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Drummer Connection Forum

Home Forum Drummer Discussions Education

Drumming Magazines

Dave Heim - Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:41 | 3,943 views

I'm a long time subscriber to Modern Drummer magazine. I also subscribe to DRUM!, Not So Modern Drummer, and Traps magazines.

I've noticed that since Ron Spagnardi passed away Modern Drummer's look has taken on more of a loud/in your face feel. It's sometime hard to tell the articles and features from the ads.

I've only subscribed to DRUM! for a few years, but I'm starting to like it even more than MD (except for the trading cards - those are just lame, IMHO).

NSMD is great for us older guys - especially if you collect drums and appreciate the older stuff. The magazine is owned & published by Bill Ludwig III.

And Traps is an excellent magazine. In depth interviews of key classic rock and jazz players, lots of transcriptions, the ads are more subtle, the reading is interesting - deeper than the usual "what heads do you use?". They also feature from time to time family trees of artists showing all the drummers who have played with the artist, what albums they appear on, etc. Good stuff.

What pubs do you read? What do you like and dislike? What should they do that they're not doing?

Drummer Comments (10)

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ocin311 Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 - 10:33 PM

I grew up on modern drummer and didn't realize there were so many other publications out there. I agree though that since Ron's passing the magazine has taken on a new look, and I'm not too fond of it.

King Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 9:22 AM

I wonder where they get those playalongs from?

seminole Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009 - 12:01 PM

Don't forget about Drumhead magazine. This is a fairly new publication that has great articles and features with a play-along CD, check it out. And if we learn 1 thing from every issue they're all worth the under $10 cover price.

drumhead101541 Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009 - 9:14 AM

It sucks that TRAPS is no longer a being published :[ but I'm sure it'll come back some day!

drumbum.com Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 - 1:35 PM

I read MD and Drum mostly. Occasionally I'll pick up Traps or even Drummer from the UK for something different.

drumhead101541 Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Monday, Aug 18, 2008 - 11:08 AM

I forgot what issue it was, but they had an insane Roland kit. It had basically every trigger possible and the biggest expansion setup, and the whole kit was fully functional!

King Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Thursday, Aug 14, 2008 - 10:14 AM

I love the kit of the month in every Modern Drummer issue.

drumhead101541 Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 4:09 PM

Yeah, we know some of the guys over at drum magazine. They are a bunch of cool guys producing a great magazine!

Dave Heim Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 11:53 AM

I like the way DRUM! handles their educational material - they usually have a music notation key explaining notes & rests, and a nice variety of lessons. Phil Hood has quite a magazine there.

drumhead101541 Says Re: Drumming Magazines

Submitted On: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 11:47 AM

I mostly read Modern Drummer, and DRUM!, but occasionally I read something from Traps, and Not So Modern Drummer if I see something on the cover that grabs my attention.