Help! My Child Is Drumming on Everything…!

At SoundStoreXL, we've spoken to many parents over the years who have faced the challenge of buying a drum kit for their child. If you've never had your hands on a drum kit yourself, it can easily seem a bit daunting - there are many parts, and what's most important to look for? And what are the parts called, anyway? That's why we've created this guide, where we'll guide you through the questions we most often encounter.

What Are Those Round Metal Things Called?

Unlike many other instruments, a drum kit consists of several different parts, and it's a good start to know what the parts are called. So, let's start with a very basic overview! There are three types of drums:

Bass Drum: The big one standing on the floor, played with a pedal. Usually 18"-24" in diameter, sometimes smaller on children's drum kits.

Snare Drum: The flat drum in the middle of the set. Usually 14" in diameter but can be smaller. It has a row of springs under the bottom, called a snare - that's what gives it the characteristic snare sound.

Tom-toms: Tom-tom, tom, tom-tom, tom-tom - dear child has many names! The last drums in the set are called a little differently. Most sets have one or two mounted on top of the bass drum (10" and 12" or 12" and 13" are most common), as well as a larger one on a stand to the right of the drummer (often 14" or 16") - it's called a floor tom.

Cymbals: They are the round metal things on stands. There are three types: a hi-hat consists of two cymbals and is mounted on a stand with a pedal, so you can open and close the hi-hat with your foot. Usually 14". A crash cymbal sits above the hi-hat and is usually 14" to 18". The ride cymbal sits to the right and is called ride (pronounced in English) because you "ride" it. Think of a classic swing number. Some beginner sets have only a hi-hat and a single cymbal, and that's perfectly fine to start with!

Hardware: The easy part… hardware is all the stands that hold the cymbals, as well as pedals and drum stools.

Drumsticks: There are countless to choose from. The most common sizes are 7A and 5A, with 7A being thinner - and usually a good starting point for children of all ages.

Drum Carpet: it's a good idea to put a rug under the drum kit, as pedals and bass drum feet can otherwise make marks on the floor.

As you may have noticed by now, drum and cymbal sizes are always in inches. The size of a drum is measured within the hoop - the ring that holds the drumhead in place.

Electric or Acoustic?

There is a huge difference between an acoustic and an electric drum kit - especially in terms of noise level! Both have advantages and disadvantages, and you can read about them here:

Acoustic Drum Kit

Advantages: feels great to play, produces a lot of nice sound, it's also what most people play in rehearsal rooms and on stage.

Disadvantages: high noise level.

Electric Drum Kit

Advantages: low noise level, many fun sounds, electric drum kits have become really good in the last 5-10 years, don't take up as much space.

Disadvantages: feels very different to play compared to an acoustic kit.

So, what should you choose? There is no easy answer. An acoustic kit provides more feeling with the drums - you get the joy of playing a physical instrument where the sound comes from wood and metal - it's something you can't recreate and probably can't quite describe. The big advantage of an electric kit, of course, is that you can plug in headphones, so the whole house doesn't have to enjoy the rhythms… Additionally, an electric kit has lots of fun kits, with dance sounds, percussion sounds, afro sounds, etc. In the end, it depends on where you live and what your child thinks is fun about playing drums. If it's the physical aspect - hitting something that makes a sound - which ultimately can become music - an acoustic kit makes the most sense. If you live in an apartment with neighbors, an electric kit is definitely the way to go!

Will They Outgrow It?

If we're talking about younger children, it's worth considering the size of the kit. If it's an electric kit you're looking at, it's not specifically called a children's kit. The drum pads themselves are so small that an electric kit can easily be adjusted to child height. With acoustic kits, most children can start to reach around a regular kit from the age of 7-8. Look for a drum kit with a 20" bass drum and smaller toms. It's also possible to get a kit in children's sizes - for example, we have a Basix Junior kit, which is suitable for smaller children from 2-6 years old.

What Comes with When Buying a Drum Kit?

Be aware that many drum kits are sold without, for example, cymbals and hardware. This is especially true for more expensive kits but is also seen with some beginner kits. Since the picture often shows a complete drum kit, it can easily be misleading - at SoundStoreXL.com, it is always specified what is included, so remember to read the entire text.

When it's not a complete kit, you will often buy a shell kit (with the actual drums), a cymbal set, a hardware set, a stool, and sticks separately.

Protect Your Ears!

We always recommend buying a good pair of earplugs with an acoustic kit. Drums can be loud, and it's important to take care of your ears! There's a reason why many professional drummers also use earplugs.

 

Earplugs

What's the Best?

There are many brands to choose from, and most of them also make good beginner kits. The most important thing is, of course, to buy a kit that can withstand being used. Some of the biggest brands for acoustic kits are Yamaha, Pearl, Gretsch, Tama, and Mapex, while cymbals often bear the names Zildjian, Sabian, Meinl, or Paiste. Within electric kits, the biggest players are Roland, Yamaha, and Alesis. It's almost impossible to say what's best, as it depends a lot on taste, but if you stick to the biggest brands, you won't go far wrong.

Budget

Of course, with drums as with anything else, you get what you pay for. It's not worth buying too cheap, because then the new drummer will quickly feel the need for a better kit - and the desire to play can also suffer from a kit that doesn't sound great. We recommend spending a minimum of 4-5000 DKK on an acoustic drum kit and a minimum of 2-4000 DKK on an electric drum kit. It's possible to get semi-professional drum kits from around 12-14000 DKK, and that applies to both electric and acoustic kits.

Something Nice for the Wishlist

It's always good to have something for the wishlist. With a drum kit having so many individual parts, it allows for ongoing replacement and gradual upgrading of the kit. It can be anything from a pair of new sticks to a new cymbal or bass drum pedal. With electric kits, you can also upgrade, for example, the snare drum pad, so it becomes more fun to play with.

Get in Touch if You Have Questions

We hope this guide has helped, and that you are now better equipped to choose the perfect drum kit. You are always welcome to contact us by email, Facebook, or phone if you need advice and guidance - we know it can be a bit overwhelming!