The Drum Department

Can You Identify That '70s Drummer? Mar 22, 2024

The 1970s were a decade of decadence, change and growth for drummers. Huge drum sets, 7-minute songs, and drum solos reigned supreme - today the panel will have to see if they can identify some of the biggest names in the 1970s drumming by only hearing their drum parts - can you name that '70s drummer?

Art Appreciation Makes You A Better Drummer With Aric Improta Mar 08, 2024

Music and art are 2 things that make our world richer. Both connect to us on a deep level, and no matter if we like it or hate it, we always have opinions about it! Aric Improta is one of the most creative drummers in the world, and he also happens to be a world-class artist, so we’re going to dive into how our emotional response to artwork can influence music.

Drumming For Ringo Starr With Gregg Bissonette Feb 23, 2024

Ringo Starr is probably the most influential drummer of all time, and his clever but quirky drum parts have been the soundtrack to several generations of music lovers. Gregg Bissonnette is the drummer Ringo himself chose to play in his All Starrr Band - Gregg himself has played with many legends, but at his heart he is one of the biggest Beatles fans in the world. Today on The Drum Department, Gregg will share some of the stories, insight and drumming genius he learned from working with Ringo for over 20 years.

Learn This Lick - Who Did It Best? Feb 02, 2024

Drummers always hear a cool lick, fill or idea and want to try to learn it. In this episode of The Drum Department, we’ll challenge the panel to learn a lick in 60 seconds. We’ll see their learning process, and see who can get it closest in a minute!

The Biggest Drumming Predictions Of 2024 Jan 26, 2024

It’s a new year, and The Drum Department is going to look into the future to see if we can predict some of the big stories that will unfold in 2024. Who will be the big breakthrough new drummer? Who will change their career drastically? What will be the new gear or innovation for 2024? We will also share what you think will be the biggest drum stories of 2024.

The Biggest Drum Stories Of 2023 Dec 22, 2023

Dive into this episode as we explore the year's most impactful events, highlight the top drumming gear, and pay tribute to legends in the drumming world. Be sure to tune in and catch all the excitement!

Can You Identify Your Favorite Drummers By Hearing Them #2 Dec 15, 2023

All drummers have a signature style and sound - but can you identify them by only hearing them? Today on The Drum Department we're going to test our ears and our familiarity with our favorite drummers by stripping down some of their most popular tracks to just their sound on the drums. We'll learn what makes a drummer's sound and style so unique.

Eden Bahar: Drumming For Cirque Du Soleil Dec 08, 2023

Eden Bahar has a dream job touring with Cirque Du Soleil's 'Kooza' production. On today's episode, we'll find out how Eden got the job, what a day in the life of a circus drummer is like, and discover why he has a Guinness World Record for stick spinning!

Art Cruz: The Making Of A Metal Drummer Nov 24, 2023

We often assume that metal drummers eat, breathe, and sleep metal music. While that might be true for some drummers, it's far from it for Art Cruz, Lamb of God's drummer, one of the best metal drummers in the world today, and our very special guest on this episode of The Drum Department. Join us as we stroll down memory lane with Art and discover how he became the drummer he is today.

Remembering Aaron Spears Nov 17, 2023

Aaron Spears was a young phenom who came up fast in the drumming scene. He stole the show at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival “Gospel Drummers Showcase” and went on to be a first-call drummer for massive artists like Usher, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. Gone much too soon at the age of 47, today we remember and celebrate the life of Aaron Spears, a truly amazing drummer and person.

Who Played Liberty DeVitto's Part Best? Nov 10, 2023

Liberty DeVitto was Billy Joel’s drummer for over 20 years. Liberty provided the backbeat that a generation grew up listening to both in the studio and live. We’ve asked Alex Cohen, Ramon Montager, and Jared Falk to record their version of Billy Joel's "Allentown", a song that has that classic feel, so we could see Liberty react in real time to these different versions of his parts in this episode of The Drum Department - who played it best?

Prog Rock: Drumming's Guilty Pleasure Nov 03, 2023

Prog-rock music is a drummer’s dream: lots of cool parts, big drum kits and odd times - it’s a drummer’s playground for drumming indulgence. The drum community elevates prog drummers as stars - and today we share some notable prog drummers, and learn all about what makes a prog drummer a prog drummer!

