Good morning, and thanks for visiting Midnightdrummer.com today!
Do you love playing drums to awesome songs with good drum beats? Then this blog post is exactly what you were looking for.
Click here for 100+ FREE Foo Fighters songs (PDF drum notation)
Here you will find my top 25 from pop, rock, rap, and other music genres which are fun to play drums to.
Get inspired listening to the drum tracks and let me know in the comments which songs I should add to the list.
I am open for your suggestions!
In case, you just started playing drums, please have a look at my blog post about 55+ easy drum beats for beginners.
EASY drum grooves
for beginners!
Files Included
Here's what you can expect from reading this blog post:
TOP 25+ SONGS WITH GOOD DRUM BEATS
Here is a list with my favorite songs.
In case you just started playing drums, please have a look at my blog post about easy drum songs for beginners.
#1
5/5
Billy Jean - Michael Jackson
Billy Jean is one of the most popular songs which Michael Jackson has ever recorded & performed. It's a very steady and fantastic bass line any drummer will love playing to.
#2
5/5
In the air tonight - Phil Collins
This is my all-time favorite song, including one of the most influential drum beats, played by an early drum machine ever. Since its creation, it has been copied endless times, but still the original is the best in my opinion. But it's not just the drum groove; “in the air tonight” became that popular due to the awesome drum fill which starts in the last third of the song.
Click one of the following buttons and start listening!
#3
5/5
You can't hurry love - The Supremes
This is my all-time favorite song, including one of the most influential drum beats, played by an early drum machine ever. Since its creation, it has been copied endless times, but still the original is the best in my opinion. But it's not just the drum groove; "in the air tonight" became that popular due to the awesome drum fill which starts in the last third of the song.
Click one of the following buttons and start listening!
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#4
5/5
Rosanna - Toto
I know, Rosanna by Toto is tough to play - especially in the original tempo. Jeff Porcaro - the drummer - is well known for playing the best half-time-shuffle drum beats ever recorded.
If you are ambitious, you will finally get the groove and then it's a lot of fun shuffling the Rosanna groove.
#5
5/5
Crazy - Seal
Yeah, a song from the 1990s! "Crazy" is its name and Seal is the artist, also known as Heidi Klum's ex-husband.
This song is one of the easier tracks you can play drums to. Just try it out and listen to it here:
#6
5/5
Rikki don't lose that number - SteEly Dan
"Rikki don't lose that number" is an all-time classic by Steely Dan. The song consists of several quite challenging drum beats - at least for beginners, it can be hard to play through the whole song. But don't worry; practice every part separately and continue later putting the pieces together.
#7
5/5
Give it away - Red Hot Chilly Peppers
Here's another great song from the 90s: "Give it away" by Red Hot Chilly Peppers is quite aggressive, including a more complex bass drum pattern. When you get the kick drum right, the rest of the song is easy.
#8
5/5
Get lucky - Daft Punk
Nile Rodgers and Daft Punk created this funky song called "Get lucky". If you are into disco and love drum beats, including four on the floor, this song is what you will enjoy playing to.
#9
5/5
Ain't nobody - Chaka Khan
Here's another quite difficult song with a very good drum beat: "Ain't nobody" by Chaka Khan.
The hi-hat and bass drum pattern is quite complex and takes many hours to get them right.
First, you should concentrate on a simple 16th notes pattern on the hi-hat. Later, you can add the hi-hat openings to get the original feel of the drum groove.
#10
5/5
Uptown funk - Bruno Mars
"Uptown funk" includes another 4 to the floor drum groove, and it's quite easy to play along to. It's not that fast, and even advanced beginners will enjoy playing to this Bruno Mars song.
ROCK SONGS WITH GOOD DRUM BEATS
#11
5/5
Thunderstruck - ACDC
"Thunderstruck" by ACDC is one of the most popular rock songs, including a tight, a great sounding drum beat. The hardest part is the hi-hat pattern due to its tempo. If you work on your hand- and finger technique, this song is easy to play to after a while.
#12
5/5
Nothing else matters - Metallica
"Nothing else matters" is probably the most popular Metallica song and great to play along to. Lars Ulrich's drumming style isn't easy to copy, but it's a must for every drummer who enjoys rock songs by Metallica.
