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.
Popular Play-Alongs Part: 5: Rap-Metal
In this series of articles we’ve focused on developing the proper performance technique, groove vocabulary, and sound to play a wide variety of tunes. In our final installment, we’ll be combining two types of grooves in a rap-metal tune titled…
Latin Rhythms in Pop Music
Part 1: Bossa Nova and Samba I often meet drummers who just aren’t interested in studying Latin rhythms. I’ve heard the same thing many times: “I’m never going to play a samba, mambo, songo, or 6/8 groove, so why…
Be the Driver!
Ask any musician, especially a non-drummer, “What’s the number one role of the drummer?”
THIN LIZZY Live And Dangerous
An apt title for one of rock’s most fierce and formidable concert albums. With Live and Dangerous, the crushing aggregate of drummer Brian Downey, singer/ bassist Phil Lynott, and lead guitarist/ vocalists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham delivered one…
Korey Horn
The ska and reggae vet may be exploring new musical paths, but he remains true to his rhythmic roots. As an aspiring drummer, reggae and ska stalwart Korey Horn received a piece of advice from his father, jazz singer…
Papa Jo Jones: The Bridge
Simply put, jazz drumming eras could arguably be viewed as pre-Papa and post- Papa. Such was the immeasurable contribution of Jo Jones, whose elegant touch, feel, and sound marked a connecting bridge to our modern sense of jazz swing. …
Daughtry's Robin Diaz Interview April 2013
On April 16, 2010, the chart-topping band Daughtry announced that original drummer Joey Barnes had left the group, and that L.A. session drummer Robin Diaz was filling in on tour. The arrangement was intended to be temporary…. TO READ THE…
Mark Egan
Mark Egan is one of the most highly regarded bassists in the history of electric jazz. Performing and recording with many of the prominent drummers of our time—a short list would include Steve Gadd, Jack DeJohnette, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff “Tain”…
Physical Hazards Of The Throne
13 Exercises to Minimize the Wear and Tear of Drumming Drummers play thousands—maybe even millions—of strokes throughout the course of their careers. With that amount of repetitive activity, mechanical wear can occur, which can then cause pain or injury. Over…
Dexterity in Odd Rhythms: Quintuplet Variations
In this article we’re going to cover how to feel quintuplets using an Indian counting system. There are many different variations, but the syllables I like to use are ta, ka, din, ah, and gah, which are easy to pronounce…
Timbales: The Roots of the Latin Drumset
The essence of playing the drumset in Latin American music consists of orchestrating the different percussion parts from the original styles. Before the drumset was incorporated into Afro-Cuban music, it was the “pailas,” aka Cuban timbales, that fulfilled that role,…
Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins on the Who’s Live at Leeds
“No matter how many times you listen to Live at Leeds, it surprises,” says MD Pro Panelist Stephen Perkins, who’s been touring with Jane’s Addiction behind its latest studio album, The Great Escape Artist. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Polyrhythmic Coordination Part 4: Six-Note Base Rhythm
Last time (November 2012), we continued our study of two-hand polyrhythmic coordination by playing a five-note base rhythm with one hand while adding one to eight evenly spaced notes over the top with the other hand. This month we’re using…
Pete La Roca Sims Style & Analysis
The great jazz drummer Pete Sims was born on April 7, 1938, in New York City, and passed away on November 20, 2012. He gained early professional experience playing timbales in Latin groups, and it was during this period that…
