November 2024 – Volume 48 • Number 11

Camtronome

Camtronome is a highly customizable metronome app designed for both beginners and experienced musicians. The “cam” in the app title refers to its ability to capture both audio and video while the metronome is active. However, there are other features in…

Out Now November 2024

Modern Drummer is spotlighting new recordings that have the drums at the center of their sound. These recordings might be drummer-led, or just include high-quality, special, or unique drumming and musical performances from the drummer and/or musicians in the band. This…

Ludwig H.I.T.S. Fest

In celebration of its 40th anniversary of manufacturing at the Monroe, N.C. site, the legendary Ludwig Drum Company generously opened its doors to the public for an unprecedented two-day event: the Ludwig H.I.T.S. Fest. H.I.T.S. is an acronym for Heritage,…

The Sounds We Make

“Chances Are.” Composed by Robert Allen and Al Stillman. Sung by Johnny Mathis. Recorded in Columbia 30th Street Studio, where Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue was also recorded.1957. I was three years old when the Mathis single was released, and I can…

Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming: Linear Cross-Rhythms

In the new and revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Double Bass Drumming, Bobby includes nine new double bass drumming chapters. The new and expanded edition covers contemporary techniques such as bass drum double strokes, feet-only exercises, binary and ternary…

Mark Guiliana: A New Solo Record, Being in the Moment, and Playing with His Heroes

It’s just after 9am on a Wednesday morning and Mark Guiliana is brewing coffee at his home in east LA. He’s in-between tour dates with St. Vincent and a trip to NYC to play a week at the Village Vanguard…

November 2024 – Volume 48 • Number 11

Yamaha Hybrid Oak vs. Hybrid Maple Kits: Experimentation That Keeps Pushing Boundaries

Yamaha is a very familiar name in high quality drums that goes back to 1967. However, I didn’t really get turned-on to Yamaha Drums until the very early 1980’s. That was when I started noticing them being played by many…

Don’t HIT Your Drums!

What? You mean I shouldn’t hit my drums?!? Some drummers can’t wait to grab their sticks and start flailing away, beating the drums like a punching bag. This gets old fast, and only leads to a string of bad habits.…

Hand-Picked Vinyl November 2024

As the music world continues to see a resurgence in Vinyl (LP’s,) Vinyl Me Please (VMP) is curating and producing some of the best vinyl remasters and pressings around. They are scouring the history of recorded music for forgotten gems…

I’m Just Like You!

After the last three years with Modern Drummer, people now seem to be asking me a lot of questions. During my interviews, more drummers are asking me about “me,” and I have NO idea why. I’m just like you, a…

Johnny Rabb’s Collective Soul Touring Kit

Photos by Jason Mehler Drums: Ludwig Classic Maple - White Marine Pearl 16x22 Bass Drum, 10x13 Rack tom, 16x16 Floor Tom, 16x18 Floor Tom. Snares: 6.5x14 Supraphonic Snare, 3.5x13 Vibe Piccolo Snare, 10” Creative Percussion Roto Snare. Heads: Remo, Powerstroke P3 Bass drum…

Derek Mixon Tone Chasing with Chris Stapleton

When I interviewed Russ Kunkel last year, I asked him what younger drummers he was checking out and impressed by. He didn’t hesitate, saying, “I think Derek Mixon is one of the best drummers out there, I think we have…

Tommy Lee’s Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls, Tour Pearl Free Floating Snare Drum, Drastic Plastik Trigger Pads, and Tour Artifacts.

This Pearl snare drum is one of two custom Free Floating snares that Tommy Lee used on Motley Crue’s 1987 Girls, Girls, Girls Tour. Both snares were 6.5 x 14 Free Floating models with custom red hardware. One snare has…

Duet 7

Ron Spagnardi wrote a terrific book called Snare Drum Duets: 25 Duets for Two Snare Drummers. It offers a selection of 25 challenging duets that range in difficulty from relatively simple to more complex. A wide assortment of time signatures…

Kenney Jones talks about Faces Live at the BBC

With all the new releases and reissues of special boxsets, it can be easy to miss one (or two or three.) When Rhino announced the release of Faces Live at the BBC: The Complete Concert & Session Recordings 1970-1973, Modern…

Master Studies: Stroke Combination Studies, 9 Stroke Roll Combinations

Going from single strokes to double strokes, to buzz (multiple rebound) strokes, involves different pressures on the sticks. You must be able to change the pressure your fingers are putting on the sticks without tension developing in the wrists. When…

The ddrum NIO Percussion Pad

With its nine distinct red rubber pads and backlit LCD, it’s hard to miss the ddrum NIO Percussion Pad. It’s been on the market for a few years now and is one of the more popular entry-level percussion pads available.…

Stefano Ashbridge’s Tama Sunburst Fade Starclassic

This month’s Kit of the Month comes from Los Angeles drummer and teacher Stefano Ashbridge. Stefano’s kit is a Tama Starclassic Maple (Sunburst Fade lacquer) with an array of Zildjian and Sabian cymbals. The drum sizes are a 16x22 bass…

Bruno Esrubilsky The Rhythmic Glue Behind Mitski’s Ever-Evolving Sound

Bruno Esrubilsky’s journey with Mitski has been nothing short of seamless, both musically and personally. From the first time he connected with Mitski and longtime collaborator Patrick Hyland, Bruno felt he had found the right place, “The vibes were incredible…