From classic rock to jazz to modern pop, these songs showcase the versatility and power of the snare drum. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll find something to love on this list. So grab your sticks and get ready to rock out to some of the most iconic snare drum songs in music history.

Led Zeppelin – When The Levee Breaks

If you are a fan of Led Zeppelin, you have probably heard the song “When The Levee Breaks” at least once. This classic track is one of the most iconic snare drum songs of all time, and for good reason.

The song’s snare drum beat is instantly recognizable from the beginning. John Bonham’s powerful and distinctive drumming is on full display, with a booming sound that perfectly complements the bluesy guitar riff. The snare drum’s unique sound was achieved by recording it in a stairwell, giving it a massive, booming quality.

The snare drum beat is the song’s backbone, driving the rhythm forward and giving it a sense of urgency. It’s a simple beat, but one that is incredibly effective. The song’s slow tempo allows the snare drum to really shine, with each hit feeling like a punch to the gut.

“When The Levee Breaks” has been covered by countless artists over the years, but none have been able to capture the raw power and energy of the original. It’s a testament to John Bonham’s incredible talent as a drummer and Led Zeppelin’s status as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

If you’re looking for a snare drum song to get your blood pumping and your head banging, look no further than “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin.

The Rolling Stones – Angie

If you’re a classic rock fan, you’ve probably heard The Rolling Stones’ hit song “Angie.” Released in 1973, the song features a hauntingly beautiful melody and poignant lyrics that have stood the test of time.

One of the standout features of “Angie” is the snare drum. The song opens with a simple, yet powerful snare drum beat that sets the tone for the rest of the song. Throughout the song, the snare drum is used to punctuate the lyrics and add emphasis to certain parts of the melody.

In addition to the snare drum, “Angie” features a variety of other percussion instruments, including tambourine, maracas, and congas. These instruments add depth and texture to the song, creating a rich and complex sound that is characteristic of The Rolling Stones’ music.

Overall, “Angie” is a great example of how the snare drum can be used to enhance a song and add emotional depth. Whether you’re a fan of classic rock or appreciate great music, this song is a good song to know.

Steve Miller Band – Take The Money And Run

If you’re looking for a classic rock song with a snappy snare drum beat, Steve Miller Band’s “Take The Money And Run” is a great choice. The song was released in 1976 and has since become a staple of classic rock radio.

The song’s snare drum beat is simple yet effective, driving the song forward and giving it a sense of urgency. The beat is played on a standard snare drum with the snares engaged, giving it a crisp, sharp sound. The beat is also accented with a crash cymbal, adding to the song’s energy.

In addition to the snare drum beat, “Take The Money And Run” features a catchy guitar riff and memorable lyrics. The song tells the story of two young lovers who rob a bank and go on the run from the law. The lyrics are playful and lighthearted, making the song a fun listen.

Overall, “Take The Money And Run” is a great example of how a simple snare drum beat can add energy and excitement to a song. Whether you’re a fan of classic rock or just looking for a catchy tune to get stuck in your head, this song is worth a listen.

Queen – Another One Bites The Dust

If you’re a fan of rock music, you’ve probably heard Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust.” This song is a classic example of a snare drum being used to create a catchy and memorable beat.

The snare drum is the driving force behind the song’s rhythm, with a simple but effective pattern that is instantly recognizable. The snare is played on every other beat, with the bass drum and hi-hat filling in the gaps.

The song’s producer, John Deacon, originally wrote the bass line for the song, but Freddie Mercury suggested that it be played on the bass guitar instead. This decision allowed the snare drum to take center stage and create the iconic beat that we all know and love.

In addition to its catchy rhythm, “Another One Bites The Dust” also features some impressive snare drum fills. These fills are used to transition between different sections of the song, adding a dynamic element to the overall sound.

Overall, “Another One Bites The Dust” is a great example of how a simple snare drum beat can make a huge impact on a song. Whether you’re a drummer or just a fan of great music, this song is definitely worth listening to.

The Beatles – Come Together

If you’re looking for a classic rock song with a killer snare drum beat, look no further than The Beatles’ “Come Together.” This iconic tune, written by John Lennon, features a driving rhythm section that will get your head nodding and your feet tapping.

The song opens with a simple but effective snare drum pattern, played by Ringo Starr. The beat is steady and insistent, providing the perfect foundation for the rest of the band to build upon. As the song progresses, the snare drum continues to play a prominent role, driving the song forward and adding to its overall energy.

One of the things that makes “Come Together” such a great snare drum song is the way that Ringo Starr uses the drum to accentuate different parts of the song. For example, during the verses, he plays a simple backbeat that emphasizes the downbeat of each measure. But during the chorus, he switches things up and plays a more complex pattern that helps to build the song’s intensity.

Overall, “Come Together” is a fantastic example of how a great snare drum beat can help to elevate a song to new heights. Whether you’re a fan of classic rock or just looking for some inspiration for your own drumming, this song is worth checking out.

U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday

If you’re a fan of U2, then you probably know that “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is one of their most popular songs. This track was released in 1983 and is still a fan favorite today. The song is known for its powerful lyrics and driving beat, anchored by a snare drum played with incredible precision.

The snare drum in “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is critical to the song’s overall sound. The drummer, Larry Mullen Jr., uses a marching band-style snare drum to create a powerful and precise sound. The snare drum is played with a marching band-style grip, which allows Mullen to create a crisp, sharp sound that cuts through the mix.

One of the most impressive things about the snare drum in “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is the way that it interacts with the rest of the instruments. The snare drum is used to create a driving rhythm that propels the song forward, and it works in perfect harmony with the bass and guitar to create a powerful and melodic sound.

Overall, “Sunday Bloody Sunday” is a fantastic example of how a snare drum can be used to create a powerful and memorable song. Whether you’re a fan of U2 or just a lover of great music, this track is worth checking out.

Dire Straits – Money For Nothing

If you’re looking for a classic rock song with an iconic snare drum beat, look no further than “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits. The song, released in 1985, features a driving drum beat that perfectly complements the catchy guitar riffs and clever lyrics.

The snare drum beat in “Money For Nothing” is instantly recognizable, thanks in part to the opening riff featuring a distinctive snare hit on each measure’s second and fourth beats. This beat sets the tone for the entire song, and is a perfect example of how a simple drum pattern can have a huge impact on the overall sound of a song.

Beyond the snare drum beat, “Money For Nothing” is also notable for its use of electronic drums, which were still a relatively new technology. The electronic drums add a futuristic sound to the song, and help to create a sense of energy and excitement that perfectly matches the lyrics.

Overall, “Money For Nothing” is a classic rock song that showcases the power of a well-crafted snare drum beat. Whether you’re a classic rock fan or appreciate a great drum groove, this song is worth listening to.

David Bowie – Let’s Dance

If you’re looking for a snare drum song to get you moving, look no further than David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Released in 1983, this hit single features a driving beat that’s impossible to resist.

The song’s infectious rhythm is anchored by a steady, pulsing snare drum that keeps the beat throughout. The snare is crisp and clean, with a bright, punchy sound that cuts through the mix.

But “Let’s Dance” isn’t just about the snare drum – the song’s production is a masterclass in creating a catchy pop hit. From the funky guitar riffs to the soaring saxophone solos, every element of the song comes together to create a perfect dancefloor anthem.

One of the most memorable parts of “Let’s Dance” is the song’s iconic opening riff, which features a distinctive snare drum roll that builds anticipation before launching into the main groove. It’s a simple but effective trick that sets the tone for the entire song.

Overall, “Let’s Dance” is a perfect example of how a great snare drum can elevate a song to new heights. Whether you’re a fan of David Bowie or just looking for a fun, upbeat track to dance to, this classic hit will surely get your feet moving.

The Ronettes – Be My Baby

If you’re looking for a classic snare drum sound, look no further than The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” This song, released in 1963, features one of rock and roll’s most recognizable drum intros.

The song opens with a simple but powerful snare drum beat, played by Hal Blaine. The beat is so iconic that it has been sampled in countless songs and used in numerous commercials and films.

But “Be My Baby” is more than just a great snare drum intro. The song is a masterpiece of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” production technique, with layers of instruments and vocals creating a lush and full sound.

The song’s lyrics, written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, are a plea for love and affection. Lead singer Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector) delivers the vocals with a mix of vulnerability and strength, making the song a timeless classic.

So if you want to hear one of the best snare drum sounds in rock and roll history, give The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” a listen. You won’t be disappointed.

Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight

If you’re looking for a song with a powerful and memorable snare drum beat, then look no further than Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight”. This classic song from the early 1980s is known for its iconic drum fill, which has been imitated and sampled countless times in popular music.

From the song’s introduction, you’ll hear the distinctive sound of the snare drum, which sets the mood and builds anticipation for what’s to come. As the song progresses, the snare drum becomes more and more prominent, driving the rhythm and adding intensity to the music.

One of the most memorable moments in “In The Air Tonight” is the drum fill about three minutes into the song. This fill features a series of powerful snare hits that are played with increasing intensity, leading up to a dramatic pause before the song’s climactic finale. This moment has become one of the most iconic in rock music history, and it’s a testament to the power of the snare drum in creating unforgettable moments in music.

Overall, “In The Air Tonight” is a great example of how the snare drum can create a sense of drama and excitement in a song. Whether you’re a drummer looking to learn a classic beat, or just a fan of great music, this song is worth checking out.

Metallica – Enter Sandman

If you’re a fan of metal music, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Metallica. The band has been around since the early 1980s and is known for its heavy riffs, pounding drums, and aggressive vocals. One of their most iconic songs is “Enter Sandman,” released in 1991 on their self-titled album, also known as “The Black Album.”

The song starts with a haunting guitar riff that builds up to the first verse. The lyrics are about the fear of falling asleep and having nightmares, a common theme in horror movies. The chorus is catchy and memorable, with James Hetfield’s vocals soaring over the heavy guitar and drum parts.

The snare drum in “Enter Sandman” is particularly noteworthy. Lars Ulrich’s drumming is tight and precise, with a steady beat that drives the song forward. The snare drum is used heavily throughout the song, providing a sharp and aggressive sound that complements the guitar riffs perfectly.

“Enter Sandman” is a classic metal song that has stood the test of time. It’s been covered by countless bands and is still a staple of Metallica’s live shows. If you’re a fan of heavy music, you owe it to yourself to listen to this song.

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit

If you’re looking for a classic snare drum song, look no further than Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This iconic grunge anthem features a driving drumbeat that’s impossible to ignore, with Dave Grohl’s snare drum leading the charge.

The song’s intro starts with a simple, yet instantly recognizable drum pattern that sets the tone for the rest of the song. As the song progresses, the snare drum becomes even more prominent, driving its energy forward and adding to its overall intensity.

One of the most interesting things about the snare drum in “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is its use of ghost notes. These notes are played very softly, almost as if they’re being whispered, adding a subtle layer of complexity to the drumbeat. If you listen closely, you can hear them throughout the song, adding to the overall texture of the drum part.

Overall, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a great example of how a snare drum can create a powerful and memorable drum part. Whether you’re a fan of grunge music or appreciate great drumming, this song is worth a listen.

Aerosmith – Walk This Way

If you’re looking for a classic rock song with a killer snare drum beat, look no further than Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” This song is a rock radio staple covered by countless artists.

The snare drum in “Walk This Way” is instantly recognizable, thanks to the iconic intro that sets the song’s tone. The beat is simple but effective, with a driving backbeat that propels the song forward.

As the song progresses, the snare drum plays a prominent role, providing a steady rhythm that keeps the song grounded. The drummer, Joey Kramer, shows off his skills with some impressive fills and accents throughout the song, but always keeps sight of the groove.

Overall, “Walk This Way” is a great example of how a simple snare drum beat can make a huge impact on a song. It’s a classic rock song that still sounds fresh and exciting today, and the snare drum is a big part of what makes it so memorable.

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

If you’re a fan of rock music, you’ve probably heard “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. This iconic song features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in modern music history, but it’s the snare drum that really drives the beat.

The snare drum in “Seven Nation Army” is simple but effective. It’s played with a steady, marching-like rhythm that gives the song a sense of urgency and momentum. The snare drum also creates tension and release throughout the song, with drummer Meg White adding fills and accents in all the right places.

One of the most interesting things about the snare drum in “Seven Nation Army” is that it’s played with brushes instead of sticks. This gives the snare drum a softer, more muted sound that blends in well with the rest of the instruments.

Overall, “Seven Nation Army” is a great example of how a simple snare drum beat can create a powerful and memorable song. Whether you’re a drummer looking to learn some new techniques or just a fan of great music, this song is worth checking out.

Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine

Are you a fan of classic rock? Then you must have heard of Guns N’ Roses. Their song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is one of the most iconic rock songs ever, featuring an unforgettable snare drum intro.

The song starts with a simple drum beat and gradually builds to the iconic snare drum riff. The snare drum is the song’s backbone, driving the rhythm and keeping the energy high. The snare drum is played with a distinctive, sharp sound, which adds to the song’s intensity.

The snare drum is not just prominent in the intro, but it also plays a crucial role in the song’s chorus. The chorus features a powerful drum fill that leads into the guitar solo. The snare drum helps to create a sense of anticipation and excitement, building up to the guitar solo’s climax.

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” is a classic rock song showcasing the snare drum’s power. The song’s iconic snare drum riff has been imitated and copied countless times, making it one of the most recognizable drum beats of all time..

Sting – Fields Of Gold

Are you looking for a snare drum song to make you feel nostalgic? Look no further than Sting’s “Fields of Gold.” This song features a simple yet powerful snare drum beat that perfectly complements the acoustic guitar and Sting’s smooth vocals.

The song’s intro first introduces the snare drum with a simple and steady beat. As the song progresses, the snare drum becomes more prominent, adding depth and emotion to the melody. The snare drum accentuates the chorus, creating a memorable and captivating sound.

One of the unique features of this song is the use of brushes on the snare drum. This creates a softer and more intimate sound, adding to the nostalgic and reflective tone of the song.

Overall, “Fields of Gold” is a beautiful and timeless snare drum song showcasing this instrument’s power and versatility. Whether you’re a fan of Sting or just looking for a new snare drum song to add to your playlist, this song is worth a listen.

AC/DC – Back In Black

If you’re looking for a snare drum song that will get your blood pumping, AC/DC’s “Back In Black” is a great choice. The song’s driving beat, courtesy of drummer Phil Rudd, is the perfect backdrop for Angus Young’s iconic guitar riffs and Brian Johnson’s powerful vocals.

One of the things that makes “Back In Black” such a great snare drum song is how Rudd uses the snare to create a sense of urgency and momentum. The song’s main riff is built around a simple but effective snare pattern that drives the song forward and gives it a sense of forward motion.

Another thing that makes “Back In Black” a great snare drum song is how Rudd uses the hi-hat and bass drum to create a sense of groove and swing. The song’s main riff is built around a simple but effective groove anchored by the hi-hat and bass drum, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the band to build on.

Overall, “Back In Black” is an excellent example of how a simple but effective snare drum pattern can help to drive a song forward and create a sense of urgency and momentum. Whether you’re a fan of AC/DC or just looking for a great snare drum song to add to your playlist, “Back In Black” is worth checking out.

Bruno Mars – Locked Out Of Heaven

Are you looking for a snare drum song that will make you want to dance? Look no further than Bruno Mars’s hit song “Locked Out Of Heaven.” This upbeat track features a driving rhythm section that will have you tapping your foot and nodding your head in no time.

The snare drum plays a crucial role in “Locked Out Of Heaven,” providing the backbone of the beat. The snare is used to accentuate the backbeat, which is a hallmark of many popular songs. The snare also adds a sharp, percussive sound to the mix, giving the song an added layer of complexity.

One of the most impressive aspects of the snare drum part in “Locked Out Of Heaven” is its simplicity. The beat is relatively straightforward, but it’s played with such precision and energy that it becomes infectious. The snare drum is mixed prominently in the song, so you can really hear the nuances of the part.

Overall, “Locked Out Of Heaven” is an excellent example of how the snare drum can create a catchy, danceable beat. Whether you’re a drummer looking for inspiration or just a fan of great music, this song is worth a listen.

R.E.M. – Losing My Religion

If you’re looking for a classic snare drum sound, look no further than R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion”. The song features a driving beat anchored by a crisp, snappy snare drum.

One of the things that makes the snare drum sound in “Losing My Religion” so distinctive is that it’s played with brushes instead of sticks. This gives the snare a softer, more delicate sound that perfectly complements the song’s melancholy vibe.

