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.
Drum Fills: Keep It Simple, or Shred?
Drummers have to consider plenty of options when choosing an appropriate fill to play in a given situation. Factors such as voicing, subdivision, density, and speed comprise just a few of the choices. While keeping these options in mind, we…
Hüsker Dü’s Grant Hart: 1961-2017
It seemed that Hüsker Dü’s Grant Hart existed to dispel the moronic clichés informing most drummer jokes. The dude could seemingly do it all. Killer drummer. Great singer. Amazing songwriter. He was also a supremely talented visual artist who designed…
Appreciation and Gratitude
Happy New Year! It’s that time again, when we reflect back on the past year and appreciate all the wonderful opportunities we’ve been blessed with. Time has always fascinated me. Maybe being a drummer has something to do with that.…
Rufus "Speedy" Jones
Jazz has often been called the true American classical music, finding its most immediate roots in the blues. Although the blues sang out against physical hardship and mental depression, its simple, haunting rhythms would most always convey a jubilance and…
Rufus "Speedy" Jones
Jazz has often been called the true American classical music, finding its most immediate roots in the blues. Although the blues sang out against physical hardship and mental depression, its simple, haunting rhythms would most always convey a jubilance and…
Tailor-Made Top Hat
Chuck Riebling of Ellicott City, Maryland, started putting this kit together in 2004 after purchasing four blank maple Keller shells. He then brought the drums—a 10-ply 7x13 snare, 6-ply 8x12 and 14x14 toms, and a 10-ply 14x20 bass drum—to vintage…
Paul Wertico’s Turn the Beat Around
Paul Wertico long ago established himself as a creative force. He’s a drummer with excellent technique, great feel, and a strong sense of texture and color. Yet he’s also a drummer who makes observations, asks questions, and inevitably comes up…
Led Zeppelin book, Carl Palmer DVD, Peter Erskine, Todd Sucherman, and more!
I’m a little anal about reading the introductions and prefaces of books before I even flip through the rest of the pages. Their purpose is to set a tone, establish the credibility and character of the writer, and encapsulate the…
Yamaha Drums Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary, Tyshawn Sorey Receives MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, Sabian Appoints New Director of Research and Product Development, and more!
Yamaha Drums Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary, Tyshawn Sorey Receives MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, Sabian Appoints New Director of Research and Product Development, and more! TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Elizabeth Goodfellow With Iron & Wine
The drummer, percussionist, and vocalist invigorates a seasoned indie artist’s new album and extensive back catalog.
James Cassells on Asking Alexandria’s Asking Alexandria
Cassells’ wide, smashing groove and huge, natural drum tones on lead single “Into the Fire” reveal a hard-earned maturity that’s evident throughout the album. The drummer’s straightforward drive and massive snare tone on opener “Alone in a Room” and restrained…
Can Feel Be Taught, or Is It a Gift?
Can Feel Be Taught, or Is It a Gift? Unlike certain aspects of drumming, suchas timing, technique, and dynamics, developing a drummer’s sense of groove or feel can be somewhat of an ambiguous task. Even more obscuring is the debate…
Around and Around We Go
It’s hard to believe that we’ve already turned the corner toward another year, and Modern Drummer is celebrating forty-two years of publishing in 2018. While that pales in comparison to the 4.54 billion times this rock we live on has…
