1. Stick Control by George L. Stone
2. Syncopation by Ted Reed
3. Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin
4. Accents and Rebounds by George L. Stone
5. Master Studies by Joe Morello
6. Musician's Guide to Polyrhythms (Vol. 1 & 2) by Peter Magadini
7. The New Breed by Gary Chester
8. Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
9. Studio & Big Band Drumming by Steve Houghton
10. Future Sounds by David Garibaldi
11. Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice
12. Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset by Frank Malabe and Bob Weiner
13. Drum Concepts and Techniques by Peter Erskine
14. Modern School for Snare Drum by Morris Goldenberg
15. Double Bass Drumming by Joe Franco (I thought this book sucked, personally)
16. The Sound of Brushes by Ed Thigpen
17. Bass Drum Control by Colin Bailey
18. Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charlie Wilcoxon
19. Patterns (Vol. 1,2,3,4) by Gary Chaffee
20. Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments by Buddy Rich & Henry Adler
21. Advanced Funk Studies by Rick Latham
22. Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Bellson and Breines
23. Drum Wisdom by Bob Moses
24. Even in the Odds by Ralph Humphrey
25. The Drumset with Afro-Caribbean Rhythms (Parts 1 & 2) by Chuck Silverman

Any thoughts on this list? Which books have you used personally? I put the ones I've used, at least a bit, in bold. Can you think of other books that should be on this list?

I have this old Joe Cusatis book that was great in solidifying my jazz/bop muscle memory and independence chops. I don't remember what the name of it is. I still have it, at some point I'll dig it up and see what it's called. I think Rhythmic Patterns for the Modern Jazz Drummer or something like that.

As far as the ones I've used the most, Stick Control, New Breed, Advanced Techniques by Chapin, and lately the Thomas Lang book have done great things for me.

I've used most of the books on this list at one time or another. Heres how they stack up . . .


1. Stick Control by George L. Stone -- I use this with all of my beginning students. Nearly the perfect book.
2. Syncopation by Ted Reed --This was the Bible at PIT in the Joe Pocarro/Steve Houghton/Ralph Humphriey era. I can recite page 39 in my sleep!
3. Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin -- Another near perfect one -- strangely not used at PIT . I got into it after meet J. Chapin in 1989.
4. Accents and Rebounds by George L. Stone
5. Master Studies by Joe Morello -- Similar in stature to the Chapine and Stone books
6. Musician's Guide to Polyrhythms (Vol. 1 & 2) by Peter Magadini
7. The New Breed by Gary Chester. -- Didn't we all get this book after first reading Dave Weckl interviews??
8. Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone --Some really nice solos in this one
9. Studio & Big Band Drumming by Steve Houghton -- Houghton was the "Professor Snape" of PIT. We worked out of this book inbetween intimidating stares form the jazz master.
10. Future Sounds by David Garibaldi
11. Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice -- Not mind blowing -- but I got some good stuff out of it.
12. Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset by Frank Malabe and Bob Weiner
13. Drum Concepts and Techniques by Peter Erskine
14. Modern School for Snare Drum by Morris Goldenberg
15. Double Bass Drumming by Joe Franco --I never saw the need for this book when I had Stick Control
16. The Sound of Brushes by Ed Thigpen
17. Bass Drum Control by Colin Bailey
18. Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charlie Wilcoxon -- Another book I went through at PIT. Lots and lots of ruffs!!
19. Patterns (Vol. 1,2,3,4) by Gary Chaffee
20. Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments by Buddy Rich & Henry Adler -- I love this book the most for rudimental workouts. I lke the way it shows various ways to notate the same rudiments.
21. Advanced Funk Studies by Rick Latham -- Never used it, but Rick sure is a good guy!!
22. Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Bellson and Breines Very similar to the Ted Reed book
23. Drum Wisdom by Bob Moses
24. Even in the Odds by Ralph Humphrey -- I was luckily to go through this book in class with R. Humphrey. He taught Fusion and Studio Drumming. He attempted to teach us "The Black Page" once!!!
25. The Drumset with Afro-Caribbean Rhythms (Parts 1 & 2) by Chuck Silverman

I have Stick Control and Syncopation, + some of them on my computer (not playing from them). Stick Control I'm actively using (just started), Syncopation... couldn't even get to the Syncopation parts. I'll give it another shot soon.

The great thing bout the Ted Reed book is that is so basic that the same exercises can be used over and over in different ways. You can take any page in that book and apply any technique that you're working on -- paradiddles, singles, linear phrasing -- any concept works with the basic accent patterns found in Syncopation.

I took some lessons from Ted when I was visiting in the Tampa area, and the cool thing about him was he had every page of that book committed to memory. It was absolutely insane to watch him run the patterns without looking at the book.

the only book ive used off of that list is stick control
ive learned a lot from thomas lang's book
i bet that will be on the list someday

Hmmmm I can't say I'm sure about the list anymore, I think it's time for a re-think maybe.

if you are talking about Thomas Lang's Creative Control, I gotta agree that a lot can be learnt from it.

Jason Bittner's Drumming out of the Shadows book is also great for busy Double Kick work

personally ive had experience with stick control, syncopation, rudimental swing, and a few others off the list but those are the three i have the most experience with.

