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.
Portraits - David Langlois
Inventing an instrument often means inventing situations in which to explore it. This globe hopper has made a lot of things happen with a modest yet versatile and fun-sounding concoction that puts heirloom family items to brilliant percussive use. TO…
What Do You Know About…Frank De Vito
His story—which includes work with some of the most iconic artists of all time—is a timeless lesson in providing exactly what’s needed, and being open to whatever fate sends your way. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Off The Record - Ilan Rubin
This year, drummer Ilan Rubin further secured his position as one of modern rock’s hottest prospects after putting out a third release with his solo project, the New Regime; touring with Nine Inch Nails; and making a guest spot on…
Strictly Technique - Chops Builders
In part two of our hemiola series, we’re going to add another accent to the half-note-triplet patterns we covered last month. To review, a hemiola is defined as a two-against-three (2:3) or three-against-two (3:2) pattern. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Rock Perspectives - Double Bass Workout, Part 4
This month we’re exploring advanced double bass groove ideas that mix 16th notes, 16th note triplets, and 32nd notes alongside 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to always play to a metronome or a click track. Also, start off slowly and master…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Approaching Standards
Welcome to the second installment in our series on approaching jazz standards. This article reveals ways of using the melodic rhythm as the source for creating accompaniment (or “comping”) patterns. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
In The Studio - Seeing Sounds Part 5: Specialty Mics
In the first four installments of this series we discussed very broad ideas for achieving stylistically appropriate drum sounds, from pop-rock to traditional jazz. Each setup employed different drums, head selections, and tunings, and we used miking techniques that ranged…
Mike Portnoy
It takes a big pair to be one of a kind. Since leaving the most celebrated prog-metal gig in the world with Dream Theater, the drummer has thrown himself into an impressive number of diverse musical situations, always confident in…
Portraits - Ben Koller
When he’s not holding down the drum chair with the metalcore giant Converge, this force of nature explores psychedelic punk with Acid Tiger, metal with All Pigs Must Die, and mathcore with the two-piece Mutoid Man. In each instance, band…
Bruno Mars’ Eric Hernandez
The R&B superstar he plays for—who happens to be his younger brother—has rocketed to stardom, seemingly in no time flat. But this drummer has had fame in his sights for the better part of three decades. You bet he’s excited…
Phoenix’s Thomas Hedlund
The multi-genre groove monster is as happy engineering towering beats with the post-metal band Cult of Luna as he is hearing his parts reverse engineered to mind-blowing effect with the sophisticated indie-rock hitmakers Phoenix. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Strictly Technique - Chops Builders: Hemiolas, Part 1
This month we’re going to start a three-part series on hemiolas. The word hemiola has Greek roots and means “containing one and a half,” “half as much again,” or “in the ratio of one and a half to one (3:2),…
Rock Perspectives - Double Bass Workout, Part 3
In this lesson we’ll mix 16th notes, 16th-note triplets, and 32nd notes on the bass drums and play them along with 16th-note-based hand patterns. Remember to play to a metronome or click track, and start off slowly and master each…
In The Studio - Seeing Sounds: Part 4
Small-group jazz drumming is synonymous with legendary players such as Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams. Although these five gentlemen had very different approaches to timekeeping, each contributed to the jazz art form and…
