The Drum Department

Drummers have drum-sets of all sizes and shapes, but what components do you really need? Frank Bellucci is a veteran pro drummer who makes a living playing on all styles of drum-sets. In this episode of The Drum Department, we determine how much kit you actually need to get the job done.

Drummers all have their own style, which can really change the way a song sounds and feels. In this episode of The Drum Department, we challenge Dave, Dylan and Brandon to play the same song; they will hear it once and play it, and won't get to hear what each other played. Let's see who comes up with the best part!

Double bass drumming is super fun! Playing along with iconic double bass songs is great, but what if we added double bass to all kinds of songs and styles that don't normally have it? Does it make those songs cooler? Today in The Drum Department, Eloy Casagrande (Sepultura) joins us as we challenge him to add double bass to all kinds of songs!

Drummers love to buy new gear; whether it's a new cymbal, different drumheads or a full blown new kit, there are tons of options out there. There are always lots of great deals out there, but there are some key tricks for finding the best deals on the gear you need. Today we have some industry vets sharing the ways you can get the most drum gear for your hard earned money.

We recently attended the 2023 NAMM trade show, which is the largest music trade show in North America. Though it’s an incredible gathering of the music community, the show’s importance and attendance have waned over the past decade. We’ll discuss the good, the bad, and the future of these types of events.

Rhythm can really affect our mood and how we perceive things we experience. Drumming star Greyson Nekrutman has made a name for himself by sharing daring and dynamic covers ranging from jazz standards to TV Themes. Today on The Drum Department, we challenge Greyson to add drumming to some famous movie scenes to see how different drumming approaches can change the feel of a clip.

Finding the sweet spot between developing chops and serving the needs of the song can be a delicate situation, and sometimes we drummers get caught up in overplaying. But where do you draw the line? To explore this question, we're throwing down a challenge to the master of pop drumming himself, Kaz Rodriguez. Let's see just how far he can push the boundaries of musicality while staying true to the groove.

Cymbal stacks seem to be everywhere these days. They make a short, trashy sound that can be used in pretty much all styles of music, and you can buy all sorts of different sizes or make your own. We'll check out some cymbal stacks, and the crew will be challenged to make up the craziest stacks we can using all kinds of weird cymbals and objects!

Metronomes are a crucial piece of gear for a drummer. They help us keep good time, and align us with other musicians and musical elements, but they are often very uninspiring to play to. Piercing sounds that have no feel or flow that can become a distraction instead of an aid. Today on The Drum Department, we'll get into what we hate about metronomes, but we'll also share our favorites, and help you find the best metronome for you!

The Paradiddle is often considered the most valuable rudiment for drum-set playing, equally useful in grooves and fills. How far can we push drumming legend Thomas Lang to create new ways to use this rudiment?