Electronic Kits | Acoustic Kits | Accessories & Noise Management

So You Want To Play Drums!

Friends are always asking me what drum kit they should buy for themselves or their kids to start their drumming journey. Drumming is one of those hobbies where you can start off very affordably, but there are also plenty of brands offering kits at eye watering prices. I wanted to put this page together to help everyone start off their drumming in the way that’s right for them and their budget!

Electronic Kits

Electronic kits are a wonderful entry point for anyone starting out on drums. E-drums were my first purchase and I know many local teachers use them for lessons to keep the noise level reasonable for neighbors and other students.

Pros:

• The biggest pro is that they’re quieter. No matter what other pros or cons I list this is probably the driving issue for most people.

• You can connect directly to a laptop to record audio or MIDI (though it’s not always super straight forward)

• Most kits are compact and take up slightly less floor space than an acoustic kit

Cons:

• Some of these kits are short, I had to get bed risers for mine and I’m not that tall

• The heads of electronic drum sets are usually small compared to acoustic drums. Many of the drum pads can be 8” diameter, so it can get frustrating missing hits.

• While electronic drums are quieter, they aren’t silent! If you’re in a house it’s a good option to not drive your family nuts, but in apartments or condos you may still bother neighbors.

• If you want to eventually play drums live or with others it’s not easy (but definitely possible) with an e-kit

• The feel of the mesh drum heads is slightly different than real drum heads. It’s not a huge issue, but at a certain point you may notice the difference and it could be an issue.

You Should Know:

• My e-kit lasted ~4 years before it started to really wear out and fall apart. Other people can probably get longer life, but when I started out I’m sure I had some terrible technique that was harsh on the kit.

• Replacement parts are possible, but sometimes it’s cheaper to replace the whole kit that one or two parts, which can get expensive.

• Many low end kits will have an electronic pedal for the bass drum, and I suggest trying to get a kit that has a real kick pad so you can better learn the feel of the kick drum. I bought an e-kit 1 level up from their introductory product specifically for this reason.

• The main brands here are Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha, with some others offering solid choices

• Most drum thrones (the chair) that come with kits are very flimsy, you don’t need to spend a fortune, but getting a more solid throne might be a good place to upgrade.

My Top Picks:

Very Budget Conscious: Donner DED-80 - $229.99

This is a perfectly good kit to start with if you don’t have much money to invest. Also great for kids if you don’t want to invest a ton into something you’re not sure they’ll be committed to.

Solid Entry Level: Alesis Turbo Mesh - $299.00

This is a great kit to get started with, though be aware it only has an electronic kick pedal. If you have the budget you might want to go one level higher for the real kick feel.

Acoustic Kits

When you think of your favorite band on stage in front of thousands of fans, acoustic kits are what you’re thinking of. You can buy a full kit, you can buy shells (the wooden hoops of the drums) and build up from there, or any combination, they’re your drums so build whatever kit sounds good to you!

Many kits will list how many “pieces” they have, this is basically the number of drums. A 5 piece kit will have a snare, a kick drum, and 2 rack toms, and 1 floor tom. A 4 piece kit will only have 1 rack tom.

Pros:

• Acoustic kits are a living organism, individual pieces can be upgraded one at a time as you like (and can afford)

• You can mix and match pieces you like, something you certainly can’t do with electronic kits

• Used pieces are much easier to find: Facebook marketplace is your friend

• Acoustic kits can live for a long time when cared for

Cons:

• DRUMS ARE LOUD: hearing protection is 100% necessary, issues with neighbors

• Cymbals can be shockingly expensive

• If you buy a full kit online many won’t include cymbals (watch for this because they will absolutely show you pictures of the kit WITH cymbals)

• The cymbals and drum heads that come with your kit will probably be atrocious, but serviceable.

• When you assemble your drums you’ll have to tune your drum heads. I’m terrible at this, so you’ll have to watch some YouTube videos and do your best!

You Should Know:

• There will always be someone with a kit that costs more than my car, but that doesn’t always translate to better music.

• It’s common for people to buy new drum heads with their new kit because they usually come with some low quality drum heads.

• There are low volume drum heads and cymbals which can help noise levels, but they won’t make them apartment-friendly

• Most drum thrones (the chair) that come with kits are very flimsy, you don’t need to spend a fortune, but getting a more solid throne might be a good place to upgrade.

My Top Picks:

A Favorite Starter Kit: Pearl Roadshow 4 Piece - $615.51

This kit is a favorite of players of all skill levels. It’s fun, it’s compact with an 18” kick drum (easier for gigs), and it sounds great. As with most full kits you will likely want to upgrade your throne and cymbals at some point.

Fun All Around: Yamaha Stage Custom - $849.99

Drummers swear by their Yamaha Stage Custom sets, and some of them seem to last forever (decades!). One word of warning when buying kits in this range: they often don’t come as full sets, so this one doesn’t come with a kick pedal, cymbals, or a throne.

Accessories & Noise Management

Like most hobbies, drumming has a whole host of accessories that can easily break the bank. Check here for the accessories that you really need (or maybe just want).

Drum Sticks:

Promark 5A, 4 pairs - $40.99

HotRods - $24.99

Hot Rods are an in-between drum stick and brushes. They still act like drum sticks but reduce the volume slightly.

Drum Heads:

Evans G2 Coated Fusion Tom Drum Heads - $55.99

Evans Reduced Volume Drum Heads - $187.99

These won’t make your drums apartment-friendly, but it’ll help!

Eastrock Low Volume Cymbal Pack - $71.99

These will help with the volume of playing, though some people don’t like the sound and tone you get out of low volume cymbals.

Drum Stick Rubber Topper (Noise Reduction) - $8.99

A great gift or stocking stuffer for a drummer!

In-Ear Monitors / Ear Protection:

Loops Ear Protection - $34.95

These are great hearing protection not just for drums but for sporting events and concerts. I have a bunch of these on my keychain and they’re very comfortable.

Shure SE215 Pro In Ear Monitors - $99.00

The standard in in-ear monitors. Protects your ears while letting you hear the mix or click track.

I wish you all the best in your drumming journey. I try to keep this page as up to date as possible but please be aware that prices are changing all the time!