Drum Kit Selection

Don't Rush

Whatever stage you maybe at, there's a set that fits your needs.

Once you have learned the basics and are convinced that drumming is something you'd like to continue with, the next logical thing to do is to buy a set.



That is simply because drumming is a skill. And as with all skills, practice makes perfect. To do that, you would need to have a drum kit.



You could literally spend tens of thousands of dollars on a drum set if you wanted to but unless you're a professional drummer, a beginner or intermediate set for between $400 and $800 will suffice.



Believe it or not, a lot of drummers do not know how to buy a set and end up spending a lot of extra money on something they don't need.



When you get to the music store, do not just buy the first set you see. Know your budget. A good starting point would be between $200 and $500.





Don't Be Too Brand Conscious

Don't judge a book by its cover. Do not judge the set by the brand name.



Each set has its own sound and feel. There are some cheap kits that sound very nice!



If you are a beginner drummer, you should keep it cheap and simple. It is highly recommended that you purchase a kit where each of the drum kit components is made by the same manufacturer.



You may encounter incompatibility problems when you have a drum kit where each piece is made by a different manufacturer or company. If you can, you should buy a cheap and simple set that is made by an unknown or less known manufacturer. This is a great drum kit for you to practice on.



Once you improve your skills and you think that you are really ready, you can just upgrade to a better drum setup and purchase additional components in your drum kit.



Know Your Style

Find a kit that suits your style play. Watch the following videos for a feel of some of the different play styles:

1. Blues
2. Country
3. Contemporary
4. Funk
5. Jazz
6. Latin
7. Classic Rock
8. Folk Rock
9. Heavy Rock
10. Progressive Rock
11. Rock



Play and Test The Kit

Test the set by playing it.

This is very important!

Choosing a drum kit is all about trying to get the look and sound you want. By trying out a variety of kits at a price you want you can really narrow down options. Any good music store will allow you to try out instruments and give you good advice on what to go for. Just be careful of sales talk, question them about things you are not sure about such as low mass lugs and die cast hoops to show them you are serious about choosing a kit you like.



Keep It Simple

If this is your 1st time buying a drum set, remember to:

KISS (keep it simply simple).

You may be tempted to buy a large drum set but you need to remember that a beginner would not need too many drums and cymbals.
Go for the cheaper and more basic set up.

Once you gain more experience and you know what you want in your music, you can start adding more accessories to the set.

Before you purchase a drum set, here are some questions that you need to ask yourself.


More information on drum kit selection can be found in the animated eBook at the link below.

About the Author

http://ladydrumming.blogspot.com

Married with 2 beautiful daughters and wonderfully blessed!