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.
Sublime “Santeria,” drummer Bud Gaugh
This month’s transcription highlights Bud Gaugh’s drumming on the song “Santeria.” The chart is as straightforward as the tune itself, illustrating what appears to be a simple part on paper. But make no mistake, Bud’s deep pocket and subtle fills make…
Silent Drum Practice - Part Two, Who is Leading Now?
Welcome to part two of my series on practicing drums without drums! This exercise can be done anywhere. Play the following exercise with your hands on your thighs or with sticks on the pad, depending on whether you are at…
Bending Time
Rhythm grids may seem fixed, like mathematical subdivisions resting in space, but that isn’t the end of the story. Once we’ve got our grids down (!!!), we can start bend them at will. Imagine a perfectly round ball gliding down…
Progressive Drumming Essentials: Torturous Septuplets
Progressive Drumming Essentials is a collection of articles originally written for Modern Drummer magazine. They are exactly what the title says, PROGRESSIVE drumming essentials. This series of articles, and the book that contains them all, represent a great deal of…
Master Studies II: Sticking Variations In Groups of Seven
As a follow-up to Joe Morello’s legendary Master Studies book, he released Master Studies II in 2006. Joe was a masterful teacher and helped many great drummers with their musicality, technique, and touch. Joe was also masterful at creating exercises,…
The New Breed: (More) Advanced Reading
Gary Chester’s groundbreaking book The New Breed is legendary. The book, and Gary’s teaching methods are deeply intertwined, it is a lifelong commitment of dedication, study, and development. Gary Chester’s Systems, Reading Exercises, Advanced Systems, Advanced Reading Exercises, Composite Systems,…
Steve Ferrone Drum Collection
In the world of “first call” drummers, Steve Ferrone is the first one they call. Just ask Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, George Harrison, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Rick James, Slash, Chaka Khan, Bee Gees, Al Jarreau, Mick Jagger, or Johnny Cash. When iconic bands like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Average White Band, Duran Duran and Aerosmith needed…
Out Now April 2026
Modern Drummer is thrilled to spotlight new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include a high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performance from the drummer and/or musicians…
Felix Lehrmann’s Steve Hackett Touring Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom in Mystic Blue Lacquer – 16 x 22 Kick, 6.5 x 8 tom, 7 x 10 tom, 7.5 x 12 tom, 14 x 14 floor tom, 16 x 16 floor tom. Snare: 6 X 14 Gretsch USA Custom Snare. Cymbals: Paiste – 14” 602 Medium Hi-hat, 22” Signature Mark 1 Ride, 18” 602 Paper thin…
Yamaha EAD50 – Part 1: Redefining the Starting Point
Where does drum recording begin? The fundamentals haven’t changed; however, Yamaha’s Electronic Acoustic Drum (EAD) concept has quietly reshaped how drummers approach recording. With the introduction of the EAD10, capturing a full kit sound quickly and musically, without the demands of a multi-mic setup, became a practical…
GM Designs: Sonic Visions, Continuum, Obscure, and the Multi-Belled
As a drummer or a percussionist, your look is just as important as your sound! Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It’s all about the senses. The better you project, the better you will be received. There’s no mystery there!…
It Takes a Village to Create a Drummer
Think back to when and how you started drumming? Many of us grew up listening to the radio, hearing recordings, seeing drums on TV, watching MTV, attending concerts, and eventually going to drum clinics, watching drum videos, and going down…
Keeping the Volume Down!
This month’s Modern Drummer Kit of the Month comes to us from Alison Gibb. Alison started to play at the age of 50 and has been playing and taking lessons for four years. She bought this Mapex kit from her…
