Drumming 101: Introduction to Drum Setup

Have you ever noticed that loud, noisy instrument when bands play their songs? That is a drum kit, also known as drum set, kit, or simply just drums. A drum kit is a collection of snares, cymbals, and other percussion instruments played using both drumsticks and pedals. Different drummers prefer different drum kits. Setting up a drum kit is not as easy as it seems, it involves harmony in sight and sound. The pieces of the kit should be well-tuned and the overall aesthetic appeal should be good.

Before you even think of actually setting up a kit, conceptualize your kit first. Establish your comfort zone (nothing should be too hard or too awkward to hit) and visualize your setup. Now that you have a basic concept of what pieces to include, examine them. Check your pieces for wear and tear. Doing so will help prevent further damage and/or accidents.

Now that you have a blueprint of your preferred setup, you are now ready to build a basic kit. With safety in mind, place a non-slip mat in areas you would want to build around. This step prevents slipping and ensures more safety. Place the throne (seat) in the middle of the mat. Establish a comfortable sitting position since pedals are placed where your feet are rested. Then place the bass drum and its pedal (the pedal is used to hit the bass) in front of your right foot. On the opposite foot, place the hi-hat its pedal, and its stand. Now that you have two pedals which your feet can reach and step on, place the snare drum (and its stand) in between your legs. Lastly, place the ride cymbal to your right. The ride serves as an alternative to plating the hi-hat. What you have just built is a basic, four-piece kit. Others also use a five-piece kit, attaching either a tom on top of the bass or placing a floor tom to the right of the bass.

To produce different sounds, additional pieces are available. The most common additions are cymbals: the crash, china and splash. The crash and its stand are placed on the left, close to the toms or hi-hat. The crash is used for accents. The china is placed to the right. It is used to produce dark and crisp tones. Splashes may be placed close to the crash or hi-hat. Tambourines and chimes are also a welcome addition. Normally, tambourines are placed on the same stand as the hi-hat. Chimes are placed to the left of the hats. Chimes are used for a dramatic effect in ending songs. Woodblocks and cowbells may also be used. These are usually placed near the ride. Some drummers also place an additional bass drum pedal beside the hi-hat pedal to allow a double-bass drum style of play.

Now that you have your basic (or advanced) kit, you are almost done with your setup. All that are left to do are the sound check and final touches. The first thing to do in the sound check is to strike the pieces and check if they produce the sounds you want. The tom toms, bass and snare have tension rods, and adjusting those would adjust the pieces’ tone. The snare also has a throw-off lever. Adjusting the lever will make the snare sound muffled or not. The hi-hat has a clutch. The pedal, when stepped, closes the hat, and when released, opens it. To adjust the hat, step on the pedal and adjust the clutch until the desired hat opening is achieved. Finally, tightening or loosening the cymbal clamp holders and/or tilting the cymbals adjust their sound.

Different drummers have different kits. Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers has a pretty simple kit while Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater has an exotic, multi-piece kit. The pieces you need for your kit are dependent on your preferred genre of music, your style of play, and your budget for pieces. Keep in mind, cymbals and other peripherals are quite expensive. For help and information on drum setups, you may visit http://www.sabian.com/EN/setupbuilder. This site gives information and prices on pieces. Additionally, this site has a virtual drum kit builder to help you conceptualize, should you need it.

So that is it! You are now ready to rock and roll all night, as well as party every day. Just remember that a kit is visually appealing and musically in-sync; it must not only look good, but it must sound good as well. So, good luck and keep on drumming!