Denis Loncaric
Your kid wants to start drumming, and they are asking you to buy a new drum kit. But before you even search for a suitable beginner drum set, make sure your child is really interested and passionate about playing the drums.
Overall, the instrument should be easy to play, have a good sound, and be sturdy enough to last through your child’s learning journey.
The optimal price range for junior drum sets is between $200 and $700.
In this article, I will teach you how to set up a drum set, guide you through your first purchase and things you need to know before buy but also will pick the best beginner drum sets divided into three main categories depending on age:
- Drums for toddlers
- Drums for kids
- Upgrades for juniors
What to Know Before Buy?
As a parent who is certain, this new drum set will not sit and collect dust, you probably want to know “how much it will cost“?
Well, I already told you the costs of a set, now I need to tell you about the costs over time.
That leads us to parts that will be worn out and need to be replaced.
Replaceable parts
Be aware that the parts of drum set are consumables. Drum parts you are going to change over time:
- Cymbals
- Drumheads
- Sticks
Cymbals
A set of budget cymbals can be found at $100 to $200. However, if you opt for something a little more expensive, you will get more durable and better sound quality cymbals; prepare at least $300.
A cymbal usually lasts for five to ten years before it cracks or wears out. At this point, you will have to get new ones.
We have a full article on the best beginner cymbals. Make sure to check it out.
Fun fact: Professional cymbal cost $250+ per piece
Drumheads
Drumheads also need to be replaced over time. Usually, they are replaced every six months or so. This is not a strict rule, so some might find it risky to wait so long.
Moreover, they usually get worn out after this time, and they don’t bounce off as well as they were in the beginning. However, they can last even longer, depending on how often you practice.
A single drumhead can cost from $15 to $50, while a set can cost $80.
When it’s time for a change, our vote goes to the two best companies in business Remo and Evans; you can go wrong with any of these.
Drumsticks
Drumsticks are the cheapest investment since their price is usually around $10, but they can even be found for $7. However, if you opt for higher-quality ones, prepare for around $15.
Drumsticks usually last between three and five months. They have a tendency to fall apart or even break at the end, so logically at this point, you need to buy new ones.
3 The best drums for toddlers
Stagg 3 Piece
- Budget-friendly
- A simple design
- Deliver solid sound
ThatScore
Easter Drum Set
- Solid built quality
- Comes with a 12-month warranty
- Affordably priced
ThatScore
Mendini By Cecilio Kids
- Budget-friendly
- Well-known and trustworthy brand
- Addons
ThatScore
Overview
Compared to some of its competitors, the Stagg 3-piece drum set is one of the lower-cost options available. Yet, they are considered one of the best beginner acoustic drum sets since they have many things to offer for an amazing price.
According to consumers, they stated that they are pretty satisfied. The biggest pro is that the heads deliver a great sound, and at the same time, they are not as loud as people expect.
With this kit, you are unlikely to get a great cymbal set. Of course, you can consider replacing it, but it will do the job more than fine for now.
And another great thing that many parents have stated is that it assembles easily.
Your kid will drum that thing in less than a minute of its arrival.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 12 x 10″ bass drum (6 lugs)
- 10 x 4.5″ snare drum (4 lugs) with stand
- 8 x 3.5″ tom (4 lugs) with holder
Hardware include:
- Bass drum pedal
- 3-section drum throne
- Pair of drumsticks
- Tuning key
Cymbals include:
- 8″ crash cymbal with holder
Overview
Many users agreed that even though this is a kid’s drum set, it is built of great quality. It does not resemble cheap plastic toys for toddlers. Plus, the sound it produces is comparable to the actual adult drum set. Hence, it’s completely playable for adults, although it is made for youngsters, so it’s pretty small.
A big advantage is that this set is very easy to assemble. So you won’t feel like you need forever to set it up.
The pair of drumsticks they come with are perfectly made for small child hands. Even though it is made for kids, the set is very sturdy, making it a great deal compared to its price range.
