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.
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…
Travis Barker
Battles mythical and all too real have defined much of his life since MD last sat with him for a good long chat. With a recent solo debut, reams of one-off collaborations, new Transplants and Blink-182 activity, and a constant…
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…
Levon Helm May 26, 1940 – April 19, 2012
Bob Dylan told the press that Helm “was one of the last true great spirits of my or any other generation.” TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Stephen Belans
He never planned to become an expert in the field of roots drumming. But after twenty years as one of Austin’s most in-demand musicians—not to mention his participation in two recent Americana drum software packages—that’s how things seem to have…
The CRASH Course to Success Part 4: Skill
This month we focus on the fourth part of our CRASH concept for success. For those of you who have not been following this series, CRASH is an acronym that stands for “commitment, relationships, attitude, skill, and hunger.” These are…
Don’t Disturb the Groove! Part 2: Hi-Hat Substitutions
In this article we’ll discuss substitutions where we’re basically using the hi-hat foot to replace either a hand or a bass drum note. The idea is to look at the hi-hat as not just an instrument that plays quarter notes…
Improve Your Bottom Line Part 3: Bass Drum Comping in 5/4
Welcome to the third and final installment in this series on bass drum comping. This time we’ll be working in 5/4. The phrases included here are intended to help you develop dynamic balance with your bass drum foot in unison…
