Drum lesson with Asaf Sirkis: how to play a fast swing (tutorial)

[onthe1drop]

By the way, if you have time, please post a video on playing shuffle feels! Presumably you would also use a variation of your push/pull (or open/close) approach, which would allow one to accent the shuffle in various ways....

[AsafSirkis]

@onthe1drop

Cool, might post a video sometime soon about this... :)

Take care.

[onthe1drop]

@AsafSirkis That would be great! It will be interesting to see if you use the same technique as for the jazz swing, or do you turn it around...!

[AsafSirkis]

@onthe1drop

I use the same technique for slow tempos too...

[onthe1drop]

Thank you for providing this.

A question: Why not play the first note of the pattern the way you now play the second, and then play the 2nd and 3rd notes as bounces? (Perhaps this is already what you are doing when you play the pattern fast).

[AsafSirkis]

@onthe1drop

Thanks for your comment!

Well, there are a few benefits to this technique;

1. you can make the notes more even or accent at will whichever note you want

2. you can play longer phrases like 5's or even 7's and 9's and not just stick to the traditional three note fast swing.

I've been meaning to post a 'Part 2' for this one but been on tour for ages.. will do it hopefully soon!

Thanks for looking.

Asaf

[onthe1drop]

@AsafSirkis Thank you for the reply and clarification!

I hope you are enjoying the tour!

When you play the pattern slow, you show the 3 different types of hits (something like a downstroke, an open-hand stroke with rebound, and then a closing hand stroke). However, where you speed up the pattern, at the end of the video, it seems to become the simpler version I described (one open hand stroke and 2 closing hand bounces), like thee ride technique as described by John Riley. Is this correct?

[AsafSirkis]

@onthe1drop

Hi there,

The strokes are exactly the same when I play faster. The only thing that changes is that there is more 'flow' to it so technically speaking I'm using more of the bounce to connect all the strokes together... but it essentially the same thing...

thanks for your question,

Asaf

[onthe1drop]

@AsafSirkis Thank you for the superfast reply! I will have to study this more....looks like a great approach. I also just saw that you indeed have part 2 online now and that clarifies this further.

I see from your answer to fizzyfox below that the combination also depends on whether you are playing an even or odd-numbered group of strokes. If you play an even group (of 4, say), then you indeed omit the initial stroke and just play combinations of push-pull...

[AsafSirkis]

@onthe1drop

correct,

when you want to play 2 - use one push pull

4 - use push pull push pull

6 - use push pull push pull push pull

etc etc..

this may get a bit fiddly especially when you're using different combinations in both hands but still worth looking into :)

Take care

[onthe1drop]

@AsafSirkis This suggested another way to conceptualize your method:

There are basically only 2 kinds of strokes used, push (opening fingers) and pull (closing fingers). In the odd-number phrases, you start with a push; in the even-numbered phrases, you start wih a pull. So the phrase always ends with a pull. Is this oversimplifying it?

Of course, you also usually add a forearm downstroke for the first hit, which drives the entire phrase.

[bonzoleum]

Terrific lesson!

[fizzyfox]

ah ha - I actually thought you must be doing that, but then it looked on the video like 3 bounces...still working on the push pull...i think my fingers are getting in the way too much and stopping the momentum at higher speeds!.

Anyway, thanks for the speedy reply, and yes, the Blue Boar! :)

[fizzyfox]

So when you do the fast 4's continuously , do you incorporate a subtle sideways movement to the hand/wrist? *3 bounces and 1 snap?*

PS will be coming to your gig in Oct @ the Blue Boar!

[AsafSirkis]

@fizzyfox

If I wanted to play 4 strokes I'd do 'push pull push pull' if you want 5 strokes (which is something I often do) I'd do one stroke and then 'push pull push pull'

try it :)

see you at the blue boar!

[0kingdrag0]

Wow thanks! I learned playing on snare !!

[Salvatoredrummer]

Wow super!

Merci beaucoup ! Bravo continue comme-ça c'est vraiment super ton video

Bonnes fetes