The snare drum is also used to great effect in the song’s chorus, which features a series of rapid-fire snare hits that add a sense of urgency and tension to the music.

Overall, “Losing My Religion” is a great example of how a simple, well-executed snare drum sound can elevate a song to new heights. Whether you’re a fan of R.E.M. or just a lover of great music, this song is worth a listen.

Toto – Rosanna

If you’re looking for a classic snare drum song, Toto’s “Rosanna” is worth a listen. This song was released in 1982 on their “Toto IV” album and has become one of their most popular hits.

The song features a driving beat with a prominent snare drum rhythm that stands out. Jeff Porcaro, the drummer for Toto, was known for his precise and powerful playing, and “Rosanna” is a great example of his skills.

In addition to the snare drum, “Rosanna” also features some great guitar work and catchy lyrics, making it a fun and memorable song. Other artists have covered the song over the years, and it remains a favorite among fans of classic rock.

Overall, if you’re a fan of snare drum-heavy songs, “Rosanna” is one to add to your playlist. Its infectious beat and catchy lyrics will surely get you tapping your foot and singing along.

Prince – Kiss

If you’re looking for a song with a snare drum that packs a punch, look no further than Prince’s “Kiss”. This 1986 hit features a snare drum that is crisp, tight, and perfectly in sync with the funky bassline. The snare drum is played with a quick, staccato rhythm that grooves the song.

As soon as the song starts, you’ll tap your foot and nod your head to the beat. The snare drum is so infectious that you won’t be able to resist it. The song is a masterclass in minimalist funk, with every element of the arrangement playing a crucial role in creating the overall sound.

The snare drum in “Kiss” is essential to the rhythm section and plays a key role in the song’s melody. The snare drum hits on the backbeat, creating a syncopated, catchy, and danceable rhythm. It’s a perfect example of how a simple drum pattern can elevate a song.

Overall, “Kiss” is a fantastic example of how a snare drum can create a distinctive sound and groove. Prince’s use of the snare drum in this song is a testament to his incredible musicianship and ability to craft memorable and timeless songs.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop

If you’re looking for a song with a killer snare drum beat, you can’t go wrong with “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This song features a driving rhythm that will get your head nodding and your feet tapping.

The snare drum in “Can’t Stop” is particularly noteworthy because it is played with precision and intensity. The drummer, Chad Smith, is known for his powerful style and shines on this track.

One of the things that makes the snare drum in “Can’t Stop” so compelling is the way it is mixed into the song. The snare is placed front and center in the mix, giving it much presence and power. This is especially true during the chorus, where the snare drives the song forward.

Overall, “Can’t Stop” is a great example of how a well-played snare drum can elevate a song to the next level. If you’re a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, or just looking for some great snare drum beats to listen to, then be sure to check out “Can’t Stop.”

The Police – Every Breath You Take

If you’re looking for a classic snare drum sound, you can’t go wrong with The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” This song, released in 1983, features a simple yet iconic drum pattern that has become a staple of modern music.

The song opens with a snare drum hit followed by a hi-hat, creating a driving rhythm that propels the song forward. The snare drum is the backbone of the song, providing a steady, powerful and precise beat.

Stewart Copeland, the drummer for The Police, is known for his unique style and innovative use of percussion. In “Every Breath You Take,” he uses the snare drum to create a sense of urgency and tension, building to a dramatic climax in the chorus.

The song’s simplicity is part of its appeal, and the snare drum is a key component of that simplicity. It’s a perfect example of how a well-placed snare hit can elevate a song to new heights.

Whether you’re a fan of The Police or appreciate great drumming, “Every Breath You Take” is a must-listen. So turn up the volume and let the snare drum take you away.

Sly And The Family Stone – Family Affair

If you’re looking for a song that features a snare drum with a unique sound, then “Family Affair” by Sly and the Family Stone is a must-listen. This song was released in 1971 and quickly hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The snare drum in “Family Affair” has a distinctive sound that is achieved by using a combination of techniques. The drummer, Greg Errico, played the snare drum with brushes, which helped to create a softer and more muted sound. The snare drum was also dampened, reducing the volume and creating a more muffled sound.

In addition to the snare drum, “Family Affair” features a variety of other percussion instruments, including a tambourine and a conga drum. These instruments work together to create a unique and memorable rhythm that perfectly complements the soulful vocals of Sly Stone.

Overall, “Family Affair” is a great example of how a snare drum can be used to create a distinctive sound that adds to the overall feel of a song. If you’re a fan of soulful music with a unique rhythm, then this song is worth adding to your playlist.

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

If you’re looking for one of the most iconic snare drum intros ever, look no further than Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” The song’s opening drumbeat is instantly recognizable and has been sampled countless times since its release in 1983.

The snare drum in “Billie Jean” is played with a tight, crisp sound that cuts through the mix and provides the backbone for the song’s groove. The beat is deceptively simple, with a steady backbeat on beats two and four, but the subtle variations and ghost notes give the drum part its unique flavor.

One of the most exciting aspects of the snare drum in “Billie Jean” is the use of reverb. The drum sound is drenched in a large, spacious reverb that gives it a sense of depth and power. This effect was achieved by recording the snare drum in a large room with high ceilings, which allowed the sound to reverberate and create a natural sense of space.

Overall, “Billie Jean” is a classic example of how a simple snare drum part can have a huge impact on a song. The beat is instantly recognizable and has become a staple of pop music drumming. Studying the snare drum part in “Billie Jean” is a great place to start if you want to improve your drumming skills.

You May Also Like:

• 25 Best Jazz Drum Songs (With Tabs + Videos)
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• The 25 Best Drum Songs of All Time 
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Whether you prefer the smooth stylings of Duke Ellington or the classic jazz of John Coltrane, there’s something from all the biggest names in jazz on this list. Check it out!

1. “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet

When Dave Brubeck of the eponymous Dave Brubeck Quartet came up with the inspiration for “Take Five,” he did so because he thought jazz at the time wasn’t as adventurous or rhythmically challenging anymore. 

Well, he sure solved that problem with the creation of this song! This track on the 1959 album Time Out really showcases musical excellence. The drum fills here don’t follow the main rhythm of the song, venturing off on their own to lend the tune a distinct sound that surely matched Brubeck’s vision. 

2. “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman

“Sing, Sing, Sing” is one of the best-known jazz songs, as it’s appeared in films such as 1936’s After the Thin Man, 1995’s Casino, 2003’s Bright Young Things, 2015’s The Wedding Ringer, and 2022’s Don’t Worry Darling. Combining elements of swing and jazz, it’s one of the most iconic songs ever recorded.

It also has some pervasive, pounding drums that lend the song its entire electric atmosphere. The 112-beat-per-minute pace of the tune sounds slower than what your ears hear but keeps the track just danceable enough. 

3. “Caravan” by Duke Ellington 

The beloved jazz classic hit “Caravan” by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol has a variety of styles intermingling into one supersonic adventure. The drums, originally played by Sonny Greer, have a pulsating feel that punctuates the slick brass section.

The song switches between smooth jazz and elements of swing, vacillating between the two with such ease that it only seems right that this is an Ellington song, as he’s a jazz master. It’s an adventure to listen to on the drums and just as fun to play. 

4. “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is a John Coltrane record with a song of the same name. It’s a unique one because it’s split into four parts. Part 1, “Acknowledgement,” is nearly eight minutes long, while Part 2, “Resolution,” is seven and a half minutes long.

The third part, “Pursuance,” is combined with Part 4, “Psalm,” and is altogether nearly 18 minutes. As you get lost in the immersive, lengthy listening experience, one can’t neglect praising the incredible drum work of Elvin Jones, who also handled timpani and gong duties on the track.

The sheer stamina of Jones to play for 30 minutes across four distinct tracks is amazing! 

5. “Moanin’” by Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers 

Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers deserve a spot on this list for the soulful, jazzy tune “Moanin,’” released in 1959 off the eponymous album. The nearly 10-minute song follows a call-and-response format while the drums hold steady so the brass instruments can shine. 

The attractive drum rhythm, although it’s mostly simple, holds this song together and allows each instrument to venture out and respond to one another so you can enjoy the sonic symphony inspired by Charles Mingus and Horace Silver. 

6. “Spain” by Chick Corea

The track “Spain” is off Chick Corea’s award-winning album Light as a Feather, which received two Grammy noms (for Best Instrument Performance by a Group and Best Instrumental Arrangement) and one Grammy win for Best Instrumental Arrangement. 

The almost 10-minute track starts off slow and picks up. It’s around the three-minute mark where the drums kick in, invoking more drama and pacing to the tune and grounding it. It’s easy to lose yourself in the entire rhythm of the song, which is smoothly augmented by the drums but never dominated by them.

Even when the song has more hi-hats than gentle drum pattering, the drums blend in smoothly and keep the track chugging along. 

7. “Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk 

Next, we have “Straight, No Chaser,” the first of several Thelonious Monk songs that will appear on this list of the best jazz drum songs. Released off the album of the same name, “Straight, No Chaser” is a 10-minute, twelve-bar song with jazz and blues stylings in a beautiful marriage.

The chromatic melody is a Monk staple. Although it’s a shorter song, clocking in at under three minutes, it’s got jaunty drums in a light tip-tap ambiance that entreats the true spirit of jazz. It’s not a challenging song to sit behind the kit and play if you’re interested in learning! 

8. “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane

“Giant Steps” by John Coltrane, released on the 1960 album of the same name, is a near-five-minute track that follows a cyclic chord pattern that later became characterized as one of several Coltrane changes, which are shifts in harmonic progression.

The song is a speedy one, achieving 300 BPM, and switches keys three times, going from B major to G major and later, E♭ major. It was once called “the most feared song in jazz” because it’s so technically challenging even though it’s so nice to listen to.  

9. “In a Silent Way” by Miles Davis

The Miles Davis hit, “In a Silent Way,” undoubtedly must be on this list. The 20-minute avant-garde jazz number, released on an album of the same name, was part of Davis’s electric phase. The song begins with ambient guitar and really wakes up around the four-minute mark.

It’s then that the jazz flavor shines deliciously. The song slows down, picks up again, and slows down some more. Every instrumentalist on the track deserves acclaim for playing expertly across 20 minutes, but we quite admire the drums, which have a beautiful rhythm that acts as this song’s glue.

10. “Blue Train” by John Coltrane

Another jazz drum classic from Coltrane comes courtesy of the 1958 album Blue Train and the eponymous song. This jazz standard combines both minor and major qualities by using the minor and major third simultaneously. It’s another wise musical move by a man that made many of them. 

Besides the unique qualities of the song, there’s also the length, which is nearly 11 minutes. It’s for both those reasons that we declare this one of the best jazz drum songs in existence. Turn it on and let yourself drift away to a simpler time through this everlasting hit. 

11. “All Blues” by Miles Davis

We must give another nod to the all-time blues great Miles Davis with the inclusion of the song “All Blues.” This track from Kind of Blue features twelve-bar blues in 6/8. This track is also a mixolydian.

Jimmy Cobb played the drums on this track, a member of the First Great Sextet with Davis. This 11-minute track shows off his instrumental mastery and command over the sticks. The drums are as smooth as butter, a soft, inclusive sound across the duration of the song and part of what makes “All Blues” so enduringly great.

12. “Afro Blue” by John Coltrane

“Afro Blue” is a song originally recorded by Mongo Santamaria in 1959 as part of the Cal Tjader Sextet. There was another version that same year with vocals written by Oscar Brown and recorded by Abbey Lincoln. Then there’s the Coltrane version in 1963, which features his trusty drummer Elvin Jones.

Jones decided to try the song on drums differently from how Santamaria had done it. He superimposed dual cross-beats over the ¾ waltz measures. In other words, Jones and Coltrane took the metric hierarchy of the original version and reversed it. Pretty smart stuff! 

13. “Bemsha Swing” by Thelonious Monk  

Thelonious Monk’s collaboration with Denzil Best, a jazz composer and percussionist, resulted in “Bemsha Swing,” sometimes spelled “Bimsha Swing.” The alternate name refers to Bimshire or Barbados, where Best’s family hails from. 

The sixteen-bar track follows AABA form. One section, the A-section, uses four bars and adds tones used in parallel minor C scales but transposed to add a B section. The swinging, jazzy song is a true masterpiece of the genre, with a catchy rhythm and plenty of hi-hats that sound great.

14. “Naima” by John Coltrane

Another track from John Coltrane’s Giant Steps album that deserves a spot as one of the best jazz drum songs of all time is “Naima.” The track is named after Juanita Naima Grubbs, Coltrane’s wife at the time. It’s one of the best-known songs in his vast catalog.

The original track expands over four-and-a-half minutes, a smooth, melodic ride with drums keeping pace at 171 BPM. Coltrane has recorded “Naima” many a time, again in 1961, 1966, 1977, 1997, and as recently as 2019. The song gets better every time! 

15. “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane 

Arguably one of the most enduring jazz songs–actually, one of the most enduring songs, period–is “My Favorite Things.” The Coltrane version doesn’t talk about whiskers on kittens or cream-colored ponies, but expands upon the original, as this track is 14 minutes.

Coltrane plays in an E minor. The drums back up this song and help it achieve jazz supremacy, so of course we had to spotlight it here. By the way, if you’re wondering when the song became a Christmas tune, that appears to have happened in the 1960s.

16. “So What” by Miles Davis 

Another Jimmy Cobb and Miles Davis masterpiece is “So What” from the critically acclaimed 1959 record Kind of Blue. The first track on the album, this nine-minute tune sets the mood for what’s to come. Following the Dorian mode of modal jazz, the song uses sixteen bars first of D Dorian, then eight bars of E♭ Dorian, then another eight of the original D Dorian.

The intro starts heavily with bass and piano before transitioning into the other instruments, including that sweet drumming by Cobb. The original recording has a mild 134 BPM tempo, but if you ever listen to this track live, you’ll notice that Davis and his backing band sped up the tempo considerably. 

17. “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan

The jazz standard “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan comes from one of the biggest names in hard bop from the 1960s. The album of the same year from 1963 starts with this 10-minute track, which Morgan named after television villains more than he did the snake.

The jazz tune with its bouncy drums switches to a minor chord between bars 17 and 18. Billy Higgins plays drums on the commercially viable tune. He’s worked with many jazz greats, from Gene Ammons to Gary Bartz, Donald Byrd, and Don Cherry. 

18. “West Coast Blues” by Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery was godlike on jazz guitar, which explains why he named the album on which “West Coast Blues” appears The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery. While we love a good jazz guitar as much as any other music fan, the drums deserve their share of the spotlight on this track.

Albert Heath plays drums on this seven-and-a-half-minute track as he does on the entire album. Nicknamed Tootie, Heath specializes in hard jazz bops, which comes through loud and clear on his superb jazz drumming work in “West Coast Blues.” 

19. “C-Jam Blues” by Duke Ellington 

Whether you’ve heard Ellington’s original or the endless stream of covers from other artists over the years (from Charles Mingus to Oscar Peterson), “C-Jam Blues” is an Ellington original released in the early 1940s. The C in “C-Jam Blues” likely comes from the C note that’s prominently featured throughout. The other note that comprises the melody is G.

Although the recorded version is nice to listen to, when playing it live, Ellington and his crew often used the solos as a chance for improv. It was there that you would hear the drums and other instruments shine their brightest! 

20. “Blues March” by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

The original version of the regal, urgent-sounding “Blues March” is credited to Benny Golson for a Blue Mitchell album. The jazz standard got put on the map by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, so even though theirs isn’t the first, some argue it’s the best. You’ll have to listen for yourself to decide! 

The song follows 4/4 time, switching from meter form to regular time in line with the marching bands from New Orleans that inspired the creation of the tune. The separation between the various sections of the harmony allows for improv when played live, and the song invokes the period in which it emerged.

21. “St. Thomas” by Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins is a tenor saxophonist whose top tune also happens to be one of the best examples of jazz drumming, “St. Thomas.” The 1950s jazz song is inspired by “The Lincolnshire Poacher,” an English song, and “Sponger Money,” a Bahamas folksong. The former song was a nursery song Rollins heard as a child.

This upbeat track at 111 BPM is led by saxophone solos and steady percussion throughout that drives the song forward and gives it momentum. About midway through the nearly seven-minute track has a drum solo. Yes, you read that right, a drum solo! 