The Return Of Rototoms Oct 27, 2023

Big in the '70s and '80s, rototoms seemed to all but disappear in the '90s. They have seen a resurgence in the past few years, showing up on drum-sets everywhere. Today on The Drum Department we learn all about the mighty rototom and check out how versatile they can be with the help of a kit we built entirely out of them.

Can You Identify Your Favorite Drummers By Only Hearing Them Oct 20, 2023

All drummers have a signature style and sound - but can you identify them by only hearing them? Today on The Drum Department we're going to test our ears and our familiarity with our favorite drummers by stripping down some of their most popular tracks to just their sound on the drums. We'll learn what makes a drummer's sound and style so unique.

Remembering Dom Famularo Oct 13, 2023

Dom Famularo was the world’s drumbassador- no matter what style or era drummer you were, Dom wanted you to feel connected to the history of drumming. Equal parts pro drummer, world class educator and trailblazing motivational speaker, Dom dedicated his life to inspiring drummers all around the world. On today’s episode, we pay tribute to one of the most important figures in the drumming community. We’ll share stories, show some never seen clips of Dom, and celebrate the life and legacy of Dom Famularo.

We Turned An Entire Drum-Set Into Snare Drums! Sep 29, 2023

Drummers love their snare drums. Some drummers will even set up two or three snares on their kit to have all kinds of different sonic options. We’ve always wondered, what would it be like if we turned a whole drum-set into snare drums? For today's episode, we actually modified an entire drum-set into snare drums! Check out what this crazy kit sounds like and how we did it!

Audience Favorites: Your Top 10 Forgotten Drummers Sep 22, 2023

A few months ago, we shared who several of our favorite unsung drum heroes were. These are drummers that really inspire us and that may not be household names. Our awesome audience had lots to say about drummers that inspired them, so today we’re going to share 10 of the amazing, forgotten drummers that our audience loves.

Ask Us Anything: Call In Show! Sep 15, 2023

The Drum Department's first call-in show! Check out the burning questions the drumming community has for us, and learn about what the future holds for Drumeo and the cool projects we are working on.

New Drummer, Old Songs (With Tosh The Drummer) Sep 08, 2023

Today’s modern rock and pop drummers bring a huge amount of energy and excitement to their performances. It makes you wonder, "what if a drummer from today was thrust back in time and played with some of our favorite bands and artists?" What would those classic songs sound like with today’s edgy drumming? Today on The Drum Department, we put guest drummer Tosh The Drummer to the task of playing classic songs with modern drumming!

Turning Classic Songs Into Odd Time (With Aaron Edgar) Sep 05, 2023

Drummers love to explore new rhythmic ideas, and we’ll often use odd note combinations to add tension to a groove or fill. What if we took some of the world’s most famous songs and added odd groupings to them? Today on The Drum Department, odd-time-drumming master Aaron Edgar will warp some of your favorite songs to see if they might be even better with more complex rhythms!

The Future Of Electronic Drums (With Philo Tsongui) Aug 28, 2023

Electronic drums have been around since the 1960s, and every generation we see technological advancements that provide drummers new ways of making music on the drum-set. In the '80s we had the Simmons SDS-V; the 2000s brought us V-Drums; in 2023, we move into a whole new world of electronic percussive possibilities. Today in The Drum Department we check out a whole new way of connecting drummers to the world of electronic drumming.

Cheap Vs. Expensive Snares: Can You Hear The Difference? Aug 18, 2023

The snare drum is the most crucial instrument on a drum-set, and the most personal one. There are literally hundreds of snare drums to choose from, ranging in price from $100 up to $5000 or more. Does the price of a drum really dictate its value or is it all smoke and mirrors? Today in The Drum Department we test several snare drums to see if you really do get what you pay for!

One Drummer, One Song, Five Styles (With JP Bouvet) Aug 11, 2023

It’s amazing how different music can sound and feel when you apply different styles of drumming to it. In this episode of The Drum Department, we challenge our special guest JP Bouvet to play the same song in several different styles.

Three Drummers, One Song: Dave's Revenge Jul 21, 2023

Drummers all have their own style, which can really change the way a song sounds and feels. Today on The Drum Department, Dave challenges Kyle, Jared and Tyson to play the same song. They will hear it once and play it, and they won’t get to hear what each other played. Let’s see who comes up with the best part!

