8 Best Drum Sets for Professionals & Beginners in 2024

Do you want to start playing the drum but you don’t know which one to choose? Certainly, you will not want to make a mistake by choosing a difficult product to play, of low quality, which risks breaking immediately; The market is full of poor quality instruments, so ugly that even the desire to continue playing goes away!

It is important to help those who move for the first time in the world of percussion, the risk of being disappointed is high; therefore it is necessary to understand what are the criteria for choosing a drum in a quality-price ratio.

Would you like to play the acoustic drums? Is an expensive or cheaper model better? Is there a better brand than the others? There is no absolute perfect model, it is, however, true that for each of us there is the most suitable one.

In our article, you will find all the information to be able to purchase the best drums according to your particular needs!

Buyer Guide to Choose the Best Drum Sets

In our guide we will see the characteristics of this musical instrument: the parts that make it up, the difference between a 5-piece set and a 4-piece set, the best construction materials and we will also get an idea of the price.

Understanding the Prices of Drums

First of all, it is necessary to understand what a drum is made of, what they are and how they are called the main components of which it is made, as we have explained extensively in this article, in order to understand immediately which pieces are missing, what are the minimum characteristics that must have and, in general, to understand what you are talking about.

The price should be directly proportional to the quality of the materials and construction techniques used; instead, very often, we spend more than what we receive. What does the quality of an acoustic drums depend on?

Material

Type and quality of the materials used, especially as regard the wood with which the barrels were built, which is what most influences the sound of the instrument.

Woodworking and Quality

Type of woodworking, which determines the overall quality of the battery. The problem is that only an expert eye, a professional musician or a true Luther are able to determine its construction qualities through a first glance. This is why it is necessary, in this case, to study the reviews well and understand, depending on the brand, which are the main techniques used.

Quality of the mechanics, the more resistant they are, the higher the price. Which is almost impossible to find out except thanks to those who passed before you, look at reviews and comments or ask for advice from your online shopkeeper.

Electronic Drums

Non-experts may not know of the existence of different types of this tool. In fact, we also find the electronic drums on the market, a model that works connected to a computer and which is often advantageous due to the volume problems of the acoustic models.

If you start completely from scratch and you don’t have the opportunity to play a musical drums as you don’t have a suitable or soundproofed room and you foresee problems with the neighbors, in our opinion, you could evaluate an electronic model.

You can find classic adult models, but also the smallest battery for children. In fact, it is difficult for the little ones to play some musical instruments, which is why junior versions have been invented, which are not toys, but simply smaller models.

Parts of Drum Set

Over time, a unique instrument was created that would allow a single person to play multiple percussion’s simultaneously. The peculiarity of the drums is precisely that of being musical instruments composed of multiple individual musical instruments.

Let’s find out in detail:

Snare and Grancassa

Snare is usually considered the most important piece, as it is he who gives the rhythm. Present in the sets of almost all drummers, it is the piece that defines the sound of the individual musician: in fact, it can be adjusted in different ways and therefore be customized.

Grancassa is the largest part, often also called just “cashier”. Usually, it works on low frequencies, but in some cases, it is possible to find speakers with higher frequencies and, consequently, with a different sound. In some musical genres, we can also find a double case, particularly in heavy metal.

Drums and Dishes

Drums more commonly called “tom”, it is an element that can be present in variable numbers. Most of the sets have three toms, two suspended and one on the ground, but according to the musical genre we can also find only two, as it happens in jazz and classic rock. The number of toms basically depends on you, on the genre you want to play and, of course, also on the space, you will have at home or on stage.

Dishes are available in different sizes and types. The three most common dishes are:

Crash and Ride

Crash often used at the beginning of the songs, it is available in different sizes, and its sound is explosive. In some extreme musical genres (hard rock, heavy metal) it is used instead of the ride because of its power.

Ride also vary in size, have a louder, richer sound than a hi-hat. Many drummers go from playing the hi-hat to playing the laugh in the refrains, for this reason. In addition to the different sizes, they can also be more or less subtle and with a more or less strong sound, more or less suitable for various musical genres.

Hi Hat and Hardware

Also known as “hi-hat”, it is positioned to the left of the snare (right for left-handers) and is usually used to keep time. Thanks to the special support, it is operated by the left foot.

To mount an acoustic drum, you need several metal supports, racks, and various accessories to adjust, tune and support the various pieces. Hardware is very important, although many drummers often underestimate it, giving more importance to the parts of the set.

Good hardware must be stable and always keep the pieces in place. To prevent structures from “moving”, a rubber platform or mat is often used to be placed between the instrument and the floor.