22. “Killer Joe” by Quincy Jones

The sly track “Killer Joe” by Quincy Jones is next on our list. Grady Tate played drums on this track (although not the rest of the tunes on the album in which “Killer Joe” appears, the 1969 album Walking in Space). Tate specialized in jazz and soul jazz and recorded a lot of music as a leader.

The five-minute song is pure jazz perfection. The drumming follows with the chill bassline, keeping in time. The smooth vocals pull you in even further, making this song a truly delightful listening experience and a good track if you’re looking to get into drums and want to play jazz standards. 

23. “Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker 

The Charlie Parker composition “Now’s the Time” from the mid-1940s is admittedly a simpler song for Parker, who wanted to dig deep into his jazz roots from his home of Kansas City. The man nicknamed “Yardbird” kept the tune bluesy, jazzy, and riff-heavy with some bebop, especially between bars five and six.

The song features Max Roach on drums, whose work comes into play at around the two-and-a-half-minute mark with a small but impactful drum solo. It’s a great ending note for the song, which only goes on for about three minutes, and sticks in your brain as the highlight of the track. 

24. “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock

The jazz composition “Watermelon Man” is from Herbie Hancock’s debut Takin’ Off, released in 1962. This hard bopper features legendary jazz drummer Billy Higgins on percussion. The song rose to the top of the blues charts upon its release, so we’re not the only ones who think the drumming (and the rest of the instrumentation, of course) is top-notch!

The sixteen-bar song has influences of blues and jazz interlaced and is named after Chicago’s watermelon men wheeling around a wagon on cobblestone streets. The rhythm of wheels on cobblestones inspired the song. A version by Mongo Santamaria with Latin influences was later released. 

25. “Manteca” by Dizzy Gillespie 

To wrap up our list, we have “Manteca” by Dizzy Gillespie. This song was co-written by Gillespie with Gil Fuller and Chano Pozo in 1947. A great example (and one of the earliest) of Afro-Cuban jazz, the jazz standard has so much life and bounce to it that it’s a delight to listen to again and again.

Across six minutes, the percussion blasts while the brass instrumentation glides. The eight-bar trumpet bridge is all Gillespie while Pozo added the ingenious drum patterns. The result is an iconic song that appeared on an album that The Village Voice once called one of the most important in the US. 

The following 25 songs are utter masterpieces because they let the guy behind the sticks get some time in the limelight. Here’s our list of the best songs with drum solos. Let’s get started!

1. “Moby Dick” by Led Zeppelin

“Moby Dick” is the first of several Zeppelin songs we’ll look at today. John Bonham is one of the most legendary drummers in the history of percussion, so it makes sense that he was given so many drum solos across Zep’s awesome and timeless discography.

The drum solo on “Moby Dick” kicks in about a minute into the song and is atmospheric, pulsating, and just plain impressive. It’s sort of like closing your eyes while fireworks are exploding and just listening. Bonham’s drum solo really makes this one of Zep’s best tunes!

If you want to play a drum solo of your own, check out the drum tabs to “Moby Dick” here. 

2. “Toad” by Cream

“Toad” is an instrumental from Cream on the band’s debut album Fresh Cream, which came out in 1966. The five-minute track relents to the drums about a minute in, offering Ginger Baker the chance to do his thing. That’s exactly what he proceeds to do for the next three and a half minutes. 

That’s right, almost the entirety of “Toad” is a drum solo. Sure, the other instruments come in toward the end to bring the song to its ultimate crescendo, but really, it’s an ode to Baker and his sterling percussion work. 

3. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly

Iron Butterfly’s breed of psychedelic rock left a lot of room for experimentation. Just take the track “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which means “the garden of life.” The track is 17 minutes long and talks about the biblical meeting of Adam and Eve. With such a sprawling track length, there’s indeed room for a drum solo.

Ron Bushy shows off his percussion chops for four minutes of the 17-minute track, so he definitely gets his time. His solo was so well received that Ringo Starr’s drum solo on “The End” was inspired by “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” 

Although it’s not an easy song to play by any means between the drum solo and the sheer length, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” sure is a rewarding one. Check out the tabs here. 

4. “The End” by The Beatles

The connection between “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” and “The End” is quite interesting, wouldn’t you say? Here’s another interesting fact: this was the last tune the Beatles recorded together, which makes the name that much more poignant.

Unlike “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” which had a long enough track length to have room for a drum solo, “The End” is only two-and-a-half minutes. Nevertheless, Ringo Starr gets his share of the spotlight. The drum solo might not be four minutes, but it’s distinct enough that it makes this historic track all the better.

Learn to play along by following the drum tabs here. 

5. “YYZ” by Rush

Rush is a rock band known for its drum solos, as several tunes in the band’s discography feature isolated percussion moments from famous drummer Neil Peart. One of those is in “YYZ,” a heavy-hitting instrumental track.

The four-and-a-half-minute track features some of Peart’s best work. We know we’re focusing on drums in this article, but the sharp instrumentation from Geddy Lee has also been called among his best, so altogether, this song is just an in-your-face sonic assault, but in the best way possible, of course.

Check out the drum tabs here if you’re up for a real challenge! 

6. “Wipe Out” by The Surfaris

In the category of songs everyone knows, there’s “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris. This surf rock classic is the audio equivalent of the sensation of riding the crest of the tallest wave, and it’s all due to the amazing percussion heard throughout this short but incredible tune. 

The best moment for drum fans is around the one-minute, eight-second mark when that impeccable drum solo begins. The pace goes up a notch, the guitar riffs shorten, and for maybe 20 or 25 seconds or so, the drums are the star of the show. Then it all happens again no fewer than 30 seconds later.

You’ll get your daily workout in learning to play “Wipe Out,” but here are the tabs. 

7. “Aja” by Steely Dan

Is it fair to say that Steve Gadd changed the shape of the musical landscape with his drum solo on the Steely Dan song “Aja” from the eponymous album? Yes, we think so! This eight-minute, jazz-inspired song features an insane drum solo that you have to hear to believe.

Gadd did the solo in two takes that were edited together into one impressive solo. However, he didn’t have a part, per se. He was asked to come up with one on the fly, and after being told to “play like hell,” Gadd more than did his duty. 

8. “Dance of Eternity” by Dream Theater

Known in full as “Scene Seven: 1. The Dance of Eternity,” the Dream Theater track better known as “Dance of Eternity” features utter magic by drummer Mike Portnoy. The song is already amazing enough considering it has 108 time signature shifts across six minutes and 14 seconds.

Then you get to the drum solo. This instrumental song gets taken to new heights due to Portnoy’s pounding solo, which demands your attention and makes this song much more impactful for spotlighting the percussion. 

We’ve got the drum tabs here if you think you can keep up with this complex song! 

9. “Soul Sacrifice” by Santana

Of course, we have to include some Santana on this list, namely “Soul Sacrifice,” an instrumental that goes down in history as one of the best parts of the 1969 Woodstock festival. Santana is an amazing guitarist, truly one of the greats, so it takes a lot to keep up with him, but that’s exactly what percussionist Michael Shrieve does.

This song is essentially one giant drum solo. Sure, it features other instruments across six and a half minutes, but there’s really only one you’re thinking about the entire time you’re listening, and that’s the drums. 

You can perform your own Woodstock-worthy rendition of “Soul Sacrifice” by following along to the drum tabs here. 

10. “La Villa Strangiato” by Rush

Here’s another Rush track with a drum solo, “La Villa Strangiato” from the 1978 album Hemispheres. This song, which is 10 minutes and an instrumental, has 12 segments or parts. Neil Peart contributed to writing the music, which is perhaps why he ended up with the drum solo. Either way, we’re glad he did!

The solo starts at around the six-and-a-half-minute mark and is truly the stuff that prog rock dreams are made of. The guitar and bass ease back so Peart’s drumming prowess can show off to the fullest extent. 

You can learn the drum solo with the tabs here. 

11. “Keep Yourself Alive” by Queen

Queen has so many incredible songs in its discography, but for drum lovers, “Keep Yourself Alive” is one of the best. This track from the self-titled album Queen is a hard, aurally pleasing adventure across four minutes, but we’re talking about it because of the drum solo, so let’s dive in.

The solo starts at around the two-minute, 20-second mark, and although it’s not the longest thing, it’s a great interlude into the second half of this rock classic. You can learn to play like the greats with the drum tab for “Keep Yourself Alive” right here.

12. “Whiplash” by Metallica

We’re spotlighting “Whiplash” by Metallica from the rock masterpiece Kill ‘Em All because of its incredibly crazy, impressive percussion. Lars Ulrich has a lot of amazing songs on his resume, but this might be one of the top. The nonstop, blistering pace of the song, when combined with the moments of drum solo-age, creates a song that will give you, well whiplash.

The solos are blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments where the sonic wall of instrumentation relents, but they’re impactful moments, nevertheless. They give the chorus that oomph and grab your ear, not letting go until the song concludes after four minutes.

You can learn how to play this metal classic by reviewing the tabs here. 

13. “One Word” by Mahavishnu Orchestra 

The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a 1970s group from New York City. Billy Cobman was the man behind the kits during the release of “One Word,” a sprawling, 10-minute track with a pretty killer drum solo, if we say! The solo kicks in at about six minutes.

The drums tip and tap as though creating a military cadence, then pick up the pace, eventually matching the top tempo of this tune, which is 118 beats per minute. The drums get nearly three minutes of solo time, and you can bet that Billy Cobman uses every second. If you’ve never heard this drum solo, go ahead and treat yourself today! 

14. “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman

One of the most cherished jazz songs that has prevailed to modern times and is still just as beloved today is the Benny Goodman classic “Sing, Sing, Sing.” You might not recognize it by the title alone, but as soon as you hear a few seconds of it, you’ll instantly know it. 

This thumping song is punctuated by a heavy drum solo about midway through the five-minute track. The drums shine on this entire track with their pulsing feel, but the addition of the drum solo really gives this instrument its rightful place to shine. 

Although it’s not tonally the same as the other songs on this list, we had to include it because of its amazing percussion! 

15. “Eruption” by Van Halen

Perhaps the shortest song on our list of the best drum solos is “Eruption” by Van Halen. This instrumental comes in at just shy of two minutes long. You might wonder where there’s room for a drum solo in a track that short, but don’t worry, it’s there.

This song also has a supersonic guitar solo, so there are a lot of solos to love in such a short track. That solo is regarded as one of the best of all time, which is typical of guitar solos, but is just another reason to check out this track.

If you’d rather play instead of listen, you won’t want to miss the drum tab right here. 

16. “New World Man” by Rush

The hit single “New World Man” from Rush’s album Signals ended up topping the Canadian charts (where the band is from) yet was added impromptu to lengthen the album. Its massive popularity might have to do with the inclusion of a drum solo.

Interestingly, the synths get a lot of love on this track too, as they’re credited as being part of what made this song so appealing to the masses. We still think it’s the drum solo and Neil Peart’s awesome skills on the kit even when he’s not receiving the spotlight. 

You can practice along to “New World Man” with these tabs.  

17. “The Rover” by Led Zeppelin

Exceptionally heavy-hitting, here’s another Zep song that made room for John Bonham (in what we must say is quite a smart decision), “The Rover” from the 1975 smash hit album Physical Graffiti. 

The prominent pulsating of the drums is the standout on “The Rover,” along with Jimmy Page’s incredible guitar. The song has never been played live in its entirety, so the only way to relive the classic percussion on this track is to spin a record or stream it. It’s always worth it to hear those spectacular drums. 

You can also recreate the song yourself with these tabs. 

18. “Apache” by The Shadows

The familiar riffage of “Apache” by The Shadows pulls you in, and the percussive mastery of Brian Bennett keeps you there. This English group shows its stuff on the track, especially Bennett around the one-minute, 35-second mark. 

That’s when you can hear the riling drum solo. Combined with the jangly guitars that invoke the feelings of a John Wayne western, this is one of those songs you’ll play again and again. It’s the band’s biggest hit for a reason! 

Here are the tabs so you can play like a pro. 

19. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon

Paul Simon’s hit “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” from 1975’s Still Crazy After All These Years is an upbeat-sounding song about a very somber topic: divorce. The melody swings into a drum solo quite naturally around the one-minute, 50-second mark of this track. 

For a few blissful moments, it’s just Simon’s vocals and the drums, which jangle along with the vocals. The understated approach drives home that this isn’t the world’s happiest song despite what it sounds like. Then the song resumes its cheery chorus, and all is right. 

20. “Tom Sawyer” by Rush

The last Rush song we’ll look at is “Tom Sawyer,” which is the best-known track from the legendary Canadian prog rock band. This song has some five-star drum fills, but it’s the solo we can’t stop oohing and aahing about. It makes what is already a very good song an absolutely unforgettable one. 

Peart received a poem called “Louis the Lawyer” that inspired the lyrical story of Tom Sawyer featured in the eponymous song, so Peart was more than a drum machine, but a vital part of making the song happen. Us music fans are eternally grateful! 

You can bang along on the kit to “Tom Sawyer” with these drum tabs. 

21. “In My Time of Dying” by Led Zeppelin

One of the more serious songs in the Led Zeppelin catalog (at least lyrically) is undoubtedly “In My Time of Dying,” another hit track from Physical Graffiti. It’s an expanded tune that stretches across 10 minutes. In between the Jimmy Page guitar solos, there are a few John Bonham solos. 

The song may be a cover (of a song also known as “Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed”), but Zeppelin works magic on this original gospel track, making it a rock-and-roller with solos galore. Bonham’s drums sound that much more impactful because of the reverb effect on the kit. 

You can learn how to drum to “In My Time of Dying” with the tabs here. 

22. “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin

Continuing our list of Led Zeppelin songs with the best drum solos, next is “Fool in the Rain” from In Through the Out Door. This song becomes a full-on mambo at around the two-minute, 30-second mark, which is quite an interesting inclusion, even for Zeppelin. 

John Bonham’s ultra-powerful drums pound and hammer to the whistles and fast pace of the mambo beat. Then, about a minute later, it’s back to business as usual as the song’s main riff kicks in. This versatility proves just how good Zeppelin–and especially Bonham–were and are! 

Of course we’ve got drum tabs if you’re interested in playing this song! 

23. “Good Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin

One of the most distinct songs on Led Zeppelin I is “Good Times Bad Times.” It’s classic Zep at its finest across an accessible three-minute track. Each member of the band shines like a diamond, but we have to give it to John Bonham specifically for his work on this tune. 

His pulsing drum solo interlaid with Jimmy Page’s guitar work gives this song a hard edge that will never go out of style. You can learn to play this tune behind the kit by following along with this drum tab.  

24. “The Lemon Song” by Led Zeppelin

Okay, we’ve got one more Led Zeppelin song with a drum solo, and that’s “The Lemon Song” from Led Zeppelin II. This song with its sexually supercharged lyrics has some incredible drumming by John Bonham, especially the small solos that make this song an even more enjoyable listen. 

Here’s another fun fact: John Bonham’s kit had a gong, and you can hear it at the start of the song. He liked to include a gong for so-called theatrical value. Check out the drum tabs to this Zeppelin classic right here. 

25. “Rosanna” by Toto 

We’ve got one more song on our list of tunes with the best drum solos, and it’s “Rosanna” by Toto. This classic ‘80s song features some of drummer Jeff Pocaro’s best percussion, especially the solo that mingles with the synths in the middle of this song. 

Here’s a fun fact: Pocaro didn’t only contribute the drums to this song, but he worked with fellow bandmate David Paich to interlay those strong keyboard synths, so Pocaro is playing over his own synth work. That’s pretty awesome!

Play along to “Rosanna” with the drum tabs here. 

The drum fills these songs are known for make them rather than break them. Join us as we take you on a supersonic journey across 25 iconic tunes beloved for their drum work. 

1. “When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin

Starting our list is the Led Zeppelin classic, “When the Levee Breaks,” released on the band’s hit album Led Zeppelin IV. The long instrumentation that leads this drawling, impassioned track wouldn’t have the same emotional impact without the steady percussion provided by John Bonham. 

Even when vocalist Robert Plant adds lush harmonica atop the sonic soundscape of the seven-minute track, that unwavering drumbeat keeps the song tethered so it’s free to explore, something Zeppelin always excelled at doing. 

Play along here with tabs. This song’s consistent beat will make you feel like a drum pro in no time. 

2. “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris 

Everyone knows the guitar riff of the Surfaris’ classic early ‘60s tune “Wipe Out,” but when you stop and think about it, it’s the drum rhythm that gives this song the pulsing, high-octane feel it’s so beloved for. 

