The Roots' drummer, the Tonight Show's bandleader and the man who worked out how to play J Dilla's off-grid programming by hand. Small kits, low tuning, heavy muffling and a snare that lands deliberately late. A Ludwig and Zildjian player.
His signature Ludwig kit, and the one most drummers actually own a version of: a 16" kick and 10"/13" toms, small enough for a flat, a cab and a coffee shop. He also has the Questlove Pocket Kit with Ludwig, aimed at young beginners.
The 2020 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove kit16"x14" kick, 10"x7" rack tom, 13"x13" floor tom — 7-ply poplar⤷ who plays this
Ludwig Breakbeats 14"x5" snarepunchy and dry by design⤷ who plays this
Coated single-ply batterslow tuning, plenty of damping⤷ who plays this
2014 — The Tonight Show
Five nights a week with the widest genre range on television. A full-size Ludwig kit here rather than the compact ones, with dark Zildjians and one very trashy accent cymbal.
The 2014 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Ludwig Classic Maple kitcustom finish, moderate sizes⤷ who plays this
The D'Angelo sessions where the modern neo-soul feel was invented: drums played consistently behind the bass, muffled almost to a thud, and treated like a two-bar loop rather than a performance. Exact studio shells are not well documented — this is the sound and the approach more than a spec sheet.
The 2000 kit at a glance. Tap a piece to find it below; sticks, pedals and hardware aren't drawn.
Ludwig maple kitsmall sizes, tuned low with heavy muffling⤷ who plays this
14"x5" wood snaredampened, played with cross-stick as often as not⤷ who plays this
Comments