Black Sabbath’s anthem features straightforward drumming with just three essential drum pieces: kick, snare and hi-hat. Beginners will find playing this tune incredibly rewarding.
Beginners can try opening up the hi-hats for additional sound.
You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me was The Kinks’ debut hit and has had an outsized influence on generations of musicians. The song pioneered the use of distorted guitar riffs in rock songs, helping shape Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music genres. Van Halen covered this track on their 1978 debut album; many fans consider their version the superior rendition. Meanwhile, The Kinks continued performing this song throughout their long career in various musical settings.
Ray Davies wrote his song after watching a woman dance in the crowd of a club in Piccadilly, London. In an interview held later that year, he stated that this woman reminded him of French singer Francoise Hardy and was wearing a dress with long sleeves reminiscent of French singer Francoise Hardy herself. Furthermore, Ray explained in 2016 that its lyrics were inspired by Tracey Davies who danced professionally during her early 60s years.
Mick Avory provides the drumming in You Really Got Me and was hired by The Kinks in 1964 to replace their previous drummer Micky Willet. Avory went on to feature prominently on most Kinks recordings up until their disbandment in 1976.
Avory is widely recognized for his contribution to The Kinks’ iconic sound during their golden era in the late 60s and early 70s, and as the pioneer of their distinctive “beatle drumming” style which became so prevalent during their later incarnations in the 80s.
Beginning their career on Pye Records proved challenging. Following two single releases that failed, which threatened label cancellation, You Really Got Me was recorded and proved transformative for both band and label alike.
Ray and Dave have revealed that the original recording of You Really Got Me was quite different from its released form. Ray claims that producer Shel Talmy overproduced it by adding too much echo, turning into an echo-y Phil Spector soundalike track. Meanwhile, in its released form the drum tracks were kept much simpler with less strain placed on vocalists’ voices.
Superstition
Superstition is the belief in irrational things that cannot be explained rationally, such as carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck or viewing Friday the 13th as unlucky day. Superstitions also encompass objects or places considered cursed – for instance Annabelle from The Conjuring movies or those who disturb an Ancient Egyptian mummy are known to fall prey to superstitions that affect them negatively.
Superstitious beliefs often have an irrational appearance; however, their basis often can be found somewhere in reality. For instance, some may use superstitions as a form of comfort during periods of anxiety related to unknown outcomes such as economic crises or war. We see superstitious behavior increase during periods of high stress or uncertainty such as economic crises and war.
Wonder’s song has stood the test of time and remains a favorite choice among drummers of all abilities. Its captivating intro is easily digestible while its three key instruments – drums, Hohner Clavinet and Moog bass – contribute to creating its infectious groove.
Once the beat kicks in, Wonder’s effortless vocal delivery elevates its charm. He sings short phrases while letting keyboard riff fill in between each word for a relaxed yet confident atmosphere that encourages listeners to get lost in music.
The chorus is another standout element, featuring a melodious bass riff and singable lyrics that convey faith and belief to most listeners.
As you play Superstition on the drums, you must place great importance on maintaining a steady rhythm and beat. Accurate timing will help your song sound professional and ensure it stands out among other tracks on your album. A metronome is an effective way to train yourself in this area and get more from each practice session.
Last Nite
No matter if you are an expert drummer or just beginning, starting slowly and progressing gradually is key to enjoying playing drums as an activity. Not only will drumming get your adrenaline going but it can be therapeutic too – letting out frustration or anger through playback or rhythm is incredibly therapeutic and simply fun – while drumming is primal and exciting in its own right!
Beginner drummers may find it challenging to select songs which are simple enough for them to learn quickly, yet still include rhythms and fills that are accessible and fun. Popular examples that work well include Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, Jump by Van Halen or Fool In The Rain by Led Zeppelin – each offering something distinct!
Last Nite by The Strokes is another excellent song to learn on drums for beginners. This rock classic helped launch The Strokes into success and has since become an indie icon. Fabrizio Moretti provided drum parts that shouldn’t be too difficult for beginner drummers. Both bass drum and snare drum parts should be simple; the hi-hat cymbal may prove more challenging.
