December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12

On Relaxation - An In-Depth Study to Develop Consistency

When executing individual stroke types, it’s important that our approach remains consistent no matter what type of stroke is played. It’s very easy for drummers to be more aggressive when playing a downstroke, or rapidly pull away from the drum…

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…

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.…

December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12

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.

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…

Paiste - Masters Extra Thin and Dark Additions

Soft and sophisticated crashes and splashes for supreme expressivity.

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.

Session Great Nir Z

When it comes to gear, Jerusalem-born/Nashville-based session drummer Nir Zidkyahu, whose ultra-precise, intense pocket can be heard on hit records by pop/rock great John Mayer, alt-rock legend Chris Cornell, and modern country superstar Blake Shelton, isn’t too particular, as long…

Roy Haynes’ Phrasing

Modern Interpretations and Variations

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…

Mo Drumsticks - Magnetic Beater System

A unique product to help boost your bass drum chops.

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…

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…

Clint Schnase on Cursive’s Vitriola

The original drummer for the biting Nebraska indie group rejoins them in the studio for a raucous homecoming.

Manu Delago

“Rudi”

Polyrhythmic Rudiment Applications

Using Standard Stickings to Tackle Odd Groupings

Samba Rhythms - Part 1: The Importance of the Tamborim

Hello, and welcome to a new series on Brazilian samba drumming! It’s a great pleasure to be discussing Brazilian rhythms and my approach to this style on the drumset. Generally, I feel that Brazilian rhythms can be divided into three…

New gear from TAMA, Zildjian, and Vic Firth!

Tama Classic Series Bass Drum Pedal With vintage design and modern functionality, the Classic pedal is designed to be light, responsive, and durable. Features include beater height adjustment, topside spring adjustment, a felt beater, an Easy-Tight hoop clamp, and a…