8 New Drums Books Shaping 2025's Percussion Scene

What started as a simple desire to make drumming accessible has become a structured guide through the essentials of drum playing. Sight Read Drums, known for their instructional YouTube presence, created this book to help beginners master reading drum sheet music and applying rhythms confidently. You’ll find lessons progressing from quarter notes on the snare to complex triplets and fills, all grounded in realistic notation as used in actual music. Whether you’re new to percussion or an experienced player wanting to read music better, this book lays out foundational skills with clarity and a steady pace, making it a solid match for anyone serious about drumming fundamentals.

Drawing from his experience as a drum educator, Kyle Rowland offers a methodical path for beginners to master the snare drum, emphasizing notation, hand coordination, and timing. You’ll find a deliberate progression through fundamental rhythms—like whole notes, dotted rhythms, and triplets—without being overwhelmed by complex rudiments too soon. Each chapter integrates lesson notes and progress checkpoints, supporting steady skill development, while QR codes link to play-along videos that bring the exercises to life. This book suits those starting their drumming journey who want a structured, hands-on approach to reading music and synchronizing with a metronome, rather than jumping straight into advanced techniques.

This tailored book explores the cutting-edge developments reshaping drumming in 2025. It examines the latest rhythms, techniques, and emerging trends in percussion, focusing on your specific interests and experience level. By matching content to your background and goals, it offers a focused journey through innovative drumming concepts that are redefining the art form. From advanced groove patterns to new coordination exercises, this book reveals insights designed to keep you ahead of evolving styles and discoveries. Its personalized approach ensures you engage deeply with content that resonates, making your learning experience both relevant and inspiring.

Mr Buster Birch, alongside Joseph Alexander and Tim Pettingale, crafted this guide to tackle the challenge many drummers face: mastering odd time signatures like 5/4, 7/8, and 9/8. The book unpacks rhythmic complexities through over 130 exercises and accompanying audio tracks, allowing you to develop timing, phrasing, and creativity within these unconventional meters. You'll gain hands-on skills not only in odd time grooves but also in integrating polyrhythmic fills that feel natural and musical. If you're seeking to deepen your drumming vocabulary and confidently perform complex rhythms, this book provides a focused path, though those new to drumming might find its intensity demanding.

John Pickering's decades of experience as a drummer culminate in this focused guide addressing the intricate coordination required in jazz drumming. The book breaks down the complex limb independence needed for contemporary jazz percussion into four manageable sections, each dedicated to mastering a specific limb's role on the drum set. You'll gain targeted exercises to develop control over the ride cymbal, snare, bass drum, and hi-hat, which are essential for advancing your technical skills and musical expressiveness. This methodical approach is especially suited for drummers aiming to elevate their jazz technique through disciplined practice and enhanced manual dexterity.

Drawing from the accessible style of Babooks Publishing, this guide breaks down drumming into straightforward lessons that make learning approachable even if you have no prior experience. You’ll explore fundamental skills, from basic beats to crafting your own rhythms, with a clear progression that respects your pace and space for practice. Through concise chapters filled with expert tips, this book emphasizes confidence-building and enjoyment over complexity, making it ideal for those who want a no-frills introduction to percussion. If you seek a gentle yet structured way to start drumming without diving into overwhelming technicalities, this book provides exactly that foundation.

This tailored drumming book explores emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of percussion. It covers fresh techniques, new rhythmic styles, and the latest discoveries expected to influence drumming in 2025 and beyond. The content is tailored to your background and interests, focusing on cutting-edge developments that resonate with your goals. Readers journey through evolving genres, experiment with novel drumming patterns, and uncover insights on adapting to the changing musical landscape. This personalized guide not only matches your experience but also challenges you to stay ahead by integrating tomorrow’s groove into your playing today.

Drawing from decades of performance and teaching experience, Ben Hans and collaborators deliver a year-long regimen designed to refine your snare drum technique incrementally. You’ll encounter 365 distinct exercises targeting rudiments, rolls, rhythms, and paradiddles, each crafted to build your skill set progressively. The inclusion of time signatures, dynamics, and drum-tone variations ensures you develop not only technical proficiency but also musicianship and expression. Whether you're practicing solo or with an instructor, the daily drills create a structured yet varied path for growth, making it ideal for drummers eager to deepen their craft steadily over time.

Joel Selvin, a seasoned music critic with decades of experience chronicling rock history, delves into the extraordinary yet tragic life of Jim Gordon, arguably the greatest rock drummer ever. You’ll explore Gordon’s unparalleled technique, his iconic "big fill," and his collaborations with legends like John Lennon and Eric Clapton, revealing the heights of 1970s rock drumming. Beyond musicianship, the book traces Gordon’s descent into mental illness and the devastating consequences that followed, offering insight into the complex interplay between genius and madness. This narrative suits you if you want a deep, human portrait of a musical prodigy whose story challenges the glamorized rock myth.

Unlike most drums books that dive straight into complex rhythms, Tim Wimer’s Drum Primer Book for Beginners starts with the fundamentals—stick control, counting, and basic rhythms on the snare drum. What makes it particularly useful is the progression to full drum kit techniques, including assembling and tuning the kit, supported by clear photos and online video and audio resources that reinforce proper technique. You’ll also find practical lessons on playing fills and accompanying a full band with five complete songs, making it a hands-on guide for those new to drumming. If you’re starting fresh and want a solid foundation without getting overwhelmed, this book offers a straightforward, well-structured path to develop your skills.