Shopping for Drums

Buying a good drum kit is very important for a drummer.

Tips 1
Know parts of the drums. The major step when buying a drum kit is to know the combination. Not everyone has the same combination. If you're a drummer who likes to use different auxiliary percussion, be prepared to invest in a kit that will cost you.

Tips 2
Buy the stands. A starter kit for beginners will have a hi-hat stand and a cymbal stand. Make sure that the stands have wing nuts for the tops. Never use plastic wing nuts.

Tips 3
It is always advisable to buy your kit from reputable dealers, unless you personally know the person you're buying the kit from. Make sure you have a guarantee on your drum set. A guaranteed drum set usually has more longevity.

Tips 4
Brand name cymbals are expensive. However, cymbals packs can make the purchase inexpensive. One can always upgrade them later.

Tips 5
Before you get into a store, prepare a checklist. Be sure about cymbal stands and wing nuts. Be sure that the laminate or acrylic drum finish is in good condition. The hardware should appear sturdy and all the locking mechanisms should be secure. Double check to see that the drum heads are in good condition. Replacing them all at once can be a very expensive.

Tips 6
It is sometimes safer to buy a kit from an older player who takes better care of his equipment. If you are still not confident about the idea, ask an experienced drummer to accompany you.

Tips 7
It is important to trust your gut feeling and also, your sense of hearing. If it does not sound nice to you then you probably should'nt buy it. There is no point in investing in a kit that does not sound right.

Tips 8
It is important to set your budget before you get started. Do not set it too low, as it may take you longer to find something that you are looking for.

Brand Name Drum sets

Po' Boy
Yamaha
Pearl
Peace
Tama
Mapex
Slingerland
Ludwig
Premier
DW
Ayotte
Gretsch Remo

Off Brand Drum sets

TJ Percussion
Verve
Percussion Plus
Sunlite
Thor
TKO
Maxwin
CB
Royce
Starion

Brand Name Cymbals

Zildjian
Sabian
Paiste
Meinl
Ufip
Bosphorus

Off Brand Cymbals

Camber
Solar
CB
Zilco

NOTES:

What you pay for a drum set depends on the quality but for a beginner, anywhere between $200 and $500. Much of this will depend on whether it's used and/or brand name. A beginner can learn efficiently on a ride (or hi-hat), a bass drum and a snare drum. Young students will appreciate a full 5 piece drum kit however as it makes it more fun to play drum fills down the toms. A double bass pedal allows you to play both feet on the kick drum at the same time, thus creating some powerful and exciting (not to mention "bombastic") rhythms. Double bass drumming is common in rock and heavy metal drumming but can be used in any style, except polkas.