How to Choose a Drum Set

Thank you for visiting. Since we receive a surprisingly large number of inquiries like this, we’ve created this page. We often have customers come into our store who are “buying a drum set for the first time.” Everyone has different reasons—some need one for school, others are starting a band with friends, and still others are buying one because a younger classmate or child is taking up the instrument, and so on.

While beginners often think “used instruments” are difficult to handle, many customers actually feel free to stop by our store and, when they’re unsure, simply ask a nearby staff member for help in selecting an instrument.

1 1st Drum Sticks As expected, drumsticks take the top spot on the list. Our “3 sets for 1,000 yen” super-value drumsticks are a huge hit with students on their way home from school! 2 2nd Snare Drums As the most commonly used drum, many customers tell us, “I want one that suits my taste.” From budget-friendly snare drums to professional-grade models, you can take your time browsing our extensive selection. 3 No. Kick Pedal Many customers want to “choose the one that’s right for them,” considering factors like how it feels to play. Even office workers on their way home from work take their time selecting the perfect one. 4 Rank Cymbals and Cymbal Stands Our store boasts one of the largest inventories of used cymbals in Tokyo. Both first-time buyers and regulars mingle here, searching for their favorite piece. Our great-value cymbal stands are also popular. 5 No. Drum Sets Between you and me, used drum sets are actually “quite a bargain.” We’ve even had customers come in shortly after we posted them on our website and carry them home with their bandmates!

So, when you think of drums or drummers, what comes to mind?
Is it a rock band’s energetic drummer? A massive drum set and a flashy performance? Or perhaps a technically flawless drummer or a master of the perfect groove?

There are many styles, but there’s no doubt that the drummer is the star of the band. As anyone who’s seen a live performance knows, the sound is simply massive. The “raw sound” of the drums is actually louder than even the highest-volume electric guitars. It’s absolutely incredible. It’s also a role that embodies the “primitive, ancient instinct” of striking objects—making it a very human part of the band.
They also serve as the leader who drives the entire band forward. If you’re still thinking, “Isn’t the drummer just the person sitting in the back?” I highly recommend going to a live show to hear a “live performance.” Of course, you can experience wonderful performances on CDs or YouTube as well. But at a live show, you can truly feel the overwhelming power and thrill that real drums possess. If you’re thinking of getting started, be sure to check out a live show!

There’s so much music out there these days, with rhythms in all kinds of styles.
Drummers come in all styles, and you can set up your drum kit however you like.
In this column, we’re focusing on the most basic drum setups and equipment.

 

A long time ago, when a senior drummer told me, “Grab that hi-hat over there,” my mind went completely blank—I thought, “HI-HAT?!...”
I felt the same way, but for those touching a drum set for the first time, it’s an instrument with an especially large number of parts, and with all the unfamiliar terminology (names of equipment), some of you might think, “This is so hard!”

But don’t worry! Even professional drummers were all beginners at first. If you learn little by little, I think you’ll discover the fun of drumming while enjoying the process.

A simple three-piece set, common in oldies and jazz styles

Acrylic drums, which were used in old-school hard rock. They really stand out when combined with stage lighting.

 

This is a massive drum set from the 1980s, the heyday of stadium rock concerts.

 

There are many different types of drum sets, but you’ll likely start with a standard four-piece set like the one in the photo on the right.

 

Of all the drums in a drum set, the snare drum is the one used most often. The snare drum plays a very important role in the drum set. This is because, during a band’s ensemble playing, the other members use “the sound of this snare drum” as a rhythmic reference. Since it’s the most frequently used drum, it’s positioned right in front of the drummer. The snare drum also has a distinctive appearance compared to the other drums, featuring a metal resonating wire called a “snappy” on the underside. It has a metal resonating wire called a “snappy” on the underside. This can be engaged or disengaged using a lever on the side. When the snappy is engaged, it produces a unique, high-pitched sound. Band members use this high-pitched sound as their reference point.

This is the largest drum in the set and produces the lowest sound. Since it’s played with the foot, it’s also known as the “kick.” It’s usually placed right in the center of the drum set. Because it’s played using a kick pedal, it’s set up horizontally.

This is the drum that produces the second-lowest sound in the drum set, after the bass drum.
Most have three legs on the side of the drum and are usually positioned to the drummer’s right.
Rock drummers sometimes set up two of these in different sizes.

This drum is smaller than a floor tom. The smaller it is, the higher the pitch. It is mounted on the bass drum using a tom holder and is generally positioned directly in front of the drummer.
*By the way, the “high tom” mentioned at the beginning refers to the smaller of the two toms.

1. Butter Side: The head (skin) you hit.
2. Hoop: The frame that holds the drum head (skin) in place.
3. Shell: The main body of the drum. It has a cylindrical shape.
4. Snare Side: The bottom head, where the snare wires are tensioned.

5. Lug: A mounting point used to secure the hoop. The hoop is fastened using bolts.
"Tube lugs" that have minimal contact with the shell

 

6. Snare: Refers to the metal snare wires.

 

7. Strainer: A switch that turns the snare wire ON (in contact) or OFF (out of contact).

 

8. Mute: Located inside the drum. It consists of felt material pressed against the drumhead from the inside to suppress unwanted high-frequency sounds. This helps create a more cohesive sound.

