Bill Bachman
Many drum instructors say, “Play naturally.” The problem with that statement is that we naturally hold on to things tightly. Have you ever seen someone pick up a drumstick for the first time and play smooth rebounding strokes? Great technique is rarely natural, but once it’s achieved, this newfound finesse …
Part 5: The Moeller Whip Stroke The Moeller whip stroke is named after Sanford “Gus” Moeller, a famous teacher from the early 1900s who became known for teaching a whipping motion used by Civil War drummers. In recent years, “Moeller” has become a buzzword for good technique, and many have …
Part 4: Alley-Oop The alley-oop technique is what I call a wrist/finger combination used for playing double strokes (diddles) and triple strokes. While it can be likened to the push/pull technique, which is a wrist stroke followed by a finger stroke, the alley-oop isn’t purely one motion followed by the …
Part 3: Downstrokes, Taps, and Upstrokes If we used only free strokes, our playing would become pretty dull, since every note would be played at the same stick height and dynamic level. In order to add accents and dynamic contour to the music, you’ll need to modify the free stroke …
Bill Bachman is a world-renowned educator with twenty-five…
Part 2: The Free Stroke The free stroke, which is also commonly referred to as the full stroke, rebound stroke, or legato stroke, is the most important technique you should learn, as it’s the foundation for almost every other stroke type. The free stroke is basically a dribble of the …
Part 1: Matched Grip Matched grip simply means that the hands hold the sticks in a mirror image of one another. There are important variations within matched grip, however, both in terms of the hand angles and fulcrums (pivot points) that are used. The main grip variations are German, French, …
A lot of drummers like to pit technique and musicality against each other as if they’re polar opposites. But they’re actually very closely related.
We’re going to build upon the Eights and Sixes exercise that I introduced in Part 1 of this series by adding double strokes and rimshots into the routine.
In this lesson, we’re going to combine flowing free-stroke 8th-note and paradiddle combinations using three different note rates. Along with developing the skills necessary to shift note rates accurately from one subdivision to the next, these exercises will also help you develop the ability to add or reduce energy to …
These three exercises focus on transitioning into diddles, triple strokes, and paradiddles without changing the hand motions. We’ll use flowing free strokes to go into these rudiments, and we’ll strive to maintain a relaxed and rebounding stroke on the first note of each diddle and triple stroke. It’s also important …
In part two of this series, we’re going to take out the taps between the flams so that the flams are adjacent. When you do that, the challenge becomes playing the consecutive flams with consistent grace-note placement and sound quality.
In the third installment of this series, we’re going to modify the exercise by removing one tap from the transitions. Instead of using a flam accent to shift from one hand to the next, we’ll use an inverted flam tap.
One of the most beneficial of the forty PAS rudiments is the pataflafla. It’s one of the few where each hand plays a totally different part. The leading hand uses what I call the Moeller whip-and-stop technique, and the secondary hand uses what I call the no-chop flop-and-drop technique.
Strictly Technique Dynamics Mechanics Loud, Soft, and Everything in Between by Bill Bachman I believe that a drummer should be able to pick up sticks and make music on any sound source. The two biggest keys to doing this are having an extended rhythmic vocabulary and employing excellent dynamic control. …
https://vimeo.com/128907727 Strictly Technique Following Groupings and Fill-Ins Exercises for Increased Single-Stroke Control by Bill Bachman This month we’re going to work on playing flowing groupings of notes with one hand while gradually filling in the spaces between the notes with the opposing hand. The leading hand will play groupings of …
Some may think of quintuplets—groups of five notes in the space of a quarter note—as an unusual rhythm reserved for the technical folks playing math music. But quintuplets aren’t that different from triplets (which weren’t always commonplace), and it’s possible for us to use them in musical ways to increase …
Last month we got acquainted with quintuplets by using accent patterns and transitions with familiar rhythms. In this lesson we’ll superimpose quintuplets across two beats using a five-over-two polyrhythm and across three beats using a five-over-three polyrhythm.
