Top 7 Best Acoustic Drum Set for Beginners

Getting started with any instrument is hard. Not only are you presented with a completely unfamiliar new object which you have to master, but you don't really know that much about it to begin with. This is even more amplified when you start looking into drums. Because of that, we've put together this short guide that starts off with our picks for the top 7 best acoustic drum set for beginners. Some are designed to get you started while some are among the best acoustic drum sets on the market. Later on we'll go deeper into the subject of drums.

Top 7 Best Acoustic Drum Set for Beginners:

Image	Acoustic Drum Set / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Yamaha Stage Custom Total of 4.63/5	One of the most flexible platforms you can start with from scratch.	Amazon
+ -	Tama IP52KCHLB Imperialstar Total of 4.65/5	A very reasonably priced, complete kit comprised of high quality quality components.	Amazon
+ -	Pearl RS525SCC706 Roadshow Total of 4.55/5	A very capable drum set that is packed with cost effective solutions.	Amazon
+ -	Ludwig Accent Series LC17514 Total of 4.30/5	(Content Missing)	Amazon
+ -	Ddrum D120B BR D Total of 4.13/5	A very balanced kit that comes with everything you’d need to start.	Amazon
+ -	Gammon Percussion Full Size Set Total of 3.97/5	An affordable solution for those who want to hit the ground running.	Amazon
+ -	LAGRIMA 5 Piece Full Size Drum Set Total of 3.67/5	A basic yet surprisingly capable drum set for those on a budget.	Amazon

Beginner’s Intro To Drums

Acoustic drums are a very old instrument that has been around for a very long time in one shape or another. The drums we know and use today are a relatively recent invention. One of the byproducts of the fact that modern drums are an essential part of most current genres is high diversity of designs. Not only does every brand have their own take on the modern drums design, but you also have to take the drum configuration into the equation. The purpose of this guide is going to be to introduce you to both the terminology and standard practices most modern drummers stick to. By the time you are done reading this guide, you should have a good understanding of what a proper beginner models should look like. Before we get to any specifics, lets touch upon different types of drums you will find in the beginner segment.

Complete Sets VS Shells

One of the very first things you need to look out for are shell packs. Often deliberately marketed as complete sets, shell packs only include drum shells. In other words, you don’t get the hardware, the cymbals or anything other the shells themselves. Because of that, the very first thing you should check for when looking at a specific drum set is whether it is a complete set or just a shell pack.

Budgeting For The Right Kit

Drums are generally not cheap. This applies to both higher end models as well as beginner ones. As you can tell by our list alone, there are some exceptions to this rule but those are rare. The price of drums is definitely one of the biggest obstacles new drummers have to deal with. Here’s what it comes down to. Most affordable models are going to cost around $500. Drum sets under $1000 are already lower mid range.

Once you decide to go for something better, you will have to invest into drum sets under $2000, which is where the mid and upper tier models can be found. As always, there is one rule that can significantly reduce the complexity of your entire shopping experience. Just like with any other musical instrument, get the best model your money can buy. We say this even though drums offer many upgrade paths. Starting out with the best kit you can afford simply puts you in the best possible position if you want to build upon that specific kit.

What Constitutes a Drum Kit?

Before we go any further, we need to quickly define what constitutes a drum kit. We aren’t looking for a textbook definition here, but rather a simple rundown of the components and elements which make up a drum kit. There are essentially four different component types in every kit. You have the shells, hardware, heads and cymbals.

Shells


Shells are arguably the main driving force behind an acoustic drum kit. Made out of solid wood or laminate, these come in different sizes depending on your kit’s configuration and main purpose. As you evolve your skills and develop a style of your own, you will figure out the perfect shell configuration that best suits your needs. As a beginner, all you really need is something that is reliable and decent in quality. Everything else comes in at a distant second place.

Hardware

Hardware is the backbone of every drum kit. Drums would be useless without it since you can’t really play any of the drums if they are laying on the floor. Instead, you need means of propping them up, positioning them so that you are comfortable during use and most importantly, keeping them reliably in said position. The hardware usually found on beginner kits is decent for the most part. Chances are that you won’t find heavy duty stuff in this category as the materials used in production of higher end hardware simply push the price tag far above what most beginners are willing to spend. Reliable hardware is a must.