Those drums match the frenetic energy that one feels when riding the crest of a tall wave and then surfing it to completion. Or, you know, wiping out, hence the name of the song. At times, the drums take on a tribal feel with their pounding, relentless beat, mimicking the race of your heart as you listen along. 

Here are the tabs so you can sharpen your skills on the sticks. 

3. “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins

Don’t let the soft rock genre fool you. When “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins takes off, it truly takes off. 

The slow, pulsing drum beat throughout most of the song acts as a subtle accompaniment, mostly unnoticeable, really. So then why did we place this song on our list of the greatest drum songs of all time? 

It’s due to that iconic moment around the three-minute, 15-second mark where the drums fill your ears with pulsing, pounding drama. This song simply wouldn’t be the same without those heavy drums in the rest of the song, heightening the emotions and augmenting the listening experience. 

Practice along with the tabs here.  

4. “We Will Rock You” by Queen 

In a similar vein to the Phil Collins smash hit “In the Air Tonight,” next on our list is Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” What both songs share is that without those drum fills, they wouldn’t be as impactful and fondly remembered as they are today.

While sure, you can clap the simple but effectual rhythm of “We Will Rock You” by hand, you can also sit behind the kit and bang it out. It feels a lot better and gives the song that much more oomph. 

If you want to learn the drum part, check out this link. This song is pretty easy to learn considering everyone knows the main beat. It’s one of those songs that’s transcended generations. 

5. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana 

Long before Dave Grohl led his own band, the Foo Fighters–who today fill arenas worldwide–he was Nirvana’s drummer. The band’s top hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” is on this list not for that crunchy, filthy guitar riff but for Grohl’s astounding drum work.

The song wouldn’t have that heavy-hitting edge if not for the pounding drums that accompany the main riff and chorus. The drums back off during the verses to let the sludgy bassline shine, then pick right back up, appealing to the disaffected youth that Seattle’s early ‘90s music so richly attracted.

You can play along with the drum tab if you’re ready for a workout. 

6. “Back in Black” by AC/DC 

Would that leading guitar riff of “Back in Black” by AC/DC have grabbed listeners’ ears by the millions if it wasn’t backed by the drum work of Phil Rudd? Probably not, which is why we had to include this classic tune on our list. 

Even as great as the guitar is, the drums sound so clean and distinct yet complement the other instruments so well. They never stop their relentless pounding, punctuating the high-energy verses and complementing the chorus. 

Do you want to play like one of the greats? Try practicing with the tabs here. 

7. “Good Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin

It should come as no surprise to see more Led Zeppelin on this list, what with the unit being described by many as the greatest rock band of all time. This time, we’ll look at something slightly earlier from the band’s catalog, the 1969 song “Good Times Bad Times” from the eponymous album.

A short song by Zeppelin standards (it clocks in at under three minutes), it’s a hard-edged, moderate-paced song led by heavy drums from John Bonham. 

If you really want to appreciate the extent of Bonham’s work on this Zeppelin tune, check out this video, as it features the drums isolated from the rest of the track. He truly was a drumming wizard.

Now that you’re in a playing mood, you can drum along to the tabs here. 

8. “Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen 

Hard rock pioneers Van Halen have many hallmark songs, another of which we’ll look at a little bit later on this list. For now, let’s focus on “Hot for Teacher,” a fast-paced school anthem led by frenzied guitars and backed by a solid, heartbeat-mimicking drum beat by band co-founder Alex Van Halen. 

But we can’t truly discuss this song without delving into the intro. It almost sounds like a motorcycle engine starting up, and you wouldn’t be remiss to think it’s some sort of sound effect, but nope! It’s drums.

You can learn how to play the intro (and the rest of the song) here.

9. “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith

Whether you prefer the original Aerosmith version from 1975’s Toys in the Attic or you appreciate the cover version (with Aerosmith) from Run D.M.C. from the mid-1980s, one thing is for sure, “Walk This Way” is quite a powerhouse of a song!

It also helped bring back Aerosmith’s career, but of course, that’s not why we’re discussing it today. Fun fact: Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler came up with the heavy-hitting drum line, which rocks you the moment you press “play” on this track. 

The drums keep the tune steady even though the guitar riff gets all the credit. You’ll be ready to play like an expert no time with these drum tabs. 

10. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac 

A softer, more emotive song, “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac is bolstered by the simple but powerful drums throughout. They sound like roaring thunder in the chorus, giving the echoing vocals more conviction. 

The twang of the guitar bows down to this powerful drum beat, which maintains a consistent pace (making it easy to learn to play) but acts as the song’s backbone, in which without it, it wouldn’t be as good. 

11. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder

Not every song with the greatest drums of all time necessarily needs to be rock or metal! The Stevie Wonder tune “Superstition” rightfully gets a place on this list because it’s so drum-heavy. The first thing you hear is a slick drum intro, follow by some Moog bass to give the tune its funky feel.

Although the song gains more instrumentation as it goes along, including the addition of a trumpet and a tenor saxophone, it’s the drums that carry this song through its tremendous conclusion. 

Here’s a fun fact: Wonder played all the instruments himself save for the trumpet and tenor sax. He was quite the drummer, we’d say!

If you want to play like the greats, here’s the drum tab to “Superstition.” 

12. “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin 

“Fool in the Rain” from the 1979 Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door might not be one of the group’s most famous hits, but it is exceptionally memorable due to John Bonham’s trademark drum sound. 

The upbeat-sounding riff is what most casual listeners hear, but if you pay more attention to the drum line, you’ll realize Bonham is hard at work throughout this entire tune. 

That’s most evident at around the two-minute, 56-second mark when the instrumentation tacks on a new dimension, including awesome drum fills from Bonham. 

You can appreciate the drum work best here; that link will take you to a video where you can listen to the track’s isolated drums. You’ll need some tabs to play along, and you’ll find those here. 

13. “Rosanna” by Toto

Many music listeners know Toto for the group’s hit song “Africa,” but the tune “Rosanna”–named after actress Rosanna Arquette–deserves acclaim for its incredible drumming. It was also a hit in its own right!

The song’s drumming isn’t complicated, per se, but consistent and punchy. The lush sonic wall that builds up during this song’s chorus is reinforced by the strong drumming, and the synth solo gets to roam with the drums calling it back. 

You can play along here.  

14. “Come Together” by The Beatles

The Beatles have such a vast catalog, but when thinking of which tunes of their exemplify drum excellency, it has to be “Come Together.” This rock classic showcases the drum work of Ringo Starr fantastically well.

During the verses, the drums intertwine with the bass to create a strong sound. In the chorus, the drums support the twangy guitar that makes this song such a beloved tune more than 30 years after its original release. 

The tabs to play the song are available here so you can show off your drumming chops!  

15. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor 

There’s a reason that “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor has been the go-to track for every fight montage in film since it was released in 1982. It has that big fight feel! It’s impossible not to get amped up listening to this spirited track, and the drums definitely deserve their share of the limelight.

The drums add pressure to the piano, which wouldn’t come across nearly as tough without the drums pulsing with the bass. The drumming in the chorus also makes this song the masterpiece that it is. 

Here are the tabs if you’re interested in adding this one to your repertoire. 

16. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson

Although lots of covers have slowed down the pace, the original “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson is a speedy track in line with the rest of Jackson’s very danceable discography. The R&B stylings allow the drumming to shine.

The drums immediately establish the atmosphere of this song, which has happy-sounding music but depressive lyrics. They carry on throughout the song at a fast pace, always there even when the danceable beat becomes more prominent.

You can play along with the tabs here.

17. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson 

Off the critically acclaimed album Thriller, “Beat It” might not be the biggest hit from that album, but it’s certainly one of the most popular tunes in Michael Jackson’s broad discography. After all, this is the song that made Jackson a pop icon!

The music video is about uniting rival gangs, but the song wouldn’t have that much ability, nor Jackson so much star power, if not for the strong drum line throughout. Just watch the video above featuring one of Jackson’s drummers, Jonathan Moffett, performing the tune. It’s not easy! 

If you think you have what it takes to follow along, check out these drums tabs and get ready to sweat. 

18. “Jump” by Van Halen  

The second Van Halen single on our list is “Jump,” one of the band’s most-known tunes. The synth that dominates that unforgettable intro isn’t the only instrument worth talking about. You know where we’re going with this – the drums!

The guitar solo is where the drums get the most interesting. The next time you listen to this all-time great tune, give the drums your ear, and you’ll hear the immense talent of band namesake Alex Van Halen. 

Then you’re ready to play along following these tabs. 

19. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi 

It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard the Bon Jovi mega-hit “Livin’ on a Prayer.” It’s a rock anthem all this time later, frequently sung along loud in sports arenas and bars. 

When the song was first released on the album Slippery When Wet, it made an immediate splash. The drums drive forward the sense of urgency between the two lovers who are trying to get through their troubles with a little bit of love.

The drums punctuating Bon Jovi’s lyrics before the final chorus explodes is a moment that will give you goosebumps again and again. Recreate it by learning the tabs. 

20. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses 

The incredible guitar work of Guns N’ Roses’ Slash can dominate your ears, and rightfully so, but there’s so much tonal depth to “Sweet Child O’ Mine that drummer Steven Adler deserves major credit. 

It’s once the other instruments fill in the opulent guitar work of Slash is when this song really takes off. Although it sounds like it has a relaxed pace, the drumbeat reaches a crazy 144 beats per minute! 

After the solo, when the song expands into its explosive finish, the beauty of the drum work is especially apparent. Recreate it for yourself with some drum tabs. 

21. “Money” by Pink Floyd 

Combining elements of hard rock, blues rock, and progressive rock, when the intro of “Money” by Pink Floyd really takes off, it’s the drums you have to thank for it. Nick Mason, the drummer, also contributes some to the tape effects that start the song. 

The drums place nicely with the bass-driven riff, the sweet, smooth tenor saxophone played by Dick Parry, and the Wurlitzer electric piano. As the song changes tempos and time signatures several times across six and a half minutes, Mason keeps up effortlessly, delivering a piece of classic rock history.

You can learn to play like Mason courtesy of these tabs.  

22. “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin 

One of the most beloved Zeppelin tunes, “Kashmir” has cemented its place on this list without a doubt. The main riff receives augmentation from the drums, but what’s most impressive is that John Bonham never misses a beat despite that this song goes on for nearly nine minutes long.

The tune ebbs and flows, with the drums acting almost as a buoy, keeping the song anchored to itself. It’s no wonder that “Kashmir” has been declared the penultimate Led Zeppelin song, best encapsulating the band’s sound. 

You can learn to play it with some drum tabs here.  

23. “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin 

About the same pace as “Kashmir” despite being released several years earlier is “The Ocean,” the last Zeppelin song on our list. The odd rhythm of this song from Jimmy Page’s guitar never feels out of sorts thanks to John Bonham’s reliably strong drumming. 

This song feels like several in one, with a pause midway through before the song dramatically comes back. The unconventional pacing, transformative nature, and odd riffs in this song make it one of the best drum tracks we’ve ever heard!

If you need another Zeppelin song to add to your repertoire, here are the drum tabs. 

24. “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne

Lee Kerslake is a god behind the kit on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” which gets that pulsating intro in part from the drums. That’s only the beginning. The verses and chorus of this song pick up the pace in a major way, with a top tempo of 160 BPM. 

Drum fills between Osbourne’s vocals add to the frenzied emotion of the song, especially as it builds to its chorus. The unrelenting solo has pounding drum accompaniment to make “Crazy Train” one of the most popular songs in its genre, even to this day. 

You can find the tabs to play the Ozzy song right here. 

25. “Tom Sawyer” by Rush 

Why not end our list with one of the most difficult-to-play but awesome drum songs of all time, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush? It’s that the song is so challenging that it’s incredibly memorable. 

This tune might sound easy to replicate, but you must remember that Rush’s members were all trained music experts, so they knew a thing or two about professional playing. They favored the 7/8 time signature in “Tom Sawyer” and other songs in the discog.

The drums race throughout the near-five-minute track, lending the spacy accompaniment a stuttering sound that fits just right. Here is the drum tab.  

This is a question many drummers have had, which inspired us to put together this guide. We’ve handpicked the best songs in the history of music to present 35 easy drumming songs for beginners.

These tunes range from classics to contemporaries, so there’s sure to be something on this list that you’re eager to play today! 

1. “We Will Rock You” by Queen

We start the list with a truly iconic track, “We Will Rock You” by Queen. While almost every track in the Queen catalog is a classic, we picked this one because it’s simple for any drummer to pick up and play.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard this song, probably many times. You don’t even necessarily need to be a Queen fan to know it; “We Will Rock You” is simply that pervasive. The main riff doesn’t take too much finessing on drums to bang it out, and the song is short to boot.

Here’s the drum tab so you can learn the song today! 

2. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple

A classic song with an easy enough tempo that beginners shouldn’t feel too intimidated by is the track “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. This is another one of those highly pervasive tunes that most people know even if they don’t own a single Deep Purple record. 

Although the guitar riff gets all the acclaim, this song really comes to life due to the inclusion of the drums. The steady pacing of the drums throughout should be simple enough to match, even without a lot of experience. 

That said, you might need some extended practice to get those fills right! Start learning with these drum tabs. 

3. “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath

You’ll impress all your friends and fellow music aficionados when you begin hammering out “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath on the drums. This is another one of those classic rock tunes that sounds harder than it is, but that’s the guitar part. 

You’re not even required to drum throughout the whole song, so if you’re having a hard time building up your stamina behind the kit, the breaks in this song will be much appreciated. You’ll have the energy required for the fills and will be eager to hit the hi-hats with aplomb.

Check out the drum tab for “Iron Man” here. 

4. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd 

The fast pace and complex guitar work of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” might make you think this song is best saved for the drumming pros, but beginners can totally play it too! The drum part isn’t hard, just fast.

Consistent practice will help you get through this tune because it’s also a bit longer at almost five minutes. It’s okay to take the song part by part, learning it in one-minute or two-minute increments until you can play it in full. 

Why don’t you begin today by following along with the tabs here? 

5. “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

The first of two AC/DC tracks we recommend for all you classic rock lovers out there, “Highway to Hell” is even more fun to bang along to on the sticks than it is to listen to on a pair of headphones! You can truly let your inner drummer shine. 

The moderate tempo of this song does require some good stamina, so practice with a few slower songs on our list before you graduate to this one. You can also slow down the pace until you master it, then pick the tempo back up.

Here are the drum tabs so you can begin learning “Highway to Hell” right away. 

6. “Back in Black” by AC/DC

Once you’ve gotten comfortable playing “Highway to Hell,” it’s time to add another AC/DC track to your repertoire, “Back in Black.” You can even start with this one since it’s somewhat slower-paced than “Highway to Hell.” 

You’ll get the opportunity to play some truly pounding, booming drums on this track, which is fun and rewarding. They just don’t make rock songs like this anymore, so learning with the classics is truly the best way to expand on your drum skills.

If you want drum tabs, you know we got ‘em. Here’s the link for you. 

7. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes

Do you always feel like your drum work gets outshined by the other instruments on a track? If so, then you need to try learning “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes. This song is all drums (okay, and bass, too), so you’ll finally have your chance to stand out and be heard!

“Seven Nation Army” is another of those tunes that, despite a lot newer than the other songs we’ve had on the list so far, is widely known. Your friends will recognize it the moment you begin hitting away at the drums. 

You can follow along with the drum tabs here. 

8. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band 

How about a softer, melodic tune to cut your teeth to? The Steve Miller Band song “The Joker” keeps a tempo no faster than 82 beats per minute, so even if you’re brand-spankin new to drumming, you shouldn’t struggle to keep up.

This classic song is under four minutes long, so it’s a good one for building up your stamina. It also doesn’t go too wild when the solo starts, so you can expect a consistent pace all the way through. It truly is a beginner-friendly tune that sounds so impressive once you master it.

If you’re ready to begin playing “The Joker” today, this drum tab will help you learn it. 

9. “Wipeout” by The Surfaris

One of those songs that everybody knows, “Wipeout” by The Surfaris has pounding tribal drums that convey the sense of urgency throughout the song. Now you can get behind the kit and convey that same sense of urgency with your drumming!

This tune requires a lot of smacking on the drums, and although you should do so with finesse, as you’re just getting a feel for the instrument, whatever you can do is fine. We would suggest playing at a slower tempo at first, as this song is as fast as it is short (which is to say very!).

The drum fills are especially killer, so don’t beat yourself up if you can’t play them right away. Keep at it and you’ll get there! In the meantime, start with these drum tabs.

