5 Styles Any Beginner Drummer Can Play (Lesson)

Learn To Play Drums In 90 Days:

If you’re a new drummer, you may not have always had an ear for picking out exactly what the drums are doing in each song. Or maybe you can hear the differences, but you may not know exactly which drum is making which sound.

The drums are responsible for helping most different styles of music sound distinct from each other, so as a new drummer, you should understand the basics of some of the most popular genres so you can decide which you’d like to focus on. And if you want to be a working drummer (or a cover band drummer), you’ll need to get familiar with many styles.

Many new drummers start by learning rock music, but there are other styles you may not realize are just as newbie-friendly. In this video, you’ll learn the basics of five other drumming styles to help you find yourself as a player. You can download the play-along tracks for all 5 styles for free on this page here:

0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:36 - Funk
If you aren’t familiar with this style, check out artists like James Brown, Herbie Hancock, The Meters, and Tower of Power. Think of this first groove like a basic rock beat, but where you shift the snare back by a 16th note so it falls on the ‘a’ of beat 1.

Next, try adding this simple fill to transition on the 3 and 4.

2. 03:19 - Blues
Get inspiration from Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters, all iconic blues artists. This groove consists of 8th note triplets on the hi-hats, with a backbeat on the snare and bass drum.

3. 05:38 - Jazz
Jazz is defined by legends like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. You can start playing jazz with a basic ride pattern (also known as the swing pattern). Play the quarter note on beats 1 and 3, and two 8th note triplets on beats 2 and 4. When you’re ready, add in the hi-hat foot on 2 and 4.

For a subtle fill, add a light snare hit on the last triplet of beat 3 and the downbeat of beat 4.

4. 08:18 - Country
Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, and Rascal Flatts should all be on your list of influential country artists of the last several decades. This is a train beat – very popular in country music – that consists of alternating single strokes (like a slow drum roll) on the snare drum and quarter notes on the bass drum. Accent each ‘and’ with your lead hand (usually your right hand).

Now add in a fill by continuing the motion you were already doing, but move the last two notes to the floor tom. Keep the bass drum going through the fill.

5. 11:15 - Bossa Nova
This Afro-Brazilian style is best exemplified by artists like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfa, Paul Desmond, and Joao Gilberto. The bass drum pattern is key in this style – it’s usually echoed by the bass player – and the kick falls on the 1, the ‘and’ of 2, the 3, and the ‘and’ of 4. Next, add in the hi-hat. Lastly, you’ll add a basic cross-stick pattern on beats 2 and 4 (where you hit the rim of the snare instead of the head).

Want to learn more? Check out The Drummer’s Toolbox for 100+ drumming styles:

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[mariodangeladrums]

Jazz at first is okay when you're just starting out but when you're getting deeper into that genre OH BOY you're in for a ride

[fabfishing]

Even if you're not a beginner.. sometimes it's important to get back to basics.. Great video!

[BB.]

As someone who plays all of these genres I would have loved this when I started.

[ruaidhrigillen]

Honestly, my jazz drummer lads and lasses, I respect you guys the most in the community. You guys really do some crazy stuff

[BeingFireRetardant]

What blows me away is that I've been a drummer for many years, and just realized the necessity of this basic kind of practice. And just how vital it is to need to know how to bossa nova and do county shuffle...

Because in both I was hearing new and fresh fills and intro pieces. It was like remembering something you've never heard before.

And being able to take it with you afterward...

[XeRo]

Great video!! Excellent for any level on drumming. Y'all need get Rob Brown uo there at the Drumeo headquarters to do a few videos! Amazing drummer!!

[coloaten]

Great lesson! Straight to the point, no fluff, just solid info that a beginner can use.

[lostdumpling]

Brandon commented on one of my instagram post saying ”Great!🔥” and he has no idea how much that boosted my confidence on the drum set

[countrydj]

I love the country train beat..Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.

[minki]

I really like the Bossa Nova, because you uses unique styles of percussion.

[mikedaknight]

Pretty much if you can master these basics, you're good to go in a wedding / covers band. As you get on, you can add more sauce and flair

[Teatrzyk_Oczko]

I'm lerning for about 1 month and this is hands down the best video i ever saw. Thank you so much!

[archanajadhav]

Very help full please upload videos like this👍👍👍

[dairyairman]

That funk beat sounded awesome, even though it was really basic! It shows that sometimes less is more.

[CaptainCrochet]

Jeez that was a great clear lesson, thanks mate

[silviahunger]

Thank you 😊. I liked the Jazz and the Funk Parts most.

[daveroche]

Excellent! Thank you very much. Just remember the 3PsF rule (forf EVERY instrument) - Practice, Practice, Practice and FUN" - the instant it stops being enjoyable/fun, time for a break.

[alexsiuwh]

Simple but very crucial concept, , it’s the cook book for every drummer to start on the right track

[salihakgul]

Istanbul Agop series! My favourite cymbals, espacially very well fit for the genres you demonstrated.

[eckahesketh]

great simple video but.. most importantly... showing new drummers how timing plays a huge part in their future