December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12
On 01st Dec 2018
Articles in December 2018
The Modern Drummer Guide to Reading Rhythms - Part 1
Part 1: Fundamental Elements of Music Notation
Scott Seiver with Tenacious D
Tracing the path that the prolific drummer, composer, and producer paved on his way to playing with the hilarious and hard-rocking act.
Keith Moon: An Examination
“In an egotistical way I always prefer my demos to what the Who does.” —Pete Townshend Rolling Stone interview with Jonathan Cott, May 14, 1970
An Enduring Kit and an Unforgettable Time
This vintage 1963 Ludwig Hollywood set in an Oyster Black Pearl wrap comes to us from drummer Nelson Hawkins, who ordered it after paging through a Ludwig catalog in the early ’60s. The kit came with two 8x12 mounted toms,…
Aaron Sterling’s Sound of Sterloid, Volume II
“I do almost everything at my place now,” says top L.A.-based session drummer Aaron Sterling. In addition to recording about fifteen songs per week for artists and producers around the world, Sterling has created five online master classes that focus on…
Roland - TD-17KVX V-Drums
A game changing mid-level kit with increased expressivity, improved pads, and highly effective practice tools.
Pantera's Vinnie Paul, Elvis Presley's D.J. Fontana, Richard Swift
Photo by Paul La Raia Remembering the metal drumming icon, Pantera cofounder, and backbone of Hellyeah and Damageplan. Vinnie Paul, who died this past June 22 at the age of fifty-four, possessed an unmistakable bass drum sound. But you never…
Drums: The Secret to Happiness
Last summer my family and I decided to move out of the house we’d been living in for thirteen years, and into a new one. Among other things, the old place didn’t have a basement, and the jazz-size drumkit we…
The 2018 Chicago Drum Show
The perennial percussion event once again serves vintage and modern drum lovers alike.
Paiste - Masters Extra Thin and Dark Additions
Soft and sophisticated crashes and splashes for supreme expressivity.
In the Studio with Travis McNabb
When not touring with top modern country acts Sugarland and Frankie Ballard, this Tennessee transplant tracks drums for artists around the globe out of his home setup.
Drumset Ergonomics - Part 6: Positioning Secondary Suspended Instruments
In this final installment of this series, we’re going to address how to position the instruments that we only play five to thirty percent of the time, such as splashes, Chinas, cowbells, electric pads, additional rack toms, and auxiliary crashes.…
Questlove's latest book and more
RECORDINGS Skyharbor Sunshine Dust Indian progressive metal titans release a gripping new album on the heels of successful tours with Babymetal, the Contortionist, and Deftones. Equal parts ethereal atmospherics, thick and chugging grooves, and soaring vocals, Skyharbor offer some of their…
Quicksand’s Alan Cage
Quicksand drummer Alan Cage isn’t overly particular about his gear. “I’m not too attached,” he says. “But I don’t like deep drums, at least on the rack toms. I always play a 16" floor tom, but I don’t mind it…
Mo Drumsticks - Magnetic Beater System
A unique product to help boost your bass drum chops.
Clint Schnase on Cursive’s Vitriola
The original drummer for the biting Nebraska indie group rejoins them in the studio for a raucous homecoming.
Mark Walker
The Berklee professor and well-traveled performer has made a career out of adapting ethnic rhythms to the drumset—and offering valuable advice on how to do that accurately and authentically.
What’s Your Favorite Keith Moon Performance?
This month, as we dove into the drumming of both Pete Townshend on the Who’s demo tracks and Keith Moon on the band’s final output, we checked in with our readers and social media followers to see which “Moon the…
