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.
Study Up!
You can learn a lot just by listening to drummers talk about their own educational backgrounds. This month MD asks two Pro Panelists about their unique paths of instruction, the teachers who’ve been the most influential on them, and their…
Cully Symington
The natural-born thriller’s curious, powerful beats have made him a favorite among indie-rock royalty. Any proper search for truth or wisdom is fostered by a healthy appetite for good, in-depth information, a burning need to ask all the right questions,…
Minimal Miking Techniques
One-,Two-,and Three-Mic Setups for a More Natural Sound by Mark Parsons Whether you use the term “minimal,” “organic,” “old school,” or “vintage,” there’s definitely a renewed interest in capturing that drumset-in-a-room vibe that was employed on pretty much…
Triplet Gear-Shifter
12-18-24 Exercise, Part 1 This month we’re going to challenge your hands by playing triplets as 12th notes, 18th notes, and 24th notes, with and without accents. (We’ll use two other stickings in the second installment.) First let’s define…
Funk Drumming Training Camp
Part 1: Paradiddles and 16th-Note Subdivisions Having a tight, solid, good-feeling groove has always been important in drumming. In many cases, bandleaders, singers, and other musicians value a drummer with a solid groove and a good feel more than…
Live Drum Soloing
Getting Started In this article we’ll give some insight into how to conceive, construct, and execute a drum solo in a live rock context. For those who’ve never performed a solo, it can be a very scary idea. But…
The Education of Tommy Igoe
Few contemporary players have learned so much about drumming—or have passed the wisdom of the ages down to so many.
Dale Crover on Melvins Lite’s Record-Setting 51/51 Tour
On September 5, 2002, Melvins Lite embarked on a fifty-one-day rock 'n' roll journey that even other road warriors would consider insane. Drummer Dale Crover tells the tale. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Gene Hoglan: Lifting Metal Drumming Ever Higher
By marrying the syncopated swagger of Steve Gadd and other non-metal drummers to his uniquely staggered double bass passages and dual-ride flourishes, Gene Hoglan introduced into metal a certain ebb-and-flow type of playing that strayed from the beaten path. TO…
A Different View: Steve Hackett
The Genesis guitarist, who helped shape some of the most enduring music to come out of England in the ’70s, continues the unique and painstaking re-creation of his rich body of work. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS…
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…
