For all the drum teachers out there who offer private lessons to students of all ages and abilities, here is a resource you can use with your students when they ask about a genre of music that maybe is not your expertise, but that you can certainly help them with if given the right direction. As most of us know, there is an unlimited number of bands, and therefore we can only follow a certain amount at any given time. I compiled this list after having several moments where I didn't quite know where to take a student based on what their interests were.

When teaching a student metal drumming, which I have a finite knowledge of, I would sort of scramble to find something interesting and that had strong musical content for me to draw lesson material from. It wasn't necessarily the best choice, and so to make sure I always had the best choice of drummer for the occasion, I began researching and making lists of drummers for each genre.

I would also note several key albums, so the next time a student asks who the best blast-drummer is, I would know which drummer for them to check out, as well as some key albums that highlight their drumming.

These are by no means definitive lists, and I am open to suggestions, put comment in the comment section, or send me an email.

If you think this is a good resource for other teachers then please share!

Rock

1. Neil Peart

Best known as the drummer of prog-rock band Rush, Neil Peart is considered one of the most influential rock drummers of all time.

Recommended Albums:

2112 (Rush)

Hemispheres (Rush)

Moving Pictures (Rush)

2. John Bonham

Drummer for the British rock band Led Zeppelin, there might not be a single rock drummer on the planet who doesn't site "Bonzo" as an influence on the instrument. His unique style and sound have given Led Zeppelin an instantly recognizable sound.

Recommended Albums:

Led Zeppelin I

Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin IV

3. Dave Grohl

Drummer for Nirvana and has also worked with Queens of the Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails.

Recommended Albums:

Nevermind (Nirvana)

In Utero (Nirvana)

Songs for the Deaf (Queens of the Stone Age)

4. Todd Sucherman

Best known for having been a member of Styx since March 1995.

Recommended Albums:

Return to Paradise (Styx)

Live at Riverport (Styx)

5. Jon Theodore

The original drummer of the Mars Volta, and current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age.

Recommended Albums:

Deloused in the Comatorium (The Mars Volta)

Frances the Mute (The Mars Volta)

One Day As a Lion

Progressive Music

1. Bill Bruford

Drummer for King Crimson, Yes, Gong, and bandleader of Earthworks. Bill Bruford was a pioneer in world of progressive drumming.

Recommended Albums:

Red (King Crimson)

Discipline (King Crimson)

Close to the Edge (Yes)

2. Matt Garstka

One of the great young drummers of the genre, Matt Garstka pushes the boundaries of progressive music. He is best known as the drummer for Animals As Leaders.

Recommended Albums:

The Madness of Many (Animals As Leaders)

Live 2017 (Animals As Leaders)

3. Jojo Mayer

Virtuoso Austrian drummer who was one of the main proponents of progressive electro-drumming.

Recommended Albums:

The Distance Between Zero and One (NERVE)

Reloaded (Depart)

4. Vinnie Colaiuta

An inductee of the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, Vinnie Colaiuta is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time.

Recommended Albums:

Joe’s Garage (Frank Zappa)

Ten Summoner’s Tales (Sting)

Vinnie Colaiuta (Vinnie Colaiuta)

5. Mike Portnoy

Ex-Dream Theater and inductee into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.

Recommended Albums:

Systematic Chaos (Dream Theater)

Awake (Dream Theater)

Scenes from a Memory (Dream Theater)

Liquid Tension Experiment

Studio Greats

One of the most recorded drummers in history. Has made his mark in several different genres.

1. Steve Gadd

Recommended Albums:

Aja (Steely Dan)

Friends (Chick Corea)

One-Trick Pony (Paul Simon)

2. Jeff Porcaro

First call session drummer in the 80s who had a knack for creating unique grooves that influenced the future generations.

Recommended Albums:

Toto IV (Toto)

Thriller (Michael Jackson)

The Nightfly (Donald Fagen)

3. Bernard Purdie

Studio legend and inventor of the infamous "Pretty Purdie Shuffle"

Recommended Albums:

Young, Gifted and Black (Aretha Franklin)

Live at the Fillmore West (Aretha Franklin)

Soul Drums (Bernard Purdie)

4. Hal Blaine

Claiming over 35,000 recording sessions and 6,000 singles, Hal Blaine's drumming is featured on 150 US top 10 hits, 40 of which went to number one.

Recommended Albums:

Pet Sounds (Beach Boys)

Bookends (Simon & Garfunkel)

Leisure Time (Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars)

5. Jim Keltner

One of L.A.'s busiest studio drummers since the 1960s.

Recommended Albums:

The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 (The Traveling Wilburys)

Bring the Family (John Hiatt)

Salutations (Conor Oberst)