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.
The Swing Pulse
“It don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.” Duke Ellington The swing pulse is that kinetic quality that you can’t quite put your finger on, the quality that you intuitively know when it’s there, or when it’s…
Progressive Drumming Essentials: Groove Contraction
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: Developing the Single Stroke Roll (Some More…)
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: 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,…
Snare Drums from the Northup Drum Museum
The snare drum originated from the medieval tabor, a rope-tensioned drum used for military signals, it became a distinct instrument with sharper, brighter, sounds through innovations like screw-tensioning gut and coiled metal snares. Throughout the Middle Ages it was used to…
2026 NAMM Pictorial
Efnote DrumsLiverpool SticksPearl Belle Meade Bourbon KitJohn Dolmayan Yamaha 2025 Tour KitJohn Dolmayan Yamaha 2025 Tour KitMeinlScorpion PercussionIstanbul Mehmet IMCKingzbeat KitSonorCanopusBritish Drum Co.Rick LathamJackson Daw, Vinny Appice, Andrew DawJason Gianni and Joshua SimondsChris Hart and Kirsten JensenTerry Baker, Rashid Williams,…
Out Now March 2026
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 a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians in the…
Lowell “Sly” Dunbar
May 10, 1952 – January 26, 2026 Interview by Ken Micallef In 2018, MD chatted with the legendary Sly Dunbar about some of his most noteworthy performances, his influences, and quizzed the living legend on the qualities of a serious reggae…
Sean T. Lane’s Heart Touring Kit
Ludwig Drums – Classic Maple 2017 Mod Orange Finish: 9×13 Rack Tom, 14×14 Floor Tom, 16×16 Floor Tom, 14×22 Bass Drum. Snares – 7×14 Keplinger Black Iron Snare, 6.5X14 Keplinger Stainless Steel Snare (swap between for main snare.) Paiste Cymbals: 19” Formula 602 Modern Essentials Crash, 20” Formula 602 Modern…
Why Do You Play Drums?
A student recently asked me why I play drums. In my 45 years of playing drums and 25 years of teaching, I have been asked a lot of difficult questions. However, this answer seemed simple. Whenever I heard drumming as…
A Longing After 22 Years of Musical Hibernation
Ian Roberts began drumming at the age of 11 and played passionately for 20 years, until the birth of his son in 2000. At that point, family and work became his top priorities, and he completely stepped away from music…
“Don’t Touch That Dial!”
The expression “don’t touch that dial” was uttered frequently during the heyday of radio in the 1930s when broadcasters wanted to ensure that their listeners would not stray and tune-in to another station (“… and now, a word from our…
NEW PRODUCTS AND ENDORSERS FROM TOCA PERCUSSION, GROVER PRO PERCUSSION, AND THE AKAI MPC XL
NEW FROM TOCA PERCUSSION Toca percussion is proud to announce 15 new products including the Hannah Welton Auxiliary Snare Drum, the Boom-A-Drums, and our new innovation, the Talking Djembe. Toca is also proud to announce Eddie Montalvo as an endorser.…
JK Drum Systems: JK Hooves, Stabilize Your Drum Set!
Direct from the Netherlands comes “The Drum Positioning System of The World!” If you like to set up your kit the same way every time, you need to mark your gig rug with something. JK Drum Systems has an affordable,…