Hi-hat cymbal playing is an essential skill for any drummer to possess. As part of many drum beats, it requires great hand coordination to master it properly. At first it may seem complex; take your time learning the basic rhythm before adding on more complex beats.
Highway To Hell by AC/DC is an excellent song to start playing for beginners, instantly recognisable by anyone who has heard it. The drum groove is straightforward with mostly bass drum and snare drum combination as well as some basic fills on beats 1 and 3, with the bass drum moving on beats 1 and 3, and snare drum playing beats 2 and 4.
Come As You Are
Come As You Are’s lively backbeat and straightforward drum parts make it an excellent song for beginner drummers to learn. Beginners should begin by following the four on the floor bass drum pattern and snare backbeat, gradually adding in their own fills as they improve. Come As You Are is also an ideal song to practice dynamics – how soft or loud your playing volume changes between verses and choruses – as it forces drummers to vary their volume as verses change into choruses. More advanced students may wish to challenge themselves with its big hi-hat part; just remember to slow it down to an acceptable tempo level so as not to risk too much.
Lock in with the bass guitar and bass drum on beats one and four for this song to work effectively, as there’s a key snare hit during pre-chorus that should be lightly played so as not to interrupt the groove for guitar solo. There may also be additional hits during second chorus that may be difficult for beginner drummers to hear; just focus on keeping your place and you should do fine!
One of the key challenges in playing this song is its tempo – which at approximately 140 beats per minute may be too fast for beginning drummers. To counteract this difficulty, one should slowly increase tempo until reaching desired rhythm tempo for song. Newcomers should focus on counting while simultaneously playing at same time to help stay in sync with band.
Drumeo provides video drum lessons that dissect an entire song – from its bass drum ‘pickup’ part to the full song itself – making learning to play like Dave Grohl easier than ever before! Our lessons come both as video lessons and sheet music formats so if you want to accelerate and optimize your learning of drumming quickly and efficiently then join Drumeo today and sign up as a member!
This Beatles song is an ideal way for beginners to develop basic drumming patterns and use cymbals as beat generators, as well as learn to sync them up together.
This song features a classic four-on-the-floor bass drum and snare backbeat, making it appropriate for beginning drummers. Additionally, its slower tempo should make this piece accessible and enjoyable to learn.
Psycho Killer by Talking Heads
As a beginner drummer, finding suitable drum songs can be essential in developing your skills and maintaining interest in drumming. One song we recommend as an excellent starting point for learning drumming is this song which features a simple yet steady tempo, helping beginners progress with faster playing without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, its linear groove matches up perfectly with guitar riffs!
Talking Heads originally composed this song in 1977 for their debut album. This was just months after David Berkowitz, commonly known as Son of Sam, terrorized New Yorkers with his murder spree and it is likely that this inspired them when writing their song.
This song is ideal for beginners because of its four-on-the-floor beat and snare drum backbeat, along with various textures in its drumming such as open hi-hats during its intro and closed hi-hats during verses. Additionally, its slower tempo makes it easier for newcomers to play at a comfortable speed.
This song offers an easy-to-play rhythm and features a catchy, retro-sounding melody from the 1970s, making it ideal for beginners looking to explore classic rock music.
This song is ideal for beginners learning drumming as only the snare drum and bass drum are necessary to perform it. Additionally, its simple eighth note pattern helps develop reading music as well as understanding of different note values in a bar of music. Furthermore, its slow tempo enables drummers to practice timing as they build steady-pace playing techniques and gain experience creating dynamic drum parts through varied dynamics on the hi-hat.
Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
This song is an ideal drum lesson for beginner drummers because its simple rhythm can easily be picked up. Additionally, its use of eighth notes makes practicing easy; there are even several instances of “flams,” two notes played very close together that help develop speed of playing while keeping time with music.
“Beat It” by Queen is another fantastic beginner drum song. This tune’s straightforward beat makes it simple for most people to learn quickly, while its space for experimentation allows players to add cymbal hits or use of hi-hat pedal is great for developing drumming techniques such as adding hi-hat hits. While not as fast paced as others on this list, ‘Beat It’ still provides beginners with an enjoyable challenge that will improve tempo control over longer periods.
