Instagram is the best source of short-form content on the internet. In addition to that, it is a window into the creative minds of many exceptional and legendary instagram drummers from all over the world. It’s also an entry point into a fantastic community of people as well as businesses that revolve around the instrument we love to play…the drums!
I’ve been recommending to my students that they search for and follow interesting instagram drummers. Of my 32 current students, all but one had instagram accounts that they actively use. That’s telling you something already. However, hardly any of them were following any drum related accounts. I then asked myself, why aren’t more learning drummers following other drummers?
Who Are The Instagram Drummers I Follow?
I would like to give you some insights into the drummers that I admire and follow. Here’s a list of my top 20 instagram drummers. I chose these 20 drummer accounts based entirely on the quality of their content (drumming, visual and audio). Most importantly, the content they post must be relevant to learning drummers.
Even the best drummers in the world did not make this list if they mostly post selfies, vacations, pets, food and other personal content. I was looking for drummers who consistently post content that either inspires me or gives me something to play on the drums. There is no ranking system used however and this is not a popularity contest. I’m simply listing them in alphabetical order by first name. Following even some of the names below will benefit you as a drummer and maybe even inspire you to start posting.
Adam Sterling
Aaron Sterling is all about sounds and groove. Known for his studio session work, Aaron Sterling has played on a huge list of records over the past decade. He has worked with a variety artists including John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, Kris Kristofferson, Shakira, Lily Allen, Gavin DeGraw, Kelly Clarkson and many more. Check out some of Aaron’s posts to see an interesting mix of percussion into his grooves. He is super knowledgeable, insanely groovy and totally unique sounding. That’s Aaron Sterling in a nutshell and one of the most unique instagram drummers out there.
Adam Tuminaro
Also known as the Orlando Drummer, Adam Tuminaro is a fantastic drummer with a solid approach to teaching as well as content creation. His YouTube channel and website are the epicentre of his online presence. His instagram account serves him well by driving a lot of traffic to his channels. It is one of the slickest, most thought out social feeds I have ever seen from a drummer. Every post, even promotional ones have something good to say or some tasty nugget played. There is no shortage of drumming and visual inspiration from the Orlando Drummer.
Anika Nilles
Describing Anika Nilles as one of the most progressive female instagram drummers today would be an understatement. Her effortless mastery of time signatures as well as odd groupings and subdivisions make her drumming ground-breaking. Her instagram is loaded with solos, grooves and performances that will both inspire you and blow your mind. I particularly love her posts that feature practice pad exercises from her published book Anika Nilles Pad Book and her improvisations in the practice studio. If you want something that is extra challenging to dig into on the drums, check out and follow Anika.
Ash Soan
If I were asked to narrow down this list down to one drummer, it would have to be Ash Soan. He is an incredible session drummer from the UK with a discography of work that includes artists like Adele, Seal, Billy Idol, Enrique Iglesias, Cee Lo Green, Cher, Sam Smith and Eros Ramazotti just to name a few. In addition to his studio work, Ash Soan is well known as the drummer from The Voice UK. His posts are mostly shot at his Windmill studio (yes, it’s actually a windmill converted into a kick-ass studio).
Ash’s groove is infectious, his musicality profound and his sounds are original and unique. In addition to the world-class drumming, his posts are often creative with interesting visual effects that match the interesting sounds you hear. Ash Soan really does have it all when it comes to the kind of drummer I like to follow.
Benny Greb
Benny Greb is a drumming force of nature. His groove, creativity and musicality is profound. He has a knack for teaching and shares his knowledge and experience through clinics and workshops all over the globe. A true improvisational master, Benny can take you on an amazing journey within a single drum solo. His book The Language Of Drumming is an awesome drumming book you should check out (click the link to purchase). Benny regularly posts inspiring little nuggets on instagram that will get you grooving. Whether it’s a drum solo from a festival or just jamming at home, there’s an honesty to Benny that I just love.
