When you’re learning drums, it’s important to find fun and easy ways to practice on the go. Grab your smartphone because here, Edmond, OK drum instructor Tracy D. shares her picks for the best mobile apps for drummers…
App developers have certainly made great tools available for musicians, and a few fantastic apps for drummers. So whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate drummer, here are 11 smartphone apps you should download, now!
Drum Set apps
These smartphone apps are entertaining, easy to use, and they can help you execute ideas when you’re away from your kit (or don’t have one yet). Many of these apps can also help beginners learn to read music.
Drums!
Drums! has a built-in music player and single and double kick features.
The app gives you the ability to jam along to pre-recorded tracks and play different sounds. Download additional in-app features like the percussion pack for an additional cost.
You can download this app from the iTunes store.
Drum set
This app has multi-touch functionality, low latency, and allows you to choose from a variety of setups.
The play-along feature let’s you practice to your favorite songs, or use the “Song Player” feature to play your own songs.
Drum set is available to download on Android devices.
DrumKit
This Windows-compatible app is like a virtual drum set.
DrumKit includes sounds from a variety of drums in addition to cymbals, toms, and kick drums.
The movable components make this app ideal for left-handed drummers.
Metronome apps
Let’s face it: if you want to play with solid time, you need a metronome. Apps make some feature-rich timekeepers that are powerful and inexpensive.
Tempo
This feature-rich app has 35 different time signatures (simple, compound, and complex). The app will continue to run even when your device locks, which makes it great to use during practice. It also has setlist functionality, which will take you from the shed to the stage.
Want to demo this app for free? Download the lite version and give it a try.
Metronome Beats Pro
Create a setlist of songs and play through them continuously.
With a range of different sounds, and beat and bar counters, Metronome Beats Pro is great to use during practice, and even effective for live shows.
Metronomy
Metronomy includes sound recording and fine tempo tuning (from 40 to 238 BPM).
The visual beat counter will help you learn to keep time on drums. Download this app and use it next time you practice!
Drum Machine and Loop apps
If you’re a drummer or a multi-instrumentalist, you will find these apps useful and fun. Use these to fuel your creativity and provide a backdrop for your technical work.
Drum Beats+
Drum Beats+ has over 100 built-in drum loops, but don’t worry, if that’s not enough, you can always download more!
The easy tempo changer (from 60 to 190 BPM) makes this app ideal for both beginner and advanced drummers.
RaveIT
Use the drum machine/loop station to create your own beats. Or play-along to one of 91 samples.
You can also change the tempo from 40-250 beats per minute.
Download RaveIT for your Windows device here.
Drum Lesson apps
Learn some chops and licks from some legends of the industry.
Drum Guru
Download Drum Guru to access short lessons from world-renowned drummers.
This beginner-friendly app also features videos with notations.
Notation and Composition Apps
As you progress you will likely have ideas that you will want to jot down, and these apps for drummers have quite a few handy features. Plus, if you get into larger-scale compositions, you will still find them useful.
Reflow Score Writer
Reflow Score Writer is iCloud and Dropbox ready, so you can make changes on the fly that will be saved across your devices.
With several options to import and play files, and lots of fun features, you will definitely get more bang for your buck with this app.
Ensemble Composer Pro
Import and export files in MusicXML formats so you can exchange sheets with other software programs.
Want to show off the cool new beat you just recorded? Ensemble Composer Pro allows you to export songs as ringtones.
These 11 apps are personal favorites of mine. If you use these apps regularly and with great focus, you will become a well-rounded drummer and musician. Your practice with these apps should be consistent.
These are just a few of many apps for drummers available online. Try these out and let us know what you think!
Post Author: Tracy D.Tracy D. teaches percussion and drum lessons in Edmond, OK, as well as online. She has been playing the drums with various bands for more than 13 years. Tracy earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education from Oklahoma Christian University and has played with the OKC Community Orchestra since 2009. Learn more about Tracy here!
Maile Proctor