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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.

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Swinging London

THE ZOMBIES and THE MOODY BLUES might have originated in St. Albans and Birmingham, respectively, but few groups more fully captured the urbane and artsy edge of the British Invasion’s London HQ—even if one band was on its way up and the other on its way out.

by Ilya Stemkovsky and Adam Budofsky
May 31, 2017

Vanilla Fudge’s Carmine Appice

If any drummer in the history of classic rock can say he’s seen it all, it’s him. From defining the role of star journeyman player in the ’70s, penning a classic method book, and pioneering the rock-drumming clinic to setting the bar for rock-star excess that’s still referenced today, the drummer known to many simply as “Carmine” has made a career out of standing out from the crowd. It all started fifty years ago, when he powered an explosive young group that grabbed TV audiences by the throat and promptly skyrocketed up the charts….

by Ken Micallef
May 31, 2017

The Doors’ John Densmore

Tapping Into Infinity

Story by Adam Budofsky | Photos by Alex Solca
May 31, 2017

The Drum Thing

The most exciting thing,” photographer Deirdre O’Callaghan says, “is to be around passionate people with a drive to master an instrument. It’s truly magical.” That drive and passion come across crystal-clear in the images and words of the ninety-six drummers…

Text by Armine Iknadossian and Adam Budofsky
May 31, 2017

Casey Cooper

Dream big. Work hard. Influence many.

Story and photo by Mike Haid
May 31, 2017
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Deep Purple’s Ian Paice

Deep Purple's drummer riffs on Made in Japan, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Long Goodbye. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN

Interview by Mike Haid
May 31, 2017

Yuval Lion

A concept will take you far—in this case, across the sea from Israel, through New York City’s labyrinthine underground music scene, and then high above the stage in David Byrne’s Off-Broadway production Joan of Arc: Into the Fire. TO READ…

Story by Ken Micallef | Photos by John Fell
May 31, 2017

Triplet Fills - Swinging Your Phrases

Younger drummers sometimes struggle with triplet phrases, as there are few styles of popular music today that employ triplets as a basis for the feel. However, we have to be ready for these musical situations when they arise. Older rock,…

Rich Redmond
May 31, 2017

Buddy Harmon: Nashville Superstar

A pioneer of the Nashville recording scene, Harman was really the first full time studio drummer in that area, and he has certainly not limited himself to any one style, having done an excess of 15,000 sessions. TO READ THE…

story by Robyn Flans
Mar 30, 2017

Swing Interpretations - Modern Groove Applications

There's an interesting relationship between two-note (binary) and three-note (ternary) subdivisions that can help you develop better vocabulary and feel on the drumset. To understand this relationship, play an 8th-note triplet with your right hand while playing a straight 8th-note…

Stephane Chamberland
May 31, 2017

Rock Charts — "The Long Run"

This month's Rock Chart features

Transcribed by James Morton
Sep 21, 2017

Teacher's Forum - Technique

Drumset technique is the means by which the drummer expresses his musical intellect and feeling. Technique and expression function together as part of the central directive system which incorporates the mind and body (or inner and outer self) in producing…

Modern Drummer
Mar 30, 2017
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1,000 Ways to Practice a Single Page - Part 5: Challenging Rudimental Approaches

The longer I play the drums, the more I appreciate and value the time I can spend on only a snare or pad. Let’s dive into a few concepts to improve our overall technique. Here’s the rhythm we’ll be interpreting…

Libor Hadrava
May 31, 2017

Shelly Manne

Many of the things that drummers take for granted today would never have come about if someone hadn't dared to try it first; if some pioneer hadn't crossed over into unexplored territory; if some drummer hadn't found a new way of propelling a band.

by David Levine
May 25, 2017
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