Our top picks

In a hurry? Here are our favourites:

1. “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen
2. “Back in Black” by AC/DC
3. “Come As You Are” by Nirvana
4. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
5. “Creep” by Radiohead

Easy Drum Songs for Beginners

1. “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen

BPM = 112 

One of many classic Queen songs, “Another One Bites the Dust” is the perfect song for drummers looking to solidify their time-keeping skills. It has a steady 4/4 basic rock beat, featuring a kick on beat one and snare on beat two.

During this song, the bass and drums lock together, teaching you the value of the relationship between bassist and drummer. This is particularly useful for when your playing develops and you’re looking to play with other musicians.

The track keeps a steady BPM of 112, a great starting place for beginner drummers. This standard tempo is a comfortable speed to master a basic beat or solidify your skills.

The overall feel of “Another One Bites the Dust” is rigid with a laid-back chugging tempo, and its pop-rock genre gives you a versatile groove that can be utilised in other pop songs. 

2. “Vultures” by John Mayer 

BPM = 98

“Vultures” by John Mayer is a great choice if you’re looking for a song which you can easily play along to.

With plenty of room for fills and added embellishments, this track is perfect for jamming with other musicians or simply in your own music rehearsal. The standard 4/4-time signature and 98 BPM deliver a relaxed playing style with an achievable tempo. 

Steve Jordan plays a standard rock beat with eighth notes on the hi-hat, kick playing on the first beat, and snare playing on the 3rd beat. The steady tempo allows players right at the start of their drumming journey to play along and improve their skills.

During this song, there’s also the occasional open hi-hat at the end of a bar or phrase. This encourages you to apply small techniques to your playing, enhance your coordination skills, and improve the foundations of your drumming knowledge. 

3. “Come As You Are” by Nirvana

BPM = 120

“Come As You Are” is a classic song for any drummer, and with Dave Grohl at the helm of the kit, it’s hard not to want to pick up some sticks and start playing.

This track is relaxed in some parts and heavy in others. It utilises the whole kit, making it great for drummers who are at the stage in their drumming journey where they can move around the kit.

The song features a 4/4 beat with a kick on beat one and snare on beat three. This pattern alternates between the open hi-hats, crash, and ride (during verses). 

A great way to practise your rock and grunge drumming, this song allows the drummer to become used to transitioning from cymbal to cymbal, further improving time-keeping skills and allowing you to implement techniques into the song. The 120 BPM is a standard tempo – not too fast, not too slow. This versatility means that it is easy to lock into the groove and keep a solid beat. 

4. “Back in Black” by AC/DC

BPM = 94 

A classic song for all ages, “Back in Black” by AC/DC has a solid beat and feel to match the driving guitar riff. The main beat to this song is a standard 4/4 rock beat, and one of the trademark parts of the song is the way the pattern between the hi-hat and snare emulates the guitar riff.

The slower 94 BPM tempo ensures beginner drummers can play through the song and execute various techniques at a comfortable speed. 

Due to its popularity, “Back in Black” is also a great song to easily jam with other musicians. Many elements of your playing can be refined through this song, including timekeeping and linear patterns between the snare drum and hi-hat.

Better still, this song will allow you to hone your skill with dynamics, offering plenty of opportunities to practise crashes and heavier tones. 

5. “Like A Stone” by Audio Slave

BPM = 108

Audio Slave’s “Like a Stone” is a useful track for building a solid relationship between bass and drums. The song has a BPM of 108 and features a 4/4 beat. This 4/4 groove also moves onto the toms, allowing you to grasp how different beats can be implemented throughout the kit.

Whilst the drum part is steady and solid throughout, there’s an option within the track to experiment with extra snare or kick notes.  As well as being a song that a beginner drummer could play a standard beat to, this is also a track that a slightly advanced drummer could add kick patterns or ghost notes to.  

6. “Yellow” by Coldplay

BPM = 87

“Yellow” by Coldplay is one of the best beginner drum songs. It has a BPM of 87 and features a steady 4/4 beat throughout, offering plenty of space for drummers to apply fills and other techniques.

The overall groove consists of the same two bars on a loop – with eighth notes on the hi-hats. The first bar features a kick on beat one and the snare on three, whilst the second bar features the kick on beats one and two and the snare drum on beat three.

During the chorus, the hi-hat is slightly open to deliver a small change in intensity and volume. Due to the structure of the song, this is the perfect choice for any drummer looking to enhance their dynamic playing and have a comfortable jam session. 

7. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes

BPM = 124

“Seven Nation Army” is an incredibly popular song among gigging and casual drummers. The track is a great all-rounder, suiting various levels of beginner. With a groove that breaks down the fundamentals of the chorus beat, “Seven Nation Army” allows you to get a firm grasp of rhythm.

The White Stripes drummer Meg White slowly introduces the kit throughout the song, starting with the kick on every beat of the verse and then introducing the snare on the second beat. From the chorus, the same pattern between kick and snare is played and quarter-note crashes are introduced over the top. 

