Jazz Drummer's Workshop
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.
Exercises for the Development of Control and Technique
This month we continue to feature the wonderful exercises from Joe Morello’s book Master Studies. While some teachers talk about speed and chops, Joe Morello focused on control and technique. Proper technique and controlling your hands, movements, and the sticks…
Master Studies
In Modern Drummer’s ongoing salute to Joe Morello’s legendary book Master Studies and his teachings, this month we present Joe Morello’s Table of Time, and his advice on Using the Metronome. Table of Time This will help your development of…
Joe Morello: Master Studies
In our further celebration of Joe Morello’s legendary book Master Studies; in the next few months Modern Drummer will be bringing you one of the best and most beneficial sections of the book and Joe’s teaching, the Control Studies. The…
Joe Morello: Master Studies
In our further celebration of Joe Morello’s legendary book Master Studies; in the next few months Modern Drummer will be bringing you one of the best and most beneficial sections of the book and Joe’s teaching, the Control Studies. While…
Joe Morello: Master Studies
George Lawrence Stone was a legendary drum teacher and musician, one of his prize pupils was Joe Morello. Joe carried on Stone’s valuable teachings and added his valuable insights in his books Master Studies and Master Studies II. This month,…
Bob Moses’ More Musical Resolution Points
In the last several last months of Modern Drummer we have included the chapters from Bob Moses’ Drum Wisdom book on the 8/8 Concept and the Sixteen Musical Resolution Points. These two concepts work together and can apply to every…
Bob Moses’ Drum Wisdom, Musical Resolution Points
In the last few last months of Modern Drummer we have included the chapters from Bob Moses’ Drum Wisdom book on the 8/8 Concept and the Sixteen Musical Resolution Points. These two concepts work together and can apply to every…
Bob Moses Drum Wisdom: The Eight Points
In last month’s Modern Drummer, we reintroduced Bob Moses’ fabulous notion that he calls “The 8/8 Concept” from his book Drum Wisdom. Bob’s concept of feeling music in 8/8 leads naturally into another concept that Bob calls “The Eight Points.”…
Bob Moses Drum Wisdom: The 8/8 Concept
This month we will be begin exploring Bob Moses’ classic book called Drum Wisdom. In this book Bob explores the organic side of drumming with wonderful explanations of some of the most important ideas in playing music. We will begin…
Get on the Good Foot!
Part 3: Hi-Hat Comping in 5/4 Welcome to the third and final part of our lesson on hi-hat comping. This article explores hi-hat rhythm variations in 5/4. The phrases included are intended to help develop dynamic balance between your hi-hat…
Get on the Good Foot!
Welcome to the second part of this three-part series on hi-hat comping. In this lesson we’ll explore repetitive hi-hat motifs in 3/4. The phrases included here are intended to help develop dynamic balance between the hi-hat foot and the other…
Get on the Good Foot! Part 1
Hi-Hat Comping Riffs in 4/4 Jazz drummers depend on the hi-hat to help propel the band and provide strength to the weak beats of 2 and 4. When played in sync with the ride cymbal, a dynamically controlled hi-hat pulse…
The Charleston
The Root Rhythm of Jazz and Beyond The Charleston was a popular dance rhythm during the 1920s that got its name from the popular composition of the same name by pianist/composer James P. Johnson. The syncopated Charleston rhythm is one…
The Jon Christensen Approach
Developing a Modern Straight-8th Concept In this article we’re going to explore the broken, straight-8th feel that the late, great Norwegian drummer Jon Christensen utilized to majestic effect on many classic albums for German jazz label ECM. The exercises included…