Single vs. Double Headed Toms: What Is The Ultimate Sound? Jul 14, 2023

In the '60s and '70s, single-headed toms reigned supreme with their short attack and melodic sound. In the '80s they died a very quick death, replaced by their predecessor: the double-headed tom. Though we’ve largely stayed doubled-headed, many drummers of today are adding concert toms back into their setups. Today we compare these two types of toms and see what we think is the best tom sound!

Forgotten Drummers You Need To Know Jun 30, 2023

Peart; Bonham; Rich; Barker; Smith - all superstar drummers, but who inspired them? Who are the lesser known but very important drummers that we don’t talk about every day who inspired our legends? In today’s episode of The Drum Department we talk about some of the most overlooked but important drummers in history.

Can A.I. Teach The Drums? Jun 23, 2023

A.I. is very real and can be a valuable learning tool, but can it teach the drums? This week on The Drum Department we challenge A.I. technology to see if it can teach the drums better than the founder of Drumeo, Jared Falk.

Playing The Purdie Shuffle Everywhere Jun 16, 2023

The Purdie shuffle is a rite of passage for many drummers. It’s a quite complex and difficult to play groove that when executed right, feels and sounds amazing! Though this groove and variations thereof have already been used in several different songs, we at The Drum Department think these aren't enough - we need more! So in this episode, get ready to hear the Purdie shuffle being played everywhere!

The Best Drum Hooks Of All Time Jun 09, 2023

The hook of a song is that ear-worm that grabs your attention, and you immediately know the song. Drum parts can be equally identifiable, though drummers rarely get proper writing credit for their musical contributions. Today on The Drum Department we share the best drum hooks of all time!

Defining Drum Chops (Finally) Jun 02, 2023

Drummers always talk about chops. But what is a chop? What makes it different from a fill? Join us for this episode of The Drum Department where we finally answer these questions!

Playing Drums Without Drums (With Frank Bellucci) May 26, 2023

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.

Three Drummers, One Song: Who Played It Best? May 19, 2023

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!

Adding Double Bass To Everything (With Eloy Casagrande) May 12, 2023

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!

Stop Paying Too Much For Drum Gear May 05, 2023

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.

Challenging Greyson Nekrutman To Add Drums To Famous Movie Scenes Apr 21, 2023

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.

Chops: How Far Is Too Far (With Kaz Rodriguez) Apr 14, 2023

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.

Will It Stack? - We Create The Weirdest Cymbal Stacks Apr 07, 2023

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!

Everything Drummers Hate About Metronomes Mar 31, 2023

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!

Thomas Lang Proves How Powerful A Paradiddle Can Be Mar 24, 2023

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?

Can Classical Percussionists Play the Drums? (With Katie Rife) Mar 17, 2023

Classical percussion and drumming seem worlds apart, but are they really? This week on The Drum Department we're digging into the similarities between drummers and percussionists, and what we can learn from each other.

Drumming With The Best Selling Artists Of All Time Mar 10, 2023

Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett is back!

Sugarfoot gives us a glimpse behind the curtain of some of the biggest shows and tours he’s played with the best-selling artists of all time. From what it was like working with the King Of Pop to all the insane shows he played with Madonna and many others! Plus, he'll be teaching Groove Of The Week!

Can You Learn The Drums In 10 Minutes? Feb 17, 2023

Can we teach someone who has never played drums before to play along with songs in 10 Minutes? Dave will teach the groove of the week and we review the A&F Pancake drum and convertible snare stand.

Drumeo's Most Recorded Snares Feb 10, 2023

Drumeo has over 50 snares to choose from, but only a few are chosen time and time again. On this week's episode of The Drum Department, we'll play the most recorded snares, share our favourites and Jared will test out the new EVANS Snare Drum Tune-Up Kit

The Ultimate Drum Dynamics Test (With Julia Geaman) Jan 31, 2023

Julia Geaman returns to the Drum Department this week where we dive into drum dynamics- modern music demands bigger, louder drumming, but do we lose our dynamic ideas and feel? We challenge Julia to the ultimate Dynamic drumming test, Jared will teach a classic groove and we'll review some new Vater stick models.

What You Really Need To Know About Learning Drums Jan 20, 2023

In this week's episode, we share what lessons students need to know to make progress. After years of playing, studying, and teaching, we have experienced it all. Tune in to learn important tips that will really make a difference in your learning. We are also testing out a new kick muffler from our friends at Kick Muffling, and Brandon Toews busts out our groove of the week!

