5 Great Drummig Books

When learning drums the most valuable asset drumming literature. There is a catch 22 with educational books though, its hard to tell which books are the best until you have learned their content. These 5 books are some of my favorites. Most of these are accept by the majority to be the best. I'll give you a heads up when they are not (its only one and I'll give you the popular alternative).

This is the grandaddy of them all. If I were stranded on a desert island with one drumming book this would be it. Odd scenario I know but you get the point. Many drummers memorize the first few pages of this book.

This book is designed to give you... you guest it, stick control. You will be able to play faster, louder, and longer all while exerting less energy. It contains tons off exercises that have various sticking patterns and rudiment combinations. With these exercises you are suppose to repeat one 20 times and then move on to the next, all while diligently checking technique and maintaining an consistent sound.

These books are defiantly the most fun. They each come with a CD that has tracks with out drum parts. In the books there are charts for each song, and shows examples of grooves for a good jumping off point. Groove essentials has a large range of styles and is great because its the closest you can get to practicing with other people. I personally only have Groove Essentials 1, but from what I heard 2 is just as good. I just haven't got around to buying it yet.

Both of these book have multiple snare drum solos. Now your saying I play drum set not concert snare. That is true but these book are invaluable learning tools for every drummer. Learning solos from these books will increase your ability to play syncopated rhythms along with solidifying your sense of time and rhythm.

This was the book I mentioned earlier that was my personal preference. The more popular book is Advance Funk Studies by Rick Latham, but sense I do not own it I can not attest for its content. Back to A Funky Primer. Are you running out of groove ideas then turn to this book. Its has hundreds of different groves. It has every thing from the simplest "4 on the floor" groove to very difficult rock and funk grooves. This book is laid out much like Stick Control but instead of exercises it has grooves.

If you play jazz and want to increase what you can and at what ease you can comp this is a great book. Comping or short for composing is the "chattering" that jazz drummers play on their snare. In the book is lines of one note in syncopated rhythms. A good way to use this is to keep time on the hi-hat, bass drum, and ride cymbal while playing these syncopated rhythms on the snare. This book can be used may different ways and could probably be used in some practical way for any instrument.