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.
In The Pocket - Funk Drumming Training Camp
In the previous two lessons (May and June 2013), we discussed the importance of groove and feel, and we covered ways to develop those concepts. This includes practicing things that are more complex than what you’ll play on the gig,…
Driver's Seat - Energy and the Ensemble
I said in my first article for MD last year that sometimes a well placed rim shot in an arrangement has more impact than ten thousand notes. The prime example is Buddy Rich's two bar silent break in Channel One…
BackBeats: John Densmore: The Doors Unhinged
Standing firm in his conviction that the Doors must not be misrepresented or commercialized, the band’s drummer meets two of his former mates in court. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
In The Studio - Seeing Sounds
There’s been a trend in recent years of drummers going for deep, dark, heavily muffled tones, whether in indie rock or mainstream pop. Steve Jordan did much to revive this fatter, thuddier sound—which originally appeared on albums made in the…
Benny Greb
There are very real ghosts that haunt every drummer’s subconscious: Am I really grooving? Do I sound confident enough at the kit? How well am I pushing or pulling the time? TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Catching Up With... Dave King
Catching Up With… Dave King Hot on the heels of two 2014 albums by the Bad Plus, The Rite of Spring and Inevitable Western, the drummer returns with something completely different. by Michael Parillo Have you ever brought a pair…
Joey Waronker
There’s nothing about the Los Angeles–based drummer/mixer/producer Joey Waronker that screams for attention, musically or otherwise. But check out this ridiculous track record: Tegan and Sara, Dwight Yoakam, Norah Jones, Danny Elfman, Thurston Moore, M83, Pink, Nelly Furtado, Doobie Brothers,…
Up & Coming - Garrett Goodwin
At just twenty-six, Garret Goodwin has already traversed the globe with the pop-country superstar Carrie Underwood, bringing rock-solid power to crowd favorites like “Before He Cheats,” “Cowboy Casanova,” and “Blown Away.” TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
Influences: Al Jackson Jr.
It’s almost unbearable. Otis Redding’s immortal recording of “Try a Little Tenderness??? sustains a nearly paralyzing groove tension, helping make it perhaps the quintessential record by the soul legend and a perennial entry on “greatest songs of all time??? lists.…
Clutch’s Jean-Paul Gaster
After initially coming together on the 2001 album Pure Rock Fury and again for the 2004 fan favorite Blast Tyrant, Clutch and producer Machine have joined forces once again on the Maryland-based band’s tenth studio album, Earth Rocker. TO READ…
Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson At the root of Louie Bellson's talent lies a wealth of knowledge, perseverance and the hunger for constant improvement. His consistent quest to remain abreast of the times and changes is rewarding to him and his audiences…
Catching Up With... Steve Smith
Catching Up With… Steve Smith Is there a harder-working man in the business? Following a world tour with tabla master Zakir Hussain, he’s got two new albums out and a third on its way. by Ken Micallef Featuring bassist Baron…
Portraits: Pierre van der Linden
He’s a free-jazz drummer playing in a Dutch progressive rock band. He finds inspiration in the work of French philosophers and twentieth-century classical composers. And he’s probably the only drummer you’ve heard trade fours on an international rock hit made…
Strictly Technique: Triplet Gear-Shifter
This month we’re going to apply two alternate stickings to the triplet gear-shifter exercise. To review, 12th notes are 8th-note triplets (twelve notes to a bar of 4/4). In the exercise, a bar of 12th notes is followed by a…
