Just Beat it with World's Top 10 Female Drummers who Inspired Generations

The world of drumming is often thought to be dominated by men, especially in the smaller niches of heavy metal and rock. But many female drummers have emerged in recent years and they were inspired by some of the greatest female drummers on this list. These artists have pioneered their art and shown the guys a thing or two about what it takes to be a truly great drummer. So if you are just getting into drumming, take a look at these top 10 female drummers who would surely inspire your dream.

Sheila E.

Source: theguardian.com

Sheila E is one of the most influential female drummers of the past 30 years, offering drumming on albums and studio records by Prince, Jennifer Lopez and Kanye West, she received a Grammy nomination for her successful career that spans as many years as styles of music she is accomplished in and with a back catalogue featuring recording on Prince’s Purple Rain, she remains the iconic figure she deserves in the world today.

Meg White

Source: richardhartog.photoshelter.com

Meg White is one part of the duo The White Stripes and has a made a name for herself as a no-frills drummer that keeps things simple and basic. The White Stripes have achieve critical success and acclaim around the world and being the backing beat for a band with only two members, her influential style truly made the sound of the band.

Karen Carpenter

Source: photofeatures.com

One of the greatest successes of female drumming has to be Karen Carpenter of the Carpenters. Her influence spanned many instruments, but starting out drumming is where she made her name. Not only an accomplished drummer, pianist, musician and singer, she is regarded as one of the greats of modern song writing and will go down in history as being an influencing factor for many of the women on this list.

Moe Tucker

Source: rollingstone.com

Maureen Tucker was the famous drummer for The Velvet Underground, a truly influential group that went on to spawn a revolution in song writing and new rock and roll music as the punk scene emerged. “Moe” would often use mallets to beat the toms and stood up to get into the spirit and created a band of followers who loved her timing and her insistence on never using cymbals.

Kate Schallenback

Source: pinterest.com

As drummer for the Beastie Boys in the early years, Kate spawned many fans for her energetic style that was sure to influence many female Beastie Boys fans into taking up drumming. Later moving on to join Luscious Jackson on tour for many years, she also drummed in the punk band the Lunachicks to relative success.

Janet Weiss

Source: npr.org

Janet Weiss is one of the most energetic drummers of the modern age, using all of her kit with flair and talent that make many professionals jealous of her skills. She has drummed for Stephan Malkmus, The Go Betweens as well as Bright Eyes. She is in demand for a reason, and just one of those reasons is pure natural talent alone.

Sandy West

Source: fanpop.com

Sandy West was a fantastic female drumming talent that started her career in the 70s. Drumming for the Runaways, she toured for almost a decade before working on a solo career after the band split up. She continued to influence a new generation of drummers in the late 70s and 80s, yet sadly succumbed to cancer in 2006, though her influence and sound still lives on to be enjoyed by so many today.

Cindy Blackman-Santana

Source: sfjazz.org

Cindy Blackman-Santana is a modern jazz and rock drummer that has such an amazing natural talent that it is little wonder why so many artists have used her tracks as the backbeat of their music. Having starred on the drums for Lenny Kravitz and a host of well-known superstars, she has recorded several jazz albums under her own name and is also known for being married to Carlos Santana.

Patty Schemel

Source: zimbio.com

Patty Schemel is better known for being the part of the Courtney Love-led rock band Hole. She rose to fames during her early 2000s and drummed alongside Love during her solo career. Time did fly quickly for Patty and after living in the fast lane for a year or two she met producer David Ebersole; who was fascinated when Schemel showed him those vintage home movies and backstage footage which was personally accounted by her. It helped David to make a biographical documentary called Hit So Hard, which accounts Schemel's close association with Kurt Cobain, the ascent and fall of Hole, and the hard road confronted by ladies in the music business.

Elaine Bradley

Source: diffuser.fm

This accomplished drummer is the backbone of the American Rock band The Neon Trees. Widely regarded as one of the best drummers of her generation the 30 year old is a multi-instrument musician, playing the drums, guitar and vocals to add to her talents. Elaine is one of the drummers to look out for in the future and one of the most influential drummers of the past 10 years.

If you want to become a great drummer in the world, why not start today? There are plenty of ways to get into drumming and being at the back of the band doesn’t mean you aren’t less important. Be the beat of your band and be inspired by these great women drummers of recent years. You never know, you could be an addition to the list one day!