The brushless DC motor with a permanent magnet rotor is considered for the present study. Because of the special structure of the motor, it produces a trapezoidal back electromotive force (EMF). The applied current waveform is rectangular-shaped. Non-ideal effects in the trapezoidal back EMF and motor currents generate a pulsating torque. The reduction of the torque ripple is important from a speed and position control point of view. In the present paper a brushless dc motor drive is simulated and analyzed using hysteresis, ramp comparison and predictive current control schemes. By comparing the results obtained using these techniques, advantages and disadvantages of each technique and its range of applications are discussed.