Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
John Clardy
After years of trolling through the underground, he’s finally found balance—and a musical home—with the progressive indie band Tera Melos. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Melvin Davis
In the ’60s, British kids hungry for exotic American sounds helped resuscitate the careers of countless R&B musicians from the States, a practice that continues to this day. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Scott Devours
Playing with legendary Who vocalist Roger Daltrey is badass enough. But what happens when an opportunity to play with the Who itself drops in your lap? TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Shifting Gears
3 Paradiddle Exercises for Strengthening Subdivisions Practice the following subdivision pyramid exercises using a metronome to be sure your timing is accurate and consistent. You may need to work on each line individually before trying the entire thing. Tap your…
Flamacue Variations
26 Ways to Apply the Standard Rudiment to the Drumset In this article we’ll take the flamacue rudiment and apply it to the drumset. Let’s start by playing the flamacue on the snare. Now play it in 3/4. Notice that…
Approaching Standards
A Framework for Musical Practice, Part 3: Language and Vernacular Welcome to the final installment of our series on applying the rhythmic phrasing of jazz standards to the drumset. This time we’re exploring ways to extract themes from the…
ZZ Top Tres Hombres
A heinous decision in the ’80s to remix ZZ Top’s classic early tracks didn’t totally diminish Frank Beard’s funky grooves, but it sure was a buzzkill. Fortunately, that call was reversible, and Beard’s beauteous beats were presented in all their…
Ed Shaughnessy
As the most visible drummer on network TV for three decades, he helped America understand what big band drumming was all about. But there was more to his story—much more. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Add Some Metal!
Searching for new melodic tones to add to your kit? A trip to the local auto scrap yard can open up a world of sounds for any drummer. Here are some ways to introduce voices to your setup using old…
Simon Kirke — Rocklife
In 1970 "AII Right Now" by the band Free became a hit, and almost an anthem. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Anthony J. Cirone — Organic Balance
I've always been intrigued by people who do a variety of things in their careers. My first drum teacher was such a person. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Drums Don't Lie
The former Kyuss and Fu Manchu drummer, who’s currently with Vista Chino, tells it like it is, was, and always will be. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
J.R. Mitchell Creative Survival
J.R. Mitchell is a multi-faceted human being. On the surface, he might seem to be "just" a drummer. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
The Art of Soloing
I may as well admit the obvious: I am, indeed, a practitioner and partisan of that much maligned and oft-persecuted musical form, that thudding, plodding, torment of tedium, that dazzling display of passion and virtuosity—the drum solo. Much contempt has…