10. “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival 

The pinnacle of classic rock, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” is a song you’ve probably always wanted to play but assumed it was too hard. The guitar parts might be complex, but the steady drumming throughout isn’t so bad. You can learn it if you practice!

Although the drumming is consistent and fast, the song clocks in at under two and a half minutes long. It’s the perfect tune for building up your drumming stamina so you can sit behind the kit and hold a beat for minutes and minutes at a time.

Practice along with the tabs here. 

11. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry 

The happy-sounding “Johnny B. Goode” from Chuck Berry is the oldest song on our list and one of the most beloved for certain. Now you too can go back to the roots of the rock genre by learning to play this song on drums.

It’s truly simpler than you would have imagined. This guitar-led song gets its punch from the drums, so you’ll contribute an important ingredient if you’re working on this one with a cover band to play live.

Check out the drum tabs right here.  

12. “Rock and Roll All Nite” by KISS 

Do you dream of playing rock songs on drums that will get the people on their feet and cheering up a storm? That’s just the kind of vibe “Rock and Roll All Nite” by KISS delivers. This song, like a few others on the list, sounds more complex on drums than it is. 

You will have to learn some drum fills, but they’re not overly tough. The more endurance you have on the kit, the easier you’ll find it to give this song the high-energy delivery it requires. Feel free to break the tune into chunks or play it at a slower tempo as you get started.

This tab will help you master “Rock and Roll All Nite” in no time! 

13. “All the Small Things” by Blink-182

How about a more modern tune, like 1999’s Blink-182 smash hit, “All the Small Things?” You can show off your punk side with this boisterous tune, which really relies on drums to drive that punk flavor home. 

It’s a faster song at 149 BPM, but the drums aren’t too complex. You’ll vacillate between a tribal beat and pounding punk drums, so the tune stays interesting from the first second your part kicks until the very end. 

The mid-paced break in the middle will help gear you up for the high-octane conclusion, so the song has good pacing. Get your sticks and begin playing today with these drum tabs. 

14. “Basket Case” by Green Day

Continue leaning into your punk side with some Green Day! “Basket Case” is a great tune for beginners, even though you probably wouldn’t think so. The reason? The song has a big break so you’re not drumming the whole time. 

You’ll sit out the whole first verse for the most part, with your part only roaring to life come the chorus. Then it’s all you for the rest of the song, which doesn’t go so long that you’ll be panting out of breath by the time it’s over. 

Learn the song here with some handy tabs. 

15. “When I Come Around” by Green Day 

If you’re looking for a Green Day tune that’s a little easier to play, try “When I Come Around.” It’s much slower than “Basket Case” by comparison, but you’ll still get the chance to do some pretty seriously impressive drum work ala Tre Cool. 

This upbeat-sounding tune is best learned by taking it in pieces and then putting it all together to comprise a song. You’ll master each part and feel confident whether you’re playing this ‘90s tune in your garage or on a stage. 

Of course, it all begins with the right knowledge. We’ve got the drum tabs for you right here so you can play along with the greats. 

16. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana 

Arguably the penultimate ‘90s rock song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is a tune that’s endured to this day. It’s fuzzy, filthy, and the true definition of what grunge rock was at the time, so who wouldn’t want to learn how to play it?

Dave Grohl is a drum god, but once you get behind the kit and follow in his footsteps, you’ll realize that playing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” isn’t as difficult as you had originally anticipated. You have to put a lot of oomph behind the song to make it sound convincing, and you’ll have to build up endurance to play a nearly five-minute song in one go.

The above video of Grohl smashing along to the drums in this song over 20 years later is cool to watch. You can then emulate his playing with these tabs. 

17. “Come As You Are” by Nirvana 

Next in our assortment of Nirvana drum songs that are beginner-friendly is “Come As You Are.” This song might not push as hard as a track like “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” but the drums never take a break.

Unlike “Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are” has a chill, consistent pace. You’ll get to pound out some drum fills during the chorus, and you’ll alternate between maintaining the beat and dominating it, but that’s part of what makes this song so incredibly fun and rewarding to play. 

This drum tab will help you get started. Get ready to play your best! 

18. “In Bloom” by Nirvana

Continue to expand your music chops and your catalog by adding another Nirvana song to the list, “In Bloom.” This melancholy tune sounds deceptively simple since it’s not as blisteringly paced as other Nirvana songs, but like most Nirvana songs, it relies a lot on the drums.

The video tutorial above will show you how to slow it down, break the tune down into manageable chunks (since it’s almost five minutes long), and learn it one bit at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have no problem getting through this song!

Play along with the drum tab here and watch your skills improve. 

19. “Lithium” by Nirvana 

Let’s wrap up this selection of Nirvana songs to play on drums with “Lithium,” another ultra-popular song in Nirvana’s catalog that’s worth sitting down and learning to play. You can harken back to the ‘90s and feel like a rock star when you get behind the kit and replicate Dave Grohl’s signature sound. 

The up-and-down style of the drums that lightens during the verses and then picks up like mad when the chorus hits make this song fun to learn and will keep you on your toes as you practice. It will be such an amazing feeling once you master it!

You can get started with the drum tabs here. 

20. “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit 

Moving away from Nirvana now, “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit is a fun song to play whether you just want to get better at drums, form a cover band, or even evolve into writing your own material someday. 

This song sounds fast, but the BPM of the drums isn’t too terribly speedy, especially if you’ve already practiced along with the other songs on this list so far. The upbeat feeling of the song will have you eager to practice this one again and again until you can play it in your sleep.

You can begin learning it by following along with these handy drum tabs. 

21. “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World 

When Jimmy Eat World released “The Middle” in 2001, it took the world by storm. All these years later and it’s still fondly remembered as an affirmative song about self-acceptance. Well, for that and it’s phenomenal drum work, which you can replicate even if you’re very new to drums. Yes, we mean it!

The 162 BPM pace might seem intimidating, but the drum rhythm isn’t overly challenging. You can focus on keeping up with the pace of the song and varying your playing during the choruses to keep yourself entertained and expand your skills.

We’ve got the drum tabs for you right here. 

22. “I Will Follow” by U2

How about some U2? Regarded by many as the best rock band of the last 40 years if not all time, U2 has an assorted discography. Many of their songs aren’t too tricky to play on drums either, including the band’s top hit, “I Will Follow.”

Once you take away the sped-up guitar, you’ll realize you have a drum part that’s consistent, yes, but hard to play? Not particularly. If you learn how to play drums by banging along to U2 tunes, you may just find that your skills are a cut above. 

This drum tab will make it easy to figure out how this song is done. 

23. “Vertigo” by U2 

Fast-forwarding a bit into U2’s catalog, “Vertigo” is an excellent song to learn on drums. You’ll show off to everyone you know whenever you play it, you’ll develop inimitable skills, and you’ll get to learn one of the best songs U2 has ever made. It’s a win-win-win!

To play like Larry Mullen Jr., practice, practice, practice. You’ll realize that once you strip away the rest of the instrumentation, the drums of this song are challenging but not impossible to play by any means. 

Once you get familiar with this one, you’ll want to play it all the time. Get started by learning the drum tabs. 

24. “Where The Streets Have No Name” by U2

Now it’s time for some classic U2. “Where The Streets Have No Name” shows off the shimmering instrumentation that U2 became known for. The drums keep up with the smooth guitar riffs and keep pounding along to Bono’s impassioned vocals during the verses before picking up more during the chorus.

As a whole, the drums are fast but consistent, so once you’ve learned to play a bit of the song, you can pretty much drum along to the entire thing. Practice it in bits and pieces so you can build your stamina more and more before you finally sit down to triumphantly play “Where the Streets Have No Name.”

Learn with these drum tabs. 

25. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2

The last U2 song we recommend for beginner drummers is one of the tunes that put the band on the map, “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” It has the slowest pacing of all the U2 songs we’ve looked at, which might surprise you given its lively tone.

The drums are fun to play, as you’ll get into a cool rhythm that belies the seriousness and solemnity of this tune. With the mostly understated guitar, your drums will have a chance to shine as they guide the song across nearly five minutes.

Get ready to play with these drum tabs. 

26. “Clocks” by Coldplay 

Let’s go more modern still with a band that’s paved the way for today’s music, Coldplay. The band’s hit single (and arguably most popular song) “Clocks” has lush piano that captures the ear, but the drums are in the mix too, and they’re not that difficult to learn. 

Your drum work will stand out a lot in the verses when the piano disappears. The drums give the song more beauty and keep it marching forward. The consistent pacing of the drums means you can learn this song today (or in a few days or weeks) despite its pacing of 131 BPM. 

First, you’ll need the tabs here. 

27. “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay 

The mid-tempo “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay with its riches-to-rags lyrics and triumphant-sounding music is another great song to add to your list as you learn the drums. It has a high tempo, but you’re drumming sparingly for the first bit of the song so you can save your energy for when it’s needed. 

The lively, consistent drum line comes booming during the chorus but doesn’t change up so much that you’ll get confused learning it. That makes this song attainable for newbies even though it’s certainly long.

Check out the drum tabs for “Viva La Vida” right here. 

28. “Yellow” by Coldplay 

No list of Coldplay songs would be complete without discussing “Yellow,” as it’s one of the group’s most popular tunes. However, that’s not why we’re including the track here. Instead, we’re mentioning it because it’s easy to play on drums, which might contribute to its popularity! 

Although this song doesn’t go nearly as hard as many of the others we’ve discussed so far (and have yet to talk about!), it does get surprisingly heavy during the intro. You’ll continue to enjoy yourself as you play the moderate verses and kick things back up a notch during the chorus. 

Start practicing right away with drum tabs here. 

29. “Paradise” by Coldplay 

The electronic stylings of the Coldplay song “Paradise” shows how much the group grew its musical influence over the years. Don’t worry though, the drumming is about as straightforward as can be, which is why this tune earned a rightful spot on this list. You should be able to figure this one out quickly.

You get some drum fills too, proving that although some Coldplay songs sound simple on the surface, there’s a lot more depth going on behind the scenes. You’ll have a rewarding challenge in front of you should you choose to learn these songs, which makes the satisfaction of mastering the tune that much sweeter.

If you’re ready to get playing, here are the drum tabs for “Paradise.” 

30. “Fix You” by Coldplay 

The somber-sounding, slow-paced “Fix You” is the last Coldplay song we’ll look at on this list. You will spend a lot of time sitting on your hands (but not literally, as you’re going to need them), as your part doesn’t come in until the two-minute, 30-second mark of this four-and-a-half-minute song.

You’ll have to follow along and be ready to jump right in, as your drum part is instrumental in transitioning the song to its more optimistic-sounding conclusion. It’s not a hard drum part, but it is impactful, and you should have a blast experimenting with the subtle-to-loud dynamic. 

Get started with these drum tabs. 

31. “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers 

How about a tonal shift as we move onto a more alternative group, The Killers? The band’s classic hit “Somebody Told Me” from debut album Hot Fuss is part of what introduced this great group to the masses, and now you can play it on drums! 

This song wouldn’t be the same without the pulsating drums. Once you sit down on the kit and get started, you’ll realize this song has a fast-paced drum rhythm but one that beginners can play with some practice and dedication. 

These tabs will set you on the right path to mastering “Somebody Told Me.” 

32. “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers

Once you learn how to play “Somebody Told Me,” you can graduate to the next Killers song on this list, “Mr. Brightside,” also off 2004’s Hot Fuss. This song is faster-paced and requires moderately more skill while still being geared toward beginners. 

If you find that the 148-BPM pace of the song is too fast for you, you know what to do. Slow the song down, understand what you’re playing, and then practice gradually picking up the pace until you can play the tune at the correct tempo.

If you’re looking for drum tabs, we’ve got ‘em right here. 

33. “When You Were Young” by The Killers

How about one more Killers song? “When You Were Young” is the slowest of the three but has some real oomph to it when you get to sit behind the kit. If you’ve practiced with the other two Killers songs we’ve recommended, this one will come easily to you.

Even if it’s the first of the three you play from this alternative rock band, you shouldn’t find it too challenging. You’ll put your stamina to the test as you play nonstop for nearly four minutes, but that will become easier the more you do it. You just have to keep at it!

We have tabs here so you can master the song in no time. 

34. “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon 

It was impossible to be around in the late 2000s and not hear “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon, whether that was on the radio, in television shows, online, or just about anywhere, really. Now that it’s been a while, why not revisit this instant classic by learning to play it on drums?

The song has a pure rock drum line that will ignite your spirits. The tempo is fast, so you can always split the song by verses and choruses, practicing bit by bit, or reduce the tempo and learn to play it slower. When you’re ready, you can speed it up.

The tabs are available here so you can get learning. 

35. “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon 

The last song we recommend drummers learn to master their craft also comes from Kings of Leon, this time “Use Somebody.” If you found “Sex on Fire” a little too fast to start with, this equally popular ballad should be up your alley.

It has a slower pace, and the drummer gets significant breaks, as the drums kick in during the verses to underscore the drama and passion of the song. You won’t need a master’s stamina right out of the gate so you can take your time developing your endurance on the kit.

We’ve got tabs for you right here. 

Drums technically have notes, but only rhythmic notes. That’s why the drums don’t have to be in the same key as the other instruments. When tuning drums, drummers tune them to get a sound they like and not to get certain notes out of them. Some drums can be tuned to a pitch. 

This article will give you a detailed overview of how drums function and whether or not they have notes in the traditional sense. Read on to learn more about this fascinating instrument. 

What Is a Note?

Before we examine the question of drums and notes, we have to take a quick look at music theory and see what notes even are. I’ll try to be as brief as possible, so we don’t have to delve deeper into music theory. 

Sounds are basically air vibrations. For example, when a string is plucked, it vibrates and stirs the air molecules around it. The molecules also start to vibrate at the same frequency as the string. 

Our ears capture these vibrations, and our brains assign a place to each of these vibrations as a specific sound. Each frequency of vibration is perceived as a different sound. Each sound, that is, frequency is one note. 

Therefore, when we talk about notes, we talk about frequencies at which the air vibrates. In Western music, these frequencies are divided into 12 notes:

• C
• C# / Db
• D
• D# / Eb
• E
• F
• F# / Gb
• G
• G# / Ab
• A
• A# / Bb
• B

Where two notes are listed on the same spot above, it means that they produce the same pitch. Their name depends only on the key you’re in. For example, if you’re in the A major scale, it’s C#, but if you’re in the Bb minor scale, it’s Db. 

In less formal contexts, the different names for these notes are used interchangeably. Musicians often stick to what they find easiest to understand, and unless they’re pros or really serious about their playing, nothing significant will change.

Why Drums Don’t Have Notes

Now that we have a rough understanding of what a note is, we can examine whether drums have notes and whether it’s even important. 

Since a note is just what we call a certain frequency, everything that produces sounds technically has a note. If you honk your car horn, it produces a certain note. It will also produce notes if you bang a pot with a wooden spoon. 

The same goes for drums. You will get some notes when you hit a snare or a hi-hat. Putting a guitar tuner next to the drums will probably tell you what note it is with relative precision. However, these notes are not important in any way. 

Drums are rhythmic instruments and don’t follow the notes of a scale. Whether or not the pitch produced by the drums makes sense in the song’s key doesn’t really matter. The drum kit is there to provide the rhythmic background for the music. You can see it as a canvas on which the rest of the instruments add details to get a complete picture. 

There are certain notes that you can read on drum notation. However, these notes are only rhythmic and not melodic. Drum notation tells you which drum to strike, how many times, and how long each strike should sound. It doesn’t tell you that it has to be in the pitch of note A#; that would be absurd. 

Can You Tune Drums? 

You can tune drums, and it’s even advisable to, even though most drummers don’t do it often enough. However, it’s usually done differently than with other instruments. 

If you have a guitar, for example, you have to tune each open string to produce a certain note when you pluck it. In the standard tuning, it’s E – A – D – G – B – E. There are many other tunings, but we can stick to this one for simplicity. 

When you tune drums, you usually don’t want to do this. Most of the time, drummers tune them to find the sound they like. Drums are tuned by making the heads looser or tighter. Most drummers won’t tighten or loosen the heads to get specific notes as you’d do with guitar strings. Drummers get the sound they’re pleased with and stick to that.

This is not to say that it’s impossible to tune the drums to get certain notes out. You can take a snare and tune it to the note of C. A small number of drummers will tune their toms to be at certain intervals from each other, and they claim that this enhances the sound.

