Why should piano players and singers get to have all the fun with holiday tunes? If you’re a drummer wanting to get into the spirit, here are 8 Christmas songs to learn on drums.
(We’re including some excerpts of the sheet music here, but with a 7-day free trial to Drumeo you can access the full notation for all of these songs and thousands more, plus practice tools, drum lessons and way more!)
Yep – we’re starting with the diva herself. Most of the song is based on a simple four-on-the-floor rhythm peppered with a triplet fill here and there, so even a beginner drummer can make it through this modern classic.
A straightforward drum part with a dressed up hi-hat pattern give this track exactly what it needs.
The Michael Bublé version of this Christmas classic has a great swung drum part. The beauty of this style is you don’t need to play it exactly like the recording; you can comp most of the song as long as you hit the accents and keep the dynamics true to form.
This high energy, epic instrumental rock tune has a metal edge – and it’s not just for viral Christmas light videos. Cool builds and tons of cymbal shots give it a rock orchestra vibe.
We all knew this one was coming, right? While the drum part in the traditional tune might seem a bit repetitive or uninspiring to the kit drummer, this version has cool cadences in more of a cinematic pop context.
Practice your snare drum dynamics and give it a shot:
A Madonna classic, the rhythms on the original “Holiday” recording are played by a drum machine, but that won’t stop drummers from trying to recreate it on the kit. Get that four-on-the-floor going before adding the hi-hat (don’t worry about the percussion, or get a friend to add those layers if you’re covering the song live).
Also known as “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire”, this song has a heavy metal flavor thanks to Twisted Sister. Complete with a solid groove and tasty fills, it’s a fun one to play.
The newest song on this list is a pop-country crossover with a fun, bouncy drum beat that’ll get anyone dancing. Here’s the chorus!
We have even more holiday tracks to learn in the Drumeo members area, which you can access with a 7-day free trial. Plus, you’ll get thousands of other songs, drum lesson videos, practice tools, mini documentaries and everything else a drummer could want for Christmas.
Samantha Landa is the editor of The Drumeo Beat. She currently drums with Conquer Divide and has been featured by outlets such as Sick Drummer Magazine and DRUM! Magazine. Sam proudly endorses Mapex Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads and Los Cabos Drumsticks.
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