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.
On The Cover - Dom Famularo
In the hundred or so years since our instrument was invented, the art of playing it has evolved significantly. And so has the way we teach it. Few people understand drumming history more fully than this month’s cover artist—and no…
Catching Up With... Harold Jones
His boss, the sprightly octogenarian singer Tony Bennett, is often described as an ageless talent. The same can be said of the drummer, who’s still burning it up after more than half a century near the top of the jazz…
Dave Matthews Band's Carter Beauford
“I tried to assemble a kit that would fit with what we were doing musically,” says Carter Beauford. “Everyone in the Dave Matthews Band comes from a different musical background, and we were all those different backgrounds through the music.…
Catching Up With... Frankie Banali
Quiet Riot’s drummer is a poster boy for pushing through adversity. A new documentary tells the tale, warts and all. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Catching Up With... John Convertino
Two and a half decades in, the Tex-Mex-imbued alt-rock vets of Calexico continue to find magical new ways to mix and match sounds. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Jason Rullo
For twenty years, the time he’s put into improving the things that he does with his hands and feet has continuously elevated the music of Symphony X. Recent events have found him working through matters of the head and heart…
Jeff Plate and John O. Reilly of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
During most of the year, Jeff Plate and John O.Reilly are busy with numerous projects. Plate is the drummer for the veteran hard-rock groups Metal Church and Savatage, as well as a cover band, Rust; he also teaches. O.Reilly, whose…
Setting Sights - Gerry Gibbs
Usually the hippest music happens when nobody in the room is consciously trying to sound hip. Drawing inspiration from an oft-derided genre, this drummer/leader has made another unexpected—and, yes, hip—addition to his already eclectic body of music. TO READ THE…
Practi-Patterns - A Dozen of the Most Common Kick/Snare Figures
One of the best things you can do in your drumming study is work on practical techniques, stickings, grooves, and fills that can be applied in real-life situations on the bandstand and in the studio. After playing a wide variety…
Rob Thomas's Abe Fogle
With a childhood surrounded by jazz, early drum heroes from classic rock’s glory days, and a résumé filled with R&B stars, it’s no wonder the Rob Thomas regular fits in so easily wherever he goes. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Quintuplets, Part 1: The Basics
Some may think of quintuplets—groups of five notes in the space of a quarter note—as an unusual rhythm reserved for the technical folks playing math music. But quintuplets aren’t that different from triplets (which weren’t always commonplace), and it’s possible…
Ghost Notes 101 with Jim Riley
One thing that separates the novice drummer from the professional is the ability to play grooves that have dimension. Ghost notes are a great way to achieve this, but first you need to understand, on an elemental level, how to…
The Reeducation of Drumming Education by Ben Sesar
I’ve made it my mission to carve a straighter path to greatness, not only for myself but also for those willing to learn. In doing so, however, I’ve had to question the current standards regarding the way we educate ourselves…
Raw Speed Bass Drum Workout with Mike Johnston
This bass drum workout is all about developing your raw speed. Raw speed is very different from pattern speed. Pattern speed requires your brain to keep track of a specific sequence of rights, lefts, and kicks, and you have to…
