Buying your first drum kit - what you should look out for
Buying a drum kit is a big decision - so you might be asking yourself a lot of questions. Of course, you're not alone in this and we want to help you with this article on buying your first drum kit. We have taken the most important questions and would like to answer them here.
Which model will you choose?
Professional drummers usually decide to put together their own drum set, which then meets their exact requirements and playing style. However, if you are a beginner and just want to decide, you should opt for a ready-made drum set. This consists of the snare drum, the bass drum, various hanging and standing toms, a hi-hat, various cymbals and other percussion instruments, which can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer. This can just as easily be a wooden block as a cowbell or a jingle bell. If you are unsure about the exact model because of the different percussion instruments, simply ask your teacher, who will be able to give you good advice.
Buying your first drum kit
In addition to the components of your first drum kit, it's also about the instrument itself. Above all, make sure that the floor instruments stand on a solid base plate. This is usually equipped with an attachment for the carpet or floor. This allows you to set up the drum kit very securely. In general, you should make sure that your drum kit is well and solidly constructed. This is because playing, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, creates forces that the instrument should be able to withstand. The second essential element is the sticks. There is a huge selection on the market and we would initially recommend so-called 5A or 5B sticks. These are a good average in terms of length, thickness and quality.
The drums in particular have an incredible side effect: the volume. It is much more pronounced than with most other instruments and most people find themselves practising in isolated basements. But this is not absolutely necessary. There are also excellent electric drums that you can connect to headphones. For purists, such an instrument is certainly not the fulfilment of all their dreams, but it can be a good compromise, especially in rented flats or very densely populated areas. Alternatively, you'll need to find a spare room where you can leave your drums set up.
Buy or rent drums?
The drum kit is an instrument that should actually remain permanently set up. Then you can simply sit down on it and practise. However, before you buy your own drum kit, you should be very sure that you want to stick with it. If you're not yet sure or your child hasn't grown up yet, it may be worth renting a drum kit. Then you don't have to make a direct commitment and once you have made a decision, you can still buy the instrument of your choice and get part of the hire costs offset against your purchase price. If you decide to buy, you still have the choice of whether you want to buy new or used. Here we have good news for you: used drums hardly depreciate in value and as long as all parts look perfect, the play test will also produce a good result. If you are unsure whether a second-hand instrument is really good quality, you should take an experienced person with you who can advise you accordingly.
Decision by age
There are slightly smaller sets for younger players. However, you should only start drum lessons when your child has reached a size where they can play the regular drum kit well. As long as your child is not fully grown, you should decide in favour of renting an instrument and only consider buying one when they are fully grown. However, as soon as they are fully grown or you want to buy an instrument for an adult, you shouldn't compromise too much on the quality of the instrument. Professionals will always put their instruments together themselves anyway. With drum sets, on the other hand, you should pay attention to solid workmanship so that playing does not directly damage the material.
Decision according to skill level
There aren't really any beginner models when it comes to drums. You can get good children's drums from as little as CHF 150. Models for adults are around CHF 300 to 500. The most important thing - and we can't emphasise this often enough - is the sturdy construction so that you can get started without any worries.
Are there any additional costs?
In fact, you don't need much more material to play than the mallet itself. Everything you need:
Drumsticks: You should seek advice here and also ask your teacher. Because the drumsticks depend on the type of playing and also on the style. Each drumstick produces its own unique sound and is of course a matter of taste.
Stool: Make sure that the stool is height-adjustable and that you can sit on it comfortably and firmly. You shouldn't sink in too far and should feel that you can stand up at any time. It goes without saying that your seat should be stable. You should also have plenty of legroom so that you can operate the pedals easily.
Metronome: This is a tip that your teacher will soon give you. All players rely on the drums and keeping to the rhythm and tempo is the centrepiece of every practice session, even for soloists. You should therefore do what experts mean by "playing to the click": You should always have a metronome running and play with absolute precision. Start slowly and build up so that you can keep a steady tempo.
Transport bags: If you ever really need to transport your drum kit, you should be able to pack it well. There are individual transport bags for each component that are designed to fit together and provide good padding.
Tuner: You may think that a drum kit doesn't need to be tuned, but the opposite is true - it does need to be tuned, even if it usually holds its tuning well in the same location. It's still worth checking and you need a tuner for this.
Tuning key: In addition to the tuner, you will also need a tuning key with which you can tune the drums. If you are unsure how to do this, ask your teacher to show you how it works. Otherwise you could cause damage to your drums that is difficult to repair.
Hearing protection: It may seem a little strange to protect yourself from your own instrument. But most professionals also use hearing protection when practising and performing. This should ensure that you can still hear yourself well, but that your hearing is not damaged by the loud noises coming from your drums. Look for hearing protection that is specifically designed for musicians. This will give you excellent quality.
Drum carpet: It serves as sound insulation downwards. Your drums will also be very stable on it. Alternatively, you can of course set up your drum kit on a thick carpet. However, a drum carpet has the advantage that you don't have to test whether your drum kit is stable and whether you can still move freely. It is precisely tailored to the needs of drum playing.
Practice pads: These are rubber-covered wooden plates that you can place on your drum kit. Your advantage is that the costs are absolutely reasonable and you retain your original playing feel. At the same time, you reduce the volume of your playing to a comfortable level.
New drumheads: After a certain time - depending on the intensity of your playing - you will need to have the drumheads replaced. Then you won't have to buy new instruments straight away and the drums will sound like new. The first indication may be a deteriorating sound. After a while, however, you will also notice wear and tear visually and this is when you should take action. Always leave the changing of drumheads to professionals who deal with them on a daily basis. As a beginner and even as a pure user, you will hardly be able to remove the drum head and put the new drum head back on as it should be.
Where should you buy?
Especially with entry-level models, there's nothing to stop you buying your first drum kit online. But be sure to be fair. Don't get comprehensive advice locally just to buy cheaply online. If you've already had some experience with drums, you may even already know which instrument you want to buy. Then you can simply order your drum set. However, if you prefer to get advice locally, you can of course also buy in a local shop.
There are always good second-hand drums that you can buy. In this case, you should definitely do a visual check and, if at all possible, play the instrument once. This will help you avoid unnecessarily expensive bad purchases. But you might also find a great bargain this way.
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