Parts of a drum set

The seven core components

Below is every component of a standard kit, in the order a drummer typically reaches for them in a basic groove.

1. Snare drum — The voice of the kit. A wood or metal shell with a wire 'snare' stretched across the bottom head; the snare creates the characteristic sharp, crisp sound when the top is struck. The first drum your hand reaches for in any beat.
2. Bass drum (kick) — The biggest drum, played with a foot pedal. Provides the low-end pulse that locks the rhythm to the bass guitar. A standard rock kick is 22 inches in diameter; jazz kicks run smaller, metal kicks larger.
3. Hi-hat — A pair of cymbals mounted on a stand with a foot pedal that opens and closes them. The hi-hat keeps time in most genres — the constant pulse beneath everything else.
4. Ride cymbal — The largest cymbal in the kit, typically 20-22 inches. Used for sustained timekeeping with the right hand on the bow of the cymbal. Read more in our ride cymbal guide.
5. Crash cymbal(s) — Smaller, thinner cymbals (16-18 inches) used for accents and dramatic moments. Most kits have one or two; bigger setups have four or five.
6. Rack toms — The two drums mounted above the bass drum — usually 10 and 12 inches. Tuned higher than the floor tom; used for fills.
7. Floor tom — The largest tom, sat on legs to the drummer's right. Typically 14 or 16 inches; tuned low. The deep voice in any drum fill.

Hardware: the things that hold it together

Beyond the drums and cymbals themselves, every kit needs hardware: a hi-hat stand, two cymbal stands (one for the ride, one for the crash), a snare stand, a kick pedal, and a drum throne. A 5-piece kit with cymbals and hardware represents the working drummer’s starting point. Our cost calculator walks through what each component runs.

Optional additions

Once the core kit is set, drummers add specialty components based on what their music needs: splash cymbals (small, fast accents), china cymbals (trashy, aggressive), cowbell, tambourine, electronic sample pads, additional rack toms, double-kick pedals, and more. The phrase “5-piece kit” is a starting point, not a destination.

Drum set parts vs drum kit parts — is there a difference?

No. “Drum set parts” and “drum kit parts” describe the same components — the terms are used interchangeably across the industry. “Drum set” is more common in the United States; “drum kit” is more common in the UK and Europe. The drums themselves, the cymbals, the hardware, and the throne are identical regardless of which term you read on a manufacturer’s product page or in a drum-shop catalogue.

For clarity in this guide, we’re using both terms interchangeably from this point on. If you searched for “drum kit parts” or “drum set parts” or “parts of drums” or “drum components,” this page covers all of those queries with the same answer.

The two categories: drums and cymbals

Every drum kit splits into two component categories that are tuned, mounted, and replaced differently.

Drums (the percussive shells): snare, bass drum (kick), rack toms, floor tom. All four use a tunable head on a wooden or metal shell; the head is what wears out and gets replaced. Drum heads (Remo, Evans, Aquarian) are sized to the shell diameter and last anywhere from 6 months (snare batter under heavy use) to several years (resonant heads).

Cymbals (the metal voices): hi-hat, ride, crashes, plus the optional splashes and chinas. All cymbals are bronze (B20 alloy for premium, B8 for entry-level) and don’t have replaceable parts — you replace the whole cymbal when it cracks or when you outgrow its sound. Cymbals are the most expensive single category in a kit and last decades when treated correctly.