Ever watched a live performance by a band and wished you could be half as cool as the drummer who is rocking it on the stage? Well, it’s never too late to work on dreams!
While no one can predict whether or not you’ll be the next big thing in the music industry, we can tell you how to become an expert drummer without spending a fortune.
You can learn to play drums online through affordable, well-structured courses offering step-by-step lessons that can help you master all the tricks and techniques of this skill.
Fret not if you don’t have the time or the resources for conventional drumming lessons. There are dozens of learning platforms out there that offer amazing drumming courses catering to specific skill sets and levels of expertise.
Whether you are an absolute beginner, have basic knowledge of music and drumming or you are an expert player who has been a little ‘out of touch’ lately, there is something for everyone.
To make things easier for you, we have created a list of learning platforms and courses that you can opt for and learn to play the drums. Let’s take a look!
10 Online Drum Courses for This Year
- Learn To Play The Drums [Udemy]
- Learn To Play The Drums Without A Drum Kit [Udemy]
- How to Play Djembe, Drum & Rhythm, and Teach Children. Level 1 [Udemy]
- Drums for Beginners [Udemy]
- Programming Amazing Drum Tracks: A Guide for Non-Drummers [Udemy]
- Drumming Lessons by 180Drums
- FreeDrumLessons.com by Drumeo
- Drumming Lessons by Drumeo
- Online Drum Lessons with Mike Johnston
- Jazz Drums with Peter Erskine [ArtistWorks.com]
Learn To Play Drums Online With These 10 Courses for 2022
1. Learn To Play The Drums [Udemy]
This top-selling Udemy Course will be your step-by-step guide to take your drumming skills from beginner to expert level.
The pace and structure of the course, detailed explanations, and valid examples make this program extremely fun and easy to understand, even for those who know nothing about drums or drumming.
It covers basic as well as advanced skills. Each section of the course comes with downloaded PDFs to make it easier for you to understand the lesson and practice. Pay attention during the lectures and devote time to practice and you’ll be able to play the drums in no time.
| Rating | 4.6 |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certification | Yes |
| Paid | Yes |
| Duration | 12 hours of on-demand video |
| Enrolled | 16, 390 students |
| Instructor | Billy Baker |
| Cons | A few sections lack proper explanation |
Learning Outcomes
In this course, you will be learning:
- Different rhythms.
- How to play rudiments and Rock Grooves.
- Theory of Drum Music.
- How to read Drum Notation.
- How to play along with your favorite songs.
- Latin, Blues, March, Reggae, and other styles of drumming.
Prerequisites for these online drum classes:
To sign up for this online drum tutorial, you need:
- A drum kit or something else for practice.
- A pair of drumsticks.
Who should take this course?
This is the best drum tutorial for:
- Anyone who wants to begin with drumming.
- Beginners, intermediate, or advanced drummers, everyone can benefit from this course.
2. Learn To Play The Drums Without A Drum Kit [Udemy]
This best online drum course will teach you how to play the drums without the need for any equipment. The coordination exercises and techniques that are taught in this program can be practiced at home without using a drum kit.
If you have rhythm and think drumming is just the thing for you, this course is what you require.
The lectures consist of step-by-step instructions covering basic and advanced skills that you need to know to become an expert drummer.
| Rating | 4.6 |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certification | Yes |
| Paid | Yes |
| Duration | 2 hours of on-demand video |
| Enrolled | 4, 322 students |
| Instructor | Billy Baker |
| Cons | The online drum course may not be suitable for people with some knowledge of or experience in music. |
Learning Outcomes
This online drum tutorial can help you:
- Have a better understanding of timing, rhythm & coordination, drums, and drumming.
- Build hand coordination by playing rudiments.
- Learn how to read drum music, understand how it works, and learn how to play a rock groove.
- Learn how to play complicated hand and foot patterns with these best online drum lessons.
Prerequisites for these online drum classes:
For this online drum course, you need:
- A willingness to learn drumming.
- A stool/seat
- You do not need any equipment for this course.
Who is this course for?
This best drum tutorial is:
- Suitable for all ages.
- Adult supervision is recommended for minors.
- You do not need any knowledge of drumming to enroll in these online drum classes.
3. How to Play Djembe, Drum & Rhythm and teach Children. Level 1 [Udemy]
These best online drum lessons will not only teach you how to play music but also help you learn how to feel the rhythm in your soul and build a playful relationship with the instrument you are playing.
This course can prove to be extremely helpful if you aim at inspiring others (especially children) with drums and rhythm. The best thing is, you do not need any fancy instrument to play music.
