Progressive Rock Drumming Recommendations

ash ra tempel - amboss

Try playing the drums on Gong's "Zero the Hero"; I recommend you listen to the live version from ""Live au Bataclan". The way Pierre Moerlen builds up a more and more complicated rhythm pattern after the whisper part until everything becomes a blur of whirls is amazing and an excellent lesson on what to do with "simple" rhythms. One of my all-time favourites. (I'm a drummer myself). Also some excellent use of hi-hat (making good use of hi-hat is far more effective than creating a thunderstorm on drums) in the part where Daevid Allen sings non-sense syllables.

Edited by BaldFriede

Aight, cool guys, thanks.  Unfortunately, I can't find the drum tabs for any of those songs except Tom Sawyer, but I'll try learn some of them be ear.


Thanks again, keep them coming!

I learned how to play "progressive" drums by drumming to KC, Genesis and Yes (I was a huge Bruford and Collins fan).

Re KC, the album "Red" is probably a good place to start.  After that you might try In the Court and Larks Tongues.

Re Yes, almost anything from The Yes Album, Fragile or CTTE.

Re Genesis, Seconds Out is a good place to start, since you get a variety of stuff, from "easier" stuff like Squonk and Afterglow to Firth of Fifth and the incredible instrumental section of Cinema Show.

Have fun!