modern drummer Archives - Modern Drummer Magazine

modern drummer

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.

April-May, 1980 — Neil Peart

I think of myself still as a student. I’m still learning. We’re all just beginners. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE 15% Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues)…

Modern Drummer
Dec 27, 2019

Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Relative Tempo

Wind instrumentalists work on relative pitch by listening to intervals (the distance between two notes) over and over again, in an effort to develop the ability to play with good intonation. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access…

by Steve Fidyk
Jun 21, 2017

Sonny Greer: The Elder Statesman Of Jazz

William "Sonny" Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey on December 13, 1903. "I wasn't no rich kid." He remembers, "but I was always comfortable. We were a happy family. TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access…

by Scott K. Fish
Jun 8, 2017

Stickings—Part 1

Due to the many changes that have taken place in contemporary music over the last 20-30 years, it seems appropriate to re examine "stickings," to develop a more comprehensive and useful approach to this area of a percussionist's early training.…

by Gary Chaffee
Jun 8, 2017

Ed Blackwell — "Bemsha Swing"

Bemsha Swing TO READ THE FULL STORY: LOG IN Digital Access $4.99 /month or $49.99 /year SAVE 15% Digital Monthly Magazine 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues) 40+ Drum Channel Subscribe Now All Access (Print + Digital) USA $14.99 /month…

Modern Drummer
Jun 8, 2017

Shelly Manne

Many of the things that drummers take for granted today would never have come about if someone hadn't dared to try it first; if some pioneer hadn't crossed over into unexplored territory; if some drummer hadn't found a new way of propelling a band.

by David Levine
May 25, 2017

Tommy Aldridge: Business Wise

Not a week would go by without letters asking,

by Scott K. Fish
May 25, 2017

Jim Chapin - Father of Independence

The Chapin Book. Sooner or later every serious drummer has to master it.

by Rick Mattingly
May 25, 2017

A Tribute to Billy Gladstone

To those unfamiliar with the name, suffice it to say that Billy Gladstone was one of the percussion world's most legendary figures.

by Ted Reed
May 25, 2017

Nazareth's Darrell Sweet

Being a member of a group affords a musician a certain amount of security, but it also demands a sacrifice. The security comes from the fact that the individual does not have to face the world alone.

by Rick Mattingly
May 25, 2017

Rock Perspectives - "Playing Rock Music Is Not Dumb"

The following material is similar to the Rock Perspectives column regarding Swiss Army Triplets (July 1981). It's different enough to present additional technical challenges. These particular exercises can be of special benefit to the right foot (bass drum) because of…

by David Garibaldi
May 25, 2017

Drum Soloist - Jo Jones -"Adlib"

This solo was transcribed from the album entitled, The Main Man—Jo Jones, recorded in November 1976, and released on the Pablo label. The solo is heard toward the end of "Adlib" which appears on side 1, cut 3. TO READ…

by Richard Egart
May 25, 2017

Teacher's Forum - Drumset Applications of The Reed Syncopation

This article is a compilation of exercises by Mr. Breithaupt and two of his advanced students, Karl Ott and Peter Retzlaff.

by Robert Breithaupt
May 10, 2017

Concepts - Developing Good Time

Many drummers are capable of playing good time even though they may not know exactly how they developed this ability.

by Roy Burns
May 10, 2017