Overall, the tempo is manageable with 124 BPM and there are opportunities to apply dynamics to your playing. The song also features plenty of simple fills to learn, which will help you transition into choruses in any playing environment.

Due to the song’s incredible popularity, “Seven Nation Army” will always be a song that you can easily play with other musicians and has the potential to be a staple throughout your drumming journey. So, it’s well worth learning. 

8. “Do I Wanna Know” by Arctic Monkeys

BPM = 85

Perfect for any drummer looking to make a bit of noise, “Do I Wanna Know” is a song that primarily uses the crash as part of the groove in the chorus. The BPM is 85, making it a steady and incredibly fun song to play for beginners.

The verse is in 4/4, with the kick on beats one and three and snare on beats two and four. The chorus then features the crash cymbal on each quarter note. 

Overall, this is a great song for beginner drummers as its rhythm is clearly structured and easily differentiates between verse and chorus. This will help you develop a natural ear for song structures.

To start, first master the kick and snare pattern, then gradually incorporate the crash into your playing. One of the ways this song is made simple to learn is through its gradual build-up of the beat that naturally breaks down each element of the song structure.

9. “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie

BPM = 126

A Bowie classic, “Rebel Rebel” is an engaging song for any beginner drummer to learn. It features a 4/4, four-on-the-floor beat throughout the song which remains constant during the entire song.

With a tempo of 126 BPM, this is a good song for drummers looking to learn a different beat to the standard 4/4 rock beat. Plus, it’s a particularly good way to introduce you to music genres such as dance, disco, and soul as the four-on-the-floor beat features heavily in each of these genres. 

10. “Baba O’ Riley” by The Who

BPM = 117

As one of the simpler songs played by legendary drummer Keith Moon, “Baba O’ Riley” is a perfect introduction to The Who.

The song features a standard rock beat made up of two bars. In bar one, there’s a kick on the first beat and a snare on the third, the second bar then adds a kick to the second beat. Plus, there’s plenty of room for embellishments and different kick drum patterns. The song has a tempo of 117 and feels incredibly ‘free’ to play. 

“Baba O’Riley” is suited to beginner drummers who are looking to push their playing and advance their technical skills. Before playing this song, it’s best to already have an understanding of the fundamentals of drumming. Our tip is to explore and play along to some of the previous songs in this list first.

The track also features hits on the crash to match the guitar chords, teaching the drummer to play sensitively. This shows that, just like any instrument, drums need to complement the music – an approach that’s incredibly handy when playing with other musicians and creating your own compositions. 

11. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala

BPM = 150

Ideal for any beginner drummer looking for a lesser-heard song to learn, “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” has a relaxed feel that’s perfect for drummers who want to expand their playing styles and try different fills and playing patterns.

The overall beat is 4/4 with kick drums on the first beat of the first bar and a snare on the third. Then there’s a kick on the first and second beat of the second bar. 

This is a great song for drummers looking to practise individually as opposed to with a band. But that’s not to say it doesn’t also work great with a band! The tempo of this song is 150 BPM and is a superb way for you to explore the numerous fills while gaining experience of playing at a faster tempo. 

A brilliant choice for drummers with an interest in alternative music, Tame Impala’s “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” is a song that will give you the freedom to embellish your playing, whilst teaching you the fundamentals of drumming grooves. 

12. “Getting Started” by Sam Fender

BPM=161

Featuring a steady 4/4 rock beat, “Getting Started” is the perfect song for any drummer looking to test their playing stamina. The overall tempo of the song is 161 BPM, and the beat features eight notes on the floor tom throughout the verse with a basic rock beat groove. There’s then a kick on beat one and snare on beat three.

Throughout the chorus, the eighth notes are played on a tambourine, but this can easily be replaced with the hi-hat if you prefer or don’t have a tambourine to hand. 

This song is ideal for beginners as it offers the opportunity to incorporate crashes and small fills around the kit. Furthermore, this song also has plenty of scope to add your own kick patterns and fills within a fast tempo. 

13. “In My Life” by The Beatles

BPM = 103

“In My Life” is a great way to improve time-keeping skills and try a different playing technique, with an interesting sound that’s easily attainable by any drummer, no matter the level of skill.

The song features a linear groove around the kit, with a slightly disjointed beat. Its overall tempo is a steady 103 BPM, which allows beginners to comfortably play along. 

The nature of the groove is great for any drummer looking to advance their playing as it explores different styles of playing that can be easily adapted to suit different genres. The linear beat also strengthens the ability to keep time outside of a steady beat setting. 

14. “Creep” by Radiohead

BPM = 92

“Creep” by Radiohead is a popular song among function bands and beginner drummers alike. The song features a laid-back 4/4 standard rock beat, moving to an open hi-hat in the chorus for added effect and dynamics.

The general structure of this song makes it a great way to improve your playing dynamics and helps you identify the natural structure and energy from verse to chorus and vice versa. 

Perfect for beginner drummers who are in the process of learning the basics, “Creep” allows you to keep a steady time and solidify your groove throughout the song. This is perfect for any drummer looking for something easy to play without worrying about complicated technical aspects.

