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.
BE A FUSION DRUMMER
The word fusion gets a lot of use in this issue. Unfortunately, it’s become somewhat of a “bad” word in some musical circles. It’s (unfortunate) meaning has become the name of the style of music, born in the late 60s…
EVANS REALFEEL 10" ATTACKTILE PAD SCHOLASTIC PACK
The RealFeel drum pad was a trusted favorite among drummers long before it became part of the Evans (D’Addario) lineup. I still have my original HQ Percussion double-sided 12” RealFeel from the early 2000’s. The newer Evans model with its…
SOME MOST EXCELLENT FOOTWORK!
Yamaha Corporation is Making Waves again with their new high-end kick and two legged hi-hat pedals! Modern Drummer received a box full of these impressive pedals to take through their paces and see what we thought of them. What we…
Billy Cobham "Quadrant 4" from the Billy Cobham recording Spectrum
Let’s rewind to October 3rd, 1973—the day Spectrum by the legendary Billy Cobham hit the world. Recorded in just three days, the album captures a raw, live energy, with most tracks laid down in only one or two takes. That urgency and…
The 5th Limb: SING YOUR DRUMS
Singing anything we can hear or imagine births it into the world by giving it shape and substance. Now we’re no longer just drummers, but sound-crafters. Singing rhythms taps into the soul of the drummer, awakening consciousness of a deeper…
Progressive Drumming Essentials: Double Bass Boot Camp
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: Variations of the Triple Paradiddle
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,…
Rhythm Vocabulary Development Series Part 4: Playing in 5/8
In the last installment of this series, we explored the concept of “filling the spaces” in 6/8—how understanding rhythm as spatial awareness can give your vocabulary new dimension and depth. This time, we’re venturing into slightly more angular territory with…
The 100 Year History of the Modern Drum Set
It’s difficult to imagine that the drum set of today has only been in existence for just over 100 years. The history of the modern drum set began in the late 1800’s, with a drummer being able to play the…
Out Now July 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…
Joe Letz' Till Lindemann Touring Kit
Drums: DW Collectors Maple in Matte Red – 18×22 Kick, 18×22 Gong Drum, 14×26 Kick, 16×6 Octoban, 8×12 Rack Tom, 14×16 Floor Tom, 16×18 Floor Tom.Snares: 6.5×14 Maple Snare, 6×12 Maple Side Snare, 7×14 Brass Snare (backup.)Heads: Evans – Main Snare: Heavyweight, Side…
Remembering Al Foster
January 18, 1943 – May 28, 2025 Al Foster and I met 37 years ago, and we hit it off instantly. He became a mentor, a friend, and a huge influence on my drumming. We spent a good deal of…
DeAndre Hemby's Teddy Swims Touring Kit
Drums: SJC Drums – 16×22 Kick, 7×8, 7×10, 7×12 Rack Toms, 14×16 and 16×18 Floor Toms, 6.5×14 Brass Snare, 6.5×14 Maple Snare.Heads: Evans – EC2 and EC Reso on rack toms; EMAD and EC Reso on floor toms; HD Dry on main…
