7 reasons to love Ringo Starr’s drumming 

1. His simple but effective approach  

It’s hard to find a good place to start when talking about someone as iconic as Ringo Starr, so let’s start from the beginning. When he joined The Beatles, Starr was already known as one of the better drummers in Liverpool. In fact, the band sought him out because they knew exactly what he could bring to the group. 

What made him stand out wasn’t a flashy technique. It was his simple but effective approach to drumming. Ringo has openly said he wasn’t the most technical player, but that didn’t matter. His role was to play for the music, not for himself. The grooves are straightforward, but they’re incredibly catchy and help drive the songs forward. 

2. He was a left-handed drummer playing on a right-handed kit 

When Ringo Starr first started playing drums, he chose Ludwig – a go-to for many drummers. His go-to kit would later become the famous Ludwig Downbeat in Black Oyster, a compact setup with a classic one-up, one-down tom configuration. 

What made Ringo’s playing unique, though, was his approach to the kit. Starr is naturally left-handed, yet he chose to play on a right-handed drum setup. He often led fills and accents with his left hand while still navigating a kit designed for right-handed players for grooves. 

Because he played the hi-hat right-handed, his hands often played the cymbals in a way that gave his grooves a slightly unusual swing. He almost looked like he was dancing behind the kit. That movement helped add feel to his playing, creating a rhythmic style that became instantly recognisable. 

It may simply have been a habit he developed while learning on a non-dominant setup, but it became a defining part of his sound. 

3. His exceptional timekeeping without stage monitors

Of course, all drummers should have a good ability to keep time, but I don’t think Ringo Starr gets enough credit for being basically a human metronome. You have to remember that The Beatles rose to fame at a time when stage monitors didn’t really exist. Most of the time, they could barely hear themselves over the crowd. 

Now imagine trying to keep a steady tempo while playing in front of more than 50,000 screaming fans. That’s exactly what happened at Shea Stadium in New York, where the band performed to an estimated 55,600 people. Despite that chaos, the band could rely on Ringo to keep everything locked in. His natural sense of timing helped guide the group through even their biggest live shows. 

That ability was just as important in the studio. The Beatles rarely recorded to a click track and instead relied on Ringo’s steady tempo to hold everything together. 

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4. He wrote creative grooves and fills 

I know there’s plenty of debate about whether Ringo Starr is one of the greatest drummers from a technical standpoint. But one thing that’s hard to argue with is how creative he was when it came to writing grooves. Ringo’s simple approach didn’t mean his drum parts were boring. In fact, he often came up with grooves that were unique and surprisingly inventive. 

Take “She Loves You” for example. The floor tom-driven groove in the chorus was quite unusual for pop music at the time and helped give the song its punchy, energetic feel. You can also hear his creativity in “Here Comes The Sun.” The song moves through changing time signatures, yet Ringo manages to keep everything feeling natural and musical.  

It’s clear from the way he built drum parts that he always played with a purpose. His grooves were designed to support the structure and feel of the song. 

5. He created some of drumming’s most iconic grooves 

I genuinely think Ringo Starr is responsible for some of the most iconic drum grooves ever recorded. The obvious place to start is “Come Together.” It’s one of those grooves you recognise instantly, from the very first hi-hat notes. That laid-back, slightly swampy feel has become legendary and continues to inspire drummers today. 

Of course, that’s just one example. Songs like “Ticket to Ride,” “Helter Skelter,” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” all feature drum parts that are instantly recognisable. What makes these grooves special is how naturally they fit the music. They never feel forced or overly complicated, yet they help define the identity of each song. 

I’m sure Ringo wasn’t writing these parts thinking they would become iconic. But over time, they absolutely did. His contributions helped complete the sound of The Beatles and gave us some of the most recognisable grooves in music history. 

6. He can play plenty of complex time signatures 

I’ve already briefly mentioned Ringo Starr’s ability to play different time signatures, but it’s worth diving into a bit deeper. Honestly, it feels like he could handle just about any time signature that came his way. A great example is “All You Need Is Love.” It’s a hugely catchy song, but the main groove is actually played in 7/4, which can feel pretty unusual if you’re not comfortable counting it. 

The band also loved experimenting with songs that moved between different time signatures. “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” shifts between 9/8 and 10/8, while “Strawberry Fields Forever” includes bars of 2/4 and 6/8, creating that slightly dreamlike feel the song is known for. 

What really stands out is how comfortable Ringo looks while playing these parts. Even with the more complex rhythms, he still finds space for interesting fills and grooves. At a time when 4/4 was the standard in popular music, that level of rhythmic confidence helped The Beatles push their songwriting much further. 

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7. His approach has inspired generations of drummers  

It’s important to give Ringo Starr credit for how influential his approach to drumming has been. It’s not just the parts he played, but the way he thought about them. We’ve already mentioned how Ringo always played for the song. His drum parts didn’t need to be overly technical; they just needed to support the music. But the way he built grooves and fills often felt melodic and carefully placed. 

Starr also experimented with recording techniques. He dampened his drums with tea towels and heavily muffled the kick drum. That dead kick tone went on to inspire plenty of drummers and producers throughout the 1970s. 

His influence is huge. Players like Phil Collins and Dave Grohl have both cited him as an inspiration. He might not be everyone’s favourite drummer, but there’s a good chance he’s your favourite drummer’s favourite. I bet in years to come, we’ll still be talking about the Beatles, Ringo Starr, and how they’re some of the greatest artists in music.  

FAQs 

Is Ringo Starr one of the best drummers of all time? 

Ringo Starr is considered one of the best drummers of all time. His playing with the Beatles helped shape the sound of modern pop and rock music. Known for creative fills, left-handed phrasing, and precise, song-focused timing, his style has influenced generations of drummers. 

Who is Ringo Starr’s favourite drummer? 

Ringo Starr’s favourite drummer is widely cited as Jim Keltner. Ringo has called Keltner his “all-time hero” drummer, highlighting his deep admiration for his feel and musicianship. Their long friendship and collaborations reflect that respect. 

What do drummers think of Ringo Starr? 

Drummers consider Ringo an influential and highly musical drummer. Many professionals praise his unique feel, creative fills, and ability to serve the song rather than overplay. His groove, timing, and originality continue to be studied and respected by drummers around the world. 

Final thoughts 

So, is Ringo Starr a good drummer? Well, I don’t think you can be in the biggest band in the world and not be. Throughout his time with the Beatles, he created iconic grooves, memorable fills, and was an all-around entertaining performer.

I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons why he’s considered one of the greats. His feel, restraint, and musical choices still influence drummers today. Starr proved that great drumming isn’t always about complexity, but about serving the song and making it work.