{"id":52589,"date":"2026-09-25T11:59:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T10:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?p=52589"},"modified":"2026-09-25T11:59:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T10:59:13","slug":"roger-taylor-drums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Roger Taylor\u2019s Drums \u2013 The Instruments Behind Queen&#8217;s Sound"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Roger_Taylor_A_brief_biography\" >Roger Taylor: A brief biography<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Roger_Meddows_Taylors_drum_setup\" >Roger Meddows Taylor\u2019s drum setup\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Legacy_and_influence\" >Legacy and influence\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#FAQs\" >FAQs\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Is_Roger_Taylor_a_good_drummer\" >Is Roger Taylor a good drummer?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Are_Brian_May_and_Roger_Taylor_still_friends\" >Are Brian May and Roger Taylor still friends?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Did_Roger_Taylor_write_any_Queen_songs\" >Did Roger Taylor write any Queen songs?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts \u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Roger_Taylor_on_drums_2_(8880005687).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mark Kent<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen. We all know the name. With huge global hits and millions of records sold, the band became one of the biggest names in rock, developing a sound built for packed arenas and stadiums. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor was a key part of creating that scale. His <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/drum-kits.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drumming<\/a><\/strong> is powerful and explosive, but there is plenty of control behind it, giving Queen\u2019s layered guitars, vocals, and piano the space they needed while adding weight and energy when a song called for it. His setup was key to achieving his sound.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In this article, we\u2019ll take a closer look at <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drums<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, cymbals, and other gear, how his setup has changed over time, and how those equipment choices contribute to his distinctive sound.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/07\/Secondhand-drums.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Secondhand drums&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Secondhand-drums&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/secondhand\/drums?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=secondhand_drums&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Secondhand Drums Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_module=&#8221;41660&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Roger Taylor: A brief biography&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roger_Taylor_A_brief_biography\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roger Taylor: A brief biography<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Born in King\u2019s Lynn, Norfolk, in 1949 and raised in Cornwall, Roger Taylor started out on the ukulele and guitar before moving to drums in his early teens. By 1966, he was both <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/drummers-who-sing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drummer and lead singer<\/a><\/strong> for Cornish band The Reaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor moved to London in 1967 and formed Smile with Brian May the following year. In 1971, Freddie Mercury and John Deacon came along, and Queen was born.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor&#8217;s influences are broad, with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, and The Who helping to shape Queen as their music expanded beyond its early hard-rock foundations. He&#8217;s also<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> a songwriter and contributed to every Queen studio album. His work includes \u201cI\u2019m in Love with My Car\u201d, \u201cRadio Ga Ga\u201d, \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beyond Queen, Taylor released music with his band, The Cross, and has produced solo material. He isn&#8217;t just a drummer; his whole musical identity encompasses vocals, songwriting, keyboards, and production.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_50732\" style=\"width: 1340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50732\" class=\"wp-image-50732 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Freddie Mercury\u2019s Piano\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-50732\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_A_Night_At_The_Opera_(1975_Elektra_publicity_photo_02).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Koh Hasebe; distributed by Elektra Records<\/a><\/p><\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Roger Meddows Taylor\u2019s drum setup &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roger_Meddows_Taylors_drum_setup\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roger Meddows Taylor\u2019s drum setup<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Throughout his career, Taylor has used a wide range of kits, with his equipment evolving alongside Queen\u2019s music. His first was a humble Ajax setup bought by his father, consisting of a bass drum, snare, tom, and Zildjian cymbal, with a hi-hat added later.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the late \u201960s, Taylor was playing Ludwig drums with Smile. His setup already featured characteristics that would follow him throughout his career: a 26\u201d x 14\u201d bass drum, 12\u201d rack tom, 16\u201d and 20\u201d floor toms, 15\u201d Zildjian hi-hats, and two crashes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ludwig remained central during Queen\u2019s early years. For the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen II<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tours, Taylor paired another 26\u201d x 14\u201d kick with a 13\u201d rack tom, and 16\u201d and 18\u201d floor toms. His cymbals mixed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-Avedis-AP100-A-Series-Cymbal-Pack\/6RBQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Zildjian Avedis<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Paiste-22-Formula-602-Crash-Cymbal\/1GID\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Paiste Formula 602 crashes<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hardware-wise, during the early Queen days, Taylor mostly matched the hardware to the kit, using Ludwig stands and mounts. But he hasn\u2019t always exclusively used Ludwig. On later tours, he used Rogers, DW, and Tama stands.