Drum Kit Buyer's Guide

If this is the first time you’re purchasing a drum kit instrument and you’re feeling overwhelmed, you come to the right place. 

Before you embark on your journey, you must first make the decision if Acoustic or Electronic Drum Kits are right for you. If you are concerned about noise in the home for younger children or if you’re in an apartment and don’t want to get noise complaints from the neighbours, then electronic may the right choice for you. Also, if space is an issue, the electronic drum kits are more compact and easily transportable to fold up neatly in storage. Electronic drum kits allow you to listen through speakers or headphones so late night practice can be possible and noise will be very minimal. 

Acoustic Kits are LOUD. So if noise is a problem, stay away from Acoustic Kits. There are mutes you can buy on the market but it takes away all the tone away from the instrument. To learn the best technique, you will need an Acoustic Drum Kit to take your playing to the next level. The feeling of the Acoustic kit cannot be replicated on an electronic kit. 

A drum kit can be quite complicated and are not like any other instrument. Drum kits have many pieces needed to form a kit and in many cases these pieces are sold separately. Some music stores sell package deals where everything is included so just double check with the sales rep what you may still need to complete the set.

Acoustic Kits:

In a nut shell (pardon the pun). Drums are broken down in to these parts:

Shells – Includes Snare, three Toms and a Bass Drum. Also known as a 5-piece Kit

Cymbals – Includes Hi-Hat, Crashes and a Ride Cymbal

Hardware – Includes Hi Hat Stand, Bass Drum Pedal, Cymbal Stands and Drum Throne (seat)

Recommendation for products:

Budget Friendly:

https://www.turramusic.com.au/yamaha-rydeen-drum-kit-fusion

Comes with everything you need at an entry level. 

Committed Students:

Shells and Hardware (needs drum throne and an extra cymbal stand)

https://www.turramusic.com.au/yamaha-stage-custom-birch-fusion-kit

Cymbals:

https://www.turramusic.com.au/zildjian-a-cymbal-pack

Electonic Kits:

Majority of electronic drum kits come with everything you need except for:

Speaker/headphones, Drum Throne, Bass Pedal and Hi Hat Stand (although some types of electronic drum kits do not need Hi Hat Stands).

Here’s My Recommendations:

Comes everything you need except drum throne and Bass Pedal.

https://www.turramusic.com.au/yamaha-dtx6k2-x

Equivalent alternative but a little more expensive, comes everything you need except Drum throne, Bass Pedal and Hi-Hat stand.

https://www.turramusic.com.au/roland-td-17kvx2

Speaker:

https://www.turramusic.com.au/roland-pm-100

(you’ll need an instrument cable to plug the drums into the amp)