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Billy Martin
Billy Martin is funky as hell and a jazz drummer who is best known for his work in Medeski, Martin & Wood. He is a true percussionist, blending drums, shakers, chimes and everything else from every corner of the globe. Billy Martin’s expertise in Afro-cuban and polyrhythmic drumming are reflected in his book Riddim: Clave of African Origin (click the link to purchase). It’s honestly one of the most intriguing drum books I’ve ever worked on. On instagram Billy posts little bursts of creativity from his own practice studio. The funky feel and interesting sounds are so original, he can’t be compared to any other drummer.
Dan Mayo
Dan Mayo is an Israeli drummer with a completely original approach to the drums. His drumming is a combination of jazz improvisation as well as rudimental mastery and funky grooves. Dan is wildly entertaining to watch both solo and in his band TATRAN. Dan’s chops are super honed-in and his groove creativity is through the roof. He integrates percussion with vintage drums in a way that has lead to an incredibly unique sound. Try watching any of his posts and I guarantee you will watch it several times over. I became hooked on Dan Mayo instantly and I know you will too.
El Estepario SIberiano
If you have never heard of El Estepario Siberiano, you don’t know what you’ve been missing. Hands down he is the most entertaining and impressive drummer I have on my radar. He’s been killing it on YouTube and his instagram ties in so beautifully to his other content. El Estepario Siberiano is a drummer of great mastery with a completely honest approach to being himself. His metal-influenced independence between his hands and feet is on a completely other level. His insanely creative drum covers, stick flips, blindfolds, costumes and other trickery show that he’s comfortable just being himself on the drums.
Jerrod Sullivan
Jerrod Sullivan is a chops machine. With a solid upbringing in gospel and R&B music, Jerrod is the kind of drummer that will impress you every time. Known best for his drum covers on YouTube, Jerrod is a drummer with explosive energy as well as pinpoint accuracy. Many of his posts are filmed in his home practice space where you can get a good glimpse of Jrod flexing his skills. Sick technique, mad chops, however you want to describe it, Jerrod Sullivan kills it every time.
Justin Scott
There are drummers with chops and then there are drummers with serious flow behind those chops. Justin Scott is one of my favourite drummers on Instagram that demonstrates his musicality with such unbelievable ease and flow. He’s an alumni of Berklee and is endorsed by Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo and others. Virtually every post inspires and is worthy of multiple views. Most of Justin’s posts are improvisation based so you’re always in for a dose of creativity. No drum covers here, just rock-solid chops in addition to musical creativity.
Luke Holland
Luke Holland has turned a lot of heads, first with his YouTube content and now Instagram as well. His technical skill and creativity is visible in anything he posts. Luke’s drum remixes are a consistently good example of his own creative flare and musical taste. If you like watching drummers with stick flips and other feats of incredibleness, Luke Holland is definitely up your alley. There’s more to Luke than his drumming however. He has style as well as attitude and he’s not afraid to be genuine and have fun with his drumming posts.
Mark Guiliana
Mark Guiliana is a creative monster. His mastery of subdivisions, rudiments as well as dynamic articulation, culminate in a creative flow that can take you in many directions. He is known for his playing with Avishai Cohen, Brad Mehldau, David Bowie, Meshell Ndegeocello and many others. Mark’s fusion of jazz, latin, world rhythms with hip-hop, breakbeats and other urban sounds are always a wild trip in every post. In addition to that, it’s nice to see a drummer with a unique visual touch. Check out the many effects and overlays that he uses on some of his posts. Mark has a knack for making every post a drumming inspiration as well as a work of art.
Mike Johnston
Mike Johnston is an astounding drummer with a completely genuine approach to being a teacher. He has traveled to over 20 countries conducting workshops and clinics. Mike has been nominated as best clinician of the year several times by Modern drummer and DRUM magazines. His insights, exercises, drills and practice tips on instagram are some of the best drumming content on the internet. In addition to drum endorsements, Mike is also endorsed by Adobe and Canon. Some of his posts on the topic of filming and video editing will be useful to you if you make your own drumming content.
