How To Buy A Drum Kit For Your Child

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When is the right time to buy your kid their first drum set?

You’ll probably just know. There’s no right or wrong age or ability level that comes with having drums. If you see the sustained passion and drive in wanting a kit, that’s a good point to think of a window of time that’s comfortable for you: if your kid is still interested in, say, 6 months, it’s the right time to invest.

Once you’ve decided to buy a drum set, do you choose an electronic or acoustic kit?

Why you should get an electronic kit

• Most parents go for electronic drums because they sound awesome just by tapping them (and triggering preset sounds)
• They come with many creative sounds (like lasers and crickets) that are fun for kids
• They’re virtually silent and run through headphones
• You can fold them up and put them in the closet
• They don’t have that big of a footprint
• They come with built-in practice tools like metronomes and the ability to play along to a song and hear both the music and the drums at the same time

You should go with one of the three major brands: Roland, Yamaha, or Alesis. They all have great beginner kits that you can buy for around $500.

Why you should get an acoustic kit

They may be bigger, louder, and less easy to put away, but this is the instrument most of us want to play. When you sit down at an acoustic kit with real cymbals and vibrations and learn how to play with touch and feel, it’s a dream come true. The feeling of a real drum kit unfortunately just can’t be replicated on an electronic kit.

The big six brand names in acoustic drums are Yamaha, Pearl, Tama, Ludwig, Mapex, and Sonor. These hold great resale value, so if your kid ever decides drums aren’t for them after all, you shouldn’t have a problem selling them on your local classifieds.

Tips for buying drums for kids

It’s important to try and get smaller shell sizes, especially if your child is still very young. Avoid a bass drum bigger than 18″ and look for shallower toms that you can raise up as your child grows.

Many kits come with cymbals, but if they don’t, it’s important to at least get hi-hats, a crash cymbal, and a ride cymbal. Here are four entry-level cymbal packs that will have this combination, and they will sound great and work for many years:

• Sabian SBR/B8X
• Zildjian PLANET Z/ZBT
• Paiste PST3/PST5
• Meinl HCS

Drums and cymbals tend to hold their resale value, so you should search your local classifieds to see what’s available before you head to your nearest music store.

Check out our guide all about the best drum sets for kids!

Once you have a drum set, check out the courses and lessons on Drumeo. We also have a show called The Rhythmic Adventures of Captain Carson, which exposes kids to rhythms and drums in a fun and colorful way.

Download the Drumeo Kids app or check out all of the episodes in the Drumeo members area!

This video is part of a ‘quick tips’ series for parents to inspire kids to play drums:

1. How To Get Your Kid Interested In The Drums
2. How To Teach Kids Simple Rhythms
3. How To Make A Homemade Drum Set
4. How To Support Your Kid’s Passion For Drums
5. How To Encourage Your Child To Not Quit Drums

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Carson Gant wants you to one-up what you already know by exploring new, creative approaches while expanding your knowledge in the process. A trailblazer when it comes to the fun and relaxed way he teaches concepts, Carson was born to make people smile as they become better musicians with his help.