However, tuning your drums to get certain notes won’t do much for the overall sound of your band. Most likely, the changes won’t even be noticeable, and the effort will have been in vain. 

Therefore, there is no need to go that deep into drum tuning. Aim for the sound you like, make it sound reasonable, and you’ll be fine. Unless you tune your snare to sound like the one used on Metallica’s St. Anger album, no one but drum nerds will notice. 

Are All Percussion Instruments Like This?  

When we discuss drums, we typically think of the drum sets you can find in rock, pop, jazz, and similar genres. However, percussion instruments encompass a very broad range of instruments, and not all of them work the same way. 

In general, drums don’t have real notes, as we have discussed. This includes most types of drums outside a typical kit and most percussion instruments. Despite that, some percussion instruments have real notes. 

There is a group of instruments we call pitched percussion instruments. These instruments are percussive because you have sticks that you hit the instruments with, but you produce real musical notes. In this group, you can find instruments such as:

• The glockenspiel
• Marimbas
• Xylophones

Additionally, some drums are usually tuned to a specific pitch, such as:

• Timpani
• Rototoms
• Steel drums

Does a Drum Kit Have a Pitch?

Since we have thoroughly discussed drum notes and whether they exist, a question that has to pop up is whether drums have a pitch or not. To make things simple, we’ll stick to typical drum kits, as it would probably take a dissertation to discuss all the members of the drum family. 

Drums do have a pitch, just not in the same sense other instruments do. We could say that everything that makes a sound makes some kind of pitch. The only difference is whether the pitch is important or not. 

Drums don’t have a definite pitch. This means that when you hit a drum, it produces multiple pitches, not just one. Instruments typically have a definite pitch, which is why the pitch is an important factor when playing guitar or piano, for example. 

For this reason, drums are often classified as non-pitched instruments. Their pitch is simply unrelated to the pitch produced by the other instruments, and it’s not of major importance when composing music. It all boils down to personal preference. Some drummers like high-pitched drums, while some like low-pitched drums. 

What Influences Drum Pitch?

The pitch of a drum primarily depends on how fast the skin, or the head, vibrates. Fast vibrations will result in a high pitch, while slow vibrations will result in a low pitch. That’s why drum pitch greatly depends on tension. 

If the drum heads are tightened, then the pitch will be higher. On the other hand, if you make the drum heads looser, they will have a lower pitch. 

Another important factor is the density and thickness of the drum head. A thick, dense drum head will be tighter and have a higher pitch. This doesn’t mean that you need new drum heads if you prefer a higher pitch. Tightening them will be just enough to give you the sound you like. 

The drum shells’ size is another major factor. A large shell will cause the drum head to vibrate more slowly, resulting in a lower pitch, while a small shell will do the opposite, which will give the drum a higher pitch. 

The pitch your drum produces will also depend on where you hit it. Hitting it at the center will cause slower vibrations, lowering the pitch. Hitting the drum close to the edge will create faster vibrations and thus a higher pitch. 

Do You Have To Know How To Read Drum Notation?

Since we have mentioned that drums kind of have notes and that there are music sheets for them, you might be asking if it’s mandatory to learn how to use this tool. You’ll probably be happy to know that you can simply learn by ear and spend your entire music journey like that. However, there are some benefits to reading sheet music. 

Many professional drummers have learned to play by ear and don’t even know how to read sheet music. If it worked for them, you could assume it would work for you. After all, drums mostly depend on your rhythmic abilities and coordination. 

Playing by ear has the great benefit of greatly boosting your adaptability and sense of rhythm. While it might be hard to start like that, especially if you’re self-taught, it might turn you into a drummer with amazing rhythmic skills over time. This is especially great when you have to adapt to changes and learn quickly. 

Not depending on sheet music will allow you to get more creative and experiment more with your technique. If you don’t stick to a firm set of rules, there is much more room for you to get creative and think of unique beats. 

However, learning to read drum notation might make it easier to collaborate with other musicians. It’s much faster to pick up new material if your prospective band members can send you some sheet music and let you learn. 

Yes, they can probably create a drum loop in a drum VST and let you learn it, but it will probably take too much time. You don’t want to give them a reason to replace you with the VST they’re using. 

Learning how to read sheet music will also boost your overall understanding of music theory. If you have to play professionally with people who are well-versed in it, they will find it much quicker to explain things to you using the proper terminology. 

You can get away with simplistic and visual explanations of what you have to do in a casual setting. However, a professional musician probably won’t want to sit down behind your drum kit and show you what to do. Learning how to read sheet music will make you look more professional, and it will make you much easier to work with. 

On the other hand, if you don’t have dreams of becoming a professional musician, there probably isn’t any real need to learn how to read drum notation. The main benefit you might get is bragging rights, but apart from that, your musical experience will stay the same. 

Final Thoughts

We can conclude by saying that drums have notes, like anything that makes a sound, but those notes are not important. What’s important is how much a drummer likes the sound of their drums and how well the sound fits in the music. 

Don’t worry about being in key if you’re a beginner drummer. Tune your drums to make them sound the way you like them, and focus on laying down a great groove as a background for the guitars, vocals, and bass. Best of luck on your musical journey! 

Learning the basics of playing the drums can take just a couple of hours. Learning correct techniques can take months. Truly mastering the drums, like any instrument, will take a lifetime. Very few musicians would call themselves masters of an instrument. Learning the drums is a lifelong pursuit.

Lest you get discouraged, let’s look at the stages of learning the drums. You’ll see that the previous paragraph isn’t the spirit-breaker it might seem at first glance. 

The Basics of Playing Drums

You, as a drummer, have one job, and everything else is just some extra stuff you do in the service of doing that one job. That one job is the most important in the band or orchestra or quartet you’re playing with, and while everyone in the group contributes to it, the drummer is the one who’s doing the work.

That one job is Keeping The Beat. If you, as a drummer, cannot keep a steady, consistent beat, no matter how fancy a pattern you can play, no matter how complex your tom fills are, you will never become an accomplished player. 

Let’s think in terms of other jobs here. The most important thing an English teacher does is teach English. If he has lovely handwriting when he writes on the chalkboard, that’s terrific. But if he can’t explain the difference between a noun and a verb to his students, he’s not a good English teacher.

A pilot’s most important task is flying. Well, and landing. No person will ever say, “That guy is really good at wearing aviator sunglasses and terrible at flying planes. So yeah, great pilot!”

One job. Drummers have one job. Keep the beat. Everything we do when we play, we do to further that goal. Everything we do in practice, we do to keep the beat even better than we already do.

Technique and Rudiments

The gist of this whole article will revolve around one word: practice. While there may be people out there who have natural leanings toward the drums, they’ll never get very far on the instrument without practice.

The things you’ll practice as a drummer are rudiments. There are 40, but you’ll need some time to master all of them.

Rudiments are the building blocks of your technique as a drummer, by learning them, you learn how best to strike the drum, how the sticks feel in your hands under different circumstances, and build a vocabulary of beats and fills.

While pianists, violinists, guitarists, and just about every other melodic instrumentalist practice scales, drummers practice rudiments. Scales teach technique and fingering approaches. Rudiments put the same tools—although specific to percussionists— into your muscle memory.

While many drummers out there overlook rudiments, getting these patterns into your muscles will accelerate your timeline as an improving drummer. Some of them include:

The Five-Stroke Roll

This is one of the first rolls you’ll learn after getting the most basic ones right, like the single stroke roll and the double stroke roll.

The five-stroke roll is a double-stroke roll that involves bouncing each stick once per stroke. Each time you bring the stick down to the drum head, the stick plays twice.

Paradiddle

A paradiddle is a sticking pattern that, for lack of a better phrase, alternates the alternating of sticks. You play steady, even notes on the drum in this specific stick pattern: Right-left-right-right, then left-right-left-left. 

The paradiddle requires independent control of each of your hands, a skill that will come in handy as you learn more complex rudiments.

Flam

The flam is accomplished by playing two notes almost simultaneously. It involves beginning the rudiment with your sticks at different heights.

One of the many benefits of rudiments is gaining the ability to remain keenly aware of exactly where the drum sticks are at all times in relation to the drums, the cymbals, and the drummer himself. 

This rudiment is one of the easier ones to learn. You play two strokes just about at the same time. You’ll do this by starting with one drumstick at a lower height while you play a grace note. Then, the other drumstick will strike, playing a primary note. 

Drag

Where the flam involves each stick playing one note each at almost the exact same instant, the drag adds another note from one stick. Basically, the first stroke plays two grace notes in a drag.

These are basic rudiments. There are many more, and they get harder and harder to master. However, once you learn to play these well, you’ll have built up some measure of stick control that will translate into better performing the one job that all drummers have: keeping the beat.

Practice

Most people are familiar with the 10,000-hour rule— an idea advanced by author Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers”. There, he says that once you’ve practiced something for 10,000 hours, you’ll become an expert.

It’s not as simple as that, and many psychologists and other scientists have balked at this “rule.” But even if it’s inaccurate, it shines a light on the need for practice. To be good at anything, you have to do it over and over.

Before we go further, I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned about practicing:

• When I was a child taking piano lessons, my mother enforced this rule for my practice time: “You have to play each piece three times.” I played, but it wasn’t good practice. By the time I got to college, I had learned how to practice the instrument. Practicing well means knowing the things that need work and then working on them methodically until you’ve learned them.
• As a soccer player, I had more than one coach who regularly said, “There’s no substitute for a million hits.” If you kick the ball a million times, you’ll have learned a whole bunch about how it will react to your foot, and you’ll have much more control than someone who’s kicked a soccer ball twice.
• “Practice makes perfect” is a terrible sentence because it’s not true. The saying should be, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” 

To learn the drums— to learn them well— you have to practice regularly. But you have to truly practice rather than just beat on drums for an hour and call it good, and yo. You have to practice perfectly. If you play something wrong, you need to play it correctly several times to ensure you don’t learn it wrong.

But most importantly, we hearken back to that one job the drummer has: keeping the beat. Practicing that is imperative. So how do you do that?

Use a Metronome

You can— and most drummers do— put on the headphones, fire up Apple Music, and play, play, play. Professional recordings rarely have tempo issues, so if you can play along to all of Duran Duran’s “Rio” or Rush’s “Moving Pictures” without losing tempo, you’re on your way. (Actually, if you can play all of “Moving Pictures,” you’re already a pretty great drummer.)

But you can’t practice rudiments or drum exercises that way because. Sadly, Stewart Copeland didn’t record himself playing rudiments with The Police. For that, you’ll need a metronome.

A metronome is a machine that keeps a steady beat for you. Whether you choose a digital or analog model, every drummer needs one. Honestly, every musician needs one.

You can use a fancy wooden one like the Wittner metronome that probably sat on your grandmother’s piano. Although pricey, it certainly does look fancy with its mahogany color.

You can also go for the cheaper and more portable Diydeg Digital Metronome. It comes with the handy feature of tapping in your own beat. Even a smartphone metronome app will do the trick.

Playing along to a steady and unwavering beat will help you learn to feel when a tempo begins to speed up or slow down. It’s a critical part of practice.

Sometimes a drummer might begin losing speed in his playing simply because they’re tired. If you play a faster beat than you’re used to, your muscles will tire, and you’ll start playing slower. You might not even realize it, but your metronome will. 

By practicing the rudiments and getting your muscles used to playing patterns and repeating them, you’ll develop the energy and stamina you need to maintain a tempo.

Time Investment

It’s not fair, but some people are more naturally gifted than others. Not just in drums, but in everything. We all know that one guy who can do mind-boggling math problems in his head or the girl who can effortlessly master a new sport within minutes.

Musicians are the same way. Some drummers will pick the instrument up quicker than others. That doesn’t mean they’re better. It just means they won’t have to work as hard initially. 

But remember that playing the drum set means making each of your four limbs do something different from the others, all at the same time. That coordination takes time to develop. Few people are born with the ability to rub their belly and pat their head simultaneously without thinking about it. 

That’s the same sort of coordination a drummer needs, and he needs to be able to do all those things at once without thinking about it.

Natural aptitude or not, learning the drums takes time. How much time it takes will depend on what you want out of your drumming experience.

Know Why You’re Playing

Your reason for wanting to play the drums will have to outweigh the unpleasantness that comes from the disciplined execution of daily practice. Most of us understand that anything worth having is worth working for, so you’ll have to believe that learning the drums is worth the effort.

University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, arguably the greatest coach in college football history, said this of discipline: “There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you’ll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment.”

If you decide to play the drums because you think it looks cool, you may not end up having the drive to practice every day and learn it. Practicing isn’t fun. It gets old. But if you do it every day, you will improve.

If you can maintain the discipline of playing every day, you’ll avoid the disappointment of losing focus, never learning the drums, and looking back one day and wishing you had.

How long do you play every day, then? Set aside at least 30 minutes per day to practice the drums. If you can do more than that, great. Concert pianists often practice up to eight hours a day. 30 minutes behind your drum set every day is a start.

Have a Goal

If you don’t know what you want to do, you cannot be successful. Know what you want to accomplish as a drummer. That will govern how long it takes to get there. If you want to play for fun in the privacy of your own home, you can develop enough proficiency on the drums in a month or so.

But if you want to play in public with a band, that will take more time. Plan on about two years of practice before reaching that level.

Keep in mind that you don’t play a gig without some rehearsal with your fellow musicians. You may be able to spend part of those two years playing in a rehearsal space with a band as everyone learns what’s what.

How To Practice

Nobody sits down at a drum set and instinctively knows what to do. Okay, maybe you’ve watched some music videos and have some idea. But you can’t know how to play until you do it, no matter what you’ve watched or read. 

You need to master a few key elements —or at least form a good grasp on them— and go from there. The best thing you can do is find an instructor, but if you choose to do it on your own, you need to know that there’s a lot to learn before you can start jamming in the basement.

Start with a practice pad and some literature. Practice pads are designed to feel like a drum when you play them, but without the volume a drum produces. Nobody wants to listen to a drummer practice, and beating your pillow with drumsticks won’t give you the feel you need.

Check out this Remo Practice Pad from Amazon. Every drummer ever has played on it at least once. It allows the stick to bounce just like it would off a real drum. It mounts on most snare drum stands, but you can also find a stand specifically made for the pad.

Other kinds of pads function like a mute and work with an actual drum. The CB Practice Pad (available on Amazon.com) lies on top of the snare drum and mutes it. The hard rubber center mimics the feel of the drum so you can play it with your drumsticks and have the sensation of playing on a real drum.

After you’ve gotten a practice pad, get some literature. George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer (available on Amazon.com) is the drummer’s bible. You can’t go wrong with it. It will help you learn, well, stick control, and allow you to tune your muscles to play with finesse, speed, control, and stamina.

You can also find method books, either to continue learning a technical foundation on the snare drum, or for learning the drum set. Alfred’s Drum Method books have been around nearly as long as drums have, and Hal Leonard has his Drumset Method  – Complete Edition: Books 1 & 2 (both from Amazon.com), which has served many set players well.

Once you have what you need, it’s time to practice:

1. Warm-up with some rudiments, learning each one before moving on to the next. Your warmup should include practicing several rudiments each session as you learn more and more of them.
2. Practice. This involves knowing what you need to work on— simply sitting down and playing whatever you feel like isn’t practicing. It won’t hurt to do that, but focused practice will yield better results.
3. Woodshed the hard parts. This means finding the part of the music that gives you the most problems, then practicing it over and over until you’ve got it. My piano professor used to say, “If you can’t play it slow, then you can’t play it fast.” Don’t just keep playing at full speed, hoping you’ll get it right eventually. Play the hard parts slowly until you can do them right, then inch the speed up.
4. Concentrate on what you’re doing. Mindless repetition of anything doesn’t help nearly as much as paying close attention to every movement you make, every note you play, every sound you make.
5. Don’t get discouraged. Practicing is a lifelong pursuit. Understand from the beginning that no one ever masters an instrument. Ever. Eddie van Halen practiced every day. So did Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon, and Neil Peart. Yo-Yo Ma still does, as Itzhak Perlman, Jack White, Tom Morello, and Taylor Hawkins do.

Conclusion

Learning to play any instrument well is an investment of time and effort that can yield great rewards. You can learn the basics of playing the drums in a few hours. You can become a competent drummer in a year or so. You can become great after thousands of hours with sticks in your hands.

If you have the patience, the drive, and the discipline to practice regularly and practice well, you can become a great drummer. But it won’t happen overnight.