Raghav Mehrotra
It’s always wonderful to see young instagram drummers who will be the legends of the future. Raghav Mehrotra is exactly that. At the age of 16, Raghav has accomplished more than you could believe. He was the principal character Freddy the drummer, in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock the Musical.
In addition to that he was the featured drummer on Late Night with Seth Myers and has already been featured in drum lesson videos by Drumeo. On instagram, Raghav regularly posts tasty and awe-inspiring snippets of his practice sessions. Raghav’s drumming is a fusion of many styles. His sense of groove is so mature, you would think you were listening to a seasoned veteran. Check out this rising start drummer if you haven’t already.
Sarah Thawer
Sarah Thawer is a master of Indian rhythms and how to adapt them to the drum kit. Her mastery of subdivision and rhythms sets her apart form almost anyone else. Her energy is fierce, completely unpredictable and yet so technically flawless. Sarah has an incredible flow and freedom of expression when improvising and that is immediately noticeable in her posts. She has quickly taken the drumming community by storm over the last 5 years. You would be missing out tremendously if you didn’t follow Sarah Thawer’s instagram account.
Steve Smith
If you don’t know who Steve Smith is, you need to know. He is a veteran drummer with a long and illustrious career, known for his drumming in the rock band Journey as well as his session work. He also has an impressive discography that includes Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Elisa, Vasco Rossi, Zucchero, Savage Garden, Bryan Adams and Zakir Hussain. On instagram, Steve regularly posts creative exercises, drills and solos, mostly from his home. The vibe is right, the performances are spot-on and there’s always something to learn from following Steve Smith.
Taylor Gordon
Taylor Gordon a.k.a The Pocket Queen is well known for her serious and deep pocket. Her grooves are so spot-on it makes the most stubborn feet dance. Having performed with Michelle Williams, Beyonce, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper, Stevie Wonder and many more, Taylor’s instagram account is shows us how seamlessly she can use electronic samples along with an acoustic kit. Her pin-point accuracy as well as solid feel have earned her the nickname The Pocket Queen. It’s no wonder she’s getting noticed among instagram drummers and scoring more high profile gigs.
Tony Royster Jr.
There is no drummer alive with the kind of energy you see from Tony Royster Jr. He is best known for his work with Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Joss Stone, Joe Jonas, Charlie Puth and others. Tony is the kind of drummer that will blow your mind every time he picks up sticks. His technical abilities and chops are through the roof. He executes everything he plays with unbelievable precision as well as effortlessness. Tony’s instagram is a mixture of life on the road, practice sessions, soundcheck jams and personal life. There are plenty of posts of him drumming up a storm or laying down a sick groove for you to sink your teeth into…and you absolutely should.
Travis Barker
Travis Barker is an iconic drummer that has influenced an entire generation. He is best known as the drummer for Blink 182, The Transplants, +44, Box Car Racer and more. Travis has revolutionized the way drummers approach punk rock, alternative and hip hop music. His drumming is so iconic that he has made it onto countless “Greatest Drummers Of All Time” lists including Rolling Stone magazine, which you can read here.
In addition to his bands, Travis is an active collaborator as well. He often makes posts of musical collaborations with other artists and instagram drummers. Travis Barker’s explosive performances make even the simplest grooves sound stadium huge. Check out his instagram to see clips of this epic and energetic drummer.
Wiktoria Bialic
Wiktoria Bialic is another up and coming drummer that deserves all the attention she can get. At the age of 20, she is the drummer for The Voice Of Poland. In 2020 she was a finalist in the Hit Like A Girl Contest and her online presence has exploded since. Wiktoria’s pulse and groove is unmatched by almost any instagram drummers and she brings a pure joy of drumming into every groovy post she creates. Chances are that you’ve never heard of her, but she has global star power to a maximum degree. Check out Wiktoria and follow her.
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