Accessories and More

Anyone planning to transport their drums should purchase good cases to avoid dents during transport.

Among the accessories, we obviously cannot forget:

Chopsticks: different types based on musical genres. We find the classic ones, the brushes.

Drum mutes: mutes are used to attenuate or reduce drum vibrations
microphones for acoustic drums: in case of big events where the instrument must be amplified.

Mixer for acoustic drums: to allow the drummer to adjust his own sounds and volumes from his position and to wear headphones if necessary.

Stool: obviously you have to sit down to play, so you will need a suitable stool.
The sound of the drums depends on the material, but also on the length and thickness of the drums.

Dimensions of Drum Sets

We have seen that drums and cymbals can have different sizes, so at the bottom of the pieces of the set and the dimensions of every single piece, we can have very variable sizes. In rock music, it is preferable to use wide and deep drums, which offer a greater, rich and full-bodied sound, while jazz musicians often prefer smaller and more compact drums.

In addition to the difference in sound, the dimensions also entail more or less slow responses: in the case of a deep drum, time will take longer to reach the resonant head; therefore the response will be slower in this case. The width instead affects the sound, as the air inside is greater.

In addition to the choices made according to the musical genre you want to play, personal taste must also be an important choice meter.

Construction Materials

The materials used are numerous and different; some manufacturers have also experimented with materials such as fiberglass and even cement! However, the main materials used for the construction of the drums remain wood and metal. Usually, the wood is more common, and only the snare is made of metal; however, we also find sets where all the toms and also the bass drum are made of metal.

Manufacturers create the drums by alternating multiple woods of different types, for better sound or better aesthetics.

Characteristics of The Most Common Materials

Maple Tree: Very popular and of excellent quality. The tone of this wood is warm, and it is easy to adjust in detail.

Birch: It is a dense and resistant wood, with a slightly more aggressive sound than maple. This is because birch wood improves high frequencies, offering crisp sound.

Beech-wood: Not among the most used, but certainly to be included in our list for its particular characteristics: it is hard like birch, but has a rougher surface. It offers a deeper sound than maple and is, therefore, a good mix for those who appreciate both previous materials.

Mahogany: It was the standard material, but it is very expensive, so it is no longer widespread. There are still some manufacturers that use it, but most of the sets you will find will be made of different and cheaper woods. It has a very rich and warm tone, reminiscent of vintage drums. Mids are particularly present, offering more thrust.

Poplar: Used in the past as a filling between layers of other woods, today it is used entirely for the construction of kits for beginners, but this does not mean that the sound is bad. As for the sound, we find slightly amplified low and high frequencies.

Steel: It offers a light sound, a long sustain and a penetrating sound. Many snares are made of steel precisely because of the ability of this material to penetrate the sound wall of a band that plays live. The costs of this material are quite low, and we often find it also in the models for beginners.

Brass: It has a bright and clear sound like steel, but it is warmer and improves the lower frequencies, offering a deep and balanced sound.

Choose a Set of 5 or 4 Pieces?

The “all inclusive” sets are usually 4 or 5 pieces. The number refers only to the drums, not to the number of total parts of the instrument. If expert drummers like to experiment and create their own set by choosing each piece on their own, for beginners the “basic compositions” are common, generally of 4 or 5 pieces.

4-Piece Kit: Usually includes bass drum, snare drum, floor tom and raised tom.

5-Piece Kit:In addition to the pieces of the four kits, we find additional rack tom. Starting with a smaller set (from 4) can be better for a beginner.

Beginner studio drum sets usually include all the hardware, one or more cymbals, and at least a pair of drum sticks.

How Much Does a Drum Set Cost?

A good beginner set for adults can be purchased for around 400 $. Children’s models cost less, starting from the economic models, which are a mixture between an instrument battery and a toy, up to products more similar to those of adults, but in junior format, the price of which is around 150 $. The models for professionals can even reach 10,000 $!

Is It Difficult to Learn how To Play the Drums?

To play the drums you need not only good manual skills, but you must also use your legs and feet and therefore be very coordinated and be able to manage all the limbs at the same time. Some people are very capable, others who have more difficulties.

Another gift is definitely having time in your veins! Obviously, there are those who benefit from natural qualities, but study and perseverance bring results to anyone. Playing the drums is not particularly complicated, however, and the main drum rhythms can be learned in a short time, while it takes much longer to improve.

Conclusions

Now that you know this tool better choosing your battery will be easier! Remember that choosing a product with a good quality/price ratio is always the best choice for beginners, as you do not give up a good quality level and do not have to invest a large sum.

Before going to an acoustic drum shop or visiting one for online sales, it is always advisable to do some research, read reviews, watch videos and read the product features.