#13
5/5
Walk this way - Aerosmith
"Walk this way" by Aerosmith isn't a typical rock song. The drum beat is quite funky and fun to play to. If you get the 16th notes right, the rest of the song is really easy to play to.
#14
5/5
Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Another rock song from the 90s, but really difficult to play: "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana is one of the most popular songs from the 90s and still teenagers want to learn the drum beat, which isn't easy to play at all.
#15
5/5
Best of you - Foo Fighters
"Best of you" by the Foo Fighters is also a great rock song with an excellent drum beat. Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer, knows how to play rock drums and proves his abilities on the drums in this great song.
christian songs with good drum beats
#16
5/5
The father's house - Cory Asbury
Cory Asbury's song "The father's house" is a very popular Christian song with a good drum beat. In my opinion, the groove is easy to play for intermediate drummers who love this kind of music style.
#17
5/5
Do it again - Elevation Worship
"Do it again" by Elevation Worship is another cool Christian song, which I didn't know before.
It's also a very slow song with a half-time-feel. Also beginners should be able to play along to this track.
#18
5/5
Forever - Kari Jobe
In this song "Forever" by Kari Jobe, even the tom toms play a main part in the drum beat. Since this song is pretty slow, it should be easy to play for beginners and intermediate drummers.
rap songs with good drum beats
#19
5/5
Regulate - Warren G
This is one of my very first rap music albums I bought in my childhood. I love the whole album and this drum beat is very cool. The 16th notes on the hi-hat are quite difficult due to the tempo, but you can still play it with both hands.
#20
5/5
Funkdafied - Da Brat
In terms of drum beats, "Funkdafied" by Da Brat is a very easy and common one. Eighth notes on the hi-hat, 2+4 on the snare and bass drum on 1+3. It's easy like that.
#21
5/5
Electric relaxation - A Tribe Called Quest
The drum beat in "Electric relaxation" is a beginner level groove, which any drummer can learn fast. There's a bass drum on 1, 2+ and on 3+. Snare drum on 2 and 4 and the hi-hat plays eighth notes.
It's easy as you can hear here:
80s songs with good drum beats
#22
5/5
Never gonna give you up - Rick Astley
I still remember how my mom went crazy as she listened to Rick Astley's album in the 80s. Of course "Never gonna give you up" is unforgotten and I love this kind of disco groove.
Since the tempo isn't that easy to play for beginners, I'd recommend it for intermediate drummers who are into 80s music.
#23
5/5
Take on me - A-ha
A-HA from Norway is definitely one of the most popular bands from the 80s. "Take on me" is an uptempo popsong which sounds pretty unusual in terms of drum beats. To play it right, you should listen carefully to what the drum machine is playing in this song.
#24
5/5
Careless whisper - George Michael
"Careless whisper" by George Michael is another great example of 80s music. Although this is a slow rock love song, it's quite challenging playing to this song. Especially the 16th notes pattern on the hi-hat can be difficult for beginners. For intermediate and advanced drummers, this song shouldn't be that difficult to play drums to.
#25
5/5
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
"Careless whisper" by George Michael is another great example of 80s music. Although this is a slow rock love song, it's quite challenging playing to this song. Especially the 16th notes pattern on the hi-hat can be difficult for beginners. For intermediate and advanced drummers, this song shouldn't be that difficult to play drums to.
Best drum beat songs for beginners
Here are a drum beat songs for beginners.
Do you know them?
#26
5/5
We will rock you - Queen
If you are looking for songs with good drum beats for beginners, this is what you were looking for!
Any beginner can play this song within his or hers first 30 minutes of playing drums: "We will rock you" by Queen is one of the most popular and one of the easiest songs in terms of drum grooves.
#27
5/5
Every breath you take - The Police
"Every breath you take" by The Police / Sting is another example of a great and easy song for drummers. Especially the verses are easy because only snare and bass drum are being played.
Click the buttons and listen.
WHAT IS THE MOST FAMOUS DRUM BEAT?
The most famous drum beat ever invented, played and recorded in a studio is a simple 8th note groove, which you can find in the following songs:
The most famous drum beat ever played
What is your favorite song?
I know that this list can't be complete without your help.
Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are and to which list they fit the best.
Enjoy playing drums and talk soon!
