It’s nearly impossible to create a list of the best drummers alive. With such a diverse range of talent among dozens of genres, how do we really know who is best? Well, we’re attempting to do the impossible – boil down the list of top drummers today.
Everyone on this list can change day-by-day, depending on their latest records, involvement in projects, and more. However, here’s the list as it stands right now.
Our Requirements To Make the List
We looked at several factors to build out this list. First, we considered technical playing ability and their overall chops. This was essential to categorize them in terms of their expertise around the kit. Next, we thought about their influence on other drummers and actual records and music. This could be their stature for teaching the craft, or performing on massive albums that shaped music as a whole. Awards and recognitions also played a massive key role.
Finally, we made sure to include a unique range of drummers, so it wasn’t pigeon-holed into one genre or style. We are showcasing the best rock drummers today, the best black drummer today, and the best female drummer today, along with many others.
Best Drummers Today
1. Sheila E.
Sheila E. is referred to as the Queen of Percussion. She is a trailblazer in the music industry, especially in pop genres. She’s worked with superstars like Prince, Ringo Starr, and Beyoncé. If you want a taste of her style, the song “The Glamorous Life” features her exceptional drumming skills on the kit. Sheila E. has a unique ability to blend very traditional percussion with contemporary pop beats that drive a song, making her possibly the best female drummer today. In fact, she’s still touring in 2024 and let’s just say, she’s still got it!
2. Travis Barker
Travis Barker of Blink-182 is also still on tour, crushing the game and selling out stadiums. His work on classic tracks like “All the Small Things” and “What’s My Age Again?” showcase his punk rock roots and technical skill. This technical skill comes from his background in drumline-style playing. You’ll notice his six-stroke roles in nearly every song, and the technicality of his rudiments across the kit. Barker’s versatility extends beyond punk too. He has collaborated with hip-hop artists like MGK and released some solo work. His high-energy performances and somewhat-recent marriage to Kourtney Kardashian have kept him on the top of the charts (and the top of the headlines) in recent years. He may be the best modern drummer still playing right now.
3. Questlove
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is the long-time drummer for The Roots. He’s basically a master of groove – almost like a human metronome with much more feel. His work on “You Got Me” and “The Seed (2.0)” still blast over the speakers in thousands of parties, clubs, and bluetooth speakers around the world. His influence on the music industry is what makes him unique, because he’s a renowned musicologist and music historian. He is widely considered the best black drummer today. In addition to his accolades, he’s been the long-standing drummer with The Roots in their residency on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Falon.
4. Anika Nilles
Anika Nilles is a rising star in the drumming world, known for her technical skills and innovative approach to rhythm. She’s a menace around the kit, as you can see in her performance of Alter Ego. It showcases her intricate drumming rudiments and mastery of the most mind-bending time signatures. Nilles’ educational content – plus her drum clinics and digital training programs – have inspired a new generation of drummers. She’s certainly one of the best female drummers today.
5. Larnell Lewis
Larnell Lewis, the legendary drummer for Snarky Puppy, has some of the most put-together chops in music today. His performance on “Lingus” the go-to video most people think of when talking about Larnell. Lewis blends influences of jazz, fusion, and funk, creating some almost jaw-dropping grooves to back Snarky Puppy’s dynamic sound. No list would be complete without mentioning Larnell Lewis.
6. Cindy Blackman Santana
Cindy Blackman Santana has been a top contender in the drumming world when it comes to both jazz and rock genres. Her older work with Lenny Kravitz on songs and her insane solos like this live rent free in most drummers’ heads. And as the wife of guitar legend Carlos Santana, she also performs with his band, sprinkling in her interesting style on the kit. Cindy is also one of the best female drummers today.
7. Matt Garstka
Matt Garstka, the drummer for the progressive metal band Animals as Leaders, is known for his famous Garstka stack cymbal setup. Other than his classic stack sound, he’s truly one of the most talented at navigating unusual rhythms and odd time signatures. Tracks like “CAFO” highlight his ability to navigate intricate time signatures and rapid tempo changes. Do yourself a favor and watch this video at 3:17 to hear his crazy control over the kick drum. Garstka’s innovative style has earned him the status of one of the best modern drummers.
8. Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster Jr. is a drumming prodigy who has performed with artists like Jay-Z, Katy Perry, and Joe Jonas. He’s a superstar to say the least. His very technical skills and showmanship are evident in performances and his classic solos at the Modern Drummer Festival from years back. Royster’s ability to blend speed, precision, and pop groove make him a go-to for basically every top artist going on tour today.
9. Benny Greb
Benny Greb is known for his educational contributions to drumming, along with his smooth, almost effortless flexibility across the kit. He’s a no laid-bad, stylistic drummer who is able to float across the beat and somehow land on the “1.” His solo projects are extremely unique, and he has been great about giving his time to students at drum clinics, festivals, and more.
10. Jojo Mayer
Jojo Mayer is a Swiss drummer renowned for his work in many different genres. His small group Nerve blends electronic music with live drumming, and it’s quite a unique sound. Mayer’s technical skills and innovative approach to rhythm make him one of the best drummers today. Particularly, he has immense control on his ride cymbal and he’s a master of ghost notes on the snare.
11. Eric Moore
Eric Moore is the drummer of all drummers when it comes to chops. We all love to hear him shred over Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. His solo performances, such as at the Guitar Center Drum-Off or any clip on tour with Suicidal Tendencies, demonstrate his incredible precision for tearing apart the drumset. Moore’s influence in the drumming community also makes him one of the top modern drummers.
