11 Essential Drum Songs for Beginners (Plus Extras)

Even for those who barely understand the complexity that goes behind creating a drum part, playing can be quite an enthralling experience on its own even for those who are new to the skins.

Nevertheless, for enthusiasts and fresh talent, there are songs that can get you in the mood for countless hours of play.

In this post let us share with you some popular songs that can help you get into the grove and become engulfed in the ecstasy that the drums have to offer.

So without further a due, let’s roll them out one by one:

Warming up – Starting with easy tracks

The idea here is to keep things under control; you don’t want to start by overburdening yourself. Consider your time before you actually take off with harder tunes. Take into account music that has a consistent groove to offer without any extras.

Choose songs that are over 60 beats per minute so that they don’t get boring, while at the same time sticking to songs that don’t go over 130 beats per minute as they can become quite tricky to stay on track.

If you’re so new to drumming that you still don’t have a kit, be sure to check out either our article on our favorite electronic drum sets or beginner drum sets.

Here are some simple tunes to consider:

Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

Billie Jean is an iconic track that offers a great central groove before the chorus comes into play. At 118 BPM, this signature 4/4 time song should be the first one that you master and make everyone proud.

Closer by The Chainsmokers

Closer joins the party as one of the most favorites amongst drummer nowadays. Stick to the rhythm to match the original track. 8 notes on the high-hat and you will see why the sound itself feels great.

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

Radioactive by Imagine Dragons has more than one billion views on YouTube. And I remember when this song first came out!

It’s is an excellent song for beginners to show lots of energy and enthusiasm. Use typical drum grooves and allow space for more tom beats if you so desire. By the time you finish, you will find your spirit becoming elated and yourself profoundly sweating with excitement.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The majority of you will consider this an odd to our list, especially considering Jimi Hendrix’s outstanding guitar work which may convince you to take up private guitar lessons. That being said, it is how you listen to the song ‘Fire’ that will give an entirely new perspective.

Never before has any track has ever offered such stimulation and this goes to show how Mitch Mitchell’s was able to give this song all the power it deserved with his non-stop propulsive rhythms. Another great track from Hendrix is ‘Hey Joe’ which is definitely a winner and a must to include for your personal list of drum songs.

Famous songs that never get old

You can easily find well-written drum notation as well as a brief overview of the parts for these favorite songs that the ages will simply not forget.

Take a look on your own, and we are sure it will put a smile on your face too:

• AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long
• Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
• Nirvana – Come As You Are
• The Who – Eminence Front
• White Stripes – Seven Nation Army

These songs already made our list of easy songs from drummers to learn which you can read at the link.

Ending with Harder Material

The more you play, the better you will get, and soon you will be craving for more.

Lucky for you there is a lengthy list of over 40,000 songs that you can go around playing for the rest of your life and never feel monotonous even for a single moment.

By the time you are flaring things up and getting every rhythm right, here are some tracks to keep the fire burning eternally within you:

Ticks & Leeches by Tool

If you haven’t heard Danny Carey play, you are surely missing out on one of the best and highly regarded drummers of this generation.

If you want to refine and expand on your skills, then this incredible and sophisticated piece of art will answer your prayers to the fullest. After this, you may enter into the prog-rock category with your heads held high.

Tom Sawyer by Rush

Who can deny the influence of Neil Peart on the popular rock drummers of today? For example, take a look at Taylor Hawkins; The Professor is one of his biggest idols.

Tom Sawyer is one of those songs to wait on before attempting. There are time signature changes, repetitive and fast singles, intricate fills, and even a drum feature.

Some say Neil Peart is overrated, but I took a lot away from Neil’s playing as I grew as a drummer, so he’s definitely a favorite in my book.

Slave to the Rhythm by Grace Jones

Not to be confused with the song by Michael Jackson having the same title, this 1985 hit song can bring a lot of new arrangements to your personal liking. Keeping in mind that there are 8 original variations for you to try out before you move on to a new track.

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Released in 1971 and often referred to as one of the greatest rock songs of all time, It is an epic nonetheless and is exceptionally open towards your own style of music to add in your ideas and fill in the gaps.

There are three sections, and with time they increase with tempo as well as the volume.

Saying that John Bonham is a great drummer would be the understatement of the century. Check out this incredible video Brandon Toews from Drumeo put together.

The Wizard by Black Sabbath

If there is anything you need to know about reaching the zenith of drum playing, then Bill Ward has all the answers ready for you.

And if that doesn’t fill your soul then let it blaze with the track ‘Black Sabbath’ by the metal band. Famous for its tempo, it will inspire you to do so for eons ahead of your time.

Killpop by Slipknot

The album version is 3 minutes and 45 seconds long making it a full ride of great charm for all drummers out there. However, on the other hand, there are various other tracks by Slipknot that can fuel your passion and get you beating your drums as someone lost in a world of their own.

Conclusion

We hope this post was able to satisfy your hunger and cravings for tracks to get you going for hours of non-stop play. Want more? Don’t miss our roundup of the 11 most famous drum beats of all time.

We would like to conclude this post with the words from the great Buddy Rich, who once said: “I can think of a lot better things to do with my hands than to cut them on the rim of a drum.”

So embrace your true self and never stop playing.