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.
Loosen Up! 18 Triplet-Roll Warm-Ups to Get You Going
The drumset is one of the most physically demanding instruments. As with any other high-intensity physical activity, it helps to loosen up your muscles first with some basic exercises. In this article we’re exploring a warm-up routine based on the…
Implied Brazilian Rhythms on Drumset
Part 1: Maracatu The musical style Maracatu is an amalgamation of Afro-Brazilian concepts within the context of the annual festival of Carnival. Maracatu, or Maracatu de Baque Virado (“turned-around beat”), originated in religious Candomblé ceremonies used to crown kings…
Grooving With Fives
A Progressive Approach to Phrasing Quintuplets on the Drumkit Sixteenth-note quintuplets are five notes played per quarter note. The simplest way to count them in 4/4 is, “ONE, two, three, four, five; TWO, two, three, four, five; THREE, two,…
The Half-Time Shuffle
Variations on One of Drumming’s Slinkiest Grooves The half-time shuffle is a signature beat for some of the most legendary drummers in history. Guys like Bernard Purdie, John Bonham, and Jeff Porcaro are all considered masters of this feel. Let’s…
Beware of Mr. Baker
Madman or genius? A new documentary paints a vivid picture of Cream’s Ginger Baker while making a persuasive argument in both directions. It’s not entirely clear what possessed the former model, boxer, and music video director Jay Bulger to fly…
Marvin McQuitty Jr.
He worked with nearly every major artist in the gospel genre, including Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Israel Houghton, Maurette Brown Clark, and Kirk Franklin. Modern Drummer contributor Stephen Styles explains, from the head and from the heart, just…
How to Prepare for a Subbing Gig on Short Notice
Having so little time to prepare for a gig is like going into battle. Anything can happen.
No Doubt's Adrian Young Inteview May 2013
Behind the larger-than-life drumming persona of Adrian Young you’ll find many of the same qualities shared by the rest of us humble timekeepers. It takes a certain amount of mojo to play sold-out arenas wearing only a Mohawk and a…
Billy Martin
It’s tough to know where the MMW drummer’s wide-ranging interests end and his singular rhythmic creations begin.
Trey Anastasio Band’s Russ Lawton
A pair of late-2012 releases—one crackling with live energy, the other conjuring plenty of studio magic—shows two sides of one crafty drummer. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Drum Athletes Part 4: Dynamic Stretching
Talk to any professional drummer who travels on a regular basis, and he or she will testify to the benefits of staying healthy on the road. Many touring musicians understand the value of getting enough sleep, drinking a lot of…
Compound Rudiments The Blam
Many of the basic drum rudiments can be combined. If you analyze a paradiddle, you’ll see that it’s really just two single strokes and a double. With that in mind, I’ve decided to blend two of my favorite sounds on…
Indian Clave
Building a Bridge Between Two Rhythmic Cultures Indian Clave Every piece of music has a story to tell, and the one we’re looking at this month, “Indian Clave,” started at a festival in Croatia, when I performed with Horacio “el…