\u00a0 He also favoured the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Speed-King-Pedal\/3C04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig Speed King bass drum pedal<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a hugely popular design among professional rock drummers of the period.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sheer Heart Attack<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Night at the Opera<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tours, his signature setup was taking shape. The six-piece Ludwig kit used a two-up, two-down configuration, including a 14\u201d Meazzi floor tom converted for rack mounting. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor expanded his sonic palette with seven cymbals and a huge 60\u201d Paiste Symphonic gong to deliver the dramatic final hit during live performances of \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For a more compact option, check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Paiste-38-Symphonic-Gong\/2LEO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Paiste 38&#8221; Symphonic Gong<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During this period, he used Ginger Baker drumsticks but struggled to get consistent stock of them while touring the US, so when supplies ran out, he switched to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Premier-5B-American-Hickory-Drumsticks\/3ZHD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Premier sticks<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> instead.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As Queen&#8217;s sound developed, so did Taylor&#8217;s percussion setup, expanding with concert toms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Musser-Grand-Symphonic-Timpani-32-Inch\/8041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig timpani<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and electronic percussion. By the early \u201980s, he had made <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Classic-Maple-24-3pc-Pro-Beat-Moss-Green\/7TTJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig Classic Maple<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> drums central to his setup. For the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hot Space<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tour, he played a distinctive chrome Ludwig kit with a 26\u201d kick, three rack toms, two floor toms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Remo-8-10-and-12-Rototom-Set-With-Stand\/Y3F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">RotoToms<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and Simmons electronic drums.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although Taylor primarily endorsed Ludwig during this time, there were a few occasions where he strayed from his tradition. For 1986\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Magic Tour<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Taylor switched to a Yamaha 9000 Series <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Yamaha-Recording-Custom-22-4-Piece-Shell-Pack-Surf-Green\/1GTW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recording Custom<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, with a 24\u201d kick, three rack toms, and two floor toms. He also included <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Roland-Octapad-SPD-30-Total-Percussion-Pad-with-Bag\/5HKJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roland Octapads<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to add electronic sounds to the set. His cymbals included a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-K-Custom-20-Dark-Crash-Cymbal\/1CR8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">20\u201d K Custom Dark Crash<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-K-Custom-17-Dark-China-Cymbal\/HAL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">K China<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-Z-Custom-20-Crash\/6CG3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Zildjian Z crashes<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor returned to Ludwig during the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Miracle<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> era. Most notably, the \u201cI Want It All\u201d music video featured a chrome-wrapped kit with two 26\u201d x 16\u201d bass drums, making it visually distinct from his usual single-kick setups. For <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Innuendo<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, he used a natural-maple Ludwig kit before later experimenting with Sleishman drums.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By 2008, Taylor had moved towards DW Collector\u2019s Series drums, which he still uses today. His Exotic Birdseye kit returned to his familiar 26\u201d bass drum with a more compact two-up, two-down configuration. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/DW-Drums-Performance-Series-22-4-Piece-Shell-Pack-Black-Diamond\/8FPW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">DW Drums Performance Series kit<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is a great modern alternative.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_52600\" style=\"width: 1340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52600\" class=\"wp-image-52600 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums.jpg\" alt=\"Roger Taylor drums\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-52600\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_And_Adam_Lambert_-_The_O2_-_Tuesday_12th_December_2017_QueenO2121217-48_(25093769247).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Raph_PH<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Legacy and influence &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legacy_and_influence\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Legacy and influence<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s legacy extends beyond his powerful, arena-filling drumming. His high backing vocals became an important part of Queen\u2019s harmonies, while his playing provided the rhythmic foundation for songs such as \u201cI&#8217;m In Love With My Car\u201d and \u201cAnother One Bites the Dust\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">His songwriting was equally important. Taylor wrote Queen favourites including \u201cRadio Ga Ga\u201d, \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives\u201d. He was also the first member of Queen to pursue a solo career, releasing \u201cI Wanna Testify\u201d in 1977 before <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fun in Space<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and his later work with The Cross.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like many people, I grew up listening to Queen, but Roger Taylor took on a different significance when I started drumming myself. I admired how he could serve the song without disappearing into it. His parts could be direct and uncomplicated while still becoming central to the music.