Humans have been using numerous variations of drums to create music for almost 165 000 years. It does not mean that they played a modern drum kit somewhere in Ancient Egypt. On the contrary, the drum kit as we know it now was invented close to the modern days, nearly 100 years ago. During these years, it faced multiple updates. Nowadays, you can choose the pieces that you will use in your drum kit.
What Do We Call a Drum Kit?
A drum kit or drum set is a certain number of drums and cymbals which are set up on stands near each other. They are all played by one player who must reach every instrument using the drumsticks. The kit contains drums and idiophones, like cymbals. Modern drum kits may also include electronic instruments, cowbells, or woodblocks. You may find more information about the drum kit differences and learn how to play it on the Simply Drum website.
Parts of Classic Drum Kit
The drum kit contains a specific number of instruments. It is named based on the pieces it has. To calculate them, just add all the drums to the total sum, ignoring cymbals. You may also calculate toms and add 2, for the bass and snare drum. If you count 5 toms, you have an extended 7-piece kit. If there is only 1 tom, 1 snare drum, and 1 bass drum, this is a 5-piece kit. The most popular and classic option is a 5-piece kit, which includes 3 toms, a snare drum, and a bass drum. It also has hi-hats and cymbals, yet they do not count as “pieces”. Pay attention to the fact that you can have even 100 cymbals near your drums, but they still should not be counted as pieces.
Bass drum
A bass drum is a basic component and the biggest drum in the kit. It is also known as the kick drum, as you have to use the foot pedal attached to the hoop to make the bit. Sometimes it has a hole in the front head.
Snare drum
This is an important instrument in your kit that stands in the center. The classic size is 14 inches in diameter and 6 inches in depth. It has either a wooden or metal shell.
Tom Toms
They come in different sizes. In a 5-piece kit, you have low or floor tom, mid, and high toms. They can be attached to the cymbal stand. A floor tom usually stands on its 3 legs on the floor.
Cymbals
You may add as many cymbals as you like to equip your drum kit. The most popular options are:
- Ride cymbals of 20 inches large, which you can place on your right;
- Crash cymbals are smaller than ride cymbals. Their length is 16 inches on average. They help to create accent notes in music.
The Drum Kit You Need
You can start with a basic 5-piece kit and extend it to 7-piece if you want. Add as many cymbals as you need to improve your music. If you don’t have all the drums you want in the set, don’t worry, you can always buy them. The items can be made by different manufacturers. No matter which kit you pick, keep in mind that all the instruments you play must be easy to reach sitting on the chair. Don’t forget to place them near the right hand. Some cymbals can be easily played with your right hand; others can be played with both or left hand. Choose your drum kit wisely, and nothing will stop you from becoming a great musician.
