A drum rudiment is one of a number of relatively small patterns in drumming, a form of percussion music. Drum rudiments form the foundation for more extended and complex patterns.

The term "drum rudiment" is most closely associated with various forms of field drumming, where the snare drum plays a prominent role. In this context "rudiment" means not only "basic", but also fundamental. This tradition of drumming originates in military drumming and it is a central component of martial music.

A drum rudiment is defined by the Encyclopedia Rudimentia as a short pattern of strokes, using John Pratt's logic that "the rudiments of drumming are strokes," in reference to the four basic drum strokes.

Rudimental drumming lacks an agreed formal definition among groups dedicated to drumming or percussion.

Camp Duty Update defines a drum rudiment as an excerpt from a military call with a definite rhythm, definite sticking, definite dynamic structure (accents), and a defined nomenclature.

The Percussive Arts Society defines it as a particular method for learning the drums—beginning with rudiments, and gradually building up speed and complexity through practicing those rudiments.

RudimentalDrumming.com defines it as "the study of coordination."

The origin of snare drum rudiments can be traced back to fourteenth century Swiss mercenaries armed with long polearms.^{[citation needed]} The use of pikes in close formation required a great deal of coordination. The sound of the tabor was used to set the tempo and communicate commands with distinct drumming patterns. These drumming patterns became the basis of the snare drum rudiments.