Posted: October 27, 2016
December 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Ralph Peterson
See what’s in the December 2016 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Ralph Peterson
Posted: July 19, 2016
On the Beat With Marc LaFrance of the Randy Bachman Band: Singing Drummer
Hello, On the Beat readers! My name is Marc LaFrance and I am the drummer/singer for Randy Bachman (Guess Who/BTO) and Bachman and Turner. I’m also a producer, songwriter, and session singer. I have performed on many albums over the years with such acts as Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, the …
Posted: June 30, 2016
August 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
(Available in print and digitally June 30, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg “They didn’t want a copycat, so I needed to play it in my own way. I can’t play it any other way.” Taking the place of …
Posted: June 30, 2016
August 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg
(Available in print and digitally June 30, 2016) Print Copy ○ iTunes ○ Amazon ○ GooglePlay ○ Subscribe On the Cover Slipknot’s Jay Weinberg “They didn’t want a copycat, so I needed to play it in my own way. I can’t play it any other way.” Taking the place of …
Posted: May 31, 2016
July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue
See what’s in the July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue.
Posted: May 31, 2016
July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue
See what’s in the July Modern Drummer magazine 2016 Gear of the Year Issue.
Posted: April 28, 2016
June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine
See what’s in the June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine…
Posted: April 28, 2016
June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine
See what’s in the June 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Peter Erskine…
Posted: January 29, 2016
March 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Barry Kerch
See what’s in the March 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Barry Kerch.
Posted: January 29, 2016
March 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Barry Kerch
See what’s in the March 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Barry Kerch.
Posted: December 30, 2015
February 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Adam Deitch
See what’s in the February 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Adam Deitch and how to get it.
Posted: December 30, 2015
February 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Adam Deitch
See what’s in the February 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Adam Deitch and how to get it.
Posted: November 25, 2015
January 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Neil Peart
See what’s in this special 40th anniversary edition of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Neil Peart…
Posted: November 25, 2015
January 2016 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Neil Peart
See what’s in this special 40th anniversary edition of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Neil Peart…
Posted: November 2, 2015
Dom Famularo’s Teachers List
Over the course of his forty-year career traveling the globe to teach, perform, and conduct clinics, Dom Famularo has interacted with some of the finest drummers and drum instructors in the world. The following list contains many of those names, organized by country/continent. If you’re looking for top-notch drum instruction, …
Posted: October 30, 2015
December 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Dom Famularo
See what’s in the December 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Dom Famularo!
Posted: June 30, 2015
VIDEO LESSON! Pataflafla Hemiolas: Straight and Alternating Versions Over Half-Note Triplets
Click here to check out Strictly Technique columnist Bill Bachman’s video lesson to accomany his article on pataflafla hemiolas from the August 2015 issue.
Posted: June 30, 2015
August 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Antonio Sanchez
See what’s in the pages, and where to order, the August 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Antonio Sanchez!
Posted: May 29, 2015
Strictly Technique: Flowing Groupings and Fill-Ins Exercises for Increased Single-Stroke Control
Click here to check out a video supplement to Bill Bachman’s Strictly Technique article, “Flowing Groupings and Fill-Ins Exercises for Increased Single-Stroke Control,??? from the July 2015 issue.
Posted: May 28, 2015
July 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Daru Jones
See what’s in the pages of the July 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Daru Jones!
Posted: April 30, 2015
VIDEO LESSON! Dynamics Mechanics: Loud, Soft, and Everything in Between
In this lesson, we’re going to explore dynamic changes and the mechanics necessary to modulate from one dynamic to the next using crescendos and decrescendos. Click to check out the video demo!
Posted: April 30, 2015
June 2015 issue of Modern Drummer featuring Benny Greb
See what’s in the pages of the June 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine and find out where to pick it up.
Posted: March 31, 2015
May 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Jojo Mayer
See what’s in the May 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, available now…
Posted: March 31, 2015
VIDEO LESSON! Strictly Technique: Pataflafla Builder
In the the pataflafla, the leading hand uses the Moeller whip-and-stop technique, and the secondary hand uses the no-chop flop-and-drop technique. Click here to find out more!
Posted: February 26, 2015
April 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Bernard “Pretty??? Purdie
See what’s in, and where to order, the April 2015 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Bernard Purdie.
Posted: February 18, 2015
News: KoSA Miami and SFCPA Second Annual Event Report
The second edition of the KoSA Miami/SFCPA weekend intensive workshop, a collaboration with the South Florida Center for Percussive Arts founded by Brandon Cruz, took place this past January. Registrants participated in classes of Brazilian percussion, African drumming traditions on drumset, Cuban rhythms, and advanced snare drum techniques in the …
Posted: February 4, 2015
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Other Styles
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team if they felt that it’s important for all drummers to study Latin music and other musical genres, even if they don’t intend to ever perform those styles. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: January 29, 2015
March 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Animals as Leaders’ Matt Garstka
See what’s in the March 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Animals as Leaders’ Matt Garstka and where to get it!