The con of this drum set that a few consumers have complained about is the foot pedal. People had some trouble putting it together, and it’s not unusual for the pedal to come loose often. Overall, it needs some tweaking.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 16” x 10” bass drum
- 10” x 5” snare drum
- 8” x 6” tom
Hardware include:
- Bass drum pedal
- 3-section drum throne
- Comes with the stool
Cymbals include:
- 10” cymbal with cymbal arm
Unfortunately, the set only comes with one cymbal, so you might need to purchase others. However, considering the price, it is more than enough.
Obviously, this is not a professional drum kit, so you must be reasonable in your expectations. On the other hand, it is not a cheap, plastic-made drum kit. It is built from real wood and has a mediocre material quality.
There were a few complaints from Cecilio Kids set users, and pedal squeaking was one of them.
Since a loud squeaking chain can be somewhat annoying, try using a spring or tether system to eliminate this problem.
There are no instructions included, but if you follow my instructions later in the text about how to set up a drum set you should be fine.
Bear in mind that assembly is not as complicated either. So even if you are a total newbie in this world, it should be pretty easy to set it up.
When it comes to hardware, you can’t expect the highest quality, of course. However, it is a pretty standard grade, and you should not have any issues tightening things down.
The only thing you can consider changing is cymbals. However, a few users were not satisfied with the overall sound due to the unpleasant tones.
In the end, the kick drum was also qualified as the con in this kit. One thing you can do to improve its sound is simply by placing a towel inside as a dampener. However, this will influence the sticks and their bounciest.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 0” x 5” and 8” x 6” tom toms
- 12″ x 10″ Floor tom
- 16″ x 11″ Bass drum
- 10″ x 6″ Snare drum
Hardware include:
- Chain-driven pedal
- A drum throne
Cymbals include:
- 10” Crash cymbals
- 8″ Hi-Hat
3 The best beginner drum set
- Easy for transportation
- Durable and long-lasting kit
- All-in-one hardware package
ThatScore
Ddrum D1 Junior
- Budget-friendly
- Well-known and trustworthy brand
- Addons
ThatScore
- Budget-friendly
- Well-known and trustworthy brand
- Addons
ThatScore
Overview
It is pretty normal to expect a quality drum kit from Ludwig. However, the sound it produces shows that it is more than satisfactory for young, future drummers.
Many users were shocked at how good that snare sounded since it is a budget drum kit. The build quality is also great since it is a drum kit originally intended for children. The big advantage is its convenience. It is very compact since it takes up a relatively small practice space.
According to the drummers, you will probably want to swap out the cymbals since they are not the best feature of this drum kit. However, they are not that terrible; they will do the job just fine initially.
For some, the tuning part was a piece of cake, while some had some trouble with it. But, overall, when you consider the quality and the price, the sound it produces is remarkable.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 16” x 14” Kick drum
- 13″ Floor tom
- 12″ Snare drum
- 10” x 7” rack tom
Hardware include:
- Kick Drum/ foot pedal
- Hi-Hats stand
- Snare stand
- A drum throne
- A pair of drumsticks
- Drum key
Cymbals include:
- Ride/Crash Cymbal and cymbal arm
- Hi-Hats
The set is made specifically for kids, so each part is totally reachable for the little ones. The look of the drums is also incredible, along with the sound it produces.
This is not an imitation of a kids drum kit but rather a real drum set. Users have stated that setting up is pretty easy, so you will have the kit in no time.
Construction of high quality with the drums that produce a great sounding. Besides that, the snare drum is also a great feature of this drum kit. This snare sounds fantastic with the chains and the adjuster.
With this price range, not everything can be perfect. As per usual, cymbals are the weak spot here, but this type of set is usually hit or miss when it comes to cymbals.
The consumers said that they tend to sound cheap, but one should be aware that you can’t expect top-notch cymbals at this price range for a beginner who is just starting drumming.
However, if you want your kid to have more advanced classes, you should consider changing the set of cymbals which can be found from $100 to $300.
Like every other kid’s drum set mentioned in this text, this one is also a very small and a great starter pack for beginners.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 6” x 8” Rack tom
- 6” x 10” Rack tom
- 10” x 13” Floor tom
- 5” x 12” Snare drum
- 10” x 16” Bass drum
Hardware include:
- Throne
- Hi hat stand
- Snare stand
- Bass drum pedal
- Straight cymbal stand
- 2 Tom holders
- Pair of drumsticks
Cymbals include:
- 12” Crash cymbal
- 10” hi hats
This drum kit is made out of poplar. As a result, it can be quite robust, but it will serve you well for quite some time. This is why the kit has different sonic characteristics than the, e.g. maple kit, but it is barely audible to a beginner or even an intermediate drummer.