* Its position can be adjusted using the screw on the outside.

 

There are various types of shells and parts. Each part has its own unique characteristics and plays a crucial role in determining the sound. However, we’ll wrap up the discussion on parts for now.
We’ll cover that topic in more detail later.

That covers the drums in a drum set.

You can choose the size and number of drums in a drum set according to your preferences. For example, some players use two bass drums (called a “double bass” setup) or arrange many toms of different sizes to create a musical scale. Also, when a set has many drums, the individual pieces are often mounted on a large frame called a drum rack.

This is a double-bass drum set, primarily used by heavy rock drummers.

If you’re really into it, you could even set up a kit like this! Though you rarely see anything quite like this in practice…

 

Haven’t you often seen drum products labeled “20,” “16,” or “14”?
These numbers represent the drum’s diameter and depth (height). I’m sure you’re all used to expressing sizes in terms like “20 cm” or “16 cm.” The apostrophe “” is called an inch. By the way, 1 inch is approximately 2.54 cm. Once you get used to it, you’ll be able to visualize the size even when using inch notation.

The top is in inches and the bottom is in centimeters.

Just like drums, cymbals have different roles depending on their size and shape.
Some are used to keep a steady rhythm, others to emphasize accents, and still others to create a flashy sound or showcase the drummer’s individuality.

These are cymbals used in a stacked pair. The top one is called the top hat, and the bottom one is called the bottom hat. Its role is to keep a precise rhythm.

There is a pedal under the hi-hat stand, which is used to control whether the hi-hat is open or closed.

There are also hi-hats like this. The “Sound Edge,” which features a unique wavy shape on the bottom hat. Compared to standard hi-hats, it produces a sharper sound. When compared to a standard hi-hat, you can see that the bottom hat has a wavy shape.

 

This is the cymbal with the largest diameter. Its primary role is to keep the rhythm. It is generally positioned on the drummer’s right side.

 

A cymbal smaller than the ride. Its main role is to provide accents. Typically, a set consists of two cymbals of different sizes. The larger one is placed on the drummer’s right side (near the floor tom), and the smaller one on the left side (near the hi-hat).

By the way, the one on the left is a 16" crash, and the one on the right is an 18" crash.

 

● Effect Cymbals

This is a general term for cymbals that produce flashy, distinctive sounds. They emphasize accents in a performance or liven up the music with their striking sound. They’re also a way for players to express their individuality.

Let’s take a look at some representative examples.

China: It has a distinctive appearance, so you can tell it’s a China cymbal at a glance. It produces a very flashy sound and is used to emphasize accents. It’s even more powerful than a crash cymbal when it comes to highlighting the same accents.

 

Splash: These are very small and thin cymbals. They are characterized by a relatively soft sound and short sustain. Compared to other cymbals, they produce a sound that consists almost entirely of the initial attack when struck. These cymbals are used not only by drummers but also by percussionists (*). In such cases, because they are thin, they are sometimes struck by hand.

 

Effect cymbals are essentially open-ended; they can range from those with intentionally drilled holes or cut-out sections to create interesting sounds, all the way to highly unique designs.

*Percussionist: A percussionist is a musician who plays instruments other than a drum set. They are commonly found in Latin bands. They collect and play their favorite instruments, such as bongos, congas, the currently popular djembe, and cajón. The variety of instruments available is even greater than that of drums.

 

The chair a drummer sits on. They range from simple, round chairs to ones with backrests.

 

Finally, let’s take a look at the drumsticks and kick pedal, which the drummer operates directly.

When you’re just starting out on the drums, the first thing you’ll buy is a pair of drumsticks.
Names

Drummers vary in hand size and arm strength. Personal preferences also play a role, so there are many different types of drumsticks available.

Here, let’s take a look at some of the most common types.

Material ・Hickory:     The most commonly used wood for drumsticks. It offers excellent strength and has the flexibility to absorb impact. ・Maple: It is hard and lighter than hickory. However, one drawback is that it’s lightweight but prone to breaking . ・Oak: A very hard and heavy wood. It is resistant to breaking, offers excellent durability, and allows for powerful

Tip Shape

The larger the striking surface, the more powerful and full-bodied the sound, with greater stability in volume and other aspects.
The smaller the striking surface, the more delicate and sharp the sound; you can vary the tone depending on the angle.

Nylon Tip
Sticks with a nylon tip. They produce a clearer cymbal sound, are more durable than wooden sticks, and offer a more stable tone.

Other Sticks

Brushes:

Commonly used by jazz drummers. As the name suggests, the tips are brush-shaped. They’re not just for striking—they also allow for unique playing techniques, such as the “slide” technique, where the brush is swept across the surface.

We’ve taken a look at sticks, and as you can see, there are many different types. There are also signature models (artist models) developed in collaboration with artists.

For those who are unsure which ones to choose, we recommend starting with the signature model of your favorite drummer and gradually finding the ones that suit you best.