Influencers Vs. Industry Drummers (With Domino Santantonio) Jan 13, 2023

This week, social media superstar Domino Santantonio joins us in The Drum Department where we'll discuss the evolution of what being a pro drummer is, remember Neil Peart on the third anniversary of his passing, and learn an all-new groove of the week!

How To Build Great-Sounding Drums (With Jeff Woods) Jan 06, 2023

This week, Jeff Woods from Woods Custom Drums drops by The Drum Department. We'll discuss what makes a drum sound good, new year's resolutions and we will debut a new segment: Groove Of The Week!

Top 10 Drumming Questions Dec 20, 2022

This week on The Drum Department, we tackle the most asked drumming questions, talk about blue drums, and demo the new Mapex Mars maple drum-set.

Playing Blast Beats In Every Genre (With Ash Pearson) Dec 16, 2022

This week on The Drum Department, Revocation's Ash Pearson joins us to talk about blast beats! Though primarily used in heavy metal, we'll challenge Ash to make blast beats work in all styles.

How Often Should You Practice? Dec 09, 2022

This week on the The Drum Department, we talk about practice. It's easily the most asked question we get - and the answer isn't as simple as it seems. We share some tips and tricks on how to maximize your practice time and make it fun, and review the A&F foldable hi-hat stand.

House Kit Horror Stories (With Julia Geaman) Dec 02, 2022

No matter what level of drummer you are, you will eventually encounter a bad drum-set. Hard to play, worn out, or just plain ugly, drummers need to know what they can do to turn the worst sounding and playing drum-set into a kit they feel good about playing. We'll share some tips and tricks, and the hosts will be challenged with the 10-second setup challenge - will they succeed or fail?

The Real Truth About Electronic Drums Nov 25, 2022

This week on The Drum Department, we'll showcase two e-kits and discuss how electronic drums are increasing in relevance in today's music scene. Also - can we tell real drums from electronic drums in a blind test?

Drumming With Ozzy & Randy Rhoads (With Tommy Aldridge) Nov 18, 2022

This week we have double bass legend Tommy Aldridge stopping by to chat! We'll talk about working with Ozzy and Whitesnake, how to develop your own style and sound on the drums, and how to play and perform at a top level like Tommy has done for over 50 years!

Drum Tuning Myths (With Ronn Dunnett) Nov 11, 2022

Legendary drum builder Ronn Dunnett joins the crew this week and gets into the hotly debated topic of drum tuning! We showcase some of Ronn's drums, give away prizes and answer your questions.

The Scariest Drum Parts Nov 04, 2022

The Halloween episode of The Drum Department is here! Krad returns from tour with some cool stories to tell, and the crew talks about the scariest drum parts they've heard.

Phil Collins Drum Talk (With Nic Collins) Oct 28, 2022

This week in The Drum Department, Nic Collins joins us to talk about touring with Genesis and learning how to play drums with his dad, music superstar Phil Collins.

Drumming Pet Peeves Oct 26, 2022

This week in The Drum Department, Jared and Dave run the show and talk about the biggest drummer pet peeves!

Taylor Hawkins L.A. Concert: Live Drumming Is Bigger Than Ever Oct 14, 2022

This week in The Drum Department, Brandon shares his experience at the Taylor Hawkins show in L.A., we discuss our favorite concerts and review the Sonor Perfect Balance standard pedal!

Chops vs. Groove: The Ultimate Showdown! Oct 13, 2022

This week in The Drum Department - we battle it out over chops vs. groove, find out who did best in last week's blind sound test, and we feature RTOM's new Black Hole trigger system!

Drum Festivals: Who Cares?! Oct 06, 2022

What's the deal with drum festivals? Are they worth it or just glorified trade shows? Find out in this week's episode of The Drum Department!

Drumming Celebrities & Why Does Drumming Make You Smarter? Sep 22, 2022

From talking about celebrities who kill it on the drum-set to why drumming makes you smarter, Kyle and the rest of the gang are here to nerd out on all things drums.

Welcome To The Drum Department! Sep 21, 2022

Welcome to the first episode of The Drum Department! From Roland's recent acquisition of DW, to trends in the drumming scene and what's happening in the Drumeo community, Kyle and the rest of the gang are here to nerd out on all things drums.

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