12. Ash Soan
Ash Soan is a British drummer, and he’s basically the G.O.A.T when it comes to session drumming. He’s worked with Adele, Cher, and Robbie Williams. His drumming on tracks like “Hello” by Adele are subtle, but the streaming numbers are massive. And his grooves are a bit part of that. He has a unique ability to lay back and serve the song. Soan’s versatility and experience make him easily one of the best drummers today.
13. Eloy Casagrande
Eloy Casagrande is the new drummer for Slipknot. He is known for his powerful and aggressive drumming style. His performance on “Isolation” by Sepultra showcases his high speed, precision, and intensity, which have become his trademarks. Now, he’s tearing it up with Slipknot on stage. Casagrande’s ability to blend traditional metal drumming with rudiments and control make him one of the best rock drummers today. He’s honestly an anomaly in the drumming world.
14. Mark Guiliana
Mark Guiliana is a jazz drummer renowned for his work with artists like David Bowie and his own project, Beat Music. Mark’s drumming is a masterclass in creativity and technical skill. Guiliana’s ability to blend jazz, electronic, and rock elements makes him one of the best modern drummers. He has the ability to easily teach his concepts to others too, and you’ll find lots of educational content from him online.
15. Chad Smith
Chad Smith, the drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, is known for his powerful and funky drumming style. His work on tracks like “Give It Away” and “Californication” hold some of the best drum beats ever created in music. Smith’s very energetic performances and groove make him one of the best rock drummers today.
16. Steve Jordan
Steve Jordan is a versatile groove drummer known for his work with artists like John Mayer, Keith Richards, and Eric Clapton. His smooth, chill groove on John Mayer’s “Gravity” is a testament to his taste, enhancing the song’s strong emotional depth. Jordan is a true chameleon when it comes to musical styles and he’s been the backbone of many musical groups.
17. Aaron Sterling
Widely known for his expansive work in the studio, Aaron Sterling is an influential drummer that has the ear of the world’s most prominent pop stars. He has recorded with Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Harry Styles, Lana Del Rey, Keith Urban, and many more. Sterling has toured on and off with John Mayer and, most recently, has been recording and playing with Post Malone as he releases his new country-inspired album. His Instagram page is a favorite amongst drummers, often displaying his ability to stretch out over instrumental loops.
18. Thomas Pridgen
As an aggressive, lay-it-all-out-on-the-stage player, Thomas Pridgen floats around the kit with ease. He has the ability to play 10,000 notes that you “feel” instead of “hear,” which is an impressive feat for any drummer. He currently plays with his band The Memorial. You can hear him playing live with Fever 333 in the Netherlands.
19. Sarah Thawer
Sarah Thawer is the drummer and social media star who loves to jam out in session work with some of the biggest creators in the world. She’s worked with Teyana Taylor, Jacob Collier, Steve Vai, and Jon Batiste to name a few extraordinary artists. She has one of the most solid pocket grooves of any drummer alive, and you can see it in action here during her TEDx performance solo.
20. Stanton Moore
Stanton Moore is the drummer’s drummer. He’s still blowing the roof off venues playing with Galactic, in which he was a founding member years ago. Most drummers know him for his life-changing educational materials, from his classic books to his demonstration videos. It’s interesting to watch how he loosely holds the sticks here but keeps such a tight precision around the kit. As one of the best modern drummers today, Stanton Moore still has the power to awe us with his groove.
21. Sarah Jones
We can’t create a list of top drummers without acknowledging what it takes to perform in front of tens of thousands of people every single night for years on end. Right now, Harry Styles is one of the biggest artists in the world, with an incredible live show that he puts on. A crucial part of that last tour – and hopefully tours to come – is Sarah Jones. She is a leader in the band, and actually married to the guitarist as well. She’s come out night after night, holding down the backbone of Harry Styles’ performances and contributing to the creative process as a drummer. She’s a powerful percussionist with an interesting taste for which grooves will make people dance and stay engaged throughout a 2 to 3 hour concert.
22. Matt Billingslea
Another great drummer killing live shows across the world right now is Matt Billingslea. He held down the fort to 50,000+ people every night during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. From the United States to South America and Europe and all across Asia, he was the driving force behind one of the biggest pop artists in the entire world. He has a unique ability to stick exactly to the produced beats but still make them feel more lively, mixing in production and live drums simultaneously. He knows exactly how to drive that 2+4 on the snare without missing out on opportunities to float around the kit and keep people engaged. Very few drummers know how to do this in front of 80,000 people at some shows. It’s quite impressive.
23. Cris Coleman
Chris Coleman is very well known for his long drum solos where he absolutely tears up the drum kit. He’s posted several while performing at clinics and live on shows, but many don’t know he’s actively touring and killing it in the studio too. He’s been talented enough to play with Christina Aguilera, Babyface, Patti LaBelle, Randy Brecker, and New Kids On The Block. This makes him truly one of the best R&B drummers alive. He’s now playing live with Rachelle Ferrell as well as promoting and performing with his own band.
24. Brian Blade
Brian Blade is a master drummer whose innovative style and boundless creativity have earned him a revered place in the world of music. Known for his tasteful musicality, Blade has worked with legends like Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Joni Mitchell, showcasing his versatility across jazz, blues, and rock genres. As the driving force behind the Brian Blade Fellowship, he blends together soulful licks on the toms with ultimate precision across the cymbals. Whether on stage or in the studio, Brian Blade’s playing should be a blueprint for how a great jazz and fusion percussionist should learn to play.
25. Mario Duplantier
Mario Duplantier is a technical beast on the drums, and a member of the popular and energizing French metal band Gojira. His ability to blend complex rhythms with intense power has made him a standout figure in the modern metal scene. You can particularly hear this on songs like “Sphinx.”