Essential Drum Accessories for Beginners

Are you planning to go back to drumming or want to play drums for the first time, but not sure where to start and what to buy? In this article, we will share the list of essential drum accessories for beginners. 

Practice Pad and Pair of Sticks

When you start playing drums you are more focused on technique and whether you hold sticks right, as well as practicing counting, playing eighth and sixteenth notes. The best way to do it is practicing with specially designed pads. They mimic the rebound of a snare drum and are perfect for warm-ups. 

Drum pads are available in a wide range of designs and prices. If you’re a beginner, you can start with more budget-friendly models. For the cheapest option possible, you can even use your computer mouse pad lying it on any flat surface. Regarding sticks, use 5A sticks, known as middle-size, all-purpose sticks. They fit various genres and are especially good for those who are getting started with drumming. 

Bass Drum Pedal

In addition to working with your hands, as a drummer you should also learn how to work with your feet. You can start with buying a cheap bass pedal and then stabilize it using a piece of wood to make it reliably grounded and prevent any movement during practice. You can place it against an old couch or any other soft furniture to simulate the sound of a bass drum. You can even use a case for that purpose, using a blanket or a cloth around it to get a perfect quiet kick drum that feels like a real kick drum. With the pad, pair of sticks, and a pedal you already can practice some grooves and enhance your coordination. 

Drum Throne 

As your practice time increases, you should definitely think about buying a drum throne. The main reason for that is the posture issues. A high-quality drum stool will allow you to sit with your back straight and prevent pain in the low back areas, which is crucial during longer practice sessions. 

Regarding drum thrones, it’s significant to invest in a really good one, with padding. This will allow you practice for hours eliminating distractions and helping you focus only on music, without any health issues. To choose the best option for your needs, go to the music store and try a few of the available stools there, by sitting on them and compare how each one feels. A high-quality drum throne should be well-padded and sturdy, and, of course, it shouldn’t squeak too much.

Drum Set

As a beginner you can search for used drum sets, which you can buy just for around a thousand dollars. As long as their shells are good, you can always upgrade them for something better in the future. However, keep in mind that sometimes descriptions and pictures differ from what you may get in real life as some people may not be honest with you. So explore the seller’s reputation thoroughly and read feedback before purchasing the set. If you don’t want to risk it, you can buy a new drum set. 

Cymbals 

This is actually the first upgrade that musicians do, as the cymbals, which they get with the basic set, are often really cheap and sound not so good. You can use cheap cymbals for practicing and refining your drumming technique but as soon as you start playing in front of the audience, it’s significant to upgrade the basic set with high-quality cymbals. As an upgrade, cymbals do require money but that will definitely pay off with excellent sound as you can’t get a good sound from poor-quality cymbals. You can buy polished cymbals with a mirror-like surface, producing brighter tones with a shimmering effect, a longer sustain, and increased projection. Or you can opt for raw cymbals, producing warm and dark tones with reduced   high frequencies. 

Snare Drum 

The snare drum, which you get with your drum set, can be a really good one. However, you can replace the snare wires and heads. Unlike cymbals where cheap options result in poor sound, with the snare it’s easier to make a comparatively cheap snare drum sound better. You can opt for a metal snare if you play in loud music genres as these can cut through the mix of instruments pretty well with their bright sound. Alternatively, if you play in softer music genres, you can buy a wooden snare drum, which will offer a rounded tone. 

Metronome

Learning to play with a metronome will help you develop your internal clock and improve rhythm accuracy. You will resolve issues like speeding up during fills in song transitions  when you move from verse to chorus or from chorus to bridge. While you can allow yourself the freedom to play as you like during rehearsals, as soon as you arrive at the studio for a recording session you will need to play with a click track. Practicing with a metronome will prepare you for this situation and reduce your stress as you will already be trained to keep your rhythm perfectly.

Drumstick Bags 

Your drumsticks, especially if made from wood, can be very sensitive to environmental impacts. But even if you use carbon fiber models, you still need a reliable place to store and transport them, and what’s more to keep them organized and within easy reach. The best way to do it is by using compact drumstick bags if you use a small collection of sticks or large drumstick bags if you own a bigger collection of gear. Typically, large and small bags differ one another only in size and number of pockets for essentials. If you use just a pair of drumsticks, you may opt for a drumstick pouch, allowing you to keep two sticks secure. 

Conclusion 

Starting your journey as a drummer is exciting, but having the right gear is key to your progress, comfort, and enjoying your music. We hope this article has helped you with some insights on what you need as a beginner. With the basic drum set, high-quality cymbals, a sturdy drum throne, and a metronome you will definitely get more satisfaction from practices.  

Would you like more useful advice? Recently we have shared insights on Cymbals Every Jazz Drummer Needs. Feel free to read it to grab some tips before buying your first drum set.