Posted: December 30, 2014
February 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin
See what’s in the February 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring King Crimson’s Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, and Bill Rieflin.
Posted: November 25, 2014
January 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Dave Weckl
See what’s in the January 2015 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Dave Weckl and where to get it….
Posted: October 28, 2014
December 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Gregg Bissonette
See what’s in the pages of the December 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Gregg Bissonette!
Posted: September 30, 2014
November 2014 Issue of
Modern Drummer featuring
Mark Guiliana
See what’s in the pages on of the November 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Mark Guiliana!
Posted: September 2, 2014
October 2014 Issue of
Modern Drummer featuring
Ian Paice of Deep Purple!
See what’s in the page of the October 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer magazine Featuring Ian Paice of Deep Purple!
Posted: June 24, 2014
August 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
Check out what’s in the August 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars!
Posted: May 28, 2014
July 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Omar Hakim
See what’s in the July 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Omar Hakim…
Posted: April 29, 2014
June 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Nate Morton of The Voice
See what’s in the June 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Nate Morton…
Posted: April 8, 2014
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Developing Independence
We asked the members of the Modern Drummer Education Team to share their thoughts on their favorite methods for developing independence. Here’s what they had to say.
Posted: March 26, 2014
May 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Jim Riley
See what’s in the May 2014 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine featuring drummer Jim Riley…
Posted: February 25, 2014
April 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer Featuring Mike Johnston
See what’s in the April 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring drummer/educator Mike Johston. Click here to see the issues contents…
Posted: February 12, 2014
The Modern Drummer 2013 Education Collection Is Now Available
Comprising instructional articles that appeared in Modern Drummer over the past year, The 2013 MD Education Collection contains dozens of unique and inspiring lessons.
Posted: July 29, 2013
Strictly Technique: Irish Spring (April 2012)
Click here for a lesson based on the standard exercise called “Irish Spring,??? which comprises swung double beats with smooth hand-to-hand turnarounds.
Posted: July 18, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Tuning (UPDATED)
We asked the members of the MD Education Team to share their thoughts on how they prefer to tune their drums. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: March 22, 2013
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Ergonomics
Click here to check out what the MD Education Team members have to say about setting up your drumset for maximum results….
Posted: September 21, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Traditional Grip
Is traditional grip a useful technique that drum students should learn? We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think traditional grip is relevant in today’s teachings. Here’s what they had to say.
Posted: July 30, 2012
MD Education Team Weighs In On: Reading Music
We asked the members of the MD Education Team if they think that reading skills are crucial. Here’s what they had to say….
Posted: June 21, 2012
Calling All New York Area Percussionists: Gallant Entertainment Inc. Auditions At Yamaha Artist Services, Inc.
Gallant Entertainment (GEI) Inc., with the support of Yamaha Corporation of America, will hold marching percussion auditions at Yamaha Artist Services in New York on June 30, 2012, for Gallant’s premiere performance season.
Posted: May 8, 2012
Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Practicing With a Metronome
The MD Education Team chimes in on the pros and cons of practicing with a metronome….
Posted: January 25, 2012
Bill Bachman
[MDEdTop]Bill Bachman is a world-renowned specialist in hand technique with a heavy background in rudimental drumming and its application to the drumset. Bachman is a regular contributing columnist for Modern Drummer magazine, author of the book Stick Technique: An Essential Guide for the Modern Drummer (Modern Drummer Publications) and the …
Posted: March 1, 2019
MD Podcast Episode 181: Kiko Freitas, Eights and Sixes with Doubles, Rogers USA Dyna-Sonic, and More
Mike and Mike crack open the April 2019 issue and discuss Readers Poll winner Kiko Freitas, who took home top prize in the “world” category.
Posted: November 13, 2015
Episode 16: Bass Drum Mic Positioning, Bill Bachman’s Quintuplets Article, Gerry Gibbs, Meinl’s Benny Greb signature Sand Ride, and More
In this episode, Mike and Mike discuss different ways to position a bass drum mic, and then they dig deeper into Bill Bachman’s article on quintuplets from the December 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Next, they give some additional background on jazz drummer Gerry Gibbs, who’s featured in the December …
