Drum solos are fairly rare to hear in mainstream songs. But every now and then, a killer drum solo shows up on a record. Many of them have gone down as some of the best drum solos of all time.
Here’s a quick list of some of the best songs with solos in them. If you want to hear some incredible drumming, check them out.
John Bonham is one of the best solo drummers ever. He played so many good ones in his time with Led Zeppelin, and this song is essentially a glorified drum solo track.
There’s a bit of music at the beginning and end, but the rest of the song is just Bonzo going crazy on the drums.
It’s a perfect demonstration of his skills, as you can hear all the licks he was well-known for playing.
The Wipe Out drum solo is another highly popular one. Most people don’t even know the drummer’s name, but they can recite the drum solo perfectly with their mouths.
There isn’t anything too technical about the drum solo in this track. It’s just a lot of fun to listen to someone playing up and down the drum kit.
Larnell Lewis had to learn the songs on this album in just a few days before recording. He ended up playing one of the best drum solos recorded in the last decade.
The solo comes near the end of the tune, and it shows many of Larnell Lewis’ finer skills behind the kit. It’s full of both energy and finesse.
You’re going to hear a groove drum solo in this song. Clyde Stubblefield gets the spotlight, and the pattern he plays ended up becoming one of the most sampled drum grooves in the music industry.
It’s a seriously tricky groove to play, and not too many people can make it sound the way Stubblefield made it sound.
Gene Krupa plays the drum solo here, and the way he played it influenced a whole generation of jazz drummers.
A floor tom solo played like this is often referred to as a Krupa-style solo nowadays.
This track is similar to Moby Dick, as it was just written to give Ginger Baker an extended drum solo opportunity.
Joe Morello was an expert at playing grooves and fills in odd time. The best example of this is in this track. He plays a full solo in 5/4 time, and it sounds incredible.
The drum solo here is played by Pete Charles. It’s a very quick one, but it adds a lot to an already exciting tune.
Steve Gadd has never been known for playing intricate drum solos. He’s more of a groove guy. However, the drum solo he plays in this track alongside Wayne Shorter’s sax solo is something to be studied.
This track starts with a seriously iconic solo drum part. It’s meant to resemble a motorbike starting up, and then Alex Van Halen kicks it into gear with a cool double bass drum shuffle groove.
This is arguably one of the hardest drum solo parts to recreate.
There are plenty more songs to check out, but the ones we mentioned are our top picks. They cover a wide range of different drummers and musical styles.
Listen to all of them, and experience the soloing expertise that all those drummers have to offer.
If you want to hear alternative versions of all these solos, look for videos of the bands playing the songs live. You’ll get to see the drummers approach the solos in different ways.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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