Learning the drums can be hard, but that doesn’t always mean it will be. There are several factors that go into determining how hard learning the drums will be for you, including innate ability, your level of dedication, and the availability of free time you have for practicing.

In this article, you’ll find detailed information on how difficult it is and how long it takes to learn drums, as well as a comparison between the learning curve for drums and guitar. 

Is It Hard to Learn Drums?

It can be hard, expensive, and time-consuming to learn to play drums. They are more physical than instruments such as guitar or saxophone. Furthermore, the movements and techniques associated with drumming require an entirely different finesse compared to what’s needed for other instruments.

How Long Will It Take To Learn Drums?

The time it takes to learn drums will vary according to your goals and the way you practice. However, there are a few milestones that can be ballparked fairly easily.

It takes two or more years of regular practice to learn drums to a point where you can play on stage with a band. However, you can start having fun and learning songs much earlier.

It should only take you a few weeks to get a handle on the basic techniques behind drumming. Once you feel comfortable behind a kit, then you can start progressing with more advanced knowledge.

There are a few important techniques and practices that every drummer should know. In particular, there are groups of rhythmic patterns known as rudiments. There are many different rudimentary structures for drum techniques, but the most common one today is the Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments.

Learning these rudimentary rhythms and patterns will give you a very strong base to build on for your drumming ability. We’ll talk more about drum rudiments later on in this article. For now, let’s focus on some of the basic techniques involved in drumming.

Basic Techniques

First of all, one of the most important things to remember is ear protection. Drums are typically extremely loud, and you’ll quickly deafen yourself if you insist on playing without any hearing protection. 

Earplugs are effective, but a good set of drummer’s headphones such as the Vic Firth Isolation Headphones (available on Amazon.com), can reduce the noise by 25 decibels. This product is a much better solution; allowing the drummer to plug into the sound system in order to hear other instruments or run click tracks.

A drum kit is typically played in a sitting position, with the drummer using a drumstick in each hand to strike drum heads while using their feet to operate pedals. The left foot usually controls the hi-hat cymbal, while the right foot controls the bass drum pedal. However, alternative setups are becoming more common.

One of the most important things to focus on in the beginning is limb independence. People who’ve never practiced drums before often find it difficult at first to move their limbs independently from each other. For example, some people have difficulty using their hands and feet for different patterns simultaneously.

In order to train your limbs to move independently from one another, you should start by practicing a basic beat, and moving on to more complex rhythms once you’re comfortable. Build a repertoire of different beats and fills and practice alternating between them.

Another important technique for basic drumming is the grip. There are a few different ways that a drummer can grip their sticks, and each is suited to a different genre. The ‘matched grip’ is the one most commonly used by drummers in rock or pop bands, while the ‘classic grip’ is used widely in classical music. However, some drummers, such as Neil Peart, have found success with using different grips in different situations.

Counting

The most important skill a drummer can possibly learn is how to count rhythms. Since the drummer is the rhythmic backbone of the band, being able to keep a beat is essential. You can’t be a professional drummer who doesn’t know how to count. You’ll end up losing your place and becoming unable to keep the rest of the band on time.

If you’re just starting out, then most of the rhythms you play will be in common time (also known as 4/4). This is a really simple time signature that typifies almost every single song you’ll hear on the radio these days. However, there are also other common rhythms (such as 3/4 or 6/8) as well as advanced rhythms for genres such as jazz and progressive rock.

The key to counting rhythms effectively is to train your body to recognize intervals of time. For this reason, it’s important to practice along to a metronome or even one of your favorite songs. Count the rhythms and practice counting while playing. Eventually, you’ll be able to count in your head without thinking about it too hard.

Rudiments

Rudiments, as mentioned earlier, are a system of rhythms and techniques that start out simple and become more difficult as you progress through the series. The PAS International Drum Rudiments are the most commonly taught today, and they start with a basic drum roll.

There are a few other systems, such as French rudiments, that may be more useful if you plan on doing something like marching drums, which rely much more heavily on rudimentary patterns than other styles of drumming. No matter what genre you intend to play, practicing complex rudimentary patterns will always help you become a better drummer.

Since rudiments are typically written with musical notation, it might be a good idea to read up a bit on how to read sheet music for drums. Don’t be scared; drum notation is significantly more intuitive than musical notation for other instruments, especially if you’re only playing a small kit. If you know how to read sheet music, you’ll be much more welcome in an organized band setting where being able to do so is an absolute requirement.

You don’t have to focus solely on rudiments as you continue to practice. You can still play around with basic beats and even begin trying to play along to your favorite music. The rudiments simply give you a backbone of important techniques and rhythms that you can use to supplement your skills with the instrument.

In fact, it’s a good idea to always include rudimental practice when you’re playing drums. Even if you’ve been playing for ten years, rudiments are an excellent way to warm up your limbs and get them ready for more complicated patterns. Even the pros have to keep practicing the basics from time to time.

Advanced Techniques

Once you play the drums for a few months, you’ll get an idea of what you like to play, as well as areas where you can improve. If you listen to music with complicated drum beats, you probably know some techniques already that you want to start practicing.

The drums are a complex instrument, requiring much more rhythmical awareness and proprioception than other instruments like guitar or saxophone. Techniques such as blast beats, polymeters, and rhythmic displacement can be extremely rewarding to learn, and adding to your repertoire of techniques will continuously make you a better drummer as time goes on.

If you don’t know what to do next, then just pick a song you like and try to play it! Many famous drummers, such as Buddy Rich, were completely self-taught. The key to learning any instrument is persistence.

If you eventually hit a plateau with your learning and you don’t know what to do, then it can be a good idea to shell out for drum lessons. In addition to teaching you how to play, many drum teachers will also help students find decent used drum sets on which to start practicing.

Are Drums Harder Than Guitar?

Some people consider drums to be one of the more difficult instruments to learn. The reason for this is the physical requirements of the instrument, as well as the lack of overlap with other instruments. While learning drums is demanding, it’s by no means impossible.

Drums can be harder than guitar for some people due to the physical requirements. However, others may find drums easier to learn due to the relative simplicity of the techniques compared to guitar.

Guitar requires a great deal of memorization in order to play competently. You can’t just learn a few basic rhythms to jam out on guitar; you need to practice complex scales and modes before you can hope to have a fluent understanding of the instrument. A good drum student can learn to play popular songs in just a couple lessons.

Posture

The way you sit is one of the most important factors in drumming. You need to be comfortable sitting up straight in a position that allows you to hit all of the drums in your kit. If you have to crane your body to hit different drums, then you might be making things more difficult for yourself.

It’s also possible to sustain injury if you play the drums with bad posture or with an incorrect grip on your sticks. This is especially true if you frequently play for long periods of time. Carpal tunnel is serious business, so practicing good posture is essential. Many drummers who play for years also end up with knee problems or back issues due to practicing bad posture throughout their careers.

Posture for guitar is mainly focused on how to hold the instrument so that your fingers can easily be used to press down on the frets and pluck the strings. While posture is still important for guitar, it is much more important for drums since you’ll be moving your body a lot more than a guitar player.

Limb Independence

A guitarist must learn to move their fingers independently, as well as how to strum with one hand while fingering frets with the other. A drummer must learn how to move all four of their major limbs independently from one another in order to truly master the instrument.

For this reason, drummers (especially beginners) must devote a lot of time to practicing their limb independence. Even as you get better, you should make sure that you’re practicing various rhythms and techniques to get your limbs used to moving out-of-sync.

Limb independence is especially important for genres that incorporate complex time changes, such as jazz or progressive rock. However, no matter what genre you intend to play, learning to move your limbs independently is one of the most important differences between drums and guitar.

Muscle Memory

Eventually, as you practice different rhythms and techniques, your body will start to get used to the various movements. You’ll find that your body will automatically start to react with certain patterns, making various techniques easier as you practice.

This is both a blessing and a curse since overdeveloped muscle memory will pigeonhole your body into certain patterns. This is one of the main reasons that rudimental drumming is so important; it teaches your body to memorize basic patterns, which can then be used as part of a versatile whole.

Muscle memory training for drums is arguably easier than for guitar since guitarists must memorize hundreds of different patterns in order to play effectively. A drummer can function competently with only a couple dozen rhythms, especially in simpler genres like classic rock or pop.

Equipment Cost and Maintenance

Although guitar equipment can be very expensive, so too can a decent drum kit. When you’re just starting out learning an instrument, it’s recommended to go with a cheaper alternative with a basic set of features rather than a super-expensive piece of equipment. The reason for this is that the more expensive equipment is basically overkill for a beginner; they can learn the basics just fine without all the added “bells and whistles.”

For a guitar, the basic set up you will need is the guitar itself and an amplifier if you plan on playing electric. Professional guitarists use half-stack or full-stack amplifier setups that incorporate effects loops and other goodies, but beginners typically go with what is called a combination amplifier. This allows them to amplify their guitar with some simple effects, and is all you need to start learning to play the electric guitar.

A drum kit is a bit more complex than that. Even beginner kits contain many pieces, and it can be hard to select a kit that is durable, affordable, and fun to play. The first thing you will want to worry about is the number of pieces in the kit. A basic kit will have a snare drum, bass drum and pedal, and a hi-hat. Most beginner kits also incorporate toms and crash or ride cymbals.

A full drum kit, even one for beginners, will have a similar cost to an electric guitar and combo amp. It will be in the range of a few hundred dollars. However, parts of a drum kit will need to be frequently replaced, such as the skins, sticks, and sometimes the cymbals. This problem can be mitigated by getting decent-quality hardware, but it is still something that happens from time to time.

Tuning a drum kit is also more time consuming and difficult than tuning a guitar. You need a specialized drum key to tune the skins, and most of the kit must be disassembled in order to properly tune them. If you need more information on how to tune a drum kit, you can check out this page.

The plus side of this is that new drums, cymbals, and other accessories can easily be added to an existing kit. Used kits and beginners kits can also be made to sound pretty good with some decent tuning, whereas a cheap guitar amplifier will always sound cheap no matter what. Some recording artists, such as Zack Hill of Hella, are famous for playing heavily used drum kits.

Final Thoughts

Playing the drums can be a very challenging endeavor. However, it can also be rewarding. If you’re the type of person who likes to follow intricate patterns while exercising their entire body, then you’ll find drumming to be a relaxing and fulfilling experience.

Instruments like guitar or piano require a lot of memorization of scales and modes, which can make them more difficult to learn for some people. Drumming is about using your whole body effectively while keeping a beat for the rest of the band.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.

1. Develop Good Technique

Technique really is the most and all-time important thing. When you’re quickly getting tired playing the drums, you have to face the problem from the roots. The purpose is: After you apply the right technique, it should “cost” way less stamina. And with more stamina that you have left, you either have more up your sleeve to play longer, or you can perform faster movements.

So, if proper technique requires less stamina, how important is stamina then for me? Well, the thing with “good technique” is not that easy, I’m afraid. Because applying a good technique doesn’t mean you won’t need any stamina or that you can be out of shape! You just that you have more of it, which in turn, you can use more wisely.

Most of the time, you see the experienced drummers using their wrist and fingers moving very much (small movements) and their arms just a bit (big movements). The brilliant thing about this is that those small wrist and finger movements (right technique) eventually sound similar to hits from your arm (bad technique). But it’s no rocket science that small movements are just more energy-saving.

With practicing proper technique comes applying the best applicable one for the current practice. Let’s for example, look at some footwork where you’re trying to play a fast beat with heel down. Not only will this likely burn your shins, you won’t have that much power to endure this for some more minutes. So instead, try resting only the ball of your foot on the pedal, having your heel in the air.

The heel-up technique allows you to press the pedal when raising and lowering your foot (you should now feel your thigh muscles working). Because your thigh muscle is much stronger than your ankle or shin muscle, you should feel that your stamina increases dramatically. Of course, it’s a new feeling, but keep at it and it’ll become more and more familiar to you. But one small tip here: Go easy! I’ve heard from many people who’ve snapped their foot pedals playing heel up. I had the luck to have not broken mine yet, so be aware here.

2. Check Your Seating

Your seating position is something you can quickly get used to and won’t notice that it might be the cause of your pain. Try to at least have a 90-degree angle between the lower and upper part of your leg. I personally prefer to sit a few centimeters higher than that right angle. Just try around.

When shifting your throne higher or lower, you will move your center of gravity as well. Let’s look at some footwork again: In a too low position, when your leg is in a sharper angle than 90 degrees, your shin muscles, which are naturally weaker anyway, have to work way harder to contract in order to have your foot the pedal. When the center of gravity is lifted, you will instantly feel how more comfortable it becomes. Also, it will likely be easier to reach the toms and cymbals when seated higher.

Just try it out and experiment until you have a good feeling of a more comfortable sitting height and position. It’s worth it and makes a big difference in your leg when you were sitting on a chair too low to the ground before. You don’t have to pay much to get a decent stool for your kit.

3. Warm up and Stretch

Warm yourself up properly. It’s legitimate to compare drumming with doing sports (at least that type of drumming which is faster or heavier). As with any kind of sports, the sportsman has to warm up beforehand. It will get the temperature up and blood flowing to the muscles. This reduces the risk of injury and reduces muscle soreness.

Especially with drumming, it’s easy to make your body work harder than it has to. You can do some rudiments on your practice pad, a steering wheel, or any handy surface. I also really like doing some skipping because it’s so damn effective! …if you have the space, of course.

Always keep in mind to focus on being relaxed doing your warm-up exercises and to not mistake it with the real playing part. Don’t try to play hard and fast; save that for later : ) It might help not to do the warm-up on your kit.

So, warming up is one thing, stretching is a second one. In terms of stretching, I’d like to refer to my favorite exercises that once Travis Barker showed in a YouTube video. They include stretching the back, shoulders and your whole arms, which are the essential parts. Give it a try. It’s easy.

4. Do Your Workout

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, drumming can be a very sporty matter. So, put down your Nintendo Switch/PS4 and go to a gym. Or at least a place where you can workout. This can be your home or even a public training ground, too. As I already mentioned, the most important body parts to include in your stretching exercises; these are also the rough muscular areas of the body that need to be trained.

E.g., to strengthen shoulder muscles, you can exercise like a standing dumbbell fly. BUT make sure to train other muscles too, and not only this one. Always train the counterparts of one side, so when training the lower back muscles, do your abs, too. Otherwise, it will cause an imbalance in your body and false posture later on. You don’t want that, and it may hurt as well.

Also, I have made good experiences with focussing my training on the deeper lying muscles, called “functional workout.” You can put together a whole body workout and go for a challenge with yourself. Soon, you’ll experience the differences that have a positive effect on your drumming.

5. Be Efficient

Yes, it’s alright to work up a sweat. And yeah, it’s okay to get a workout on the kit. Personally, I always keep a towel with me when playing with my metal band. Buuuuut, it pays to watch out for the following:

As mentioned in the first section about technique, this kind of docks on to that idea, with a little twist.

People like Benny Greb, Bernard Purdie, and so many more, especially the pro drummers that made those DVDs, they preach the proper technique, and to relaxxxxx (as Tony Royster Jr. always likes to say, haha).

Because I already wrote a whole bunch for the first section, I decided to divide this part up and dedicate this one fully to efficiency, as a product of applying a proper technique.

So, the concept lies in letting your fingers, wrists, and drumsticks (seem) to do the work for you. Watch the pros closely and find that they’re not moving much – even not moving their arms in an extensive matter. Still though, they’re blazing across the kit like no-one because they mastered the skill of efficiency.

It looks easy, but it is tough – I haven’t mastered it myself! But by focussing on firstly, mastering a proper technique, the efficiency part will come as a result of it.

6. Trick Your Mind

Our minds can accomplish extraordinary things. To give you a comparison of what difference the quality of your thoughts can make on your physical activity, this is what I would describe as extremely counterproductive:

“Ouhhh I can feel my muscles burn, and I don’t know if I can still keep on going. Wait, we have not yet played half of the show? HELP!” *cries*

Oh well. I know I might have exaggerated it a bit. But I’m sure you get what I mean. Now, as this mindset is clearly pessimistic with this person being aware of only the negative signs that his or her body shows.

Now, we can change this up a bit with two additional ideas. One would be to think positive or optimistic; the second would use visualization to make yourself determined and program your mind to achieve a set goal.

Be Optimistic.

