Fantasies of being a world class drummer flood the daydream of tons of people the world over. And while this stays a fantasy for many people, air drumming to your favorite songs while you’re alone doesn’t have to be the farthest your dream reaches. If nobody is willing to help you out, help yourself and get that drum set, with whatever resources and money you have, to start practicing on your own.
However, knowing what to look for in your first drum set can be stressful, time-consuming, and overwhelming. But if you have the time, space, and discipline to take on the feat of learning an instrument as complicated as the drums, then you should definitely invest some time in reading these tips to help you on your search for the perfect drum kits for beginners.
Look Out for Money Hungry Shops
When you walk into a music shop hesitantly and not quite sure of what you are looking for, salesmen in some of them will have their eyes lit up. Reason being is that they might be working for commission, trying to offload certain pieces of equipment that the store wants them to sell more of. They may be looking for bonuses from manufacturers and distributors that are obtained from selling a set number of specified equipment for that month.
All of this up-selling takes away from them actually helping you find the right drum set for you at the time. Rather than getting a feel for what you may need or what type of genre of music you may be interested in playing, they are pushing something completely opposite of what you want or need, with the end goal of making some extra cash.
The best option here is to do your own research online before going in, so you know what options are available or suitable for the kind of music you want to play. This will save you from dealing with unnecessary sales pitches and being ripped off by the wrong equipment.
Whole Sets or Separate Pieces?
There are a couple of options when it comes to buying a drum set for an absolute beginner. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of sorting through the plethora of drum equipment there is to choose from, you can opt to buy an all-in-one set that includes everything you need to get started playing ASAP.
A general, all-in-one drums set usually has 5 pieces that give you plenty of flexibility to practice and do not confuse with extra bells or whistles.
However, if you have some knowledge or research data about what you want, you can buy each piece of hardware separately. Maybe there was a certain kick drum you heard of or researched, and liked, but it doesn’t come within an all-in-one pack. So you can mix and match everything to your choosing and level of play. If you’re a complete beginner though, it would probably be best to get an all-in-one pack to avoid spending too much and you can always upgrade later.
Choosing Cymbals and Snares
Choosing Cymbals and SnaresWhen it comes to choosing what type of cymbals and snares you want, it will be entirely based off of your preference and genre of music you decide to play. Real cymbals are one piece of hardware you should spend a decent amount of money on the first go around instead of ones made of composite alloy since they tend to wear down fast and don’t carry the same natural sound.
If you don’t decide to keep the snare on your set, you can go for one that is more specialized for your type of music. Ones made deeper are good for more soft music, while those that are shallow are sharper and are good for louder music.
Looks Aren’t Everything
When you are buying your drum set or hardware pieces, don’t be mesmerized by how it looks on the outside. There’s a great possibility that it won’t sound nearly as good as it looks. They could have the most beautiful paint job or wood stain that catches everyone’s eye, but when you go to play them, they sound like crap.
As a beginner, if you are opting to get a whole set at once, make sure it is a well-made one from actual wood rather than some other cheap material. Most beginner sets are made from a form of condensed paper and best suited for kids of parents who aren’t quite sure they will stick to learning the drums. You can be frugal here, but not too much to the point that you need to replace everything you bought the first time later on in the practice cycle
Consider Drum Set Size and Setup Space
Drum kits usually take up a lot of space and need a lot of movement room for the drummer to play comfortably as well. So before buying your kit, be sure to clear up the setup area and measure it to avoid any space issues later on.
If you are short on space, then consider electronic kits in the beginning. They have a smaller footprint than acoustic kits so you can easily set one up even in a small space in your room. These kits are also very easy to assemble and dismantle, so you can easily transport them around and won’t need a dedicated space for your drums at all times as well.
Another factor to consider with drums practicing space is sound proofing. Drums are one of the loudest and most impactful instruments so, adding materials like thick curtains & carpets along with acoustic panels can help a lot.
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