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe Will Rock You\u201d captures that approach perfectly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That idea continues to influence my approach to music as I develop as an artist. Taylor shows that great drumming isn\u2019t simply about technique. It&#8217;s knowing what a song needs and communicating with an audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div id=\"attachment_52601\" style=\"width: 1211px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52601\" class=\"wp-image-52601 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus.jpg\" alt=\"Queen @ Imperial College campus\" width=\"1201\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-52601\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_@_Imperial_College_campus_-_1970.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comunit\u00e0 Queeniana<\/a><\/p><\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FAQs &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">FAQs<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Roger_Taylor_a_good_drummer\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is Roger Taylor a good drummer?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor is a highly accomplished and influential drummer. His powerful sound, precise timing, and distinctive fills became central to Queen\u2019s music. He also combines technically demanding drumming with backing and lead vocals. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Brian_May_and_Roger_Taylor_still_friends\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Are Brian May and Roger Taylor still friends?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brian May and Roger Taylor are still friends and close collaborators. May has described their relationship as being like brothers, while Taylor said in 2026 that they live near each other and regularly talk about possible future Queen projects.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Did_Roger_Taylor_write_any_Queen_songs\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Did Roger Taylor write any Queen songs?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor did write many Queen songs throughout the band\u2019s career. His compositions include major hits such as \u201cRadio Ga Ga,\u201d \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives,\u201d alongside fan favourites including \u201cI\u2019m in Love with My Car.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Final thoughts <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drum sound has changed considerably throughout Queen\u2019s career, shaped by different kits, snare drums, cymbals, and recording approaches. Looking at <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drums<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> over the years shows how he adapted his equipment to suit the band\u2019s changing sound, both on stage and in the studio.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rather than relying on one defining piece of equipment, Taylor adapted his setup to suit different musical needs, technologies, and personal preferences throughout his career. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you\u2019re choosing similar gear yourself, Taylor\u2019s setups provide a useful reference point. From there, consider your own playing style, budget and the sound you want to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/drum-kits.html&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP DRUMS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/category\/drums\/drum-guides\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE DRUM GUIDES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Queen. We all know the name. With huge global hits and millions of records sold, the band became one of the biggest names in rock, developing a sound built for packed arenas and stadiums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":52599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Roger_Taylor_on_drums_2_(8880005687).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Mark Kent<\/a><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen. We all know the name. With huge global hits and millions of records sold, the band became one of the biggest names in rock, developing a sound built for packed arenas and stadiums. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor was a key part of creating that scale. His <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/drum-kits.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drumming<\/a><\/strong> could be powerful and explosive, but there was plenty of control behind it, giving Queen\u2019s layered guitars, vocals and piano the space they needed while adding weight and energy when a song called for it. His setup was key to achieving his sound.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In this article, we\u2019ll take a closer look at <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drums<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, cymbals, and other gear, how his setup changed over time, and how those equipment choices contributed to his distinctive sound.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roger Taylor: A brief biography<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Born in King\u2019s Lynn, Norfolk, in 1949 and raised in Cornwall, Roger Taylor started out on the ukulele and guitar before moving to drums in his early teens. By 1966, he was both <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/drummers-who-sing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">drummer and lead singer<\/a><\/strong> for Cornish band The Reaction.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor moved to London in 1967 and formed Smile with Brian May the following year. In 1971, Freddie Mercury and John Deacon came along, and Queen was born.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor's influences were broad, with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, and The Who helping to shape Queen as their music expanded beyond its early hard-rock foundations. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor was also a songwriter, contributing to every Queen studio album. His work includes \u201cI\u2019m in Love with My Car\u201d, \u201cRadio Ga Ga\u201d, \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">His creative work extended beyond Queen through solo material and his band, The Cross. He isn't just a drummer; his whole musical identity encompasses vocals, songwriting, keyboards, and production.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_50732\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1330\"]<img class=\"wp-image-50732 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/02\/Featured-image-Freddie-Mercurys-Piano.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Freddie Mercury\u2019s Piano\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_A_Night_At_The_Opera_(1975_Elektra_publicity_photo_02).