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.
CATCHING UP WITH…Kenny Aronoff
He’s played with everybody, but he doesn’t get called just for his technique.It’s been more than thirty years since Kenny Aronoff first received national attention as the drummer on John Cougar Mellencamp’s hits “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane.”…
CATCHING UP WITH...John Fred Young
Anyone who’s checked out Black Stone Cherry’s music videos might be surprised to learn that in conversation, the man who plays drums like a god of thunder is an absolute Southern gentleman. “We were very fortunate to be from a…
Jimmy Branly
He blends the best of Cuba’s intricate and colorful percussive tradition with a North American sense of swing and a firm command of 2 and 4—like Walfredo Reyes Sr., David Garibaldi, and Dennis Chambers all rolled into one, with the…
TEACHER’S FORUM - Those Who Can, Teach
Drummers today face increasingly difficult circumstances trying to earn a full-time living playing music. To make ends meet, many turn to instruction. I’ve outlined here some of the things I’ve learned over decades of teaching to help you if and…
BASICS - Six-Stroke Success
The six-stroke roll is easily one of my favorite rudiments. I was hooked on it after hearing the first few bars of the Temptations’ “My Girl.” This popular lick has crept its way into all types of music—from big band…
STRICTLY TECHNIQUE - Nine Over Two
The simplest way to think about a nine-over-two polyrhythm is by dividing each partial of a quarter-note triplet into another triplet. In this lesson, we’re adding accent patterns to this polyrhythm. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
ROCK ’N’ JAZZ CLINIC - Groove Construction
In the second part of this series, we’ll continue to create new grooves by displacing the snare drum. We’ll start with a basic pattern that consists of 8th notes on the hi-hat, snare hits on beats 2 and 4, and…
CONCEPTS - Organize Your Gear
I’ve had many requests to discuss selecting, organizing, and maintaining equipment, so this is the first part in a short series on those subjects. I’m starting with the organization of gear and how to take it to jobs so that…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - KUMU
Founded in 1984 by Finnish builder Pekka Helanen, Kumu started out making acoustic and electric guitars and basses in addition to drums. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Masterwork
Masterwork, an Istanbul-based manufacturer founded in 2002, specializes in making cymbals using ancient Turkish traditions combined with contemporary tools and techniques. The company offers fourteen different series made from B25 bronze (75% copper and 25% tin). TO READ THE FULL…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Doc Sweeny
Doc Sweeny is a high-end custom drum company whose mission is “to create works of drum art that will enhance the experience of drumming enthusiasts for years to come.” TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Hamilton’s Andrés Forero
Andrés Forero is booked. And it’s not just any old steady gig that’s keeping him working. It happens to be the hottest ticket in town, the critically acclaimed Broadway hit musical Hamilton. And by “booked” we mean for the foreseeable…
The Charlie Daniels Band’s Pat McDonald
The devil may have gone down to Georgia, but he hasn’t gotten in Pat McDonald’s way. The drummer’s journey began in the small town of St. Simons Island, Georgia, but for the past seventeen years McDonald has been the backbone…
CATCHING UP WITH - Jack DeJohnette
Jazz supergroups don’t come along often, but when they do—and especially when they include this legendary drummer—kaboom! TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