Drum Heads

Much like strings on a guitar, drum heads are there to produce and shape the sound. These come in a variety of styles and versions, depending on the manufacturer you choose. Most beginner kits come with no name heads and that is perfectly fine. As a beginner you will spend a lot of time developing proper technique, which includes knowing exactly how to hit those heads. This is important because drum heads are generally very easy to break if you are being too aggressive with your stick angle or force. It is much better to destroy a set of no name heads than to pay a lot of an aftermarket set, pay some one to tune it, only for you to break it. Keep in mind that drum heads can be expensive as they are meant to last for a pretty long time.

On a different note, just changing the factory heads for an aftermarket set can significantly improve the sound and intonation of your set. Even if that set is an entry level affordable one. More advanced heads are easier to tune, hold tuning much better and generally respond better on under the stick as well. As long your kit sports standardized shell sizes, you will be able to find an abundance of aftermarket heads which will fit your kit.

Cymbals

Cymbals are by far one of the most important elements on any drum. These not only add flavor to the percussive performance of drums, but they can absolutely shape the way the entire set feels and sounds. Cymbals come in a large array of shapes, forms, and sizes. With that said, the most important cymbals you will work with as a beginner are the hi-hat, crash and ride. Some additional types of cymbals include splash cymbals, china cymbals and more. One more thing to keep in mind is that cymbals are the easiest way of spicing up the sound of your kit. Standardized stands and hardware will allow you to mount just about any cymbal you decide to go for.

Finding The Right Drum Configuration

If there is one piece info which should have stuck with you by now, it is that drums are a very modular musical instrument. You have the complete freedom to choose which components you want to have and how you want to position them. With that said there are some unwritten rules which affect process of configuring your drum set. These rules are deeply rooted in technique and tradition. It is worth mentioning that they are pretty flexible and still allow you to fully express yourself as a drummer. Let's take a look at some of the most common drum configurations out there.

The Core Configuration

Before we even touch upon the more complicated stuff, we have to define the core drum configuration. In other words, a set of components which every single drum kit out there needs to have no matter what kind of music you are playing, what style you’re using or what technique you prefer. Every single kit out there needs to have a kick drum, a snare drum and a hi hat cymbal. These three components will allow you to keep up with most if not all genres of music out there. Naturally, you will be working with rather basic drum lines and patterns, but you will be able to lay down a good foundation for the rest of the band.

Modern Rock Configuration

One of the most often used configurations is what many call the advanced rock layout. It consists of the core components which we have just talked about with the addition of a floor tom, high tom and mid tom. Cymbals have also received a reinforcement in the shape of a crash and ride unit in addition to the hi hat. You will notice that most current kits out there feature this exact configuration or something very similar to it. The reason for this is quite simple. This layout of shells and cymbals offer the best bang for the buck without stepping into seriously complex configurations.

Accessories

The most overlooked aspect of buying your first drum kit are the accessories. This is where things such as a throne, sticks and more come into play. These accessories also happen to be the one thing you don’t want to skimp on for a number of reasons.

The Throne

Drum thrones are important. More important than many drummers like to think. The truth is that your posture and comfort directly affect your playing ability, the quality and precision of your technique and more. The very first step in establishing good posture and comfort is to choose a good throne. So what makes a good throne, you might wonder? Not much. All it really needs is to be height adjustable, robust enough to take on prolonged use, and padded enough to ensure a decent level of comfort. It is worth mentioning that there are various types of thrones out there, but we strongly suggest that you stick to the basic design. That way you will learn exactly which feature you want or don’t want in your throne.

Sticks

Drum sticks are an expendable piece of gear. When you are just starting out, you will definitely break a few of these. That is perfectly normal. What you need to pay attention to is the fact that drum sticks come in different sizes, gauges and more. We strongly suggest that you go with number 5A sticks and use them until you figure out what best fits your hands.

Double Kick Pedals

One of the more interesting pieces of kit you can get for drums is the double kick pedal.The difference between the standard and a double model is that it comes with two heads, each being controlled by a dedicated pedal. These are something that is mostly used in rock and metal music. If you are planing on playing these genres for the most part, you might as well invest in a decent double kick pedal.

Conclusion

At the end of the day beginner kits are a great place to start your adventure. These offer a very inexpensive ticket into drumming, and a good foundation to start on. The models we have shown you today are easily some of the best. You’re looking at reputable kits made by reputable brands who have done a great job at finding the best ratio of quality and price. The only thing you’re really left with doing is finding the model that best fits your preferences. Chances are that you won’t be disappointed with quality or the performance you get.