A Few Stick Tricks That You Can Use in Your Playing
I rarely use stick tricks when I play, but every so often I will come across an artist that wants some showmanship from the band. If I am in a playing situation, and given the freedom to amp up my stage presence, I find that it’s nice to have a stick trick or two to throw into the mix. Stick spins, and twirls can also be great if you have to take a solo, and want to throw in a little extra flash to get the crowd going. The following video demonstrates three stick spins / twirls that I like to do on occasion. Hope you can learn something, and possibly use them in your playing!
No drummer, or musician for that matter, can argue the fact that Buddy Rich is one of the greatest drummers of all time. He was extremely innovative, and similar to the advances made by John Bonham in foot technique, Buddy Rich shed some much needed light on hand technique and finger control. One of his most notable accomplishments (for which he will be forever known) is called the “push pull.” It is a form of finger control that basically allows one to get twice the strokes with half the motion in one hand. it is a very finite, refined hand motion that, if mastered, allows one to comfortably move the stick with unbelievable speed and control, and very little effort or energy. Below is a video of another great drummer, Jojo Mayer, demonstrating this technique.
Jojo Mayer has made fantastic advances for modern hand technique as well. He has mastered the push pull, and has done amazing things for finger control as well. His DVD, “Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer” is definitely worth buying and working through.
Buddy Rich played mostly swing and big band and is most famous for his work with Count Basie, Frank Senatra, Tommy Dorsey, his own “Buddy Rich Big Band,” and way too many others to list. He also did major session work, and is featured on recordings for such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong. He was a master soloist, and maintained an almost flawless balance between chops, power, speed, and showmanship. A few of his videos are displayed below demonstrating some of his famous technique and style, so enjoy watching one of the masters of our craft!
Solo From Westside Story with the BR Big Band
One of Buddy’s Famous Drum Battles with the Great Gene Krupa