This pearl drum set has a very cool design and, according to newbies in the drumming world, they are really easy to play.
The weak spot is, as per usual, the cymbals. They provide the basic feel, but they lack the dynamism, nor do they possess the quality material necessary to meet the drummer’s future needs.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 6″x10″ bass drum
- 13″x8″ floor tom
- 10″x5.5 and 8″x5″ toms
- 12″x4″ snare drum
Hardware include:
- Tripod base
- Bass drum pedal
- Chain drive
- Two cymbal stands
- One snare stand
- Hi-hat stand
Cymbals include:
- 13” crash
- a set of 10” hi-hats
3 The best drum sets for juniors (Upgrade)
- Beautiful finish and design
- Great durability
- Good value for money ratio
ThatScore
- Bass drum comes with a metal case
- Highly durable kit
- Great sound
ThatScore
- Includes standard quality cymbals
- Comes in for different styles: new fusion, fusion, jazz, and rock
ThatScore
These drums have been really praised by their users. However, it is obvious that Yamaha knows how to make drums, and there is no doubt that they are not quality ones.
This kit is made of birch wood, resulting in a beautiful, nice tone. Many consumers stated that their mounting toms and leg toms are top-notch. With the great quality comes a stunning honey amber color that is loved by many, many drummers!
Another big advantage of these drums is defensively its hardware. It is manufactured really well and does not sacrifice quality.
There were complaints that these drums were hard to pull any resonance or flavor out of, but that’s not common nor confirmed. If you do the proper tuning and have good drum heads, these drums have a better sound than many similar-price drum sets.
The one and the only valid complaint was about the snare drum. However, a few drummers were not satisfied with its sound, so you might want to consider changing it.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 22” x 17” Kick drum
- 10” x 7” Rack tom
- 12” x 8” Rack tom
- 16” x 15” Floor tom
- 14” x 5.5” Snare
Hardware include:
- TH-945B 3-hole receiver
- YESS tom mounts
- Floor tom legs
Cymbals include:
Unfortunately, this drum kit does not include cymbals, stands, kick pedals, nor drum throne.
Many consumers stated that this kit is great as an upgrade. However, when you feel like you are outgrowing your current drum kit, you should be looking after this one as a beginner.
The drums are very versatile. The toms, including the kick drum, are amazing, but the snare drum sound had a few complaints, saying they sounded a bit “rubbish.” Another minus is that sometimes the throne tends to slide down while playing.
The heads are made of good quality, which will be a long-lasting kit. The cymbals, too, are amazing, and they can withstand intensive hitting and drumming overall.
They also have a beautiful design, which will be great when performing at your gigs, even for the first time. Also, the kit is pretty easy to set up, so you don’t have to worry about time-consuming assembly.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 10” and 12” toms
- 16” floor tom
- 22” kick drum
- 14” snare drum
Hardware include:
- Bass drum pedal
- Boom cymbal stand
- Straight cymbal stand
- Hi Hat stand
- Snare drum stand
- Drum throne
Cymbals include:
- 14″ Hi-hats
- 16″ crash cymbal
- 20″ ride cymbal
This kit comes with everything you need to start playing drums. But, at the same time, it is very beautiful and professional. The great thing about this is that the snare and rack toms are pre-tuned, so you only need to tune the bass and floor tom.
It is pretty normal at this point that you will likely want to upgrade a few things. Anyhow, even if you don’t do it, it’s going to fulfill its purpose of practicing.
Some consumers suggest changing their heads, while some suggest changing the cymbals. But, again, cymbals are not that bad compared with other cheaper kits. Some bargain cymbals, usually included in very cheap kits, actually sound like you’re hitting trash can lids. When it comes to the Pearl Roadshow, this is not the case — they sound like proper cymbals.
And, the heads are all single-ply mylar, and they are also not that bad, especially since you are a beginner.
WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
Drum sizes:
- 22” x 16” bass drum
- 14” x 5.5” snare,
- 10” x 8” & 12” x 9” rack toms
- 16” x 16” floor tom
Hardware include:
- Cymbal stand
- Hi-hat stand
- Snare stand
- Two rack tom holder
- Kick pedal
- Drum throne
- 2 pairs of maple drumsticks
- Stick bag
Cymbals include:
- 16” crash cymbal
- 16” ride cymbal
- 14” Hi-hat
This kit has everything included. So you would not need to buy one single thing.
How To Set Up a Drum Set?
Usually, your drum parts are assembled upon arrival. It largely depends on the manufacturer and how they pack it, but this is the most common scenario.
In most cases, you will receive wood, drumhead, screws, and hoops separately. Unfortunately, this means you will need to compile the drum set on your own.
Step 1 - The bass drum
The bass drum has adjustable legs. The purpose of these is to secure your bass drum to the floor to prevent it from moving. That’s why it’s important to adjust the legs evenly, as uneven legs result in drum sets wobbling while playing.
Make sure the tip of the bass drum’s legs are embedded in the ground, so it does not slide. The kick drum should be located in the center of a drum kit.
Step 2 - Bass drum pedal
The bass drum pedal is attached to the hoop of the bass drum. You will notice a small rubber band. That’s the place where you shout put a bass drum pedal. You need to adjust only a few things, and you are good to go.
Step 3 - The snare drum
If your drumheads are on the snare drum, you need to put the snare drum on the stand, fix it and adjust the sound.
Here is how to do it.
Use the “throw off” (snare drum mechanism switch) to turn on or off the snare drum. This will control the snare drum wire and change the snare drum sound.
You can notice a little knob on the throw-off for adjusting the snare tension. Losing it up, you get sound with more snare “buzz.”
A snare drum should be placed a few inches above the child’s leg and positioned to enable a kid to hit the drum with either hand without being struck by the drum’s rim.
Step 3 - The toms
Let’s start with the floor tom.
Right-handed drummers place floor tom on the right. Floor tom stands on its legs. Pull them through holes on the side of a floor tom and tighten the knob.
While floor tom sits on the ground, toms are mounted on a rack placed on top of the bass drum.
Step 4 - The cymbals
The hi-hat stand comes in 3 sections.
Here is how to set up the hi-hat stand:
- Spread the legs and remove the top part of the base so you can insert and tighten the rod if it’s not already in the stand.
- Check out the hi-hat cymbals; top and bottom hats are marked. Take the bottom one and put it on top of the bass, on a felt.
- The top hi-hat should be placed in between clutch felts.
- Put a clutch with a cymbal in it on the road.
- Adjust the height by losing the bolt in the middle of the base.
- Step a little bit on a footboard and tighten the clutch
All the other cymbals are more simple to mount. Just put them in the middle of two cymbals felts, spread the stand legs and extend them, and you are ready to go.
See the image below to see where to place the cymbals.
Step 5 - Drum throne
Last but not least is the drum throne, which is crucial.
After putting the throne on its stand, you need to adjust the height by twirling to one side (usually). Some thrones have a memory lock so you can memorize the sitting height.
To dive deeper, read my article about How to sit properly on a drum throne.
How to start playing drums
After you finish assembling the drum set, your kiddo can start its first drumming lessons. It might sound intimidating at first, especially if parents have no drumming experience or music whatsoever.
But don’t worry. I got you covered. Today, thanks to the internet you can find out any information you need, thus start with simple practice with your little one on your own.
Simple rudiments to start with
You don’t have to have any musical background for this. As the name says itself, these simple rudiments are very easy and can be taught on your own. Let’s check them!
The single stroke roll is the most commonly played rudiment, so it is essential to learn whether you are a beginner or a pro.
Practice the same thing with your right and left hand as follows:
- Leading with your right: R L R L
- Leading with your left: L R L R
Double-Stroke Roll – This one is similar to the one above, although more difficult. For that reason, you need to master the single stroke first. Furthermore, with the double-stroke, you will be playing two strokes per hand as follows:
- Leading with your right: R R L L
- Leading with your left: L L R R
Single Paradiddle – The paradiddle combines single and double-strokes at once.
Interestingly, ‘para’ represents ‘single stroke, and ‘diddle’ means ‘double stroke.’