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Koh Hasebe; distributed by Elektra Records<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roger Meddows Taylor\u2019s drum setup<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Throughout his career, Taylor has used a wide range of kits, with his equipment evolving alongside Queen\u2019s music. His first was a humble Ajax setup bought by his father, consisting of a bass drum, snare, tom, and Zildjian cymbal, with a hi-hat added later.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the late \u201960s, Taylor was playing Ludwig drums with Smile. His setup already featured characteristics that would follow him throughout his career: a 26\u201d x 14\u201d bass drum, 12\u201d rack tom, 16\u201d and 20\u201d floor toms, 15\u201d Zildjian hi-hats, and two crashes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ludwig remained central during Queen\u2019s early years. For the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Queen II<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tours, Taylor paired another 26\u201d x 14\u201d kick with a 13\u201d rack tom, and 16\u201d and 18\u201d floor toms. His cymbals mixed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-Avedis-AP100-A-Series-Cymbal-Pack\/6RBQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Zildjian Avedis<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Paiste-22-Formula-602-Crash-Cymbal\/1GID\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Paiste Formula 602 crashes<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hardware-wise, during the early Queen days, Taylor mostly matched the hardware to the kit, using Ludwig stands and mounts. But he hasn\u2019t always exclusively used Ludwig. On later tours, he used Rogers, DW, and Tama stands.\u00a0 He also favoured the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Speed-King-Pedal\/3C04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig Speed King bass drum pedal<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a hugely popular design among professional rock drummers of the period.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sheer Heart Attack<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A Night at the Opera<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tours, his signature setup was taking shape. The six-piece Ludwig kit used a two-up, two-down configuration, including a 14\u201d Meazzi floor tom converted for rack mounting. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor expanded his sonic palette with seven cymbals and a huge 60\u201d Paiste Symphonic gong to deliver the dramatic final hit during live performances of \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For a more compact option, check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Paiste-38-Symphonic-Gong\/2LEO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Paiste 38'' Symphonic Gong<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. <\/span><\/b><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During this period, he used Ginger Baker drumsticks but struggled to get consistent stock of them while touring the US, so when supplies ran out, he switched to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Premier-5B-American-Hickory-Drumsticks\/3ZHD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Premier sticks<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> instead.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As Queen's sound developed, so did Taylor's percussion setup, expanding with concert toms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Musser-Grand-Symphonic-Timpani-32-Inch\/8041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig timpani<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and electronic percussion. By the early \u201980s, he had made <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Ludwig-Classic-Maple-24-3pc-Pro-Beat-Moss-Green\/7TTJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Ludwig Classic Maple<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> drums central to his setup. For the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hot Space<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tour, he played a distinctive chrome Ludwig kit with a 26\u201d kick, three rack toms, two floor toms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Remo-8-10-and-12-Rototom-Set-With-Stand\/Y3F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">RotoToms<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and Simmons electronic drums.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although Taylor primarily endorsed Ludwig, there were a few occasions where he strayed from his tradition. For 1986\u2019s <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Magic Tour<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Taylor switched to a Yamaha 9000 Series <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Yamaha-Recording-Custom-22-4-Piece-Shell-Pack-Surf-Green\/1GTW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recording Custom<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, with a 24\u201d kick, three rack toms, and two floor toms. He also included <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Roland-Octapad-SPD-30-Total-Percussion-Pad-with-Bag\/5HKJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Roland Octapads<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to add electronic sounds to the set. His cymbals included a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-K-Custom-20-Dark-Crash-Cymbal\/1CR8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">20\u201d K Custom Dark Crash<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-K-Custom-17-Dark-China-Cymbal\/HAL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">K China<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/Zildjian-Z-Custom-20-Crash\/6CG3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Zildjian Z crashes<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Taylor returned to Ludwig during the <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Miracle<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> era. Most notably, the \u201cI Want It All\u201d music video featured a chrome-wrapped kit with two 26\u201d x 16\u201d bass drums, making it visually distinct from his usual single-kick setups. For <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Innuendo<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, he used a natural-maple Ludwig kit before later experimenting with Sleishman drums.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By 2008, Taylor had moved towards DW Collector\u2019s Series drums. His Exotic Birdseye kit returned to his familiar 26\u201d bass drum with a more compact two-up, two-down configuration. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Drums-and-Percussion\/DW-Drums-Performance-Series-22-4-Piece-Shell-Pack-Black-Diamond\/8FPW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">DW Drums Performance Series kit<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is a great modern alternative.