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.
Ignacio Berroa and Daniel Ponce
In Verna Gillis’ apartment in Greenwich Village’s west side, the doorbell rings with a special rhythm—the clave; the beat that underlies almost all Cuban music. And if Verna’s phone could ring to that rhythm, it would because she owns Soundscape,…
Buddy Rich — Unstoppable
When Buddy Rich took charge behind the kit, the air crackled. Buddy aimed to excite, to give audiences their money’s worth with precision, sophistication, and world-class quality. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Gregg Potter
No two drummers’ stories are exactly alike. From heavy rotation on MTV in the heyday of ’80s hair metal to his current role as the driver of the Buddy Rich Band, it’s clear that very few drummers’ career trajectories are…
Steve Shelton
To the self-styled number cruncher with Confessor and Loincloth, if he’s communicating an “unbalanced” feel with his drumming, he’s doing something very right. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra's John Riley Chats With VJO Sub Paul Wells
When you take over the drum chair associated with a bona fide legend, there’s a huge responsibility to get it right. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
The CRASH Course to Success — Part 5: Hunger
This article focuses on the fifth and final portion of my CRASH concept. CRASH is an acronym that stands for “commitment, relationships, attitude, skill, and hunger.” These five global topics can be used by anyone to attract success to his…
Fours and Sevens in 7/8 Part 2: Double Strokes
This month we’re going to work on playing the Fours and Sevens in 7/8 exercise with double strokes. The key is developing the finger control to play well-balanced and even doubles. The rhythmic placement of the doubles in this exercise…
Ronald Shannon Jackson's Rhythms Of Life
Ronald Shannon Jackson is one of the most distinctive drum stylists of the past 20 years—a shaman of modern rhythm. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Action Figures
Approaches for Big Band Rhythmic Articulation This month we’ll explore ways of approaching and articulating ensemble rhythms. As drummers, we obviously can’t perform note lengths with the same exactness as a horn player. We can, however, use the many long…
J.J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell
Everybody's talkin' about the Tedeschi Trucks Band's dual-drummer team. As in all great relationships, though, communication between the two rhythmic igniters requires few words. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Slim Jim Phantom — The Aesthetics of Bangin' and Yellin'
The first thing you notice about Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats—aside from the tattoos that seem to crawl up and down both arms—is, well, his slimness. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Ralph Molina
Rock 'n' roll bands don't get any more quintessentially American than Neil Young's longtime collaborative soul mate, Crazy Horse. What does the drum chair demand in this famously off-the-cuff combo? Guts, intuition, and a taste for spontaneity. TO READ THE…
Doug "Cosmo" Clifford
Creedence Clearwater Revival achieved an unprecedented level of success in a short span of time with hits like “Travelin’ Band,” “Proud Mary,” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” helping to establish a down-home sound that has informed several generations worth of…
Doug "Cosmo" Clifford
Creedence Clearwater Revival achieved an unprecedented level of success in a short span of time with hits like “Travelin’ Band,” “Proud Mary,” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” helping to establish a down-home sound that has informed several generations worth of…
