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.
And Editor's Overview - Signal to Noise
When I first started playing drums, the challenge was finding enough credible content, whether in the form of method books, magazine articles, or instructional videos, to help me understand exactly what skills and tools I would need in order to…
What Do You Know About...Mel Brown?
Portland, Oregon, gave a young child the gift of music. The kid took that gift with him to Detroit, and proceeded to elevate the music of some of the greatest performers of all time. Back home, he’s repaid the debt…
Strictly Technique - Swiss Rudiments
Welcome to the first of a four-part series on Swiss rudiments and Basel drumming. In this lesson I’ll focus on some specialties of the Basel style that aren’t usually included in the standard list of forty Percussive Arts Society rudiments.…
Product Close-Up - Roland TD-25KV and V-Drums Kits
Roland recently made some changes to its V-Drums lineup, including discontinuing the TD-15 series and adding two mid-level kits with the TD-25 module. This new series capitalizes on a lot of the technology found in Roland’s flagship TD-30 line, but…
Kit Of The Month - Cocktail Convenience
For Toronto-based drummer Sekou Lumumba, this simplified rig packs more than enough punch into a small space when backing such artists as Canadian multi-platinum songwriter Serena Ryder. And when first thinking about his approach to this kit, the drummer considered…
Product Close-Up - Bosphorus 20th Anniversary Series Cymbals
Bosphorus, one of the leading cymbal manufacturers in Turkey, is commemorating two decades of operation with the new 20th Anniversary series, which comprises a limited range of thin, vintage-style pies. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Product Close-Up – Turkish JC Soundscape Series Cymbals
The Soundscape series is a collaborative collection designed by U.S.-born/Europe-based drummer/percussionist Jarrod Cagwin and the Turkish cymbal company out of Istanbul. Much of Cagwin’s work is in traditional Middle Eastern and Northern African genres, world-influenced jazz, contemporary classical, and film…
Product Close-Up - Cask Drum Craft
The Cask Drum Company is a boutique manufacturer out of Post Falls, Idaho, owned and operated by Micah Doering. He sent us two snare drums for review. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
Twelve Essential Shuffles - Some of Drumming's Most Influential Feels
While simple in concept, the shuffle, which features prominently in early jazz, blues, Motown, soul, funk, rock ’n’ roll, and hip-hop, among other styles, can be difficult to execute even for skilled drummers. In this article we’ll cover the essential…
Snarky Puppy’s Holy Trinity
Snarky Puppy’s Holy Trinity Robert “Sput” Searight, Jason “JT” Thomas, Larnell Lewis Photos by Stella K. For Culcha Vulcha, Snarky Puppy’s eleventh album and first studio effort in close to a decade, bandleader, bassist, and primary composer Michael League recruited…
Product Close-Up - Index Drums
If you’re looking for new percussive sounds for low-volume gigs, then you might appreciate what the Forest King line of wooden drumheads from Index Drums has to offer. TO READ THE FULL STORY: SUBSCRIBE TO ACCESS LOG IN
"The Brain Dance" - Matt Garstka's Quintuplet Groove
Few drummers generate the sheer amount of excitement and enthusiasm within the drum community as Matt Garstka. Whether it’s through his incredible display of solo chops or his mind-bending compositions with Animals as Leaders, Garstka continues to push the edge…
Jazz Drummer's Workshop - The Music of the Drums - Part 1
Most of the questions I get from drummers concern "technical" problems. How to develop quicker hands; more independence and/or coordination. Technique is important, but it is not the most important part of playing music. Having a concept, playing with feeling,…
Stickings That Rock - Part2: Exploring an Additional Hand Pattern
In this lesson we’ll focus on another sticking that I acquired while working through George Lawrence Stone’s classic book Stick Control. The rhythm in the right hand is rooted in the first part of a 3:2 clave rhythm. (Think of…