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_52600\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1330\"]<img class=\"wp-image-52600 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Roger-Taylor-drums.jpg\" alt=\"Roger Taylor drums\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_And_Adam_Lambert_-_The_O2_-_Tuesday_12th_December_2017_QueenO2121217-48_(25093769247).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Raph_PH<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Legacy and influence<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s legacy extends beyond his powerful, arena-filling drumming. His high backing vocals became an important part of Queen\u2019s harmonies, while his playing provided the rhythmic foundation for songs such as \u201cI'm In Love With My Car\u201d and \u201cAnother One Bites the Dust\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">His songwriting was equally important. Taylor wrote Queen favourites including \u201cRadio Ga Ga\u201d, \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives\u201d. He was also the first member of Queen to pursue a solo career, releasing \u201cI Wanna Testify\u201d in 1977 before <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fun in Space<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and his later work with The Cross.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Like many people, I grew up listening to Queen, but Roger Taylor took on a different significance when I started drumming myself. I admired how he could serve the song without disappearing into it. His parts could be direct and uncomplicated while still becoming central to the music.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe Will Rock You\u201d captures that approach perfectly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That idea continues to influence my approach to music as I develop as an artist. Taylor showed me that great drumming isn\u2019t simply about technique. It's knowing what a song needs and communicating with an audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_52601\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1201\"]<img class=\"wp-image-52601 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Queen-@-Imperial-College-campus.jpg\" alt=\"Queen @ Imperial College campus\" width=\"1201\" height=\"600\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Queen_@_Imperial_College_campus_-_1970.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comunit\u00e0 Queeniana<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">FAQs<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Was Roger Taylor a good drummer?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor was a highly accomplished and influential drummer. His powerful sound, precise timing, and distinctive fills became central to Queen\u2019s music. He also combined technically demanding drumming with backing and lead vocals. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Are Brian May and Roger Taylor still friends?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Brian May and Roger Taylor are still friends and close collaborators. May has described their relationship as being like brothers, while Taylor said in 2026 that they live near each other and regularly talk about possible future Queen projects.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Did Roger Taylor write any Queen songs?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor did write many Queen songs throughout the band\u2019s career. His compositions include major hits such as \u201cRadio Ga Ga,\u201d \u201cA Kind of Magic\u201d, and \u201cThese Are the Days of Our Lives,\u201d alongside fan favourites including \u201cI\u2019m in Love with My Car.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Final thoughts <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drum sound has changed considerably throughout Queen\u2019s career, shaped by different kits, snare drums, cymbals, and recording approaches. Looking at <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Roger Taylor\u2019s drums<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> over the years shows how he adapted his equipment to suit the band\u2019s changing sound, both on stage and in the studio.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rather than relying on one defining piece of equipment, Taylor adapted his setup to suit different musical needs, technologies, and personal preferences throughout his career. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you\u2019re choosing similar gear yourself, Taylor\u2019s setups provide a useful reference point. From there, consider your own playing style, budget and the sound you want to achieve.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144,241],"tags":[165,290],"class_list":["post-52589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drums","category-drum-guides","tag-drums","tag-guide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Guide to Roger Taylor\u2019s Drums \u2013 The Instruments Behind Queen&#039;s Sound<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at Roger Taylor\u2019s drums, cymbals, and other gear and how those equipment choices contributed to his sound.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Guide to Roger Taylor\u2019s Drums \u2013 The Instruments Behind Queen&#039;s Sound\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at Roger Taylor\u2019s drums, cymbals, and other gear and how those equipment choices contributed to his sound.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/roger-taylor-drums\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gear4music Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-25T10:59:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-25T10:59:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/09\/Featured-image-Roger-Taylors-Drums.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"665\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bethany\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gear4music\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gear4music\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Bethany\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/roger-taylor-drums\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/roger-taylor-drums\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Bethany\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ea3cff67956a9883fe1a4865a76a4d48\"},\"headline\":\"A Guide to Roger Taylor\u2019s Drums \u2013 The Instruments Behind Queen&#8217;s Sound\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-25T10:59:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-25T10:59:13+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/roger-taylor-drums\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1870,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/roger-taylor-drums\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2026\\\/09\\\/Featured-image-Roger-Taylors-Drums.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Drums\",\"Guide\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Drums &amp; 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