Comparing Beginner Drum Sets

Beginner drum sets should be cheap.

Comparing beginner drum sets is largely a matter of choosing between prices and brands. A beginner drum set should be cheap and reliable, but easily fixable and upgradable. Choosing a brand name set will make it easier to trade or sell the set later should the beginner want to move up to a better set.

Price

You should buy a drum set that matches your ability. A top-of-the-line, expensive drum kit is not necessarily going to make a beginner sound better. Furthermore, a beginner is more likely to damage a drum set. It is much easier (and cheaper) to fix and upgrade a cheap drum set than to fix an expensive set.

Brand Name

Buying a brand name set, though more expensive, will help ensure a longer lasting set, or at least a better warranty. Also, brand name sets are more trusted, making the set easier to trade or sell when you are ready to move up to a more expensive set.

Number of Pieces

While drum sets with dozens of pieces might look impressive in music videos, "the simpler the better" is a good rule to follow in a beginner drum set. Kits purchased at music stores are typically of the five-piece variety, and come in two styles: rock and fusion (more suited to jazz).

Materials

Drum shells are made out of a variety of materials, with birch, beech, mahogany and maple being the most popular choices. The best material for a beginner depends greatly on preference, and this will require an in-store test. If an in-store test is not possible, then choosing by brand or by price is reasonable.

References

• Drum Set Fun: The Truth about Cheap Drum Sets
• Review Centre: Drum Kits