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.
Up & Coming - The Contortionist's, Joey Baca
This phenomenal young talent clearly takes the term progressive metal drumming at face value, pushing his playing in more and more compelling ways with each new recording. More proof of the amazing things that can happen when you give a…
Mark Stepro
He’s as likely to be seen rocking out on late-night TV as he is in war-ravaged conflict zones, playing the role of state-sponsored cultural ambassador. It’s all part of a career defined by balance—between preparation and inspiration, commerce and art,…
14 Reasons To Love The Doors' John Densmore
The original four-piece lineup of the Doors was together for around six years, from its formation in mid-1965 until the death of frontman Jim Morrison in July 1971 at age twenty-seven. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG…
John Colpitts
Toeing the line between rigid structure and utter chaos, the drummer for the long-running art-punk band Oneida—who’s also known by Kid Millions or by another of his “taken” names, Man Forever—bangs drums into infinity. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE…
Don't Make It Harder Than It Has to Be by Russ Miller
Leave Your Attitude at the Door by Russ Miller Strife happens in life. It’s almost a guarantee. It happens in every business, like when somebody gets a new position in a company and brings his or her own agenda. And…
Rufus Wainwright's Matt Johnson - On Tour & On Stage Making It Work On The Road
Brooklyn-based drummer Matt Johnson has kept busy the past fifteen years with a succession of fulfilling gigs that have seen him playing European stadiums, Lower East Side bars, and every kind of venue in between. TO READ THE FULL STORY:…
Gabor Dornyei
U.K.-based drummer Gabor Dornyei is among the busiest touring player/educators on the international scene. His highly developed technique and advanced proficiency with multi-pedal patterns allow him to explore polyrhythmic, layered ethnic concepts with authenticity and passion. TO READ THE FULL…
Chloe Saavedra
It’s often pointed out that life’s changes can be particularly stressful on young musicians who balance a “normal” existence with that of a performer. But anyone who’s been following Chloe Saavedra’s career knows that she seems to not only deal…
The Evolution of the Tom-Tom
To most drummers today, the tom-tom is an indispensable part of the drumset. Aside from cymbals, the toms are the drummer’s main tools for adding color, drama, and excitement to a performance. Throughout the years, the sound of these drums…
Hemiola shifter With Three Stickings
This month we’re going to play half-note-triplet hemiolas in four positions, with three different stickings. Each sticking will require a totally different technical approach and will have its own unique sound. For good measure, we’ll also add some flams, which…
Drum Soloist: Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi"
Elvin Jones Solo "Effendi", from Inception transcription. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Creative Comping - Crossing the Barline Using Seven-Note Groupings
The material in this article is designed to increase your independence and give you some fresh ideas for how to play behind a soloist. It’s important to always use discretion, of course. Make sure to play these advanced figures musically,…
Traditional Percussion on Drumset, Part 1: Congas
My goal with this set of articles is to share a few traditional percussion rhythms and techniques that can be applied to the drumset. This first installment is dedicated to the tumbadora, aka conga drum. We will explore variations of…
Concepts - Building, Not Burning, Bridges
I was recently asked to do an oral-history interview for the Percussive Arts Society. During the interview, we talked about developing business relationships and how that relates to continuing to work in the long term. As an exercise, they asked…
