Education
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.
Live Drum Soloing
Getting Started In this article we’ll give some insight into how to conceive, construct, and execute a drum solo in a live rock context. For those who’ve never performed a solo, it can be a very scary idea. But…
Dale Crover on Melvins Lite’s Record-Setting 51/51 Tour
On September 5, 2002, Melvins Lite embarked on a fifty-one-day rock 'n' roll journey that even other road warriors would consider insane. Drummer Dale Crover tells the tale. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Loosen Up! 18 Triplet-Roll Warm-Ups to Get You Going
The drumset is one of the most physically demanding instruments. As with any other high-intensity physical activity, it helps to loosen up your muscles first with some basic exercises. In this article we’re exploring a warm-up routine based on the…
Implied Brazilian Rhythms on Drumset
Part 1: Maracatu The musical style Maracatu is an amalgamation of Afro-Brazilian concepts within the context of the annual festival of Carnival. Maracatu, or Maracatu de Baque Virado (“turned-around beat”), originated in religious Candomblé ceremonies used to crown kings…
Grooving With Fives
A Progressive Approach to Phrasing Quintuplets on the Drumkit Sixteenth-note quintuplets are five notes played per quarter note. The simplest way to count them in 4/4 is, “ONE, two, three, four, five; TWO, two, three, four, five; THREE, two,…
The Half-Time Shuffle
Variations on One of Drumming’s Slinkiest Grooves The half-time shuffle is a signature beat for some of the most legendary drummers in history. Guys like Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, and Jeff Porcaro are all considered masters of this feel. Let’s…
Pete La Roca Sims Style & Analysis
The great jazz drummer Pete Sims was born on April 7, 1938, in New York City, and passed away on November 20, 2012. He gained early professional experience playing timbales in Latin groups, and it was during this period that…
Drum Design Knowledge, Part 2: Shell Types and Thicknesses
Last month we discussed hoops. This time we’re discussing the thickness of the shell and what you can expect sonically from the various designs. Drum shells have been made in different thicknesses over the years, from a single half-inch piece…
The Circuit - An Ambidextrous Routine for Ultimate Control
This month we’ll check out a challenging coordination study. The goal of this routine is to become comfortable playing any pattern leading with either side of the body. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Rhythmic Conversions - Part 5: Brazilian Grooves and the Half-Note Triplet
In this lesson we’ll superimpose a new tempo over an existing pulse using a half-note-triplet subdivision. We’ll then manipulate the subdivision to create Brazilian grooves in the new tempo. I recommend that you practice these patterns with a metronome and…
Flowing Diddles, Triple Strokes, and Paradiddles
Essential Motions for Smoother Transitions
Jon Theodore Style and Analysis
From his days playing mind-melting Mars Volta compositions to his current gig with the rock giants Queens of the Stone Age, Jon Theodore has inspired drummers with powerful grooves, explosive fills, and rock-solid time. His ability to craft the perfect…
