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.
TONY BROCK: That Sleazy, Greasy, English Backbeat
Most might know Tony Brock as the drummer from the 70s and 80s band The Babys, but his career is MUCH more than that. He has a new band called Close Enemies, but we’ll start at the beginning. Tony started…
Les Claypool: Inside the Interstellar Drum Derby
When Primus lost their drummer (again,) this time it was different. For a band that’s always had a knack for finding unique and brilliant rhythm players, there was suddenly… no plan. No backup. No “oh, we’ll just call this guy.”…
MARCO SOCCOLI REMEMBERED
“The drum community is a community like no other. It is made up of very special people whose work (and sometime much more) revolves around drumming, drums, and music. Marco Soccoli was a very special person and a pillar of…
150 Years of SONOR Drums: A Conversation with Jeff Mulvihill
In 1875 the then 28-year-old journeyman Johannes Link founded the first drum factory in Weissenfels, Germany with the aim to produce drum skins and basic marching drums. Over the following 32 years, this endeavor would expand and grow with son…
Primus "Eleven" from Sailing the Seas of Cheese, drummer Tim Alexander
This month’s transcription honors Primus and their “old” drummer Tim Alexander, with the Primus track “Eleven” from their album Sailing the Seas of Cheese. As the title implies, the song is based in an 11-beat groove. To make the rhythm easier to read…
SIMPLICITY WINS: The Go-Round Grooves
What is groove? Think of it as an empty cup that you pour your own meaning into. A name is like this. How many Chris’ do you know? The name is the same, but every time you think of that…
Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: The Ladder
For the last several months, we have been excerpting chapters from the new and revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming by Bobby Rondinelli. The new and expanded edition of his book includes nine new double bass drumming…
Master Studies II: Paradiddles with Fill-Ins Using Double Strokes
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,…
Jack Lawless' Jonas Brothers Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom – 9×13 rack concert tom (not pictured), 8×13 rack, 16×16 floor, 16×18 Gong drum (floor tom with no bottom head), 16×24 kick. Snares: Noble & Cooley Custom 6.5×14, Ludwig Black Beauty 6.5×14. Heads (top): Remo – Clear Pinstripe (Rack,…
The New Breed
This month, Modern Drummer will start excerpting sections of Gary Chester’s groundbreaking book The New Breed. This book, and Gary’s teaching methods are deeply intertwined, it is a lifelong commitment of dedication, study, and development. Before we start reprinting Gary…
Rhythm Vocabulary Development Series Part 2: Filling in the Spaces in 7/4
Rhythm as Space: Unlocking Your Creative Flow in 7/4 In our last installment, we explored how rhythmic vocabulary can be expanded by understanding rhythm not just as notes, but as space—a concept that becomes even more powerful in odd time…
1928 Leedy Ship Silhouette and Indian Scene Trap Drum Sets
The year 1928 is a very important year in drum history at the Northup Drums Museum. Many of our early trap drum kits with factory painted heads are from the 1928-30 era. From about 1924 to 1940 both the Leedy…
Out Now May 2025
Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performances from the drummer and/or musicians in the band. This…
Caleb Crosby's Kelsea Ballerini Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom in Satin Tangerine Metallic – 14×22 Kick, 9×13 Rack Tom, 16×16 and 16×18 Floor Toms, 6.5×14 2mm Copper Snare (main,) 8×14 Maple Matching (side,) 6.5×14 Bell Brass (spare.) Heads: Remo – Controlled Sound Coated on all Snares/Clear Ambassador…
