🥁 Drum Spotlight
Got a new beauty from zildjiancompany ✨
Austrian drummer Klaus Brennsteiner puts a new Zildjian A Custom ride through its paces over a John Mayer track, and the cymbal's warm, complex wash suits the laid-back groove perfectly. It's a short but satisfying clip that lets the instrument speak for itself.
Sam Jones' studio performance of his solo track "The Bredrin's"
Sam Jones' studio performance of his solo track "The Bredrin's" is a masterclass in restraint and feel, with dynamics that breathe life into every phrase rather than simply filling space. He plays a Yamaha Recording Custom kit in Real Wood; a deep configuration spanning two floor toms and a mix of aluminum and birch snares. And the tonal variety suits his melodic, groove-forward approach perfectly. His ghost notes alone are worth the watch! Listen to the full track here
📰 Drum News
Spotify's new SongDNA feature reveals the "complex web of people, stories and inspirations" behind each song (Article)
Spotify's new SongDNA feature, now in beta for Premium users, maps the full web of collaborators, samples, and interpolations behind any track. That means drummers can finally trace exactly who played on a recording and what earlier grooves inspired it. If you've ever wondered whether that iconic drum part was played by the credited artist or a session pro, this tool could start answering those questions.
🎓 Practice & Skills
Three tuning approaches on the Recording Custom Brass snare
Martin Marschall walks through three distinct tuning approaches on Yamaha's Recording Custom Brass snare (RRS1465), with each result captured through an EAD10 so you can actually hear the tonal difference — not just see the lug turns. It's a compact, ears-first lesson in how dramatically head tension shapes the character of a single drum.
16 Must-Know Ghost-Note Patterns 👻
Jeff Randall breaks down 16 ghost-note patterns in a tight Instagram reel, giving you a ready-made vocabulary for adding texture and groove beneath your main strokes. Work through these systematically and you'll find the subtle dynamics that separate a busy beat from one that genuinely breathes.
🛒 Gear Pick
4 Pack Drumstick Dampeners for Silent Practice Drums on Sale! (Amazon)
Vanphy's silicone drumstick dampeners slip over any standard tip—5A, 5B, 7A, 2B—and claim to cut up to 70% of vibration transmitted to your hands while muffling the crack of sticks on rims and cymbals. At $7.99 for a four-pack, they're a low-stakes way to extend late-night practice sessions without reaching for a full mesh-head kit.
These JZ BH2s are a MUST HAVE in your mic collection. Check out this 2 mic setup with and without pr
Just Add Drums runs a quick A/B comparison using just two JZ BH2 small-diaphragm condensers, demonstrating the mics both dry and with processing to show how much the pair can capture on its own.
🌎 Drum Community
Rush performs Finding My Way live | 2026 Juno Awards
Rush closing out the 2026 Juno Awards with "Finding My Way" — one of Neil Peart's earliest recorded performances with the band — hit differently for drummers watching, a reminder of how far that chemistry carried them. With a summer tour now confirmed, the comment section has turned into a full-on reunion of fans trading Peart memories and debating their favorite live era.
Korn - Got The Life - Matt McGuire Drum Cover
Matt McGuire takes on Korn's "Got the Life," the 1998 nu-metal banger built around David Silveria's punchy, groove-locked drumming. A track that sounds deceptively simple until you're actually behind the kit. It's a fun reminder that late-'90s Korn had some genuinely infectious drum parts, and McGuire's clean execution makes a strong case for revisiting them.