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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.
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…
Custom RCI Starlite Moondust Acrylic Kit
This month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month comes to us from drummer Lou Caldarola. Lou’s kit was created by Romano Cotone of RCI Starlite Company in CT. Moondust shells were a limited run consisting of clear acrylic shell with…
Listen to What the Music is Telling You to Play!
In this month’s Modern Drummer, legendary songwriter Lenny Kravitz, Justin Timberlake’s Mike Reid, and Chic’s Ralph Rolle all allude to the phrase, “Listen to what the music is telling you to play” in their interviews regarding the subject of how…
Carlos Palmet’s Pitbull Trilogy Tour Set
DRUMS: Mapex Saturn Evolution Hybrid in Gun Metal Grey Lacquer with Black Brushed Hardware: 16×22 Maple/Walnut Hybrid Bass Drum, 7×10 and 8×12 Birch/Walnut Hybrid Rack Toms, 16×16 Floor Tom, 16×18 EVO Kick/Floor Tom Hybrid by Mark Bennet (Maple/Walnut), 16×18 Gong…
Out Now - March 2024
Modern Drummer enjoys 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 performances from the drummer and/or musicians in the…
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” - Transcription by Marc Atkinson
This month’s transcription dives into the opening track from the iconic Nirvana album Nevermind, spotlighting the incredible drumming of Dave Grohl. It’s a masterclass on how to drive a band. Once the drums kick in the energy is relentless with…
As Time Goes By
“The fundamental things apply, As time goes by …” So goes the song written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931, made famous by its appearance in the classic film, Casabalanca. The man who composed the score for that film and others…
Bryan’s Fibes Homage
This month’s Kit of the Month comes from Cleveland, Ohio’s Bryan Beyer. The kit is a Fibes clear Crystalite setup that he uses in his Pink Floyd tribute band called Dark Side of the Moon. The kit shown consists of…
