Drum Sets Buying Guide

Love music  and want to do some rocking out of your own?  The drummer  is the backbone of any band,  keeping the beat and the bandmates together.  And from sweet slashing on the cymbals  to tossing your broken drum sticks  to a crowd of screaming fans, drumming has its perks.  But you can't be on your way to rock stardom without a quality drum set on stage.  Here are the basics you should know before buying.

The Standard Parts

  Each drum set should include a:

• Snare Drum 
• Bass Drum 
• One or More Mounted Toms 
• One Floor Tom 
• Cymbals and Associated Hardware 

Drum Set Configuration

For Beginners:

• A four-piece set 

Works well if you're a beginner drummer or a hobbyist who jams with friends.  The bass drum, single mounted tom and floor tom should give you all the sound you need while taking up little space in your home.  This set is also easily portable and is most suited for jazz, blues and rock genres.

For Intermediate and Advanced Players:

• Five  and Six-Piece drum sets  have additional toms so that you can achieve a wider array of tones. These larger kits work well with rock and contemporary styles that may require a more complex sound.

Standard Versus Fusion

• Standard drum kits  have larger diameter drums and toms, which makes their sound more hardy, while Fusion sets  have clearer, punchy tones. If you want more volume, stick to Standard.

Construction

The type of wood your drum kit is made of can affect the sound.  Some of the choices include:

• Maple. The most common/popular type of wood used, maple produces some of the most balanced tones.
• Falkata. Sometimes substituted for maple, it costs less but produces a fairly comparable sound.
• Birch. If you're going for a brighter sound that's suited for a recording studio, birch's tough, dense qualities make it a perfect fit.
• Mahogany. If you want a vintage sound, mahogony should be your wood of choice.

The Hardware

Unless you purchase a shell, a proper drum kit should come with the necessary hardware for assembly and play.  Essential drum hardware includes:

• Bass Drum Pedal 
• Snare Stand 
• Hi-hat Stand 
• One or More Cymbal Stands 

Major Manufacturers

Common brands you'll see online and at your local music shop include:

• Alfred 
• Bendix 
• Hal Leonard 
• Okidata 
• Raybestos 
• Sharp 

Related Guides and Products

Portable Drum Sets	Cymbals	Drum Sticks	Sheet Music

External Links

• DrumDatabase.com: Lots of diagrams to help you learn about the anatomy of a drum kit and the function of each piece.
• MusiciansFriend.com: The 411 on drum kits, cymbals and accessories.