This particular song is a great way to improve time-keeping skills and try a different playing technique, and its interesting sound is easily attainable by any drummer, no matter the level of skill. 

15. “Levitating” by Dua Lipa

BPM = 103

“Levitating” by Dua Lipa is a feel-good pop song that’s incredibly fun to play. With an infectious 4/4 beat, the overall groove is upbeat and easy to lock into. The BPM is 103, which is a standard tempo for any pop song. This slower tempo means that drummers can have fun with the song and learn it at a comfortable pace.

The main beat features a double snare pattern to match the claps in the track, this is one of the song’s signature drum phrases and is continued through the verses into the chorus.

The song also switches from a full-time groove to a half-time groove in the breakdown before the chorus, giving you a firm grasp of switching between the two. A good choice if you’re looking for a song to jam to, “Levitating” will provide a fun element to your learning. 

Some accessories you’ll need

Metronome

A metronome is an important tool for any budding drummer. It delivers multiple benefits such as time-keeping, rudiment accuracy, and just a general awareness of time. Metronomes will also help you to become a more accurate and aware drummer, so whether you’re practising on your own or playing with other musicians, a steady tempo can be maintained throughout. 

Shop now | Metronomes

Hearing protection/in-ear monitors

Hearing protection is a vital part of playing drums. It can save your ears from damage and ensure that you maintain a healthy hearing range.

Any time you’re playing acoustic drums, it’s recommended that you use hearing protection. Available at a range of price points, hearing protection comes in different forms and protects against varying noise levels. So, it’s important that you choose the correct hearing protection for you. 

Shop now | Ear plugs and ear protection

Drumsticks

As important as hearing protection, drumsticks are essential when learning drums, and choosing the right ones for you is crucial. For beginner players, 5A sizing is recommended as this is the perfect in-between size and length. If you want heavier sticks, opt for a lower number such as 2Bs. Or if you’re looking for lighter, thinner sticks, try 7A sticks. 

Shop now | Drumsticks

Drum throne 

For beginner drummers, comfort is essential, especially when you’re spending long periods of time at the kit. This is where the correct drum throne comes in handy. Not only is it essential for good posture but it also gives you optimal reach over the whole kit. Drum thrones are available in various shapes and with different features, some include back supports and double-braced hardware features for stability.  

Shop now | Drum stools and thrones

Music stand 

Similar to drum thrones, music stands provide a comfortable playing experience and ensure that no neck or back strains occur during drumming. This is especially important for beginner drummers; music stands create a comfortable environment so you can easily see your drum notation at a quick glance. 

Shop now | Music stands

Our top tips for your first drum songs 

Start slow

These might be easy songs to play on drums, but before you can fully master a groove or fill, you need to first ensure you’re using the correct technique and playing properly. By starting slowly, you minimise the chance of picking up bad technique habits and give yourself time to get to grips with the piece. 

Use just one kick drum pedal

It’s easy to want to run before you can walk when it comes to playing drums; there are so many exciting playing possibilities ahead of you! However, the best way you can learn is to keep things simple. Start with a single kick pedal instead of a double so you can focus on using it properly and efficiently. 

Find out what type of learner you are 

Everyone learns in different ways. Some people are visual learners whilst some prefer to listen to a piece of music first. You can find out what kind of learner you are by trying different methods – learn straight from the notation or listen to a song first and feel the rhythm before learning it.  

Create the right environment

If you’re constantly getting distracted, you’ll struggle to take in vital pieces of information. So, to make the learning experience much easier, ensure you’re in a space where you can easily hear yourself and focus on what you’re learning.

Don’t spend too long on intense learning

Everyone needs a break every now and again, and it’s important to regularly have one. Sometimes, it’s beneficial to leave a tricky fill or beat and then return to it later. 

FAQs 

What should a beginner drummer learn first?

A beginner drummer should first learn how to hold the drumsticks and set up the drum kit so that they can sit at it comfortably. After that, beginners should then learn basic beats and practise keeping those beats at a steady pace. They can then start to add more complex rhythms and fills once the foundation is set.

What is a fun song to play on drums? 

A fun song to play on drums is “Do I Wanna Know?” by Arctic Monkeys. It has a steady 4/4 beat, with a crash used on each quarter note in the chorus – great for beginners and very exciting to play thanks to its build-up of throughout the song.

Are drums harder than guitar?

Drums are harder to learn than guitar because they require you to have a strong sense of rhythm, maintain the backbeat of the band, and have three-way coordination. You’ll need to be in control of the whole kit around you, including the bass drum via the kick pedal. However, everyone’s different, and the drums may be easier to learn than guitar – it depends on your coordination and how often you practise.  

Final thoughts 

Learning songs is a fun way to improve your playing and there are many easy drum songs for beginners out there to try. Songs that have simple beats with plenty of room to embellish and apply drumming techniques are a good place to start.

By listening to and playing along with music, you can learn and understand how a song works. This will vastly improve your playing and it’ll give you hours of entertainment.