Where To Buy Your Drum Set

If you’re in the market for a drum set, you’ll generally fall into two categories: the first-time buyer and the upgrader.

Either way, congrats, because you’re about to make the best purchase of your life. Drumming not only is fun and a great way to connect with friends, but it brings with it the many benefits of playing music (stress relief, lowered heart rate, better academic performance) and is a great workout and mode of expression all at the same time.

Buying Your First Drum Kit

If you’re just learning how to play drums and haven’t taken many lessons but know you want to learn, you don’t need a world-class kit just yet.

“I think people get too caught up in things like equipment,” says Lessonface drum teacher Todd Isler. “I've heard master drummers play on absolute crap, and make it sound great. It’s so much more about one's intention and focus. Now let me contradict myself and say that it's nice to have good equipment. It's kind of like having money - it won't make you happy, but it sure makes things easier.”

The most important piece of the puzzle in this case will likely be budget. If this is the case, the internet generally will offer you the lowest prices no matter your instrument. GuitarCenter.com and MusiciansFriend.com also offer great deals depending on the time of year, and MassMusic.net can sometimes provide you with the best drum deals of all.

The key here is to work backward. If you’ve got a budget of $500 then you can get a solid kit that might be good enough to gig with when you’re just starting out. It might not sound amazing, but it’ll get the job done. Remember, you're trying to learn how to play drums, not record an album just yet. If you’ve got only a couple hundred to spend, you’re going to need to buy a basic starter or junior kit to practice whatever drum tutorial your drum coach shows you on while you save up for an upgrade. Local shops can also offer you a deal, and present an opportunity to make friends and network.

“I encourage students to go out and buy supplies from their neighborhood mom-and-pop music stores. I find that you can sometimes score great deals on equipment when you buy local. Larger chain music stores are great too. Wherever you choose to buy your equipment, make friends with the employees. Chances are, they'll be able to cut you deal if you're friendly and approachable,” suggests Lessonface drum coach Kevin Lopez.

Upgrading Your Drum Kit

There’s no feeling quite as exhilarating as finally buying the kit you’ve been dreaming of after saving up. When you sit down on your throne and play your first notes you’ll know all the scrimping here and there to save a few bucks per day or week made all the difference.

The upgrade is no time to scrimp, however.

In this case you shouldn’t work backward. Instead, you should decide what type of kit you’ll need for your gigs and recording sessions and then make the sacrifices needed to pay for those beautiful shells of your dreams. You've already learned how to play drums from a drum coach, now you need a kit for recording and gigging, not practicing a drum tutorial. The websites listed above will still provide great value that you should explore, but at this point you may have a kit you saw at your local store tempting you. In this case, since you’ll be making what might be a lifelong investment, the cheapest kit won’t necessarily have the best value.

“Remember, buying a kit (electric or acoustic) is an investment, so choose one that's really worth the price,” says Lopez.

If you want to sound like a Berklee drummer, you’ll need to do more than just take lessons with drum masters. There’s no amount of tuning that’s going to turn an Enforcer starter kit into a Pearl Masterworks Limited Edition 6 Piece.

Isler uses Sonor shells and Bosphorous cymbals.

“Sonor drums are played by some of my favorite drummers, and I just like their sound,” he explains, “and they’re very well made, too. Bosphorus cymbals are handmade outside of Istanbul, Turkey. They are quite nice, and I might add that cymbals - drums too - are a very personal thing. We all like what we like.”

Choosing your upgrade kit is like choosing a spouse - and marriage is no time to settle.