This online drum course will tell you how you can play rhythms with random, everyday things like a table, bucket, or even your own body!
| Rating | 5 |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certification | Yes |
| Paid | Yes |
| Duration | 2 hours of on-demand video + 13 minutes on-demand audio |
| Enrolled | 2, 283 students |
| Instructor | Kouame Sereba |
| Cons | This course is more suitable for absolute beginners and children. |
Learning Outcomes
In these online drum classes, you will learn:
- How to play the drums passionately and confidently.
- Develop a ‘playful’ relationship with music through the Zikalo Method. In Gban (a native language), Zikalo refers to music where ‘everybody joins in.’
- Learn simple drumming patterns, rhythmic games, and phrases.
- Learn rhythms with drums and also how to feel the music in your heart.
- For this best online drum course, you need a willingness to interact and improvise using the new skills you learn.
Prerequisites
- No previous knowledge or experience is required for this online drum tutorial.
- If you don’t have a drum set, don’t worry. You can improvise and play these rhythms by using a table, a bucket or even your own body as your equipment.
Who should take these online drum classes?
These best online drum lessons are for:
- Those who like playing and want to learn more about rhythm and music can join this drum course.
- Those willing to learn a fun new skill.
- Teachers working with kids and looking for new ideas.
- Parents or guardians who want to learn these rhythms for some fun family time.
- Storytellers who want to use drumming while narrating their story.
- Professional musicians looking for new ideas can also join this best online drum course.
4. Drums for Beginners [Udemy]
Learn to play drums online from scratch with this comprehensive course offered by Udemy. This beginner-friendly course is for students looking to build a strong foundation by mastering the fundamentals of drumming.
Understand the drum kit’s basic rhythms and grooves and the various drum beat patterns and permutations. Not only this, but you’ll also learn how the rhythms and beats fit into various songs.
The program consists of detailed video lessons and useful, practical examples. Once you are done with this online drum course, you will know how to play a variety of songs (pop and rock).
| Rating | 4.5 |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certification | Yes |
| Paid | Yes, these are paid online drum lessons |
| Duration | 3 hours of on-demand video |
| Enrolled | 6, 163 students |
| Instructor | Brendan Bache |
| Cons | This online drum tutorial was last updated in 2017. |
Learning Outcomes
In these best online drum classes, you will be learning:
- How to be comfortable with basic backbeats and any bass drum 8th note permutation.
- Improved hand speed and coordination while drumming.
- How to create musical variations between music sections.
Prerequisites
For this best drum tutorial, you need to have access to a drum kit.
Who should take this course?
This online drum course is suitable for:
- Beginners who would like to master this skill of drumming.
- People who have prior drumming experience but have not played for a long time and would like to resume drumming.
5. Programming Amazing Drum Tracks: a Guide for Non-Drummers [Udemy]
This best online drum course has been created to help non-drummers learn the art of creating and mixing realistic and amazing drum tracks for making professional quality music.
If you dream of creating and selling your music but cannot afford the skills of an actual drummer, this course is just what you require. Here you will learn how to program professional and organic beats and mix the results within your songs for desired results.
Master pro-level recording and mixing techniques to make your songs sound like they have been recorded in a studio!
| Rating | 4.6 |
| Return or refund policy | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Certification | Yes |
| Paid | Yes |
| Duration | 4 hours of on-demand video |
| Enrolled | 1, 997 students |
| Instructor | Carl Eden |
| Cons | These online drum lessons were last updated in 2014. |
Learning Outcomes
On finishing these best online drum classes, you will be able to:
- Program professional quality drum tracks.
- Mix like a pro so that your drum tracks shine through your mixes.
- Give your music a professional-quality drum sound.
Prerequisites
In this drum course, you will learn:
- A computer running sequencing software.
- Basic understanding of how your sequencer software works.
- A MIDI keyboard (optional)
Who should take this course?
This course is for:
- Those willing to produce high-quality, pro-level drum tracks in their sequencer can take this best online drum course.
- Students with limited or no knowledge of drumming can opt for these best online drum lessons.
6. Drumming Lessons by 180Drums
Boring and ineffective drum lessons can make it harder for you to learn this otherwise simple skill. However, with the new teaching system introduced by 180Drums, you can become a pro-level drummer in no time!
Trusted by over 7000 students from more than 100 countries, this online drum course can help you take your skill to the next level! The platform also has a close-knit drumming community with beginner to expert-level players from over 20 nations.
