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So you are looking to buy a set of drums but you don’t know what to get? If you’ve done an online search for drums, you’ve probably seen that there are thousands of parts and accessories! What’re the most important things to have first? We are here to help guide you through the basics.
If you aren’t sure whether you want to invest in a full set, you can at least buy a practice pad.
These are small pads that don’t make much noise but let you get used to the feel of hitting a drum. Great for practicing drum rudiments and working on stick skills. Even if you have a full set already, this is a great, portable way to practice. The Vic Firth Single-Sided/Divided Practice Pad is a quality product.
For younger drummers (age 4-8), a junior drum set is just what Dr. Rhythm ordered!
Let’s face it, if your feet can’t reach the pedal you are going to have a hard time keeping a solid beat. While the junior sets are smaller and cheaper than the full sets, you can still expect to spend between $100 and $300 for a well-made kit. PDP has a great, low priced kit, and the Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit Drum Set is another great option.
For full-sized kits, you’ll find that most are priced without the cymbals
(and the cymbals are pretty important), so don’t be fooled by low prices on one given kit. One of the most economical sets is the Pearl Roadshow 5-piece Complete Kit While it may say Pro in the title, this isn’t really professional quality, but it has what you need to get drumming! For higher quality sets, turn to the names you can trust in percussion. Pearl, Yamaha, Ludwig, Gretsch, and DDrum. Expect a basic shell set (minus the cymbals) to cost between $300 and $700. Top-quality sets will probably start at around $1000. It’s worth noting that putting new drum heads on a basic kit can dramatically improve its sound and only cost between $40 and $100.
Cymbals (that usually aren’t included in the drum kits) are necessary!
But you don’t need them all at once. A hi-hat is absolutely essential. What you’ll need is a hi-hat stand and a hi-hat cymbal set. After that, you can start adding various types of crash and ride cymbals to complete your set. Sabian and Zildjian are both high-quality cymbal makers.
If you are concerned about noise in the house, electronic drums can save your sanity!
Don’t get me wrong, if you need volume, you can plug into an electronic drum amp and bam! you are making serious noise. But for when you don’t need to be loud, you can put headphones on and lose yourself in a little drumming world. We prefer Roland electronic drums. Their quality seems to far surpass its competitors in this field. Thie Roland V-Drum Kit will last for years and has all the bells and whistles you could want.
Hopefully, this has answered some questions for you. Good luck on your drum buying journey. Remember, your drum teacher is a great resource for ideas as well! Happy Drumming from 4/4 School of Music!
Rock on! 
