Best Drum Set Reviews 2023

The price of a drum set depends on a few different factors, most notably size, type, brand, and the level you’re playing at. Cheap drum sets can be had for $200 or less, but for the most part, they won’t come with everything you need for a satisfactory drumming experience. Junior and entry level drum kits start at roughly $300 and mostly come with drums, cymbals, necessary hardware such as the stand, but probably not the drum thrones (what you sit on). Decent intermediate drum kits are what you should really buy from the get go, because drums are somewhat easy to learn so you won’t have to upgrade anytime soon.

Expect to pay around $600 to $1000+ for an intermediate drum kit that comes with drums, shell pack, and cymbals. Seasoned drummers generally prefer to buy the shell pack (toms and bass drum) and hardware, and add other drums and components as they see fit. This type of professional drum set could cost between $3,000 and $5,000, and if your kid is drumming like Charlie Watts, this class of drum sets is what you should be considering.

Gone are the days of traditional drum sets, which came with just a pair of drums. Today’s sets can include sticks, hi-hat cymbals, even the throne, and some can even help you play arena-worthy beats.

That said, here are a few features to look for in a drum worthy set.

• Number of pieces –drum sets can be ordered in several different pieces such as three, six, and larger sets
• Acoustic or electric – the former does not have any electrical amplification, while the latter offers more possibilities
• Drum hardware –unless you’re are purchasing a shell pack, drum hardware can include the drum throne, bass drum pedal, and snare stand
• Cymbals –most of the best drum sets do come with these common percussion instruments, which are essential if you’d like to play different genres of music including jazz and R&B
• Drum Sticks –can be had in a plethora of sizes and shades, and allow you to play different styles of music
• Easy to assemble –each set should come with manufacturer assembly instructions
• Drum module –usually included with electric drums, and gives you access to sampled and synthesized drum sounds
• Floor tom vs. suspended tom –the former is more stable and easier to position, but the latter works well when space is tight
• Warranty –most modern drum sets come with some level of warranty against manufacture defects at the least

Drums belong to a family of percussion instruments that are an essential part of almost all music created across the globe. They are generally topped by a stretched membrane usually made from plastics such as polyester or Mylar, and referred to as the head that covers the top, bottom, or both ends of its body, also known as the shell. Furthermore, they can vary in shape and size, and you can choose from sets with several different pieces starting from 4, 5 and larger. The different types of drums included in a drum kit vary, but common ones are toms (either suspended or floor design), bass drums, and the snare drum.

When shopping for the best drum kits, you will hear the term “drum hardware” crop up often, which simply refers to components that position and support the drum set such as stand and drum throne. And lastly, you’ve got cymbals, which can be made from several different materials including copper and silver. The construction and design of electric drums somewhat differs when compared to acoustic drums as they are fitted with a set of pads rather than hollow shell.

One of the biggest questions you will be faced with when choosing the best drum set is how many pieces is just right for your skill level? Do you need 3, 4, 5, 6 pieces, or do you wish to go all out with a much larger kit to prevent upgrading a few months down the road? Small drum kits generally do not include tom-tom drums and consists of two pieces, making them easy to play in a standing position. Moving up a notch, three-piece drum sets are great for juniors or those simply getting their feet wet with drumming. Four, five, and seven-piece drum kits are a preferred choice for seasoned drummers as they allow them to play a wide range of music. After choosing the best drum configuration, you will to decide between an acoustic or electric drum set.

Acoustic drum sets are great for juniors and beginners, as they allow them to learn and perform buzz rolls, hi-hat cymbal techniques, drum rolls, and cross stick to a more realistic level compared to electric drums. Further, they are incredibly sensitive and subtle, and offer superb dynamics that aren’t possible to recreate with electronic drum sets. On the downside, acoustic drums are loud, but you can always add drum silencers to tone them down. Moving on to electric drums, perhaps the biggest advantage to them is the ability to turn down the volume or play them with headphones. Adding to this, they boast a smaller footprint that can be plugged in to other recording equipment for writing or practice sessions. Even though most electric drum kits are appointed with modules that allow you to experiment with a variety of inbuilt sounds and tones, they may not be able to fully match the quality of sound emitted by their acoustic counterparts.