The best isolated drum tracks let you hear exactly what made a famous groove work: the ghost notes, the fills, the room sound and the feel that disappears under guitars and vocals. Below are 10 of the greatest drum parts in rock and pop, each with a link to its isolated track on Multitrack Master. Start with John Bonham’s half-time shuffle on “Fool in the Rain”, one of the most studied grooves ever recorded.
How we picked these drum tracks
Each pick had to be a famous, influential drum part, and the isolated track had to be clear enough to learn from. We also wanted a mix of styles: shuffles, reggae-influenced rock, 60s pop, grunge and metal. Every drummer here has a recognizable feel, and hearing the part alone shows the decisions behind it: what they leave out, where the fills go and how hard they hit.
1. Led Zeppelin – Fool in the Rain (John Bonham)
Bonham’s half-time shuffle is built on triplet ghost notes on the snare between the backbeats, a feel shared by Jeff Porcaro’s “Rosanna” and Bernard Purdie’s famous shuffle. Isolated, every ghost note is audible, and so is the big, open room sound. From In Through the Out Door (1979). Hear the Fool in the Rain drum track.
2. Toto – Rosanna (Jeff Porcaro)
Porcaro’s “Rosanna shuffle” is one of the most famous drum grooves in pop. On its own you can hear how steady and relaxed the ghost notes are and how the hi-hat drives the song. From Toto IV (1982). See the Rosanna multitrack post, which also has the vocal and bass stems.
3. The Police – Roxanne (Stewart Copeland)
Copeland’s reggae-influenced verses leave the downbeat empty and lean on hi-hat and rim. Then he opens up for the choruses. It’s a lesson in what not to play. Hear the Roxanne drum track, and see the Police hub for more.
4. The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again (Keith Moon)
Moon rarely played a simple beat. He treated the kit as a lead instrument, with rolling tom fills over the synthesizer pattern and the famous big entrance after the breakdown. Hear Won’t Get Fooled Again (drums only), and also Who Are You on The Who’s hub.
5. The Beatles – Come Together (Ringo Starr)
Ringo’s tom-heavy pattern under the “shoot” hook is one of his most recognizable parts. Isolated, you can hear his loose, swinging feel and the deadened tom sound. From Abbey Road (1969). Hear Come Together (drums only).
6. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Dave Grohl)
Grohl’s opening fill and his hard-hitting choruses defined the sound of 90s rock. On its own, you can hear how simple the verse groove is and how much power the choruses have. From Nevermind (1991), produced by Butch Vig. Hear Smells Like Teen Spirit (drums only).
7. Foo Fighters – My Hero (Dave Grohl)
Grohl played drums on this The Colour and the Shape track, and the tom-driven intro is a favorite with drummers. Hear My Hero (Dave Grohl drums only), and see the Foo Fighters hub.
8. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love (John Bonham)
The swampy groove, then the chaotic middle section, then Bonham’s fills bringing the band back in. Hear it with John Paul Jones’ bass in the Whole Lotta Love drums and bass post. For more Bonham, see All of My Love and our John Bonham page.
9. Queen – We Are the Champions (Roger Taylor)
Taylor’s drumming is all restraint and dynamics, with a slow build and huge fills when the chorus arrives. Hear We Are the Champions (drums only). For a busier Taylor part, try Brighton Rock or Tie Your Mother Down.
10. Metallica – Wherever I May Roam (Lars Ulrich)
Heavy, deliberate and built around the riff, this is a great way to hear the clean, punchy drum sound of the “Black Album” (1991). Hear the vocal, drums and bass stems, and Lars talking about his studio approach in Lars Ulrich on recording drums.
Honorable mentions
- The Who – Going Mobile (drums only)
- Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows (drums only), with Dave Grohl again
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue (vocal and drums), featuring Chad Smith
- Dream Theater – Octavarium (Mike Portnoy drums only)
- The Beatles – A Day in the Life (bass and drums)
How to use isolated drum tracks
- Learning by ear. Without guitars and vocals, ghost notes and hi-hat patterns are much easier to transcribe. Slow the video down in YouTube’s settings if you need to.
- Studying sound. Compare the room-heavy 1970s kits (Bonham, Moon) with the tighter, close-miked sounds of later records. It’s a great reference for tuning and mixing your own drums.
- Playing along. Many drummers practice with the drum stem first, then switch to the full song once the part is under their hands.
Want to know where isolated tracks come from and how to make your own? Read our isolated tracks guide. For the players themselves, see the greatest drummers of all time.
FAQ
What is the most famous isolated drum track?
John Bonham’s drums on Led Zeppelin songs such as “Fool in the Rain” and “Whole Lotta Love” are among the most shared. Jeff Porcaro’s “Rosanna” and Dave Grohl’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” are close behind.
Where do isolated drum tracks come from?
Most come from original studio multitracks, released through reissues, remixes or music video games. Some are made with AI stem separation. Our guide explains the difference.
What is a half-time shuffle?
It’s a groove with the backbeat on beat 3 of each bar and triplet ghost notes in between. “Fool in the Rain” and “Rosanna” are the classic examples.
