We don’t like to bang on about it but drums are the coolest instrument, right? If you agree and have decided to pick up the drum sticks, then you will need a drum set to start your drumming journey.
A beginner drum set is typically a regular five-piece kit including toms, cymbals, a snare, the bass drum, and a hi-hat. Trust us, this is all you need to become a maestro! If you’re feeling wild, you can always add a China Splash or other cymbals.
Learning the drums can be hard but the same goes for every instrument. However, the drums require another level of coordination skills and concentration. Choosing the right drum set, to begin with, can make all of this easier.
To help you get started on the drums, we have compiled a list of the best 5 beginner drum sets on the market today. We will assist you with choosing the most appropriate and practical kit for your needs so you can start playing with freedom and expression before long.
On the count of four, let’s find a beginner drum set for you.
1, 2, 3, 4…
OUR TOP PICK
The Pearl Roadshow Drum Set is the complete package for a newbie drummer.
It features everything you need such as poplar shells, a bass drum, 3 toms (including a floor tom), a snare drum, a brass crash ride, and hybrid hi-hats. Along with stands and a chain-drive bass drum pedal, you really get your value for money with this kit.
This set is available in four finishes and four setups and its versatility is ideal for ease of use. Its tone is outstanding with a rugged, deep sound that isn’t too intimidating.
Its hi-hats are punchy with enough volume to play along with your favorite tracks. Its overall volume is quite controlled making it ideal for home use.
Durable, versatile, and very stylish looking, the Pearl Roadshow drum set is the perfect choice for any beginner and even those venturing into doing live shows.
Pros
- Contains everything a beginner needs - Although a large set, this provides all of the cymbals, toms, and drums to get to grips with
- Easy to set up - Quick and simple to get ready for practice as well as tune-up
- Controlled sound levels - Not too loud making it ideal for home practice
Cons
- Cymbals sound a little thin - Seem to be a poorer quality compared to other aspects of the set
EDITORS CHOICE
Here is an affordable beginner drum set that is complete with everything you need to learn the ropes of drumming. The Asthorpe 5-Piece Complete drum set is another one where you get great value for money.
There is no compromise on features or size as you dive straight into the deep end with this beautiful kit. It is a full-sized kit unlike many beginner models so you can thoroughly test yourself from the get-go.
Included with this set are drum sticks, a snare drum, two rack toms, a floor tom, a kick drum, hi-hats, a crash cymbal, a drum throne, and a drum adjustment key to get it to your liking.
Along with all the necessary hardware, you can get the full drumming experience from this kit. The shells are equipped with top-quality Remo heads for excellent sound.
This bundle includes everything you need to set up and go. Just seeing this makes us want to get behind the kit and give it a go! We urge you to do the same!
Pros
- Excellent value for money - You get all the necessary hardware and a full kit for a great price
- Full-sized - Bigger than many beginner kits so you can immerse yourself with a professional feeling drum set
- Easy to set up - Straightforward set up so you can get playing as soon as possible
Cons
- Heads may need tuning - The sound may need to be tuned by a professional
BEST VALUE
The Ludwig Accent Drive Series drum kit makes for an excellent beginner to intermediate set, especially for those on a budget.
This affordable drum set has some outstanding features such as a 16” floor tom, a 22” kick drum, a 14” snare, and 10” and 12” toms. These are prime offerings for someone beginning their drumming adventure.
Other items included are hi-hats, a crash cymbal, a drum throne, and all the hardware to get it up and running. While no drumsticks are included, this means you can purchase the ones that suit you best.
We were really impressed by this drum set’s sound. For its price, we believe it sounds like a more expensive kit. Its 6 ply poplar shells are of excellent quality and the bracing on its hardware is exceptional.
Many beginner drum sets have poor cymbals and while these are not the best, they still took us by surprise with their clarity and brightness.
Pros
- Excellent overall sound - Its sound quality is highly impressive, especially for a beginner drum set in this price range
- Top-quality shells - 6 ply poplar shells are outstanding and good enough for more intermediate players
- Double brace hardware - Very strong and durable kit that should withstand many hours of playing over a long time
Cons
- No drum sticks included - You will have to pay extra for a set of drum sticks
RUNNER UP
This drum set is aimed at the younger drummers. If your kid wants to start the drums, then the Eastar 16 inch Junior Drum Set is definitely one to consider. Everything about this kit is designed for children and teenagers.
Although for the younger user, there is no compromise when it comes to quality. Its drum shells are made from cross-grained poplar for extra strength, a more even vibration, and a powerful sound.
The Eastar 5’s skins have different thicknesses compared to other drums which result in excellent resonance and overall sound. The drum set itself is made from high-quality black rims with plated stands.
This makes for a very durable and reliable drum set. Its bench has a maximum weight capacity of 220lbs (100kg) thanks to a double-plate construction. That means mum and dad can have a go too!
You also have the option to change the color of the snare by adjusting the snare sand strap. The kit comes with a pair of adult drum sticks as well as children’s drum sticks so the whole family can have a go!
Its assembly is easy and quick so your kid can jump on and start playing sooner rather than later.