Practice like this:
- Leading with your right: R L R R L R L L
- Leading with your left: L R L L R L R R
Here are a few ways you can help your kiddo learn how to play drums:
One on one lesson
There is also an option for one-on-one lessons provided by the teacher. All you need to do is choose which one you want and start with.
You can find popular drummers holding such lessons all over the internet, but here is my advice to help you choose easily:
Video lessons
These lessons might be the most popular ones in the last few years. There are different types of lessons, from the ones at the very beginning to even more advanced ones.
Thanks to my colleagues, you can now watch online lessons and repeat them as much as you like on platforms like YouTube.
Find the lesson you need the most in some of these channels:
Electronic drums vs acoustic drums
As you step into the drumming world, you will hear many different opinions. While some are for acoustic drums, others are fans of electric drums.
It is actually a matter of preference, but overall, both have pros and cons. Let’s check them to get a wider picture.
Overall, it’s not rare to see a professional drummer opt for acoustic drums, while the younger generation might go for electric ones. But, at the end of the day, it’s totally up to you.
Buying used drums vs new
If drums are not damaged, there is almost no difference compared to a new set of drums.
However, be aware that you might need to change a few things. Usually, drumheads are the ones that need replacement. In addition, you will probably receive scratched and beat-up drum heads, so remember changing that.
You should pay attention to that the drums are in good condition. Ensure that they have not stayed in a basement for years, but they are rather taken care of promptly.
Why?
Because if drums are placed somewhere with moisture, it can affect the drums, their sound, and of course, wood condition.
What is the best age to start drumming?
Your kid can start as early as 6 years since this is the period when kids can fully concentrate from 12 to 30 minutes.
As the kid gets older, their concentration will increase. Finally, around the age of 10, the child should be able to concentrate for up to 45 minutes, which is exactly needed for a drumming lesson.
What I get with more expensive drum set?
The first and most important thing is the wood.
Generally, drum kits sold at a lower price usually consist of softer, easier-to-process woods like poplar. As a result, these drums have a somewhat weaker sound than their high-end counterparts.
Expensive drum kits are usually made of Maple. Maple is the premium wood preferred by many manufacturers because of its increased lower frequencies and balanced warm tones.
Bubinga and Mahogany are other woods with strong low-end frequencies. These types of wood are usually used as a final touch to the drums made of Maple since they look beautiful when finished.
However, besides great low frequencies, Maple also possesses a good balance of middle and high frequencies.
In the end, we have Birch drum shells, which are probably the most popular ones on the market. Birch trees are plentiful, making the wood more affordable. Birch drum sets usually have best sound for the money you pay.
How much space does a drum set take up?
Acoustic drums usually take up to 4 square meters of space.
If you live in a home where every inch matters, go with an electronic drum set. Acoustic drums are also much louder than electric, but fortunately, there are few ways to quiet them down.
How to quiet drum set?
Here are a few tips on how to make drums more suitable for the environment you live in:
-
When buying, look for a low volume cymbals;
-
Try using mesh drum heads on your acoustic set;
-
Use brushes or hotrods instead of sticks;
-
Dampen your bass drum using a towel, for example, or any other household objects. But be aware that this will affect the sound and the overall bounce of the sticks;
-
Use a set of practice rubber.
Let’s sum it up!
This article about the best beginner acoustic drum sets had the purpose of answering all the questions that you as a parent might have.
Starting with essential things about what to know before buying until the very setting of the drums.
If you are curious about the perfect time to start drumming, it would be around the kids’ 10th birthday. This is because the child develops enough concentration to focus completely on the lesson at this age.
Bear in mind that there is no significant difference between used drums and new drums, but there is a difference between acoustic vs. electric drums. While acoustic will give you the real feel, the electric will make less noise.
The basic parts of each and every drum kit are breakables, extensions, shells, and hardware. In addition, most drum kits include bass drum, snare, and tom. You usually need to make an extra purchase if you opt for a more expensive kit since they do not typically include cymbals or hardware.
Yes, these drums are more expensive even though they have less equipment. It is because expensive drum kits are made of higher quality wood like maple, while lower quality ones are made of poplar.
Let me know down below if you have any dilemmas or further questions.
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.