David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel song is an ideal choice for drum beginners as its rock beat makes it easy to follow. One thing that may prove tricky in playing it though is its non-standard four-bar phrase structure; you will need to pay close attention in keeping track of where your beats fall in order to master this tune!
This song provides another excellent opportunity to practice bass drumming and snare drumming, with its consistent groove remaining unchanged throughout. Beginner drummers may find the ‘and’ in every measure challenging. Furthermore, this track presents an excellent opportunity to practice paradiddles – single stroke rolls played with one hand that are key elements of jazz drumming that help develop hand and finger technique.
“Seven Nation Army” is an ideal song to learn on drums for beginners, illustrating how you can add dynamics into your drumming. Featuring heavy bass drum and snare drum beats with open hi-hats during verses and closed hi-hats during choruses, practicing this song will teach you volume control as well as dynamics to your playing.
Back in Black by AC/DC
Back in Black is an ideal song to learn drumming with for beginners, offering both musical challenge and an opportunity to hone different techniques. This song is simple enough for you to focus on mastering basic drumming techniques like quarter notes, keeping time, and using sufficient force in each stroke. Furthermore, its variety of grooves will help develop your technique while helping you become familiar with moving between various parts of the kit. This includes playing a basic rock beat in the verses and more complex bass drum patterns and snare fills on beats ‘3-and’ 4 in the choruses. Furthermore, throughout this song you must switch between slushy hi-hat notes and open hi-hat notes, and practice various types of cymbal strokes such as quarter note hits, single hits, or double hits on beats 4 or 5.
Beginner drummers will find this song’s tempo of 108 BPM manageable and full of opportunities for them to develop their dynamics. Locking into the rock beat of verses and snare backbeat is relatively easy; adding kick on beat three in chorus can be more tricky; therefore it is recommended to practice gradually increasing intensity until you feel comfortable doing this part of chorus.
Highway to Hell by AC/DC is another great song for beginning drummers to learn on drums, as its straightforward rock beat will help develop your timing skills while offering plenty of opportunities to experiment with exciting drum fills and heavier tones like crashes that will help create a powerful sound.
Nothing challenges a beginner’s sense of timing more than rhythms that combine both rests and beats. This song provides a simple beat during its intro and verses with a snare backbeat on beats 1 and 3, testing your timing in choruses when opening up hi-hats every other beat to keep time with its simple beat – further challenging your timing skills as a musician! Additionally, its lovely floor tom flourish on beat four tests your ability to maintain it while adding some flair.
Seven Nation Army by The Beatles
This classic rock song is an ideal tune to start drumming with as it features a simple beat and the drums don’t go too quickly. Beginners can use this tune as an opportunity to practice hitting their cymbals quickly and accurately as well as working on dynamics and the sound of their drum kit.
Baba O’Riley by The Who is an excellent song to introduce new drummers to different grooves and rhythms, featuring linear pattern around the kit, slower tempo of 103 BPM, which makes it easier for beginner drummers to keep time with. Furthermore, this tune emphasizes varying your playing style for different genres of music.
Hi-hat control can also be improved using this song as its verses feature closed sounds that open up in the chorus. Beginner drummers should concentrate on mastering their hi-hat control to make sure that they hit them accurately.
The White Stripes were an influential rock duo from 1997 until 2011. Their songs often consisted of one riff with a simple structure; therefore they make great training ground songs for beginner drummers since only bass drum and snare backbeat are required for their playback. This song provides a great opportunity for practicing keeping a steady tempo as well as perfecting “and” of beat three on your snare drum.
Beginners are advised to start slowly when learning these songs, building their speed up slowly up to 140 BPM. This will give them plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the rhythm and work on their technique without feeling overwhelmed. Furthermore, practicing at a slower tempo may reduce any unwanted habits from developing.
Start out right! These 20 songs provide an excellent starting point for beginner drummers looking to expand their musical vocabulary. Easy to learn and offer variety between genres and styles, these songs will help novice drummers build a solid foundation quickly and successfully.