu.

In this case, we'll use an eighth note.

Paradiddaloid

Patterns A and B were crafted for the visual aesthetics of the logo, without regard to their sonic implications. Let's put them together (ABAABABB) and see what we get:

As is, it is not terribly exciting. However, this paradiddaloid really shines when you accent the first note in each pattern:

Let's look at a few variations. The first changes the sticking, adding diddles for increased speed.

The second variation replaces the accents with flams and switches to an all-right lead.

And the final variation adds double strokes.

This paradiddaloid is a fine example of the single-tap pattern.