The Best Books for Drum Rudiments and Exercises (2024)
Where can you find exercises to improve your drumming?
How can you use rudiments to improve technique and creativity?
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Mastering the art of drumming means passion, rhythm, and a pinch of hard work with a dedicated practice regimen. Part of being successful at this is using the right educational resources.
In this article, we dive into the best drum books for exercises and the all important rudiments: the building blocks of drumming. Working through these resources, from some of the master drummers, will enhance your technique, and propel your drumming prowess to new heights.
So pick up a practice pad and get stuck in.
You can also check out our guide to the best books for learning to play jazz jazz drums for a dedicated look at the learning jazz drumming concepts and techniques, and a list of the best books about drummers if you’re looking for more inspiration.
1. Gaddiments by Steve Gadd
It’s no exaggeration to describe Steve Gadd as drumming royalty. In Gaddiments Steve shares his take on the rudiments that have formed such a key part of his style and technical brilliance.
Gadd shares phrases built on traditional rudiments with his own twists. He also covers beat displacement (starting the pattern on different beats of the bar) which is designed to stretch you technically and creatively, helping to develop a sense of musicality and phrasing using these building blocks.
Gaddiments features over 80 exercises with videos of Gadd himself performing the patterns. This book is a great way to get inside the playing and creativity of one of the most respected drummers of all time.
2. Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone
"Stick Control for the Snare Drummer" by George Lawrence Stone is an absolute classic of drumming literature. It also features in our list of the best drumming books for beginners, and the best jazz drumming books.
Stick Control is still a widely used resource for beginner and advanced drummers of many different styles, despite being first published nearly 100 years ago.
The book guides you through a series of exercises that use different sticking patterns and combinations. Working through these at different volumes and tempos will help to improve your ability to change hands, get a consistent sound, and build speed and endurance.
"Stick Control" is simple but effective, which is why it has stuck around as a go-to resource for so many drummers to the modern day. This is an absolute essential for drummers to work through to build technique and sticking agility.
3. Master Studies by Joe Morello
Joe Morello is another highly respected drummer who dedicated time to teaching others how to master the craft by publishing books.
"Master Studies" explores advanced techniques and concepts typical of Morello’s own drumming style. He guides drummers through exercises that stretch coordination, polyrhythms, patterns, technique and musicality, emphasising control, dynamics and precision.
This book is great way to explore Joe Morello’s great knowledge, experience and appreciation of the drum set, and to stretch yourself with more advanced concepts and exercises.
4. The Pad Book by Anika Nilles
Anika Nilles is swiftly becoming one of the biggest names in modern drumming. In “The Pad Book” Nilles takes drummers through techniques and exercises that, as the name suggests, are designed for your practice pad.
This puts an emphasis on things you can practice without having access to a full drum kit, while still genuinely pushing your technique forward.
The exercises in “The Pad Book” explore accents, phrasings, polyrhythms and stickings in different time signatures. These can be used as warm-ups but also improve your technique in their own right, and also help you to create your own patterns to stretch your creativity.
5. The Language of Drumming by Benny Greb
"The Language of Drumming" by Benny Greb is a highly acclaimed drumming instructional book and DVD package that delves into the essential aspects of rhythm and drumming language.
Published in 2009, Benny Greb offers a comprehensive guide for drummers of all levels. The book covers foundational concepts such as hand techniques, coordination, and timing exercises.
It also explores Benny Greb's unique "Four Pillars of Drumming" philosophy, emphasizing sound, groove, awareness, and rhythm.
Accompanied by the DVD, the book provides visual demonstrations and play-along opportunities, making it an engaging and effective resource for drummers looking to enhance their skills and understanding of rhythm in a musical context.
"The Language of Drumming" has gained popularity for its clarity, depth, and the way it encourages drummers to develop their own expressive voice on the instrument.
6. Rudimental Jazz by Joe Morello
Joe Morello also created the book “Rudimental Jazz” as well as “Master Studies” described above. In fact “Rudimental Jazz” was published beforehand.
As you can imagine the book takes drummers through ways of applying rudiments to the jazz drumming language.
In particular Morello focusses on how to approach drum stick grip with both the right and left hand, and other important aspects of technique. The book includes exercises that drummers wanting to explore the fundamentals of jazz drumming through using the rudiments can work through to progress.
7. The Weaker Side by Dom Famularo
"The Weaker Side" by Dom Famularo and Stéphane Chamberland addresses the common issue that many drummers face—the weaker hand or limb.
