Departments
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Shelly and his Mannerisms
This month’s column is written by Kevin van den Elzen who hails from the Netherlands and now makes his home in Los Angeles. Kevin received his master’s degree at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California…
Community, Scene
It’s a subject that comes up often in my interviews— Being part of a community or a scene, and I can’t stress its importance enough! All drummers (should) know about how supportive the drum community is for one another. It’s…
Hayley Brownell’s Olivia Rodrigo Touring Kit
DRUMS: LUDWIG Vistalite Purple Drum set. Main Kit, 14×24 Bass Drum, 9×13 Tom, 16×16 Floor Tom, 16×18 Floor Tom. Along with Ludwig Universal Black Nickel Snare Drum 6.5×14 (Main) and Ludwig Raw Brass 8×14 (Side Snare). Satellite Kit 14×20 Purple Vistalite Bass Drum…
Out Now May 2024
This month’s Modern Drummer Out Now is special. We are spotlighting some outstanding new and reissue LPs in honor of April’s National Record Store Day 2024. All of you drumming “vinyl heads” pay attention! We are featuring new, reissued, and…
Joel Selvin - Drums & Demons, The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon is so much more than the drummer in Eric Clapton’s band, Derek and the Dominos. Jim played drums on the soundtrack to many people’s lives. He had a remarkable studio drumming career that was unfortunately eclipsed by the…
“Under A Glass Moon” Transcription by Marc Atkinson
“Under a Glass Moon” is a progressive metal track by Dream Theater featuring drummer Mike Portnoy. Released in 1992, it’s a standout track from their second studio album, Images and Words. The song highlights Dream Theater’s musical prowess and boasts…
Sorry Charlie…
Much like a melodic “ear worm” that works its way into your brain, the running theme of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube drumming videos has gotten its claws into my consciousness and conscience. The idea of “certainty” is not (for me)…
Tonda’s PanAfrican Kit
This month’s Kit of the Month is Tonda Prochazka’s PanAfrican drum set. It is a vintage Gretsch Stop Sign Badge 20,12,14,16 Rosewood finished kit with two extra kpalongos, a dun dun and “banana bells” from Ghana. Tonda has been interested…
A Drummers Best Friend, Make the Music Smile
For many years it was said that a drummer’s best friend is the bassist. I will contend that in some musical contexts a drummer’s best friend might (as many other drummers have stated) be the rhythm guitarist. However, let’s not…
Bruno Esrubilsky - Mitski Tour Set
DRUMS: GRETSCH Late 50’s /early 60’s Round Badge, 3ply maple/gum in White Marine Pearl Finish: 8×12 Rack Tom, 14×14 and 16×16 Floor Toms, 14×20 Bass Drum, Main Snare: 6.5×14 Pearl Sensitone Alloy with Puresound Snare Wires, Side Snare: Vintage 5.5×14…
Out Now April 2024
Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…
Lenny Kravitz Talks Drums
Lenny Kravitz has played drums, programmed the drum parts, or created the loops on all of his songs for the last 35 years with only two exceptions. He is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter walking in the tradition of Stevie Wonder and…
“Two Bass Hit” Transcription by Marc Atkinson
This month’s transcription delves into the timeless classic “Two Bass Hit” from the brilliant Miles Davis album, Milestones. Tony Williams once called Milestones, “The perfect jazz record.” With each instrument brimming with musicality, it’s no surprise that icons like Miles,…
Shelly Manne: “You Can’t Have 2 and 4 Without…”
What is the essence of a musician? How do we quantify their achievements, their history, their sound, and their very being? For many of us, such revelations came by way of LPs — oftentimes not-to-secret communications from the past, but…
