The dynamic beats of a drum kit are perfect to fill the air with festive rhythms. As Christmas approaches, drummers of all levels can delight their friends, family, and audiences with classic drums sheet music and contemporary hits alike.

In this article, we'll unwrap 7 delightful Christmas songs perfect for drummers looking to add some yuletide magic to their repertoire. We'll groove through pop chart-toppers and beloved traditional songs that will make your drum performances truly merry.

With Tomplay, whether you're a beginner eager to learn your first holiday tune or a seasoned player ready to jazz up a Christmas concert, these drum Christmas songs will help you capture the spirit of the season. So grab your sticks, adjust your throne, and get ready to fill hearts with joy!

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1. Last Christmas - The Ultimate Holiday Heartbreak Anthem

▶️️ Play the Christmas drums sheet music for Wham's Last Christmas

Last Christmas, released by Wham! in 1984, has become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time. Written by George Michael in his childhood bedroom, this pop masterpiece tells the story of holiday heartbreak and hope for new love.

Despite its melancholic lyrics about romantic disappointment during the festive season, the song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody have made it a Christmas staple. Interestingly, George Michael not only wrote and produced the track but also played every instrument on the recording except for the drums and guitar.

Our Christmas sheet music for drums captures the song's driving pop rhythm. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced drummer, Tomplay's arrangements include visual aids showing exactly where each rhythm should be played on the kit, accompanied by our professional-quality backing track.

2. All I Want for Christmas Is You - A Modern Christmas Classic

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You

Released in 1994, Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You has become the most successful Christmas song of all time. Co-written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, this uptempo love song combines elements of pop, R&B, and traditional Christmas music. The track has earned Carey over $60 million in royalties and holds several Guinness World Records, including the most-streamed track on Spotify in 24 hours.

The song's lyrics express a simple but powerful message: the speaker doesn't care about traditional Christmas gifts - they just want to be with their loved one. The track's infectious energy and Carey's powerful vocals have made it a holiday season essential.

Our drum Christmas song arrangements capture the excitement and drive of this modern classic. Tomplay offers multiple difficulty levels, complete with detailed visual guides for beginners and a professional backing track that lets you feel like you're playing with Mariah herself!

3. Christmas Lights - Coldplay's Heartwarming Holiday Gift

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for Coldplay's Christmas Lights

Released in December 2010, Christmas Lights represents Coldplay's contribution to the modern Christmas song catalog. Written by all four band members - Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion - the song was conceived as a special holiday gift for their fans. The track tells a story of finding hope during difficult times, with lyrics that paint a picture of Christmas lights providing comfort and inspiration.

Tomplay's drum Christmas song arrangements perfectly capture the song's dynamic journey. Our sheet music provides detailed notation for both the quieter sections and the powerful climaxes, with visual guides helping drummers navigate these dramatic changes. Each arrangement comes with our studio-quality backing track, allowing you to feel like you're performing alongside Coldplay.

4. Joy to the World - Aretha Franklin's Soulful Christmas Classic

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for Aretha Franklin's Joy to the World

The lyrics to “Joy to the World” come straight from the Bible! So it's not surprising that the song is very well suited for Christmas. Isaac Watts wrote the text as early as 1719; however, the version we know and love today is by Lowell Maso and was composed in 1848. 

Numerous artists have then recorded their own version of this Christmas Classic, including Johnny Cash, The Kelly Family, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond and… Aretha Franklin. And the success is constantly growing: Joy to the World is the most published Christmas carol of all time! 

Discover Franklin’s rendition with Tomplay's Christmas sheet music for drums! You can explore the rhythmic complexities that make Franklin's version so special. Our arrangements include a visual aid showing exactly where to play each rhythm on your instrument. The professional backing track lets you experience the full power of this soulful interpretation.

5. Jingle Bells - A Timeless Holiday Favorite

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for Pierpont's Jingle Bells

One of the most popular Christmas carols of all time - even though, strictly speaking, it is not a Christmas carol at all! “Jingle Bells” is one of those songs that pops into your head when you think about Christmas. But if you take a closer look at the lyrics, it quickly becomes clear: Christmas is not mentioned at all! 

Rather, “Jingle Bells” (or The One Horse Open Sleigh) is about riding a horse-drawn sleigh, as the famous chorus expresses quite clearly. And yet the text miraculously describes the overwhelming happiness that we all want to feel at Christmas. 

“Jingle Bells” was written by James Lord Pierpont in the fall of 1857. It then happened in the 1860s and 1870s that it established itself as a Christmas carol. There are now countless different versions of the song. But they all have one thing in common: They really create the much needed Christmas spirit! 

Our drum Christmas song arrangements offer fresh takes on this classic tune, from traditional interpretations to modern pop-style versions. Tomplay's sheet music includes beginner-friendly visual guides and our signature professional backing track, making it easy and fun to learn this holiday standard.

6. Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles' Blues-Rock Holiday Classic

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for The Eagles' Please Come Home for Christmas

Please Come Home for Christmas, recorded by the Eagles in 1978, brought a blues-rock edge to the Christmas song repertoire. Originally written and recorded by Charles Brown in 1960, the Eagles' version reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a holiday radio staple. The lyrics tell the touching story of someone longing for their loved one during the holiday season, a theme that resonates with many people who are separated from family during Christmas. 

Tomplay's Christmas sheet music for drums captures both the blues feel and rock energy of this holiday classic. Our arrangements include detailed notation for the signature drum fills and grooves, with visual aids helping drummers master the song's distinctive rhythm patterns. The professional backing track lets you lock in with the full band sound.

7. Little Drummer Boy - Susan Boyle's Touching Interpretation

▶️️ Play the drums sheet music for Susan Boyle's Little Drummer Boy

Originally titled Carol of the drum, this song was written in 1941 by the American music composer Katherine Kennicott Davis. Rumour has it that it was based on a Czech carol song, however, this was never proved. The song tells the story of a poor boy who was invited to go in front of the infant Jesus: having no present to bring to the baby, he decided to play his drum the best he could in front of him.

The song was brought to a larger audience when the Trapp Family Singers, an Austrian choir, recorded it for the first time in 1951. Over the following decades, the song was recorded by artists from very different backgrounds, from Johnny Cash to Boney M and Joan Baez. Susan Boyle's version of Little Drummer Boy, released on her 2010, brought new life to this beloved Christmas carol.

Tomplay offers unique drum Christmas song arrangements for this traditional favorite, ranging from simple patterns for beginners to more complex interpretations for advanced players. 

These seven festive drum arrangements are sure to fill your audience with holiday cheer and create a joyful, heartwarming atmosphere. From the pop sensibilities of Last Christmas to the traditional beauty of Little Drummer Boy, each piece offers a chance to celebrate the magic of the season. So, take your place behind the kit and let these beats ring out, turning your performance into a holiday celebration that will leave everyone feeling merry and bright.

▶️ Get free unlimited 14-day access to more than 80,000 drum sheet music titles for all levels