Dom Famularo, a legendary drum educator, and Stéphane Chamberland, a respected drummer and educator, provide insights, exercises, and strategies to help drummers strengthen and improve their non-dominant hand or weaker side.
The book focuses on developing balanced hand technique, improving coordination, and addressing any weaknesses in a drummer's playing. By providing a structured approach and a variety of exercises, "The Weaker Side" aims to help drummers achieve more fluid and balanced playing by strengthening both hands.
It's a valuable resource for drummers looking to enhance their overall drumming proficiency and achieve greater control and independence between their dominant and non-dominant hands.
8. 4-way Coordination by Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine
"4-Way Coordination" is, written by Marvin Dahlgren and Elliot Fine, is designed to help drummers develop independence and coordination between all four limbs – both hands and both feet.
The exercises in the book are progressive, starting with basic patterns and gradually advancing to more complex rhythms and combinations.
"4-Way Coordination" is particularly well-regarded for its systematic approach to limb independence, offering a series of exercises that challenge drummers to play different rhythms with each limb simultaneously. This type of coordination is crucial for drummers in various musical genres, from jazz to rock and beyond.
The book includes exercises that focus on different rhythmic groupings, time signatures, and dynamic variations. Drummers often use "4-Way Coordination" as a valuable resource to enhance their overall drumming skills and build a solid foundation for more advanced techniques.
9. Progressive Steps to Syncopation by Ted Reed
"Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer" is a well-known book written by Ted Reed. Originally published in 1958, it has become a standard and widely used resource for drummers at various skill levels.
The book is designed to improve a drummer's reading skills and sense of syncopation, which is the emphasis on weak beats or off-beats in music. "Syncopation" is a fundamental concept in various music genres, and this book helps drummers develop the ability to play syncopated rhythms with precision.
The exercises in the book start with simple patterns and progressively become more complex, providing a gradual and systematic approach to learning syncopated rhythms. The book is versatile and can be used by drummers playing different styles, from jazz and rock to Latin and beyond.
Many drum teachers consider "Progressive Steps to Syncopation" as an essential tool for drummers looking to improve their reading skills, enhance their sense of timing, and gain a deeper understanding of syncopated rhythms.
10. Drum Aerobics by Andy Ziker
"Drum Aerobics", written by Andy Ziker, is designed to provide drummers with a systematic approach to improving their drumming skills, endurance, and overall fitness. The term "aerobics" in the title reflects the idea of incorporating a fitness-like regimen into drumming practice.
The book is structured as a day-by-day workout program, with each day focusing on specific aspects of drumming technique, coordination, and musical styles. The exercises cover a wide range of topics, including hand and foot technique, independence, timing, and various musical genres.
"Drum Aerobics" aims to help drummers build stamina and control by engaging in regular, structured practice routines. The exercises are diverse and cover different musical styles, making it a versatile resource for drummers of various genres. Additionally, the book includes play-along tracks and encourages drummers to approach their practice sessions with a sense of fun and creativity.
Overall, "Drum Aerobics" is well-suited for drummers looking to develop not only their technical skills but also their physical endurance and overall musicality. It serves as a comprehensive guide for those who want to approach drumming practice in a methodical and disciplined manner.
What are drum rudiments?
Drum rudiments are the building blocks of drum beats, fills and solos. They are widely used by drummers both to build technique, consistency and control in their playing, but also as musical components in their own right.
Many drummers advocate working on rudiments every day to boost many aspects of mastering the drums.
Many of the books described here use rudimental exercises to guide drummers to master the art.
How to practice drum rudiments
Practicing rudiments is fundamental to improving your drumming. Some key aspects are:
Practice at different speeds and volumes
Use a practice pad that helps to build strength
Focus on getting consistent sounds between your two hands
Practice different combinations of rudiments to build solos
Practice using the rudiments on different parts of the drum kit to create interesting beats and patterns
Practice placing accents on different beats of the rudiments
Practice different rates and subdivisions (for example single strokes as sixteenth notes or triplets)
Experiment with beat displacement: starting the patterns on different beats or subdivisions of a bar
Focus on how to make the rudiments fit into your playing musically, not just playing them for the sake of it
Learn from the masters, including by using these books described here.
There you have our guide to the best books that use rudiments and exercises to help you improve your drumming.
These books will help you to hone your technique, control, speed, coordination and musicality to become an all round better drummer in whatever style you love to play.
Learning from these books and the master that created them is great way of mastering your craft and developing your own drumming style and language.
We hope you enjoy developing your playing with these books!
Take a look at our guide to the best books for learning jazz drums, and the best books about drummers’ lives for more inspiration.
Happy reading!
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