Buying your first drum set can be really intimidating. There are so many different brands and variations of kits that it’s hard to know where to start. My goal is to clear up the fog a bit and help point you in the right direction.
Parts of a Drum Set
There are three main components to a drum set.
The actual drums themselves. This usually includes a bass drum, snare, and, generally, anywhere between two and four tom-toms.
Hardware, which includes cymbal stands, snare stand, hi-hat stand, bass drum pedal, and drum throne.
And the last component are the cymbals, which usually include hi-hats, a ride cymbal, and at least one crash cymbal.
These three components are usually bought separately and can get expensive really quickly; plus, it can be frustrating trying to sift through the endless amount of options available. For your first kit, you want something that is not complicated, durable, sounds decent, and doesn’t break the bank.
My suggestion would be to start with an all-inclusive drum kit. All-inclusive kits are great because they have everything you need to get started. All you have to do is assemble it, and you’re good to go! There are lots of great options to choose from. Here are my favorites.
The Questlove Pocket Kit
Pros:
- The sizes are small enough so that kids can reach all of the drums easily
- the kit sounds surprisingly good to be so small
- at $300, it doesn’t break the bank.
Cons:
- This is definitely a kit for younger kids and will be outgrown pretty quickly.
The Pearl Roadshow 5-piece Drum Set
Pros:
- This is a full-sized drum set that will last for years
- The sound and quality of the drums are good
- Decent amount of color options
Cons:
- The throne, cymbals, and hardware aren’t the greatest and will eventually need upgrading.
Tama Imperialstar 5 Piece Drum Set
Pros:
- This is the best all-inclusive drum set that I’ve seen. The drums, cymbals, and hardware are all good enough to practice on, take out, and start playing live when you’re ready.
- There are lots of cool colors and wraps to choose from
Con:
- At $800, it’s the most expensive kit on the list.
Electronic Drum Sets
Electronic kits are also a good option for a first drum set. The ability to control the volume is the biggest advantage of an electronic kit. They are also very compact and portable and come with a plethora of fun drum sounds to play around with. There are several good buyingoptions. To me, the best bang for your buck is the:
Alesis TurboMesh Electronic Drum Set
This kit comes in at a great price and is an excellent introduction to the world of electronic drum sets.
Final Thoughts
These recommendations are definitely not the only good options available, but I think they’re a good start in pointing you in the right direction. As a rule of thumb, you generally can’t go wrong with buying a drum set from one of the major brands. These brands include Pearl, Tama, Mapex, PDP, Gretsch, DW, Ludwig, Sonor, and Yamaha. These companies are known to put out good quality products.
If you have any questions, feel free to hit me up at nikao@thedrumbreakdown.com.
Best of luck!