One of the best ways to apply musical ideas and exercises is to play along with songs. Using a metronome and studying drum books are essential parts of your practice routine, but in the end, you should also focus on playing music — just playing, without reading.
Here’s a Spotify playlist featuring 10 songs without drums. I’ve included a variety of bands and musical styles, including blues, rock, and jazz. These tracks are a great way to experiment with your own ideas, develop your creativity, and come up with original drum parts.
For example, “Life by the Drop” by Stevie Ray Vaughan is great for working on shuffle rhythms, while “Daydreaming” by Radiohead works really well for experimenting with some 3/4 jazz waltz grooves. Keep on drumming!