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.
Zildjian 21" K Custom Organic and 20" K Constantinople Renaissance Rides (Video)
Zildjian recently teamed up with two of its artists, drummer/educator Pat Petrillo and jazz great Adam Nussbaum, to create specialized signature rides designed to offer varying degrees of “crashability” and pinpoint articulation. Let’s take a look at each. TO READ…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - Coordinating Accents Independently
by Ed Soph Independence may mean playing two or more rhythmic patterns simultaneously. It may also mean playing two or more rhythmic patterns simultaneously and coordinating different accent patterns within those rhythmic patterns.Here are some basic exercises in accent coordination…
Jimmy Cobb: Seasoned Sideman
After talking to Jimmy Cobb and hearing him play, I was impressed both by the man, and the musician. His musical credentials are extensive. From 1958-1962 he was a member of the Miles Davis group, which included John Coltrane and…
Mr. Big's Pat Torpey - Breaking Down the Quasi-Linear Beat to "Take Cover"
by Matt Starr This month we’re going to look at a unique beat performed by Mr. Big drummer Pat Torpey for the song “Take Cover,” which appears on the band’s 1996 studio album, Hey Man.When I first heard this groove,…
TLC's Tom Knight - On Tour & On Stage Making It Work On The Road
One of the top drumming guns on the Atlanta music scene, Tom Knight made his mark with the Grammy-winning producer Dallas Austin, who once called Tom “a human MPC3000??? for his impeccable timekeeping. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO…
South Of The Border: The Mambo
Ranking among the most popular Latin rhythms is the mambo. This rhythm, which originated in Cuba, has had much success on the dance floors of the world because of its exciting, driving qualities. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO…
Driver's Seat: Listening and Learning
If you're interested in becoming a competent big band drummer, it's very important you do some research. When I say research, I don't mean back ten years or so. You've got to dig back further than that, preferably before the…
ROY HAYNES: Jazz Legend Still Goin' Strong
A 'natural' drummer, Roy Haynes has played with an array of jazz artists throughout his career, including Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Sarah Vaughan and John Coltrane. Haynes reminisces about the artists he has played with and explains how he approaches…
10 Essential Drummer Autobiographies
The most popular musician autobiographies tend to come from famous singers and guitar heroes. But drummers can tell a tale as well as anyone else. Here’s a ten-pack of proof. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Rock 'n' Jazz Clinic - Double Bass Fills Part 2
The purpose of this lesson, which is a continuation of what we explored in part one (June 2013), is to show you how to overlap bass drum notes at the end of a phrase into a crash at the beginning…
Teachers Forum: The Gladstone Technique
The late William D. Gladstone was a multi-faceted percussionist who for many years worked in the pit orchestra of Radio City Music Hall in New York. Many well known drummers studied technique with him during the 40's and 50's. TO…
Rudimental Symposium: Back-sticking
Years ago, back-sticking was almost unknown in most drumming circles and when it was used, it was usually done in a rather simple way. Since that time, back-sticking has become more widely used and with this use has come some…
Strictly Technique: Understanding Flams
The ability to freely and easily embellish rhythmic figures with single grace notes and create "flams," is to me one of the earmarks of an accomplished snare drummer. Such accomplishment does not always come easily, but the following observations may…
Rock Perspectives - Theme And Variations
People ask me how I keep my ideas flowing and how I keep from getting stale and bored. This is a problem many drummers seem to have in common; a lack of ideas or concepts to use in their everyday…