Pros
- Perfect for children - The size is aimed toward children and teenagers and is ideal for smaller frames
- High-quality - Although a beginner drum set, there is no lack of quality with an even vibration and loud sound from the kit
- Different thickness in the skins - Provides better resonance and overall sound quality
Cons
- Bass drum lamination can peel off - Some customers have reported that some lamination tends to peel off after a short time
- Missing pieces - It has been delivered without necessary screws to a few customers making it harder to assemble
RUNNER UP
Our final choice is another superb beginner drum kit for juniors and kids. Its smaller-sized genuine hardwood shells along with triple-flanged hoops result in the perfect kit for the younger player.
The Mendini by Cecilio drum set includes everything a young drummer needs when starting off.
This drum set offers outstanding sound and is high-quality. Kids will love its shiny, vibrant, and glittery surface as we did! Included is a bass drum with 4 lugs and a drum foot pedal, a mounted tom drum, one mounted snare drum, and one cymbal.
Any more than this can be confusing for a beginner so this is the best mixture of accessories to learn the ropes.
Also included are wooden kids’ drumsticks so they can start playing right after set up. And its assembly is easy! It comes unassembled, as most do, but included are easy-to-follow instructions.
One of the best aspects of this drum set is that it’s compact so you don’t have to worry about it taking up too much room.
Pros
- Durable - Its build quality is strong for long-lasting use
- Perfect for young beginners - Includes all of the necessary accessories to get started on the drums at an early age
- Easy to assemble - Comes with easy to read instructions so you can set up the drums in less time
Cons
- Not suitable for older drummers - This is designed for children and teenagers so its compact size may be a little too small for adults
- Screws become loose - After some time, the threads and screws may become loose so these need to be tightened regularly
Buyer’s Guide
There are certain aspects you must consider before investing in a beginner’s drum set. From its quality to its size, we will run through the most important points below so you can buy a drum kit with peace of mind.
Cymbal quality
Many low-priced drum sets are affordable because of the basic cymbals the manufacturers produce. Most people who have started out on a beginner set and then continued to play more advanced kits usually purchase new cymbals.
These include the hi-hats, crash, and ride. Cheaper cymbals tend to be duller and don’t produce much of a sound when hit.
Most often, you will not find brand-name cymbals, such as Zildjian or Sabian, with your beginner drum set. Therefore, it may be worth investing in some more expensive cymbals if you want to get the most out of your drumming experience.
Size and Tone
A beginner drum set should have a decent tone that sounds precise with moderate quality. Of course, you shouldn’t expect to find one with a professional sound but that time will come. You should expect a kit with a fair sound that is self-motivating.
For beginners, small sets are usually the best choice. They tend to demonstrate a clearer and crisper sound when compared to full-sized beginner kits. However, you may need to strike the drum with more accuracy to maintain a good sound.
On the other hand, a larger set with larger toms can produce higher dynamics and generate more tones with more depth.
This is why larger drum kits are favored for high-noise rock venues and more advanced players. It’s best to stick to a smaller kit when you’re starting off and then move to the larger models as you progress.
Hardware
Supremely robust hardware is not an essential aspect when looking for a beginner’s kit. Sturdy hardware should only be considered if you plan to start gigging.
A drum set has to be assembled and disassembled at every gig but this is not advised with a cheap set. Due to weaker materials, a beginner set may not stand up to the rigors of gigs.
Start off with a lower-priced drum set, even if the quality is less than more intermediate sets. At this point, you need to learn to walk before you can run so a simple drum set up is ideal for learning the basics.
Utility
You should be looking for the complete setup as a beginner. This includes at least two toms, a snare, a hi-hat, a kick, a crash cymbal, and a ride. However, if you’re a metalhead, then you may require a separate double-pedal kit but this shouldn’t be a priority at entry-level.
If you want to try out additional equipment, we recommend you purchase it once you have a little more experience under your belt.
Your musical style
You should consider the genre of music you intend to play most. Various musical styles come with different drum set sizes to suit. There are quieter drums for gentler genres and louder models for heavy rock and metal.
Just remember that a smaller, quieter kit will suffice for learning the basics. The metal genre is extremely challenging, even for experienced drummers, so it isn’t recommended that you start with this genre straight away.
On the other hand, if you want a long-term investment, consider buying a larger set as this can be more practical for heavy rock and metal as time goes on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to wear noise protection when I play the drums?
Although it isn’t necessary to wear noise protection, we recommend that you invest in isolation earmuffs or in-ear monitors.
Hearing is extremely important to you, especially in music. Frequent exposure to loud sounds over time can damage your hearing and cause tinnitus and even eventual deafness.
Should I start out with drum lessons?
If you asked us this around twenty years ago, the answer would have been an emphatic yes. However, in the modern world, there is a huge library of drum instructional videos on the internet. Just check out platforms such as YouTube or Drumeo.
Nonetheless, drum lessons can still be amazingly beneficial. You can learn certain techniques from a drum instructor which may be hard on your own. They can also pick up on any flaws that may go unnoticed when on your own.
As lessons can be expensive, you can start by watching videos and try learning alone but if you have the money to invest in private tuition, go for it!
Last update on 2023-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
