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.
Portraits - Arturo Stable
More than most, this percussionist understands that necessity is the mother of invention—and you never want to leave Mom hanging. So whether he’s collaborating with heavyweight jazzers or leading his own unique ensembles, he always answers the call to create…
Strictly Technique - Playing the Sixes
It can be difficult to get young students to feel excited about sitting down and working on rudiments. The material in this two-part series is designed to encourage drummers to dig into some of the basic rudimental sticking patterns and…
Rock 'N' Jazz Clinic - The Odds Are in Your Favor
Searching for a way to break out of the old four-16th-notes-per-drum rut when playing fills? Applying odd note groupings can equip you with some fresh ideas that also sound very hip. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Rock Perspectives - Double Bass Workout, Part 2
In this lesson we’ll explore some challenging yet practical double bass grooves. We’re mixing 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, 32nd notes, and 32nd-note triplets. Remember to always practice to a metronome or click track. Start off slowly and master each pattern…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Approaching Standards
Jazz musicians spend a considerable amount of practice time learning standard tunes in a variety of keys. By doing so, they become versed in the tradition, while developing a repertoire of music to be played with other musicians. Many choose…
Bill Bruford: An Autobiography, Prologue to the Second Edition
In which the prog-rock pioneer and fusion explorer contemplates the future of our art—and calls on us to determine it for ourselves. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Strictly Technique - Chops Builders: Hemiolas, Part 1
This month we’re going to start a three-part series on hemiolas. The word hemiola has Greek roots and means “containing one and a half,” “half as much again,” or “in the ratio of one and a half to one (3:2),…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Stick Control Revisited Part 2
Welcome to the second installment in our series on drumset applications of George Lawrence Stone’s famous book Stick Control. The following variations utilize the “72 Single Beat Combinations” found on pages 5–7. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
Rock & Jazz Clinic - Melodic Drumming
In this article we’re going to explore a way to represent a melodic guitar riff from a classic-rock tune on the kit, while playing the song’s drumbeat at the same time. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Rock Perspectives - Double Bass Workout, Part 3
In this lesson we’ll mix 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes on the bass drums and play them along with 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to play to a metronome or click track, and start off slowly and master each…
Off The Record - Ilan Rubin
This year, drummer Ilan Rubin further secured his position as one of modern rock’s hottest prospects after putting out a third release with his solo project, the New Regime; touring with Nine Inch Nails; and making a guest spot on…
Strictly Technique - Chops Builders
In part two of our hemiola series, we’re going to add another accent to the half-note-triplet patterns we covered last month. To review, a hemiola is defined as a two-against-three (2:3) or three-against-two (3:2) pattern. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Rock Perspectives - Double Bass Workout, Part 4
This month we’re exploring advanced double bass groove ideas that mix 16th notes, 16th note triplets, and 32nd notes alongside 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to always play to a metronome or a click track. Also, start off slowly and master…
In The Studio - Seeing Sounds Part 5: Specialty Mics
In the first four installments of this series we discussed very broad ideas for achieving stylistically appropriate drum sounds, from pop-rock to traditional jazz. Each setup employed different drums, head selections, and tunings, and we used miking techniques that ranged…
