April 2026 – Volume 50 • Number 4
On 01st Apr 2026
Articles in April 2026
Lucky Sevens
In this month’s educational column’s you might see a theme: Sevens (or septuplets.) But why sevens? First, playing seven equally spaced notes within a beat has nothing to do with playing in 7/4 or 7/8. Sevens are a natural rhythmic…
Tama Starclassic, Beautiful Inside and Out
When David Lehnert purchased his first home in 2017, he sought his own studio with his dream drum set. He chose a Tama Starclassic. We’ll let him pick up the story from there. “The light jade burst is a timeless…
Peregrine
“This is the album I’ve always wanted to make.” Peregrine is the name of my new album. The word means wandering, traveling, or migrating, stemming from Latin for “foreigner” or “traveler.” The peregrine is also a falcon, a bird of prey…
TWO NEW CONGAS AND BONGOS FROM LP, NEW SNARES FROM PEARL, NEW CYMBALS FROM MEINL
Two new Congas and Bongos from LP Latin Percussion (LP®) invites percussionists to explore Latin rhythms with the upgraded series LP Discovery II Ultralight Congas and Bongos: expressive congas and bongos more lightweight than ever before. Great for early players to serious hobbyists,…
GM Designs: Sonic Visions, Continuum, Obscure, and the Multi-Belled
As a drummer or a percussionist, your look is just as important as your sound! Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It’s all about the senses. The better you project, the better you will be received. There’s no mystery there!…
SJC Drums, ALPHA Brass Snare: Treating You Like a Rock Star!
SJC Drums was founded in 2022 in Southbridge, MA with the idea of producing world-class drums. A quick trip through their website is certainly impressive and it is easy to see that they mean business and are proud of their…
Yamaha EAD50 – Part 1: Redefining the Starting Point
Where does drum recording begin? The fundamentals haven’t changed; however, Yamaha’s Electronic Acoustic Drum (EAD) concept has quietly reshaped how drummers approach recording. With the introduction of the EAD10, capturing a full kit sound quickly and musically, without the demands of a multi-mic setup, became a practical…
Paulina Villareal of The Warning
Since forming in 2013, The Warning have been working and rocking non-stop. Their latest album Keep Me Fed drew critical acclaim and attention. The Warning draws strength and power from a lifetime of sisterhood and music. The Mexico-born sister trio—Daniela…
Bud Gaugh: Living in the Moment with Sublime
Some bands reunite to relive the past. Sublime returned to feel it again. Since 2023, Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson have been back on stage with Jakob Nowell, stepping into his father’s legacy while creating something new and electric in…
Bruno Esrubilsky: Serving the Song with Mitski
For nearly a decade, Bruno Esrubilsky has been the rhythmic backbone behind Mitski, translating her ever-shifting musical world to the stage and studio. His philosophy is simple but powerful: serve the song first, let the groove follow, and everything else falls into place.…
Jake Goss: The Groove Powering LANY
Jake Goss has been obsessed with drums since he was 11 years old. Growing up in Arkansas, he spent countless hours behind the kit, studying players like Chad Smith, Matt Cameron, and Larry Mullen Jr. while developing a groove-first approach to the instrument. After…
Bruce Gust: Broaden Your Base
If you’re an NHL hockey fan, you may have heard about the “Bongo Anthem.” It is a unique version of the National Anthem sung by Bruce Gust, a nine-year veteran of the USMC and a former national recording artist. While…
Sublime “Santeria,” drummer Bud Gaugh
This month’s transcription highlights Bud Gaugh’s drumming on the song “Santeria.” The chart is as straightforward as the tune itself, illustrating what appears to be a simple part on paper. But make no mistake, Bud’s deep pocket and subtle fills make…
Silent Drum Practice - Part Two, Who is Leading Now?
Welcome to part two of my series on practicing drums without drums! This exercise can be done anywhere. Play the following exercise with your hands on your thighs or with sticks on the pad, depending on whether you are at…
Bending Time
Rhythm grids may seem fixed, like mathematical subdivisions resting in space, but that isn’t the end of the story. Once we’ve got our grids down (!!!), we can start bend them at will. Imagine a perfectly round ball gliding down…
Progressive Drumming Essentials: Torturous Septuplets
Progressive Drumming Essentials is a collection of articles originally written for Modern Drummer magazine. They are exactly what the title says, PROGRESSIVE drumming essentials. This series of articles, and the book that contains them all, represent a great deal of…
Master Studies II: Sticking Variations In Groups of Seven
As a follow-up to Joe Morello’s legendary Master Studies book, he released Master Studies II in 2006. Joe was a masterful teacher and helped many great drummers with their musicality, technique, and touch. Joe was also masterful at creating exercises,…
The New Breed: (More) Advanced Reading
Gary Chester’s groundbreaking book The New Breed is legendary. The book, and Gary’s teaching methods are deeply intertwined, it is a lifelong commitment of dedication, study, and development. Gary Chester’s Systems, Reading Exercises, Advanced Systems, Advanced Reading Exercises, Composite Systems,…
Steve Ferrone Drum Collection
In the world of “first call” drummers, Steve Ferrone is the first one they call. Just ask Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, George Harrison, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Rick James, Slash, Chaka Khan, Bee Gees, Al Jarreau, Mick Jagger, or Johnny Cash. When iconic bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Average White Band, Duran Duran and Aerosmith needed…
Out Now April 2026
Modern Drummer is thrilled to spotlight 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…
Felix Lehrmann’s Steve Hackett Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom in Mystic Blue Lacquer – 16 x 22 Kick, 6.5 x 8 tom, 7 x 10 tom, 7.5 x 12 tom, 14 x 14 floor tom, 16 x 16 floor tom. Snare: 6 X 14 Gretsch USA Custom Snare. Cymbals: Paiste – 14” 602 Medium Hi-hat, 22” Signature Mark 1 Ride, 18” 602 Paper thin…
