The Method Behind the Push Pull
The push pull technique is one that many drummers try to achieve mastery over. It’s been used for decades, and some of the great drummers of our time (ie Buddy Rich, Tony Williams) were masters and pioneers of this method. It’s simply a range of motion utilizing the fingers and wrist that creates the most speed and strokes with the least amount of energy and movement. Or, simply getting two strokes with the energy it takes to get only one. A few contemporary drummers have mastered this technique, but none better that Jojo Mayer. In his DVD, “Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer,” he breaks down and demonstrates this highly sought after technique with both traditional, and matched grip. He shows exactly how to practice and develop this movement. Below are a couple of videos of Jojo talking about the basics of the push pull, and some of his other similar techniques.
Jojo Mayer Demonstrating Push Pull
Jojo Mayer Demonstrating Push Pull, and Pull Out Accents
Another famed drummer who has achieved a mastery over this motion is Dave Weckl. In the video below, Dave explains his method behind the “one handed roll,” or in other words, his version of the push-pull. In his explanation he credits Buddy Rich as his inspiration to learn the technique, and he demonstrates it briefly in a drum set situation.
Dave Weckl Demonstrating His One Handed Roll
For anyone who wants to practice and learn this technique, I highly suggest buying Jojo Mayer’s aforementioned DVD. Below I have provided a link to “Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer” on Amazon, that I used in a previous post. Have fun developing your finger control!