Stick control is the industry standard! I always find myself picking it up in my spare time and learning something out of it that I couldn't figure out for the longest time. And Double Bass Drumming by Joe Franco= 100% junk. I had a friend who was pretty new to double bass hand it to me like it was the bible at school a few years back, lol I was not impressed, but it put him in the right direction for a beginner which is great for him!

I would add Bill Bruford's "When In Doubt, ROLL!"

It's a advanced level book, full of charts from King Crimson, UK, and Bruford's solo compositions. The best part are the essay's Bruford wrote explains the thinking behind the parts he played. Not so much about the technical aspects of what he played, buy more about WHY he played what he played. The musician outlook from behind the drum set.

It's a good book to go through if you want to learn so creative and challenging odd time grooves!

1. Stick Control by George L. Stone -- Not much more I can say that hasn't already been said. This book has given me more benefits and headaches than I can count.
2. Syncopation by Ted Reed -- This was my Jazz book in college. My professor, Keith Brown, used it like a sacred text. And I'll never forget how to use it.
3. Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer by Jim Chapin -- A classic, but one I really never used much of. My professor using Syncopation and just reinterpreting the information. I prefer that way actually. But there is a host of useful application knowledge in THIS book.
4. Accents and Rebounds by George L. Stone -- Kind of an odd book actually. Handy for practicing accents, and it works WONDERS when trying to utilize Moeller Pull-Out, but it just never measured up to Stick Control's success, and kind of got lost in the shadows for a while
5. Master Studies by Joe Morello -- Owned it and lost it in a year. After going through Syncopation and Chapin, I'd had my share of Jazz exercises and more to come...for at least 2000 years.
6. Musician's Guide to Polyrhythms (Vol. 1 & 2) by Peter Magadini -- Never did own this one, but have heard very positive things about it
7. The New Breed by Gary Chester. -- Quite a challenge, this book is. Almost to the point of kicking the beater through head difficult. But, insanely good.
8. Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone -- Picked my college audition solos out of this book. And Oldie but a goodie, and some great concert application.
9. Studio & Big Band Drumming by Steve Houghton -- This book is what inspired me to want to become a studio drummer. Love how this book is written.
10. Future Sounds by David Garibaldi -- A fusion-drummers must have. No one can lay it down like Garibaldi can, and his patterns in this books are supurb
11. Realistic Rock by Carmine Appice -- Ahh...my first ever drum book! Memories...
12. Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset by Frank Malabe and Bob Weiner -- Standard in it's class
13. Drum Concepts and Techniques by Peter Erskine -- I was slightly disappointed with this one actually. The way it was laid out seemed just long and repetitive at some places. At some times.
14. Modern School for Snare Drum by Morris Goldenberg -- This is where I started in learning serious snare studies, and where my dad begins his students
15. Double Bass Drumming by Joe Franco -- I've never been a big double-bass kind of guy. Haven't really used it much
16. The Sound of Brushes by Ed Thigpen -- A classic in the genre, up there with Louie Bellson's book. I owned Bellson's book, but after seeing Thigpen in a clinic, I wanted this book
17. Bass Drum Control by Colin Bailey -- Own it and use it often! Laid out in superb fashion.
18. Modern Rudimental Swing Solos by Charlie Wilcoxon -- Great Classic rudimental book written by one of the great rudimental masters. My dad has an original copy, and I've read some out of it
19. Patterns (Vol. 1,2,3,4) by Gary Chaffee -- Never heard of this series, but it sounds like an encyclopedia of patterns, and if so, I want it!
20. Buddy Rich's Modern Interpretation of Snare Drum Rudiments by Buddy Rich & Henry Adler -- Never Owned this book, got to see if I can find a copy of it
21. Advanced Funk Studies by Rick Latham -- Bought this one on impulse, and I've loved it. The description sections are some of the better I've seen in a drum book
22. Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Bellson and Breines -- Never owned.
23. Drum Wisdom by Bob Moses -- Never owned, young grasshopper
24. Even in the Odds by Ralph Humphrey -- Was going to buy it, but didn't have the money. Looks fantastic
25. The Drumset with Afro-Caribbean Rhythms (Parts 1 & 2) by Chuck Silverman -- Not as good as the Malabe/Weiner book, but still competant

I'm surprised a few other books didn't make it, like the Alfred Series, which I think has inspired and started more drummers than not, or some of the Rudimental books out there. And Zoro's Commandments to R&B Drumming should be up there.

Homki890

I have Syncopation, which I got a TON out of. I also used Double Bass Drumming by Joe Franco, I didn't care for it either.

I bought this little book at a used book store for $1. It's pretty great!

The copyright date is 1928.
It's called "Teacher's and Student's Hand Book: A Guide to the Progressive Studies for the Snare Drum" by Carl E. Gardner

It's a pocket sized book, but comes with 80 weeks of lesson plans! It's full of gems like "In most cases, details of position will have been ignored by the pupil and incorrect position and incorrect posture will have developed to the point of being almost habitual". My, things really have not changed in 80 years!