Cobweb Audio Music Articles

Buying Drum Kits

By Bill McRea

If keeping the time and setting the groove is your thing, then you need drum kits to help you get them thumping their feet. If you're already making them thump their feet, then you already know what you need. This one is for those who are new to drumming.

Drum kits come in various shapes, sizes and pieces. You can get 4 piece drum sets that are made up of a bass drum, snare drum, one tom tom and a floor tom (also called side tom).

Such basic drum kits are usually okay for beginners. You can start building your drum skills with those. As your ability increases and you start developing taste and preferences, you can add more drums to your set up.

Most drum sets are usually sold as complete kits with all the drums required, drum hardware, cymbals hi-hats and drum throne (Drummers call their seats throne. That's where they rule the beats!). However, it is important that you note that a good number of drum kits do not include cymbals, hi-hats, hardware and drum throne.

For such drum kits, you'll need to pick your cymbals, hi-hats and other things. This is where you'll eventually end up if you take up drums more seriously. Professional drummers usually prefer to handpick their own drums, hardware, and all.

But as you start out, you will do very well with complete drum kits. Not only is this option a lot more straightforward, it is also a lot cheaper.

We once had a swish cymbal which was smashed by a novice drummer. When our experienced drummer came around he was pained to see this great cymbal from Zlidjan destroyed. The amatuer thought that every cymbal could be hit like the crash cymbal. So, give yourself enough time to know how to use the basic set. Later, you'll graduate to the other more advanced kits.

Buy drum kits that are within your budget. If you think a drumset is too expensive, it is. Once you are really ready to buy very expensive drum kits, you'll be cutting enough shows at fees that will make the cost chicken change.

Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to Buy Guitar and learn Guitar Playing Techniques. Visit our site for over 60 Free Guitar Lessons and Information about playing Guitar.