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.
Jameo Brown
To those who feel that the future of jazz is linked to its ability to absorb other styles, this drummer, who has worked extensively with leaders such as Bobby Hutcherson and Geri Allen, is beating a path full of promise.…
Steve Goulding
London’s historic ’70s pub-rock scene was the starting point. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Rhythm And Timing Part 4: 8th-Note Triplets
This month we’re going to make the switch to 8th-notetriplet rhythms. Within the sets of three notes, we’re first going to get into the three available two-note groupings. I’ve found that the best way to count triplets is “one-trip-let, two-trip-let,…
Groove Freedom Part 1: One-, Two-, and Three-Note Permutations
Welcome to the first of three articles based on my new book, Groove Freedom. I wrote the book for my own practice after realizing how limited I was in certain grooves—in other words, how little “freedom” I had. Playing a…
Dubstep Drumming Part 2: Essential Tracks
In the last article we examined the various components used in dubstep, including the 2-step groove, the wobble bass, and the rewind. Now let’s take a look at some influential and real-world dubstep patterns and tunes. The following transcriptions are…
Syncopation Revisited Part 5: Afro-Cuban Applications
Welcome to part five in our continuing series on ways to interpret the classic Ted Reed book Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer. This time we’ll apply Afro-Cuban ideas to the written manuscript. The following applications can be…
Amadeus
Trey Songz tour drummer and musical director Antwan J. Thompson always had big plans for himself. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Steven Schick
So strong was his teenage attraction to modern percussion music that he outright defied his parents in order to dive headfirst into the budding genre. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Rachel Fuhrer
If you try to pigeonhole Ume, you’ll fail miserably. The same can be said for the band’s hard-hitting drummer, whose road to rock ’n’ roll glory has been anything but predictable. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Open-Handed Playing
Discovering Rhythms Inside the Paradiddle Besides being one of the most popular rudiments, the single paradiddle is a good example to illustrate the overlap between linear and rudimental drumming, and it’s great for working on an open-handed approach (right hand…
Rhythm And Timing Part 3: Single 16ths
This month we’re going to focus on the four different single 16th notes, which are “1,” “e,” “&,” and “a.” Playing just one note may seem simple, but it can be quite a challenge to isolate “e” and “a” and…
Shifting Sands
Rhythmic Transition Examples Transitioning from one time signature, tempo, or musical style to another is a very common technique in modern jazz. These shifts are often referred to as metric modulations, where a specific note value from the current tempo…
Dubstep Drumming Part 1: The Basics
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music known for its head-nodding beats, dark atmosphere, and ear-shaking bass. It draws on many other genres, including Jamaican dub, hip-hop, jungle, drum ’n’ bass, and 2-step, while fusing them into a unique…
Ricky Wellman
Ricky “Sugarfoot” Wellman may be most widely known as jazz master Miles Davis’s last touring drummer, but perhaps more important is his role in the genesis of go-go music, a marathon funk style indigenous to the Washington, D.C., area. TO…
