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What is a drum kit?
A drum kit (also known as a drum set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and other percussion instruments that are set up on stands to be played by a single player. Drumsticks are held in both hands and the feet operate pedals that control the hi-hat cymbal and the beater for the bass drum. A standard modern kit (used in popular music and taught in music schools) contains a snare drum, a bass drum, two or more toms, a hi-hat and one or more cymbals. Drum kits are available in acoustic form or electronic form.
To learn about the history to the drums click here.
Acoustic vs Electronic
There are pros and cons to both types of drum kits, and the kit that is best for you will depend on a variety of factors. Acoustic kits are much larger and therefore require more space and they are not as easy to transport from one place to another if you want to be a live musician. They are also much louder in volume which can cause hearing damage if you do not protect your ears effectively, and it can cause issues with your neighbours if your playing area is not soundproofed. However they feel much more natural to play and they provide instant, accurate feedback on your playing and technique.
Electronic kits are much smaller and tend to fold away, meaning that it is much easier to find space for a kit in your home and it is much quicker to pack them away and transport them from place to place if you're playing live. Whilst they still make some noise, they are much quieter than acoustic kits meaning that you are less likely to suffer hearing damage and your neighbours likely wont hear you playing at all. Electronic kits have many features including; allowing you to alter the sound of each element, you can connect your mp3 device to play along with music, and they have a metronome built in to develop your timing. You can also connect the kit directly to your computer for recording purposes. However, they are generally more expensive than acoustic kits and they do not feel as natural or realistic when playing. Electronic pads are also not as responsive as acoustic drums so they can mask mistakes in your technique and timing issues.
Why learn to play the drums?
- Learn a new skill
- Improve coordination
- Improve concentration
- Burn calories
- Reduce stress
- and finally...
- It's fun!
For more examples click here.
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