One thing that I learned over the years is that it’s of absolutely no use not to think positively. When you think positive thoughts, your brain will produce serotonin, which leads to a feeling of well-being. When serotonin levels are normal, you feel happy, calmer, less anxious, more focused and emotionally stable. Of course, that can be challenging in a pressured situation like e.g. at a gig. But it needs practice. Try to make yourself aware of your thinking patterns throughout your day-to-day life, and you will soon be able to actively influence how you’d like to think about upcoming challenges.

Visualize.

The following example of this slightly altered visualization technique can also be beneficial, and I’ve used it many times successfully. For this to work, it most certainly requires not to be as emotionally unstable as in the example above. And again, it refers to the scenario of having to perform more than you think your body can do. Think about your current goals and try to visualize how you are successfully achieving them before you actually play.

Imagine playing 40 or more songs that night.

Now, this “trick your mind” section is a different approach to the other tips, all of which relate more to one physical level. Please consider this as an addition and not a substitute for physical training!

7. Check Your Drumsticks

You have your drumsticks in your hands at all times of the performance – or at least you usually would. Altering their properties, such as weight distribution, has a significant impact on your play.

They can be too heavy for your playing purpose. Examine your drumsticks. Are they extra thick? Does your favorite artist play them, so you just want them, too? To put this into perspective, Thomas Lang’s signature sticks weigh 70 grams, Vic Firth 5A Classics weigh 50 grams. That’s 40% more and makes a huge impact.

Apart from the weight and thickness, drumsticks can be extra long as well. The longer the drumstick is, the more force you have to use to move it. With more movement speed, even more strength is needed.

So, it is definitely worth taking a good and critical look at your drumsticks and maybe compare them with standard 5A or 7A ones.

And even though you might admire a specific drummer, don’t let your playing be negatively influenced by the fact that you want to play the same sticks as him or her. After all, do you have the same level of strength, endurance, and technique as he does so that the sticks are perfect for you?

8. Avoid Rimshots

First, what are rimshots? A rimshot is when you simultaneously hit the rim and the head of the snare drum, resulting in a more accented snare drum sound.

I observe it with many drummers that – even though the rimshot itself results in a louder sound – they try to hit every rimshot with even more power, which is not needed. That might be because one tries just to hit the snare and doesn’t care (snare, care, haha) how. Let’s be honest. We should all give a little more attention to applying the right technique correctly, right?

In the end, it also depends on the genre you’re playing. But try to avoid rimshots on your snare unless you need to accent a hit heavily. And then, do a rimshot which you don’t have to take a bigger swing with your arm for. I know it sounds too simple, but “just” takes practice and awareness.

Also, regardless of how good the snare behind the kit sounds to you, the odds are that you’re too loud for the audience compared to the rest of your drum kit and band – if you’re always hitting rimshots. And if your set is miked, the snare will bleed into all the other mics, making it unnecessarily difficult for the sound engineer to create a decent mix.

9. Play “off” the Drum

This is a little trick you may want to try if the above tips didn’t bring you the desired results in time.

When sitting at your drum kit, try playing off the drum and not through it. This may require some practice to familiarize yourself with it. And some of you heavy hitters won’t even want to try it because it doesn’t look as cool as dropping down on the drums like swinging Thor’s hammer (a little exaggerating here, but you know what I mean; I was thinking the same back then). But believe me, it helps a lot.

In the end, this would lead to a more conscious approach to how you play the drums.

10. Adjust to Your Skill Level and Listen to Your Body!

I think this is a significant point to not play above your skill level. That means not to play blast beats if you’re just starting out. That’s the same as learning to crawl before you can walk.

One time we played together with a band in which the drummer got tired and muscle-achy as he told me because he wasn’t very good at pacing himself. And then, you watch other drummers who seem really relaxed, as if they could play forever. Playing relaxed is crucial to ensure that your body does not give in.

Disclaimer: I don’t mean to pass judgment to any of you heavy hitters. I’m just speaking from experience as I’m coming from a metal background.

Therefore, never play above your level, even if it sometimes seems tempting, and you have set yourself higher goals than you can achieve.

And please also be careful if you experience numbness. Numbness is not fatigue; it’s a neural problem. It could be related to the technique or something in your profession or any other activity that causes it, but I would definitely talk to a doctor about it to rule it out.

11. Practice

I probably preach the practice thing more often than anything else. But it’s just so true. So… Practice practice practice! Play more regularly. Like any athletic activity, the more you do, the more you eventually can do. It’s better to play 10 minutes every day than 5 hours once a month.

When you have difficulties play a specific beat, you have to be going to practice them for even longer than you would usually play them, of course. Also, practice fills around the kit not just once, but over and over with little variations till you can do it without thinking about it, resulting in your body just doing it naturally and with ease. Likewise, learn to relax as you play, and you will use less energy to do the same amount of work.

Bonus “Workarounds”

I don’t count this as a tip for building stamina. As the heading says, it is a workaround for the case that you don’t have time to put some of these valuable tips into practice. A workaround is typically a temporary problem fix that is needed, while you have to practice a little more to solve the problem at its core.

• Try simplifying the hard parts. For example, replace a fast pulsing hi-hat by just half of the strokes.
• Use the adrenaline! You’re wondering how you’re going to survive the show, and then the adrenaline kicks in (or it already did when walking up on stage). It will most certainly take you over the finish line often. BUT once the show is over, you might collapse or feel super exhausted.

Being a musician, it’s hard not to say “the show must go on.” Therefore, I think it’s vital to include a few stamina-building exercises in your regular practice routine.

1. The Importance of Practice Pads

The first things I would recommend to every drummer, no matter what skill level they’re at, in terms of practice tools is to

1. get a practice pad,
2. practice with a metronome.

Since this article is all about the practice pad setup, I won’t go into detail about the metronome topic. In fact, I wrote a whole article about this topic which gives more exciting information. Check it out here: Do Drummers Use Metronomes to Keep Their Tempo?

When just starting out on the drum set, it is crucial to establish and maintain a good practice routine. Nothing is more important than to just keeeeep practicing! Seriously. Get your rudiments down and develop a proper hand technique. A small setup with only one practice pad will absolutely do the job. Most amateur and professional drummers do it that way.

I would say if you can split half of your practice time between the kit and the pad, you get the best results, particularly if you’re just starting out or playing for less than about 3-4 years. Because stick control is THE most important thing that is going to accelerate your playing so much, as it focusses on the basic movements that you eventually apply on the kit; that’s where it all comes together: The technique, the rudiments, and other stuff like dynamics, independence, motion and so on.

Sadly, a lot of drummers still miss out on that part and develop a sloppy technique, resulting in only minimal control. And it’s all the sadder because it is an avoidable condition.

So, a lot of pad time is really, really important when you’re starting out. Again, try to split your time half between the pad, half between the kit and you will notice significant improvements.

2. Starting Small

Now, how should you be “starting small” like what I’m writing here?

Practice pads are usually very affordable nowadays and most of the drummers, if not every drummer, owns one (even if buried in the shallows of your basement). In my recommended gear section, I’m sharing my thoughts on what practice pad is best to buy and why.

So get a practice pad, the best choice would also be to get a practice pad stand or a spare snare stand to mount it on to so you can adjust it to the correct height (see chapter 3).

If no practice pad is available, for whatever reason, you can also try different surfaces that appear in your homes, such as pillows, the seat surface of a sofa or your bed. You can even just ditch your drumsticks and play by tapping your hands on your knees to practice some hand-foot-independence.

3. Right Height Adjustment

First things first, you have to set that thing up, so where should you put it? I would say the best thing you could do is to put it on a spare snare stand. And if you don’t have a spare one laying around, that’s fine. Any flat surface will do. What you definitely want to do is to set it up at the right height for you.

The “ideal” setup would probably be to get your drum stool and put it in front of your pad that’s mounted on a stand. I mean, when being on tour and you don’t always have these things with you, you’d probably just use any surface at any height, just to practice your chops – that’s not ideal when you want to do some serious work on your stick control!

So, you want it to be at a height that – if you’re sat and playing – your hands

1. aren’t resting on your legs / you’re sitting too low, and
2. they shouldn’t be up too high where you extremely bend your wrists.

The ideal position is to have the pad in front of you, where the tips of the sticks fall naturally into the center of the pad, and the angle of the sticks to one another is roughly 90 degrees. The sticks should be in one line with your underarm with your wrists straight. Ideally, you also want a couple of inches clearance between your hands and your legs just to avoid hitting your legs.

4. Material Differences

When diving deeper into the topic of practice pads, you will notice a wide variety of pad surfaces. You should be aware of them, know their distinctions and choose your personal setup accordingly. So here are the most common types:

Rubber. One of the most commonly used materials is practice pads with a hard rubber surface. The rubber provides an excellent rebound but at the same time causing some noise. Depending on the thickness and type of the material, the feel can vary. Usually, they have a harder feel, potentially making your wrists fatigue after extensive practicing. This doesn’t need to be a problem for softer rubber, though.

Mesh. With mesh pads, you’ll notice they have a softer sound. In terms of feel, mesh heads tend to feel more natural than hard rubber pads, although some drummers would describe them as too soft or too bouncy. But they have a fair advantage in terms of versatility. A mesh head provides the ability to adjust the tightness of its surface. You can tune it tight for more rebound and loosen it up for less rebound and thus, to build more strength and endurance.

Multi-Surface. This developed from the idea that long practice sessions on a single-surfaced practice pad can get monotonous and redundant for some. A multi-surface pad commonly contains two to four different surface types that each have a different hardness, all within a regular practice pad size. Compared to single-surfaced pads, you’re able to hear the sticking patterns more clearly and you can be more creative.

Pillow or your bed. This has no room for excuses. Every drummer owns some sort of bed and one or more pillows. But even if it’s the most inexpensive way of practicing, it is only ideal for practicing endurance and strength, and you have to pay special attention to the appropriate height and angles setup if you don’t want to hurt yourself. But it’s a perfect and quiet way to spontaneously grab a pillow and practice a bit while watching TV!

5. What Are Your Goals?

With the help of a practice pad, everyone can pursue a different goal. The most common ones would be to develop a better technique, build up endurance and strength, or to play tighter to a steady beat.

And for all the purposes that can be different, there isn’t a “one fits all” solution. So you might want to read on to find out what would suit your needs best.

The most common goal is probably to develop good stick control. This can be achieved through nearly every standard setup, like a practice pad, or even a practice kit – made out of practice pads. The only difference between those options is: The more possibilities, the more creative freedom you eventually have.

Do you want to become stronger and gain more endurance? Then you’d have to practice on a surface that naturally requires your muscles to work heavier. You can achieve this by using very soft surfaces that don’t have much of a rebound, such as pillows, the seating surface of your sofa or your bed.

Measured by the possibility of being creative, I conclude the following from my paragraph above: If creativity isn’t so crucial for pad practice, just get a standard practice pad – nothing fancy. If you aspire to live your creativity, you should get a practice kit. For the case that you see yourself in between both ends, you might want to check out a multi-surface practice pad.

Another possible practice goal can be that you want to develop the speed of your movement between the drums, to be able to apply it on the real kit afterward. The best and most realistic practice pad setup would be a practice pad kit. You can also develop a bit of movement speed by practicing on a multi-surface pad, but it won’t be as much as on a bigger setup with multiple practice pads.

Tying in with the point of speed: Your goal can be focused solely on the speed development of your feet. Obviously, a standard round practice pad won’t suit your needs at all. For this particular purpose, bass drum practice pads were invented. Essentially, it is a construction that is holding a vertically mounted practice pad with either rectangular or round shape. It lets you mount your single or double bass drum pedal and you’re ready to go!

The last goal that I can think of what a drummer would want is developing independence. Now, independence is quite a broad topic. Of course, you can practice this on a whole practice kit with a foot pedal and multiple practice pads. But it doesn’t need to be that fancy. I think the more efficient solution here would be just to ditch all the pads, sticks and pedals. Instead, use your hands for tapping on your knees and your feet for tapping on the floor. While sitting upright and relaxed, any limb independence practice session will be enjoyable for sure.

Read more exciting stuff about independence and multitasking on the drums here!

6. What Is Your Budget?

The popular budget question mostly has an enormous impact on your final decision about what to get. For a better overview, I’m going to group the budgets into the most sensible price ranges. And for every range, I would decide on the best options depending on your goals that you should’ve figured out after chapter 5.

I have just as much as $0 to spend! Alright. It might seem hard to find a good practice pad setup for such a tight budget, but it’s certainly possible to find an appropriate fit for your needs. Actually, you still have a choice between a few options:

• For strength and endurance, practice on soft surfaces like pillows or your bed.
• Assuming you already own a pair of drum sticks: Decorate your bed with differently soft pillows and your duvet, and then practice “moving around the kit”. So it’s an excellent combination of the development of creativity, strength, endurance, as well as movement speed.

I’ve got no more than $5. Assuming you already own a pair of drum sticks: Buy a rubber pad at your local hardware store and creatively use that as a practice pad replacement.

I can spend up to $20. With 20 dollars, you might not have enough to get a proper practice pad. Instead, the market has a small version of it to offer, and they’re called “knee practice pads“. They have a strap that lets you fixate the pad onto one of your knees while sitting upright and having your legs in about a 90-degree angle — a good way of practicing stick control on the go.

I have $30-40. Perfect! Because this enables you to buy a practice pad! The average price of a practice pad is around this price mark. Some pads cost more than others, but I think this budget will get you a good and long-lasting product with which you can practice your stick control.

My budget goes up to $70. That’s quite a budget for a practice pad. You can easily get a practice pad with multiple surfaces within that price range, like the DW Multi-Surface Pad, or the Drumeo P4.

I don’t care how much it costs. Get a full practice pad kit. I’m thinking of the DW “Go Anywhere” Practice Kit that I actually own myself and couldn’t ask for a product. It makes you be able to develop stick control, creativity, speed, and independence. That’s everything except strength because it doesn’t provide soft surfaces.

Keep in mind that you can always combine the different setups to fit your budget and your goals. For example, you can get a big practice pad kit, which lets you practice everything but strength, so you add some practice time on a pillow that complements the purpose really well.

7. Noise Level

Unfortunately, the volume is always a problematic topic when it comes to drumming. Now, regarding your ideal practice pad setup, the volume would be as low as possible. The only sounds should be the ones from hitting a practice pad, at best, one that’s extra quiet, or a pillow.

If you have some freedom of sound levels where you have your setup, it opens up a few more possibilities. For example, you can add some cymbals to your practice kit. Zildjian makes these low volume cymbals that basically contain lots of small round millings side by side. They are not as quiet, though. But it should be alright for a normal noise level that you have in a room.

The same thing goes with drumheads. Remo has their silent stroke heads, which are made out of mesh and replace the batter head of your drum set. This solution is not as quiet, because when mounted on your acoustic kit, you still have the resonant heads that will swing with your hits. But because the mesh heads don’t even produce such a loud sound, the resonant heads, therefore, vibrate much less.

You can arrange this as you like. Use the silent cymbals with your acoustic kit that is equipped with the silent heads, with your regular practice pad kit, or whatever you want.

Another option of tools available for making your acoustic kit quieter is to use special dampers. There are dampers which you place on the drumheads, as well as on the part of the cymbal that you’re hitting. On their upside, they are way cheaper than the silent heads or cymbals I pointed out above. The best one I’ve ever heard of are the Evans SoundOff Dampers. They are available for the snare, toms, cymbals and bass drum. Maybe give it a try and see if it suits your setup!

8. Impact Sound

Impact sound is linked a bit to the preceding topic of the noise level. Let me first clarify what impact sound means, regarding the playing of a quiet practice kit with or without using foot pedals.

The problem is not the noise the pads make while playing, it is usually enough to close the door to the next room and that’s it. The problem lies in the vibration that goes through the linkage into the floor, spreads through the walls into the other rooms and even apartments. The whole room suddenly also becomes a resonating body in itself and even amplifies the initial quiet noises into a booming and banging that is unpleasant for the others as if someone is drumming against the walls with his fists.

Now there are different approaches and I invite you just to try them. The most important principle is: “Your kit must be off the floor!” It’s called “decoupling.” When there is no direct contact with the ground, the problem is solved. For all those who own their own house, the problem is straightforward and inexpensive: “Just put the set on the ground floor – done”.

In fact, the ground floor conducts the energy into the earth, making it less of a problem. But for those who don’t have a choice because they want to practice in an apartment that is not on the ground floor, there are also reasonable solutions, like a podium, which basically consists of an acoustic panel, halved tennis balls and possibly a carpet. You can also buy vibration dampeners for all feet of your drumset, which are available for washing machines. Under each foot, one damper – done.