Drum solos are unique in that traditionally they are always unaccompanied. All other instruments may play solos accompanied or unaccompanied.

In worship music, a drum lift is a passage in which the singing is backed only by the drums. It is not normally considered a solo, as the primary focus remains on the singing, however it bears some similarity to a solo. A drum lift may be set or improvised, simple or elaborate, and may vary in length from part of a line to an entire verse.

In marching band, drum solos allow the remainder of the band to create challenging formations without worrying about playing at the same time.

Some notable drum solos

• Ron Bushy's solo from Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

• Dave Cavalier's drum solo (B.A.S) is a good example of an advanced drum solo.

• Phil Collins and Chester Thompson, while Phil was in Genesis, had their famous "Drum Duets". The idea was first utilized as a segue between the tracks "Dance on a Volcano" and "Los Endos" in live performances for Genesis between 1977 and 1981, before becoming a performance in its own right from 1982 to 1992. Collins has used this in his own solo shows.

• "Moby Dick", a drum solo by John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) reaching up to 30 minutes in length (in live versions). The song opens and closes with a few bars of instrumental music from the whole band.

• Buddy Rich's "Stick Trick" solo[1] is considered a must-see by many advanced jazz drummers.

• Lars Ulrich of Metallica performed a composed solo in the album Live Shit: Binge & Purge, which includes the "machine gun" double-bass beat, part of the song "One". Afterwards he plays a drum jam with fellow singer James Hetfield. This was recorded live in San Diego

• Ringo Starr played a brief drum solo in The Beatles' song "The End" featured on the Abbey Road album. This was Starr's only recorded drum solo.

• Jörg Michael of Stratovarius performed an intrincate solo in the track "Holy Solos" on the album Visions of Europe, (recorded live in Milan) after a keyboard-guitar duel between fellow bandmates Timo Tolkki and Jens Johansson, and a shortened version of the instrumental "Holy Light". Michael is known for being a pioneer on the fast double-bass beat, a Power Metal signature.

• Neil Peart of Rush is known for his technical drums solos containing odd time signatures, complicated arrangements and exotic percussion instruments. These solos have been featured on every live album released by the band, and include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation.
  • "The Rhythm Method" (audio)
  • "O Baterista"
  • "Der Trommler"
  • "Floating Snare"
  • "The Big Band Finale"
  • "The Waltz"
  • "From Limbo"
  • "Fill workout"
  • "Gadd Style fills"
  • "YYZ" (3d video based on studio recording)

• "Toad", improvised solo by Ginger Baker of Cream, released originally on the studio album Fresh Cream and later on the live portion of Wheels of Fire.

• "Tiger Rag", one-bar set introduction by Jock Jacobson.

• "The Big Noise from Winnetka", bass and drum duet with solo pasages, by bassist and arranger Bob Haggart. Originally recorded with Ray Bauduc on drums, covered by Gene Krupa and many others.
• "Rat Salad" by Black Sabbath's Bill Ward has a drum solo that is often compared to John Bonham's "Moby Dick".

• "Mountain Jam" by the Allman Brothers Band features a drum solo with their two drummers, Jai Johanny Johanson and Butch Trucks.

• ATTO - an album recorded in 1984 by Vladimir Tarasov (jazz drummer), containing only percussion instruments.

• The Grateful Dead were known to usually have at least one drum solo in the second set of each of their concerts. From 1967 to 1971 they featured drum solos from both of their drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. Hart left the band in 1971, leaving Kreutzmann to perform the drum solos by himself. Hart returned to the band in 1975 and the two drummers resumed their dual drum solos.

• In King Crimson's song called "B'Boom" both Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto perform a studio-recorded drum solo. Bill Bruford playes the snare while Pat Mastelotto works the percussion intstruments.

• KISS Drummer Eric Carr was well known for his live drum solos, utalising electronic pads to synthesise notes.

• Judas Priest's "Painkiller" features an introductory drum solo, courtesy of Scott Travis.

• Various songs on Death's The Sound of Perseverance feature intrincate drum solos by drummer Richard Christy. His performance in this album is highly acclaimed. This album also includes a cover of Judas Priest's "Painkiller". Various of these tracks are featured also in Death's Live in L.A. (Death & Raw) and Live in Eindhoven.

• Mike Portnoy's solo from Dream Theater's As I Am.