Advertisement

December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12

TO READ THE FULL STORY:
LOG IN

Digital Access

$4.99 /month or $49.99 /year

SAVE $10 | Yearly Subscription

  • Digital Monthly Magazine
  • 47 Years of Archives (500+ Issues)
  • 40+ Drum Channel

All Access (Print + Digital)

USA $179.99 / year (Billed Annually)

  • Digital Subscription
  • 6 physical copies of Modern Drummer, sent bi-monthly
  • Access to exclusive giveaways and meet and greets
  • Modern Drummer t-shirt / Modern Drummer hat
  • Modern Drummer Masterclass

Articles in December 2018

Features

In the Studio with Travis McNabb

When not touring with top modern country acts Sugarland and Frankie Ballard, this Tennessee transplant tracks drums for artists around the globe out of his home setup.

Story and photos by Sayre Berman
Oct 30, 2018
Drum Wisdom

Mark Walker

The Berklee professor and well-traveled performer has made a career out of adapting ethnic rhythms to the drumset—and offering valuable advice on how to do that accurately and authentically.

Story by Ken Micallef | Photos by Alex Solca
Oct 30, 2018
Article by Robin Tolleson | Photo by Attis Clopton
Oct 30, 2018
Features

Keith Moon: An Examination

“In an egotistical way I always prefer my demos to what the Who does.” —Pete Townshend Rolling Stone interview with Jonathan Cott, May 14, 1970

By John Colpitts
Oct 30, 2018
Basics

The Modern Drummer Guide to Reading Rhythms - Part 1

Part 1: Fundamental Elements of Music Notation

by Miguel Monroy
Oct 30, 2018
Advertisement
Education

On Relaxation - An In-Depth Study to Develop Consistency

When executing individual stroke types, it’s important that our approach remains consistent no matter what type of stroke is played. It’s very easy for drummers to be more aggressive when playing a downstroke, or rapidly pull away from the drum…

by Josh Jones
Oct 30, 2018
Education

Roy Haynes’ Phrasing

Modern Interpretations and Variations

by Mike Alfieri
Oct 30, 2018
Around The World

Samba Rhythms - Part 1: The Importance of the Tamborim

Hello, and welcome to a new series on Brazilian samba drumming! It’s a great pleasure to be discussing Brazilian rhythms and my approach to this style on the drumset. Generally, I feel that Brazilian rhythms can be divided into three…

by Kiko Freitas
Oct 30, 2018
Education

Polyrhythmic Rudiment Applications

Using Standard Stickings to Tackle Odd Groupings

by Aaron Edgar
Oct 30, 2018
Education

Drumset Ergonomics - Part 6: Positioning Secondary Suspended Instruments

In this final installment of this series, we’re going to address how to position the instruments that we only play five to thirty percent of the time, such as splashes, Chinas, cowbells, electric pads, additional rack toms, and auxiliary crashes.…

by Brandon Green
Oct 30, 2018
Equipment

Roland - TD-17KVX V-Drums

A game changing mid-level kit with increased expressivity, improved pads, and highly effective practice tools.

by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018
Equipment

OffSet - Eclipse Double Pedal

A symmetrical design for more ergonomic setups.

Christopher Kozar
Oct 30, 2018
Advertisement
Equipment

Paiste - Masters Extra Thin and Dark Additions

Soft and sophisticated crashes and splashes for supreme expressivity.

Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018
Equipment

Mo Drumsticks - Magnetic Beater System

A unique product to help boost your bass drum chops.

by Christopher Kozar
Oct 30, 2018
Equipment

Quicksand’s Alan Cage

Quicksand drummer Alan Cage isn’t overly particular about his gear. “I’m not too attached,” he says. “But I don’t like deep drums, at least on the rack toms. I always play a 16" floor tom, but I don’t mind it…

Interview by John Martinez | Photos by Alex Solca
Oct 30, 2018
Equipment

New gear from TAMA, Zildjian, and Vic Firth!

Tama Classic Series Bass Drum Pedal With vintage design and modern functionality, the Classic pedal is designed to be light, responsive, and durable. Features include beater height adjustment, topside spring adjustment, a felt beater, an Easy-Tight hoop clamp, and a…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018
An Editor's Overview

Drums: The Secret to Happiness

Last summer my family and I decided to move out of the house we’d been living in for thirteen years, and into a new one. Among other things, the old place didn’t have a basement, and the jazz-size drumkit we…

Article by Adam Budofsky | Photo by Jim Esposito
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

What’s Your Favorite Keith Moon Performance?

This month, as we dove into the drumming of both Pete Townshend on the Who’s demo tracks and Keith Moon on the band’s final output, we checked in with our readers and social media followers to see which “Moon the…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

Clint Schnase on Cursive’s Vitriola

The original drummer for the biting Nebraska indie group rejoins them in the studio for a raucous homecoming.

Article by Willie Rose | Photo by Hiro Tanaka
Oct 30, 2018
Advertisement
Departments

Scott Seiver with Tenacious D

Tracing the path that the prolific drummer, composer, and producer paved on his way to playing with the hilarious and hard-rocking act.

Article by Willie Rose | Photo by Rosalie Sage
Oct 30, 2018
Article by Ilya Stemkovsky
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

Session Great Nir Z

When it comes to gear, Jerusalem-born/Nashville-based session drummer Nir Zidkyahu, whose ultra-precise, intense pocket can be heard on hit records by pop/rock great John Mayer, alt-rock legend Chris Cornell, and modern country superstar Blake Shelton, isn’t too particular, as long…

Interview by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018
Critique

Questlove's latest book and more

RECORDINGS Skyharbor Sunshine Dust Indian progressive metal titans release a gripping new album on the heels of successful tours with Babymetal, the Contortionist, and Deftones. Equal parts ethereal atmospherics, thick and chugging grooves, and soaring vocals, Skyharbor offer some of their…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

Aaron Sterling’s Sound of Sterloid, Volume II

“I do almost everything at my place now,” says top L.A.-based session drummer Aaron Sterling. In addition to recording about fifteen songs per week for artists and producers around the world, Sterling has created five online master classes that focus on…

Interview by Michael Dawson
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

Pantera's Vinnie Paul, Elvis Presley's D.J. Fontana, Richard Swift

Photo by Paul La Raia Remembering the metal drumming icon, Pantera cofounder, and backbone of Hellyeah and Damageplan. Vinnie Paul, who died this past June 22 at the age of fifty-four, possessed an unmistakable bass drum sound. But you never…

Modern Drummer
Oct 30, 2018
Departments

The 2018 Chicago Drum Show

The perennial percussion event once again serves vintage and modern drum lovers alike.

Story and photos by Robert Campbell
Oct 30, 2018
Advertisement

Advertisement