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Step 1
Visit your local drum shop. If there's not one near you, try a superstore like Guitar Center; yes, they carry drums, too. Ask the salespeople plenty of questions and most importantly, play several drums before deciding which one to buy.
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Step 2
Set your budget. If you're a beginner, consider buying a drum kit from an electronics store like Circuit City or a big-ticket discount house. These stores carry drum kits and other percussion instruments geared toward children, so they're good places to browse for your budding musician's first drum or tambourine.
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Step 3
Look for maracas, marimbas, conga drums and other specialty percussion instruments at specialty drum stores or check Internet sites like drumdojo.com for links to the best stores for each instrument.
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Step 4
Choose an instrument that sounds good and feels comfortable to play before you buy it. A percussion instrument needs to provide a good fit for you, as the player, and contribute to the sound of your band or ensemble as a whole. Bring your guitar player and jam a little at the store (most stores don't mind) to get an idea of what the drum or other percussion instrument will sound like meshed with other instruments.
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Step 5
Consider the type of music you'll be playing or recording before you buy. If you're going on tour, you'll want to get the sturdiest instrument possible and take into account where you can get items such as drum heads replaced while on the road.
