December 2018 Issue – Volume 42 • Number 12
Articles in December 2018
Keith Moon: An Examination
“In an egotistical way I always prefer my demos to what the Who does.” —Pete Townshend Rolling Stone interview with Jonathan Cott, May 14, 1970
Mark Walker
The Berklee professor and well-traveled performer has made a career out of adapting ethnic rhythms to the drumset—and offering valuable advice on how to do that accurately and authentically.
Drums: The Secret to Happiness
Last summer my family and I decided to move out of the house we’d been living in for thirteen years, and into a new one. Among other things, the old place didn’t have a basement, and the jazz-size drumkit we…
Paiste - Masters Extra Thin and Dark Additions
Soft and sophisticated crashes and splashes for supreme expressivity.
What’s Your Favorite Keith Moon Performance?
This month, as we dove into the drumming of both Pete Townshend on the Who’s demo tracks and Keith Moon on the band’s final output, we checked in with our readers and social media followers to see which “Moon the…
The Modern Drummer Guide to Reading Rhythms - Part 1
Part 1: Fundamental Elements of Music Notation
Roland - TD-17KVX V-Drums
A game changing mid-level kit with increased expressivity, improved pads, and highly effective practice tools.
An Enduring Kit and an Unforgettable Time
This vintage 1963 Ludwig Hollywood set in an Oyster Black Pearl wrap comes to us from drummer Nelson Hawkins, who ordered it after paging through a Ludwig catalog in the early ’60s. The kit came with two 8x12 mounted toms,…
On Relaxation - An In-Depth Study to Develop Consistency
When executing individual stroke types, it’s important that our approach remains consistent no matter what type of stroke is played. It’s very easy for drummers to be more aggressive when playing a downstroke, or rapidly pull away from the drum…
Aaron Sterling’s Sound of Sterloid, Volume II
“I do almost everything at my place now,” says top L.A.-based session drummer Aaron Sterling. In addition to recording about fifteen songs per week for artists and producers around the world, Sterling has created five online master classes that focus on…
Drumset Ergonomics - Part 6: Positioning Secondary Suspended Instruments
In this final installment of this series, we’re going to address how to position the instruments that we only play five to thirty percent of the time, such as splashes, Chinas, cowbells, electric pads, additional rack toms, and auxiliary crashes.…
The 2018 Chicago Drum Show
The perennial percussion event once again serves vintage and modern drum lovers alike.
Session Great Nir Z
When it comes to gear, Jerusalem-born/Nashville-based session drummer Nir Zidkyahu, whose ultra-precise, intense pocket can be heard on hit records by pop/rock great John Mayer, alt-rock legend Chris Cornell, and modern country superstar Blake Shelton, isn’t too particular, as long…
Clint Schnase on Cursive’s Vitriola
The original drummer for the biting Nebraska indie group rejoins them in the studio for a raucous homecoming.