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.
BASICS - The Tap Nine
The traditional nine-stroke roll consists of four alternating double strokes followed by a single stroke. It can be played open (clearly articulated) or closed (buzzed). This is a popular rudiment in marching and concert percussion idioms, and I’ve found a…
ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC - Groove Construction Part 1: Snare Displacement
In the first part of this series, we’ll create new grooves by displacing the snare drum. Our basic pattern consists of 8th notes on the hi-hat, snare on beats 2 and 4, and a specific bass drum phrase. Here’s the…
STRICTLY TECHNIQUE - One-Sided Hairtas, Grandmas, and Grandpas
This month we’re going to look at three unusual rudiments: one-sided hairtas, grandmas, and grandpas. These three closely related rudiments are especially useful for drumset fills when playing the accents on toms or cymbals and the unaccented notes on the…
CONCEPTS - The Business of Gigging
This month’s topic, so eloquently summarized by Henry Ford, has been on my mind for a few months. I went to see the Rush R40 tour this past July. I’ve seen Rush many times over the years, but I knew…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Natal - Arcadia Series
The last time we checked out Natal, we talked about their vision to offer a range of high-level drumsets. Each kit comes with the same high-quality components, but it was the species of wood that differentiated each model. The company…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Sabian - HH Remastered Cymbals
For the past couple years, Canadian cymbal company Sabian has been revamping its manufacturing to put greater focus on the old-world hand-hammered stage of its process. We saw the initial results of those efforts with the introduction of the gnarly,…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Van Kleef - Snare Drums
Van Kleef Custom Drums is owned and operated by Alan van Kleef, a UK-based musician-turned-builder who started his career in the ’90s as a live drum & bass performer and studio owner. His workshop is in Sheffield, which is the…
PRODUCT CLOSE-UP - Cymbal Packs
So you’ve never considered a cymbal pack before and generally like to purchase cymbals one at a time based on what your needs are at the moment? That’s totally understandable. But could there be some great advantages to buying a…
Catching Up With... Albert “Tootie” Heath
Catching Up With… Albert “Tootie” Heath The essence of jazz is evident on his latest, Philadelphia Beat—and that means swinging and searching. by Ken Micallef “Art Blakey always said, ‘It’s not what you play in between, it’s how you start…
Catching Up With... Mickey Curry
Catching Up With… Mickey Curry It’s thirty years and counting, tracking and touring with hitmaker Bryan Adams. by Bob Girouard By his own admission, Mickey Curry’s career has been close to idyllic. The New Haven native’s résumé is, to say…
Catching Up With... Brendan Hill
Catching Up With… Brendan Hill Blues Traveler has helped define the jam-band aesthetic since well before the genre existed. The group’s latest foray, however, is down a road previously untraveled. by Bob Birouard Blues Traveler’s sound is so closely tied…
Get Good: Anger Management
Get Good Anger Management Dealing With Difficult People Without Losing Your Cool by Juels Thomas As musicians and support staff, we work in an environment with so many different personalities and egos constantly swerving around. It’s impossible to avoid a…
Adam Christgau
Features Adam Christgau Whether he’s focusing on pianissimo in intimate club settings, slamming home the backbeats in arenas with Tegan and Sara, or replicating the studio sophistication of Joey Waronker in every type of room in between, this Los Angeles–based…
Dylan Howe
Features Dylan Howe He’s spent years simultaneously developing his jazz drumming concept and accompanying a lively selection of rock artists. Now he’s found a unique way to marry both aesthetics by Ken Micallef In 1976, rock chameleon David Bowie escaped…
