February 2013 Issue – Volume 38 • Number 2

Further Beyond the Barline

2/4 Hemiolas in ¾ and 6/8 Welcome to my second article discussing an approach to improvisation that will allow you to play longer and more interesting solo phrases in a variety of styles. As in the first part, which appeared…

Jim White - White's Noise

  Jim White, drummer for the noted Australian cult band the Dirty Three, explores the gray areas of instrumental indie rock with an ounce of subtlety and pounds of invention.       Do you think that people project meaning…

Polyrhythmic Coordination Part 4: Six-Note Base Rhythm

Last time (November 2012), we continued our study of two-hand polyrhythmic coordination by playing a five-note base rhythm with one hand while adding one to eight evenly spaced notes over the top with the other hand. This month we’re using…

Physical Hazards Of The Throne

13 Exercises to Minimize the Wear and Tear of Drumming Drummers play thousands—maybe even millions—of strokes throughout the course of their careers. With that amount of repetitive activity, mechanical wear can occur, which can then cause pain or injury. Over…

Smashing Pumpkins' Mike Byrne - Working On Instinct

Billy Corgan Hired Him Based On A Gut Reaction—The same measure he wants the drummer to use when coming up with his own parts. Mike Byrne turns twenty-three this February 6, and three words associated with birthdays prove helpful in…

The Killers' Ronnie Vannucci

Epic Drumming, Dynamics, and Dance   Striding into a New York City hotel, Ronnie Vannucci resembles a dangerous character out of a movie about the Gold Rush or the Civil War. With his jet-black hair, chiseled features, and penetrating gaze,…

THIN LIZZY Live And Dangerous

An apt title for one of rock’s most fierce and formidable concert albums.   With Live and Dangerous, the crushing aggregate of drummer Brian Downey, singer/ bassist Phil Lynott, and lead guitarist/ vocalists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham delivered one…

Dexterity in Odd Rhythms: Quintuplet Variations

In this article we’re going to cover how to feel quintuplets using an Indian counting system. There are many different variations, but the syllables I like to use are ta, ka, din, ah, and gah, which are easy to pronounce…

Korey Horn

The ska and reggae vet may be exploring new musical paths, but he remains true to his rhythmic roots.   As an aspiring drummer, reggae and ska stalwart Korey Horn received a piece of advice from his father, jazz singer…

Timbales: The Roots of the Latin Drumset

The essence of playing the drumset in Latin American music consists of orchestrating the different percussion parts from the original styles. Before the drumset was incorporated into Afro-Cuban music, it was the “pailas,” aka Cuban timbales, that fulfilled that role,…

February 2013 Issue – Volume 38 • Number 2

Mark Egan

Mark Egan is one of the most highly regarded bassists in the history of electric jazz. Performing and recording with many of the prominent drummers of our time—a short list would include Steve Gadd, Jack DeJohnette, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff “Tain”…