Lessons
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.
LESSON! Rock & Jazz Clinic: Odd Groupings Over Samba (From the Feb. 2015 Issue)
The following excerpt is taken from the February 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Rock & Jazz Clinic Odd Groupings Over Samba by Mike Johnston What do you do when you have two things in the refrigerator or pantry that taste…
VIDEO! The Lindy Beat: The Grooviest of Early Rock Grooves (From the February 2015 Issue)
The following excerpt is taken from the February 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Basics The Lindy Beat The Grooviest of Early Rock ’n’ Roll Grooves by Rich Redmond The classic rhythm we’re exploring this month has weathered the test of time…
What You Need to Know About...Effects Cymbals
This article originally ran in the Oct/Nov 2012 issue of Drum Business. by Ben Meyer The term effects, or FX, is applied to a wide array of cymbals, from tiny splashes to giant, oddly shaped sheets of metal…
VIDEO! Solid Soloing, Part 2: Changing Note Rates (From the January 2015 Issue)
The excerpt below is taken from the January 2015 issue of Modern Drummer. Drum Soloist Solid Soloing Part 2: Changing Note Rates by James Murphy In this miniseries we’re utilizing my “glue” method to gain freedom and flow while soloing.…
What You Need to Know About...Cymbal Stands
This article originally ran in the Nov/Dec 2013 issue of Drum Business. by Ben Meyer All drummers require hardware of some kind. Knowing what kinds of packages are available from your favorite brands, as well as becoming familiar with individual…
Basics: Radio Beats (From the January 2015 Issue)
Radio Beats 7 Real-World Applications of Essential, Time-Honored Grooves by Rich Redmond In this month’s article, we take a look at some popular grooves on country radio right now. All of them are variations of what I call “money beats,”…
What You Need to Know About...Drumsticks
This article originally ran in the May/June 2010 issue of Drum Business. by Fran Azzarto Drumsticks aren’t overly mystifying, yet there is information that you should be able to draw from when choosing a particular size or…
Electronic Insights: Drum Miking 101, Part 1: Single-Microphone Setups (From the January 2015 Issue)
by John Emrich In this series of articles we’ll look at how to mike a drumset, starting with a single microphone and adding one each time until we arrive at a complete close-mike configuration. The idea behind the series is…
What You Need to Know About...Snare Drums
This article originally ran in the Jan/Feb 2014 issue of Drum Business. by Ben Meyer Snare drums are easily the most recognizable voice in the drumkit. The practice of studio drummers using a different snare for every song,…
What You Need to Know About...Bearing Edges
This article originally ran in the Sept/Oct 2013 issue of Drum Business. Many drummers don’t think about the edges of drum shells in terms of their impact on sound, but they can actually change the timbre quite dramatically. Therefore it’s…
Drum Soloist: Solid Soloing, Part 1: Connecting Ideas With Glue Stickings (December 2014 Issue)
by James Murphy Welcome to the first installment of a short series on gaining freedom and flow while soloing. Many of us have struggled with the ability to play a solo freely and musically without the constant burden of thinking…
VIDEO! Jazz Drummers Workshop: Syncopation Revisited: Part 6: Assorted Applications (from the November 2014 issue)
November 2014 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Syncopation Revisited Part 6: Assorted Applications by Steve Fidyk Welcome to the final installment of our series on ways to interpret the classic Ted Reed book Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer. The…
VIDEO! The Kick Hiccup: Boost Your Groove With Quick Bass Drum Doubles (From the November 2014 Issue)
November 2014 Basics The Kick Hiccup Boost Your Groove With Quick Bass Drum Doubles by Rich Redmond Drummers all over the world have been hip to the kick hiccup for years. First popularized by Carmine Appice with Vanilla Fudge and…
VIDEO! Power Triplets: Putting the Roll in Your Rock (From the October 2014 Issue)
October 2014 Basics Power Triplets Putting the Roll in Your Rock by Rich Redmond These exercises are inspired by the master jazz drummer Elvin Jones. In Elvin’s world, everything was a triplet. Inspired by the rhythms of Africa, he had…
