Beginner's Gear Guides: Drums

When most people think of drums, they think of acoustic drum sets. There are few things as satisfying as rocking out on a full kit. Acoustic kits can come as complete drum sets with all (or most) of the necessary parts, or as "shell kits," which don't include cymbals and hardware. Make sure to take a close look at each kit's "what's included" description to find out exactly what you'll be getting.

Great for young drummers, these junior acoustic drum kits strip down the drum kit to the essentials, making them comfortable for smaller-sized players. Their compact footprint makes them a great choice for fitting into small spaces, or for bedrooms. Many 3-piece or 4-piece kits don't include a snare drum, so you'll want to add your own snare to customize your kit. Learn more in our Snare Drum Buying Guide.

If you're going to be doing most of your playing in an apartment or bedroom, an electronic kit might be right for you. In addition to being great learning tools, electric drum kits give you endless sonic possibilities -- you can shift from a stadium-filling rock kit to a jazz combo set at the push of a button, or build a hybrid kit with your choice or organic sounds and futuristic samples. Most electronic kits don't have built-in speakers, so make sure you invest in a good pair of headphones or a drum amplifier. Our Beginner's Gear Guide to Electronic Drums has plenty of great info to help you set up an awesome electronic drum rig!

A basic cymbal setup includes a crash, a pair of hi-hats, and a ride, but each player's drum set can be customized with an endless number of cymbal combinations. If you're outfitting an entire kit or rounding out a shell kit, consider picking up a cymbal pack that comes with a collection of tonally matched cymbals.

Hardware is important for mounting, supporting, and striking the drums and cymbals on your new kit. A basic drum set will require a cymbal stand for each cymbal, a snare drum stand, a bass drum pedal, and a drum throne. When selecting cymbal stands, make sure to choose the appropriate stand for each type of cymbal.