Your Drum Kit
Whether you are buying a drum kit for the first time, upgrading or buying additional equipment. The big questions always are:
Your budget?
How much space do you have?
How much noise can, or can't, you make?
Reputable brands?
Where to buy?
Acoustic Kits
Acoustic drum kits provide the authentic feel and sound. They vary from a budget or bargain preowned £150 up to £1000s and are most suited for performing. Setting up and tuning a kit requires experience, they are loud, require a large floor space and their volume is very unpopular with fellow residents & neighbours.
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Recommended drum brands:
Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, Mapex, Gretch, Gear4music
Recommended cymbals brands:
Paiste, Istanbul, Zildjian, Sabian
Each brand will have a selection and retailers will often sell complete kits that contain: e.g. Drums, cymbals, hardware, stool and sticks as a deal.
Electronic Kits
Electronic drum kits are ready to go out-the-box, require less space than acoustic kits, they are quiet (headphones) and have a selection of drum sounds to change between. They are generally more expensive, can feel compact and with lower spec models the playing experience can be compromised - especially for drummers moving onto more advanced techniques.
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Recommended Kits:
Roland lead the way, both in quality and value.
Yamaha are a close second and
Gear4Music, Millennium & Alesis are the go-to for value kits at a lower price. Avoid cheap kits! For obvious reasons. Overall advice, go for kits with mesh heads (pads) if you can and a kick drum pad, rather a kick plate.
Desktop Kits
If cost, noise level and space are against you, then desktop kits can provide a working solution and something to play on to develop coordination and technique. These are better than nothing!
Look for desktop kits that come with foot pedals.
Have a look on eBay for a bargain
Practice Pads
The most gifted players in the world will always have a practice pad nearby. These are great for sticking technique, for every age and ability - and ready to use in any location. A must have!
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The diameter of snare drum is 14". Practice pads generally come in 8" 10"12" & 14"