Here you can find the support of others as well as share your progress. With the website’s limited-period offer, you can start your learning journey for free! Here is what the free 180Drum Pack consists of:
- Rapid Drumming Blueprint
- The Drummer’s 5-Step Evaluation
- 4 Best Online Drum Lessons of All Time
- The Pro’s Practice Plan
- Other Benefits
The site also offers drumming resources that include podcasts, articles, and a drum library. Each course offered by the platform has been designed to tackle specific problems faced by drummers.
Not sure which online drum classes to take? The free drum quiz can help you decide which drum lessons are most suitable for you!
7. FreeDrumLessons.com by Drumeo
If you want to become a pro-level drummer without having to spend a fortune, then this free platform is the best option for you!
The platform started as the first-ever online library of video online drum lessons and now it also offers a new video series that can help you master the art of drumming!
FreeDrumLessons offers a series of specifically designed best online drum classes for different levels of expertise.
It has Beginner Drum Lessons, Drum Theory and Notations, Drum Set Rudiments, Dynamic Drumming, Rock Drum lessons, Jazz Drum Lessons, Double Bass Drums, Drum Play-along, Drum Solos, Live online drum lessons, and more.
8. Drumming Lessons by Drumeo
Tired of confusing online drumming lessons that make it hard for you to track your progress? If yes, then Drumeo can help make learning this awesome skill easier!
Here is what you can expect on signing up for DrumeoEdge for the best drum tutorial available online.
-
- An exclusive curriculum: Taking random drum lessons on YouTube can end up being confusing. Drumeo offers as well-structured curriculum featuring experienced instructors so that you are always aware of what to work on to get the best results. You get a 10-level drum curriculum covering different levels, topics, and styles.
- On-demand access: You also get on-demand access to more than 230 courses and over 2000 best online drum lessons.
- Hundreds of songs and practice tools: The site offers over 2000 play-along songs including, full transcriptions, audio loops, and other useful practice tools for music by famous bands of all styles and eras.
- Encouragement and support: Get the weekly live event and constructive feedback from some of the most popular names in the industry. The platform forms more than 10 live events every week, personal feedback and video reviews with your favorite drummers!
- Ongoing Support: The program is not just another series of prerecorded lessons. At Drumeo, you get ongoing support from your coaches.
- New opportunities every week: Get new opportunities to learn from your instructors every week! Simply choose the topics you want to work on or follow an instructor that you think can help you achieve your goals.
The platform offers 2 subscription options for you to learn to play drums online- Drumeo Edge annual membership and monthly membership without bonuses. The former comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
9. Online Drum Training Lessons with Mike Johnston
The platform offers a series of online drum lessons that have been created to provide step-by-step guidance to help you master a specific skill set.
Whether your goal is to work on your speed, grooves, fills, technique, or independence, you are sure to find a course specifically designed to meet your requirements.
The site offers a Drum Lesson Library consisting of hundreds of drumming lessons covering different genres and skill levels. These lessons come with built-in practice tools to make it easier for you to track your progress.
This platform contains 6 or more lessons per course, covering specific topics and levels of expertise, including an online drum course designed for absolute beginners.
Here are a few best online drum lessons offered by this platform:
- Starting from Scratch
- Developing Hand Speed- Course 1
- Learning Your Rudiments-Part 1
- Building your Fills- Course 1
10. Jazz Drums with Peter Erskine [ArtistWorks.com]
Learn to play drums online with perhaps one of the most well-known names in the industry. Join Grammy Award winner Peter Erskine who’ll help you take your drumming skills to the next level with this course offered by ArtistWorks.
The platform offers several subscription options, including a 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month plan. With each subscription, you get unlimited access to lessons, and video exchange library, and video submissions to teacher and music theory workshops.
The half-yearly and annual plans also offer backing tracks across instruments. The online drum lessons have been divided into 3 categories, intermediate, and advanced.
These best online drum classes offer:
- Hundreds of self-paced lessons.
- Suitable for all playing styles and levels
- Slow-motion and video looping options are available.
- An opportunity to submit a video for review by none other than Peter Erskine.
- Receive a video response with specific guidance after your submission.
- Access to other students’ interactions with Peter via the Video Exchange library.
- The course comes with Jazz drum drills, drum fill exercises, and several jazz charts and play-along tracks.
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Conclusion
Online drum classes can help you master this wonderful skill right in the comforts of your home. There are specially designed lessons for everyone, ranging from absolute beginners to expert players.
The best part is, you can take up online drum lessons even if you do not own a drum set as quite a few of these programs do not require you to own a drumming kit.
You might want to check out our recommendation for online singing courses as well. Sign up for any course that meets your requirements and begin your learning journey right away!
