Looking for a new drumming challenge? I present to you a compilation of the hardest drum songs which will take more practice, focus and commitment than the average song. But with the right approach we believe beginners and advanced drummers alike can master them.
1. Led Zeppelin – “Fool In The Rain”
This famous half-time shuffle has a lot of nuance. This is one of the hardest drum songs where the busy right-hand pattern opens the hi-hats at the end of the first triplet, which can feel like it interrupts the flow when playing.
The ghost notes on the snare and the double on the kick going over the bar line add the inimitable Bonham flair, but it still sits beautifully behind the beat.
2. Paul Simon – “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” (Steve Gadd)
This 16th-note pattern is played between the left foot and hand on the hi-hat, with a light touch on the snare and repeating military-style snare rolls. This is one of the hardest drum songs where Gadd plays it open-handed, but even if you master the sticking, you could spend a lifetime trying to get that feel right!
3. Meshuggah – “Bleed” (Tomas Haake)
This track is famously tough on the feet, and metal drummers love to challenge each other to play it. The herta pattern on the double kick is set against the straight beat on the hands, which has a polyrhythmic feel as the bass drum notes move across the bar line. The track is relentless at over seven minutes long.
There are a few variations of the pattern within the song, which get progressively more challenging.
4. Dream Theater – “The Dance of Eternity” (Mike Portnoy)
Simply playing a straight beat and keeping time would be impressive on this complicated track. But with over 100 time signature changes in a song that clocks in at just over six minutes, it’s the part as a whole that is remarkable.
5. The Surfaris – “Wipe Out” (Ron Wilson)
It would be easy to overlook this track in a list with such technical songs, but the high volume, high energy 16th-note single stroke rolls that make up the drum solo sections are a benchmark for many drummers.
It’s also where many players let the timing slide, switching between the fills and beats. It may be a simple part, but it requires precision and endurance.
6. Ticks and Leeches – Tool (Danny Carey)
Danny Carey’s performance on “Ticks and Leeches” demonstrates his mastery of polyrhythms and unconventional time signatures. The drumming is extremely complex, combining extensive use of the tabla with powerful rock drumming to produce a dense, layered sound. Carey’s ability to seamlessly transition between different rhythmic textures and patterns adds profound depth and intensity to the track, demonstrating his extensive knowledge of both progressive rock and world percussion.
7. The Buddy Rich Big Band – Birdland (Buddy Rich)
The hi-hats at the beginning of this song fill so much space; to create that much atmosphere using dynamics on one part of the kit is magnificent playing. Buddy then does it again on the snare around 4:40, accenting a constant roll with beautiful control. Some typically intricate orchestrations, Buddy’s brilliant fills, and various beats make this a classic big-band drum track; it’s a fantastic combination of great feel and excellent technique.
8. Rush – “La Villa Strangiato” (Neil Peart)
This 9-minute epic has many sections, with Peart easing between feels effortlessly. There are intricate 16th note hi-hat accents and a trademark paradiddle pattern on the ride. Still, the varying styled single stroke fills around the six-minute mark are a masterful way to change sections, especially the last one going over the bar line to turn the beat around.
9. Goliath – The Mars Volta
Extremely loud and banging, Mars Volta’s rock-genre-based track, “Goliath,” is a hammering rendition. The song is inclusive of heavy and hard-hitting drum patterns and almost violent double bass beats that keep you reeling in the after-effects.
With the blazing sounds and multiple grooves filled with composite and varied time changes, the track is undoubtedly a learning experience.
10. Sedation Deprivation – Nerve
Whether it’s the technical grooves, fills, glaring speed, intense polyrhythms, epic dynamic controls, or breakbeats, this song has all the elements that pass off any track as challenging and hard to play or practice. “Sedation Deprivation” is a track which at first glance, seems easy to tackle, given its effortless fluidity.
However, the track is an amalgamation of intricately composed elements that make it extremely challenging to master. It is a masterfully hypnotic and mesmerizing track in which the bass and snare shine through with exuberance without an assault on your ears, but it has enough subtle kick to jolt your senses.
11. The Violation – Fleshgod Apocalypse
A perfect ode to the death metal genre with classic symphonic influences, “The Violation” is a serious headbanger. The track features a powerful drum performance without devouring the essence of guitars and symphony beneath its roaring sensory assault.
The drummer Franco Paoli’s epic drum sequence that blasts your senses with his double bass and relentless beats is fascinating since he knows exactly when to restrain his drums and when to let loose. The double bass drumming, orchestral elements, and blast beats at a super-speed make this track extremely difficult.
12. A Night in Tunisia – Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers
Pioneers of the Hard Bop style in the Jazz genre, Art Blakey’s track “A Night in Tunisia” has amongst the most refined and complex drum sections.
The quintessential track features a brilliantly constructed drum solo that swings and flows effortlessly through the track with fine precision and control. Art Blakey’s controlled yet ebullient and jovial drums are the true essence of Jazz music.
13. Sing, Sing, Sing – Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa single-handedly changed the face of drumming in the Jazz genre. More than tempo-keeping instruments, Krupa brought resplendence and extravagance to drums. “Sing, Sing, Sing” is the ultimate testament to Gene’s prowess over the drums with just a humble 4 drum kit. His strength at tom-toms, snare, and cymbals add a perfect verve to the track.
Additionally, Gene’s extended drum solo adds an extremely powerful and peppy swing to the track. This song will serve as a great learning curve for aspiring drummers since Gene Krupa has a major influence on artists from many genres—Keith Moon, John Bonham, and buddy rich cite him as one of their inspirations.
14. 21st Century Schizoid Man – King Crimson
You’ve obviously heard of King Crimson, otherwise, you’ve been living under a rock. 21st Century Schizoid Man is a pioneering progressive rock song that combines a lot of jazz elements and requires insane precision and timing to get right. What makes this song such a test for drummers is the ability to drive the drum fills during the solos, especially the ‘mirrors’ part which is, hands down, the most difficult part. Not only do you need energy and power, but you also need to be exceptionally precise and on time. Playing this perfectly is a worthy match.
The tracks discussed above feature some combination of fast drumming speed, polyrhythms, and complex time signatures by these legendary drummers throughout various genres such as rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, and jazz.
They might seem intimidating and frustrating at the time, but this selection of the hardest drum songs will push you to your limits of creativity and deep understanding of drums. Therefore, if you are willing to develop mastery over drumming, then learning to play these complex tracks will certainly help.