How To Become a Session Drummer
What does it take to become a session drummer in 2025?
Session Drummer Chris Barber - www.chrisbarberdrums.com
Are you interested in pursuing a rewarding career as a session musician? Unlike being tied to a single band or project, session drummers enjoy the creative freedom of collaborating with different artists, bands or producers - both in-person and remotely. This article aims to guide aspiring musicians through the essential steps toward a successful music career.
For some background, I have been a full-time session drummer since 2015, from 2017 to 2019 I toured the world with the band Crazy Town, and I have played on over 1,800 songs from my drum studio in Sheffield. Additionally, my YouTube channel featuring drum covers has garnered over 2,000,000 views since I started it in 2008.
Achieving success in this industry requires hard work, dedication, and key skills to distinguish yourself from others; especially since the pandemic which changed the music industry in many ways.
The insights in this article come from my experience as a session drummer; however, they can be applied by any musician to help pave their way toward success in their respective field.
What skills are needed to be a session drummer in 2025?
In the past, building a career as a session drummer meant living near major music cities like Los Angeles, Nashville, or London. But thanks to remote recording technology, musicians today can collaborate with artists and producers from their own studios anywhere in the world.
Since the pandemic in 2020, I have been working full-time as a remote session drummer from my studio in England, while also touring across the UK and Europe with various bands and artists. Despite the challenges posed by Covid, I’ve maintained a steady career thanks to multiple income streams, a strong online presence, and the ability to collaborate remotely with musicians around the world. I believe these skills are essential for a sustainable music career today, especially as touring has become increasingly expensive and remote work more widely accepted.
Understanding What a Session Drummer Really Does
A session drummer is a hired musician who records or performs live for other artists, without the full-time commitment of being in a band.
Session drummers can get hired to:
Record drum tracks in professional studios or remotely
Perform live with different bands and artists
Perform in theatre productions
Perform at private events or weddings
Unlike band members, session musicians are typically paid per project, rather than through royalties (unless negotiated). The role can vary depending on the project, but the core skills are consistency, reliability and adaptability.
Today, many successful drummers work remotely, recording professional drum tracks for clients across the world - a service I offer through www.chrisbarberdrums.com/remotedrumtracks.
Here are a few key skills I think all Session musicians should focus on today:
Building an Online Presence
The majority of my work now takes place online, and I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with thousands of musicians around the world through remote drum recordings and videos. This not only helped grow my studio business, but also led to numerous gig and tour opportunities with artists I might never have connected with otherwise. Even if you’re not offering remote recording services, producing high-quality performance videos can act as free online advertising and significantly boost your visibility.
Focus on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook. Use these platforms to post short clips of recording sessions and live videos/pictures. This is a great place to find work and get discovered.
Learn How to Network and Find Clients
Once you’ve built your skill set and portfolio, it’s time to find work. Networking is essential in the session world - both online and offline.
Online platforms - Soundbetter, AirGigs, Fiverr: Great starting points to build early credits and gain reviews.
Social Media - Use Instagram to post short clips, reach out to people and follow other musicians who might advertise work on there.
Playing Live - This is a great way to discover new artists and be discovered yourself. You might have to play gigs for free at the start to get your foot in the door, but you never know who you might meet at a gig.
Word of Mouth - In this business, reputation is everything. Deliver every project on time, communicate clearly, and be reliable. When you exceed expectations, artists will come back - and refer you to others.
Be Comfortable Spending Time with People
This is a crucial skill for any working musician, especially when touring. On long trips, you’ll likely spend more time with your bandmates than with your own family, so it’s important to be easygoing, respectful, and enjoyable to be around. In many cases, musicians get re-hired not just for their playing ability, but because they’re a positive presence on the road. Often, being friendly and reliable matters more than being the most technically skilled. Just be yourself, and be kind – it goes a long way.
Practice to a Click
Pretty much every band now plays to a click live, and also in the studio this is a vital skill to have. You need to be able to play in time with a click track and make it feel natural. Make sure you allocate time in your practice routine to play to either just a click track, or a song with a click over the top. Better yet, if you can record yourself playing to a song with a click track, then you can listen back and see how you can improve. Every DAW comes with a metronome built in, or you can download plenty of free metronome apps on your phone.
Try to Play a Wide Range of Genres
It’s easy to stick to what you know. When I first started out, I mostly practiced rock and metal songs, which was great initially — but after a while, I stopped growing as a musician. Expanding your musical horizons by exploring new genres and playing styles can accelerate your development in ways you might not expect.
If you’re primarily a hard rock player, try playing along to a pop track — and vice versa. Over the years, being comfortable with a wide variety of styles has allowed me to take on diverse gigs and session work. Playing with different bands has taught me valuable lessons I didn’t even know I needed.
For example, after years of performing in metal bands, I began working with a pop singer in London. I quickly realized I needed to adjust my sound — things like dynamics, drum and cymbal selection, and tuning — to better serve the music. That experience also improved my studio work, as I started using new gear and sounds I hadn’t previously considered. It opened up even more opportunities to work with similar artists.
Manage Your Business Like a Professional
Being a session drummer isn’t just about playing well - it’s also about professionalism and business management.
Session Drummer Rates - Many remote drummers charge per song, or per day. You can reference the Musicians Union in the UK for their suggested rates, or check websites such as Soundbetter.com to see what others are charging.
Keep a Record of Your Earnings - Using an accounting software is great for musicians, as you can use it to send invoices and automatically track your earnings.
Stay Organised - Use your calendar app wisely to keep track of upcoming recording sessions and gigs, make sure you’re always on time and don’t double book yourself.
The Rise of Remote Session Drumming
One of the biggest shifts in the last 5 years is the move toward remote recording. High-speed internet and professional home studios have made it possible for drummers to collaborate with artists across the globe - no studio booking required.
As a remote session drummer, you can:
Work with international clients from your own studio
Earn a living without needing to travel far
Build an online reputation that scales beyond your local scene
At chrisbarberdrums.com, I specialise in delivering pro-level drum tracks remotely. Artists send me their tracks, I record my drum parts and send them back - saving them time, money, and studio hassle. This is a great way to earn money alongside touring.
