Parts of a Drum Kit
Learn the parts of a drum kit and how to play the drums
Here we are learning the parts of a drum kit so you know your way around the instrument. We will learn what each section of the drum kit is called, where it it positioned and how to play it.
We will also delve into technique so we can grasp the basics of how to play it.
If you are a beginner drummer looking to start learning drums then this is crucial knowledge.
The main parts of a drum kit are:
- Snare drum
- Bass drum
- Tom toms
- Hi-hat
- Crash cymbals
- Ride cymbal
You can have as many toms as you want but the two most common options are to have two toms or three toms. When you combine the toms with the bass drum and snare drum the number of items corresponds to the kit configuration terminology. When you go to a drum shop you will here the terms ‘five piece kit’ and ‘four piece kit’. This refers to the number of drums and does not include the cymbals or hardware (hardware consists of the metal stands, bass pedal, etc). So a standard five piece kit consists of a snare drum, bass drum and three toms. A four piece drum kit consists of a snare drum, bass drum and two toms.
You can also have as many cymbals as you want and this gives you extra tonal options. But all we really need for most drumming applications is a hi-hat, a crash cymbal; and a ride cymbal. These are the core cymbal types.
You can get additional effects cymbals such as china crashes, splashes (small crashes) and stacks which are two cymbals clamped together to create a dry trashy sound. But thee are not required for most drumming applications.
If you want further help learning about the drum kit you might be interested in these articles as well:
How to attach a bass drum pedal
But for now watch the video below to learn about the different parts of a drum kit. Get to know your instrument and understand how it works. Then we’re ready to start drumming and make sure you progress consistently. One of the hardest things for new drummers is gaining an understanding of the basics and staying motivated. You will come across hurdles as you learn and many new drummers give up because they don’t have a clear path of progression to follow.
This is where drum lessons are so crucial in the early stages because they give you that path of progression as well as teaching you the correct techniques so you don’t learn any bad habits which stunt your progress later down the line.
To read which drum kit you should buy for kids read this.
If you want to start your drum lessons for FREE click below.
Let’s watch the video to learn all the different parts of the drum kit. Click below to watch it and hear how it sounds when played together.
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