So you are thinking about buying a used or new drum set? Good for you! Whether you are buying your first kit or upgrading to a new one, the purchase of a drum set is a very important process that should be well thought out and deliberate. Drums can be an expensive investment but a good quality set should provide years of musical enjoyment. This article will discuss some of the things you should consider when purchasing a new or used drum set as well as provide some basic information about the various drum kits that are available today.
Table of Contents
- Drum Set Basics
- What Drum Set is Right for You?
- Trying Out New or Used Drum Sets
- Conclusion
So what is a drum set comprised of anyway? A drum set is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other kinds of percussion instruments that are arranged on stands, called the hardware, surrounding a musician. The various percussion instruments are played with drum sticks from a usually seated seated position, on a stool called a drum throne. There is no strict definition of what must be included in a drummers kit, but most drummers use the same basic features. The most basic drum set is comprised of a bass drum, snare drum, mounted tom, and floor tom.
The bass drum is the largest drum. It sits on the floor and is played by the drummers foot with the use of a pedal and creates the lowest frequency sound in the drum set. The snare drum is a drum that has metal wires stretched across the bottom to create a buzzing sound. The snares can be disconnected from the bottom drum head with a lever on the side of the drum, called the clutch. Toms are other drums of many sizes that vary in pitch with their width. Smaller size toms are usually mounted above the bass drum. Larger toms usually sit on the floor. There are also other types of specialized drums that can be added into any drum set.
In addition to the drums themselves, the most basic kit will have some cymbals and the hardware to mount those cymbals. These include Hi-Hats and most likely one ride and one crash cymbal. Hi-Hats are two cymbals sandwiched together. They can be opened or closed with a pedal operated by the drummers foot. A ride cymbal is a large heavy cymbal whose notes ring for a long duration. Ride cymbals can also be played on the bell for a bright ringing tone, which is the raised portion in the center of the cymbal. A crash cymbal is a thin cymbal that creates a loud “crashing” noise, usually used for accents in a drum groove. After the basics, there are other types of cymbals such as splash or china cymbals which can be used for other types of accents.
That is the most basic kit. As a drummer, you have the ability to infinitely customize your instrument. There are many other types of cymbals and other percussion instruments that can be added to a drum set. Some drummers use 7 or more different sized toms. Some drum sets include two bass or snare drums, for varying sounds. Depending on what style of music a drummer may want more or less drums/cymbals in their set. The number of different sounds that are available in a drum set dictates how complicated and diverse the drum patterns played can be.
What Drum Set is Right for You?
The type of drum set that is right for a drummer should ultimately be determined by the way the drum set feels and sounds to the musician. What matters the most is how comfortable the kit feels and how good the drum set sounds. When considering a used drum set, do not be deterred by age. A quality used drum set that has been well taken care of can last for years and years. It does not matter how much the drum set costs or if it is manufactured by the “best” company if it feels and sounds great. In addition to sounding good, the drummer’s skill level, style of music played, and budget determine what kind of kit is best for them.
If you are a beginner drummer, your drumming skills will determine how good you sound more than the quality of your drum set. It does not matter if your drum set cost you $400 or $4000 if you are just starting to learn how to properly play, as there will not be that much of a difference between the drum sets to you or others listening. If this is your first drum set, you shouldn’t start out too big. Most of the beginner sets come with a snare drum, bass drum, one or two mounted toms, and a floor tom. Adding too many elements to your kit may make things complicated in the beginning. It is better to keep it more simple and focus on mastering the basic skills before adding too many additional elements. Used drum sets are always an option, especially for a beginner. You may be able to find a great deal on a used drum set online or in your local classified ads.
If you are an intermediate drummer, you should also make sure to purchase a set that matches your skill level. There are many good quality drum sets available that are geared towards the intermediate or semi-professional drummer. If you are not in a band that is touring, or spending time in a professional recording studio, then you probably do not need one of the “top of the line” drum sets that are available today. These high end drum sets can get quite expensive as they are hand built and usually totally customizable with your choice of exotic woods and finishes. Intermediate sets offer some of the same advanced features as the professional kits, but with more reasonably priced wood and cost efficient mass production construction methods.
The type of music a drummer plays can have a large influence on what type of drum set they posses. The standard elements of a drum set like the snare, bass, and hi-hat are almost always included in any setup. After the basics are covered, each drummer has the ability to add any amount of additional toms, snares, cymbals, or other percussion instruments that they like. Certainly, the amount and type of drums and cymbals in a drum set determine what type of sounds can be created and what styles of drum grooves can be produced. Think about what kind of music you want to play, and what sounds you want to incorporate into you grooves.
Lastly, your available budget is going to be the final determination of what drums set is purchased. Make sure to shop around to get a feel for the proper value and asking prices of drum sets you are interested in. If you are interested in saving some cash, look into used drum sets either online or in your local classified ads. If money is tight, it may be better to buy a smaller high quality set that you can add on to later, rather than buy a cheaper larger kit all at once. When researching prices online or elsewhere for new or used drum sets, note if the drum set is a “shell pack” or a complete drum set. Shell packs are sets of drums with no hardware, while full drum sets come with mounting hardware for hi-hats and usually two cymbals. Cymbals, additional mounting hardware, and any other percussion instruments to be included in the drum set will also be an additional cost.
Trying Out New or Used Drum Sets
So you have determined what kind of drums set you would like to purchase, and how much you are willing to spend. Now its time to start banging on things! Many factors determine how a drum set will sound, including the sticks used, drum heads, drum position, sitting height, the placement in room, and the distance from the drum set to the listener. When going to see a drum set in person, bring your own set of sticks with you. Make sure when you sit down at the drum set, that you adjust the seat to your proper height. Strike each drum a couple times and make sure you like what you hear. Have someone else, either a friend, a sales rep, or the previous owner if used, play the drums while you listen from different places in the room. A drum set will sound different when sitting at it and playing than when listening from 10 feet away and then sound different again at 20 feet away.
Take note of the objects surrounding the kit and the construction of the room it is being played in. Any other drum sets positioned nearby can interfere with the sound waves produced. You may want to turn the snares off any snare drums in close proximity. The construction of the room the drum set is located in can greatly affect the sound emitted from it. Any drum set will sound differently in a room that is carpeted verses a room with hardwood floors. The walls of the room can also affect the sound. Wooden walls will interfere with the sound waves differently than large glass windows. Think about the environment that you will be playing your drum set in. Are you going to be performing on a stage or practicing in your basement? If you go to see a used drum set, make sure to check the cymbals for any cracks or holes. Inspect the rims on all the drums and the bearing edge, which is the edge where the drum head makes contact with the drum shell. A used drum set may have older worn out drum heads. Keep in mind the sound can vary drastically with different heads. A cheap used drum set can be a great deal but make sure it is closely inspected for any signs of damage.
Purchasing a drum set is a very important decision, especially if it is your first kit. When browsing different drum sets, make sure to take your time. Try out any and all drum sets that you may be interested in, and be sure to shop around for the best deal. Check out some used drum sets if you are interested in saving a little cash, but make sure to inspect them closely. Do not let a sales person at a music store try to hook you on a specific brand or style. That is not important. As a drummer, you won’t be judged on what type of finish your drum set has, the kind of wood it is made from, or whose logo is displayed on the side. Ultimately, if the music you make with the drum set sounds good, that’s all that matters.
