Drum Performance Starting from Zero - Required Equipment

I’m going to show all of you several useful things that you will need to have so that you too can finally start playing drums.

Drumsticks

The first must-have item for drummers is of course drumsticks!
Needless to say, drums can’t be played without drumsticks. In fact, it might even be easier to train your sense of rhythm just by practicing with drumsticks first, so please purchase a good pair of drumsticks first.

Here are some recommended models.

VIC FIRTH / 5A Drumstick

The 5A model from VIC FIRTH are your standard drumsticks. These drumsticks are made of hickory, one of the most common choices of wood used for drumsticks. Size 5A is easy to hold, so it is a good solid pair of drumsticks to have in your collection that you will build later on.

TECHRA / CARBON PRO 5A

The CARBON PRO 5A drumsticks are made of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber achieves consistent quality for each drumstick, and it is extremely durable.
This pair of drumsticks is recommended for those who want to use the same sticks for a long time.

Tuning Keys

I will now introduce tuning keys.

Tuning keys are not used while playing drums, but they are used to set up the drum and in many other situations, so you should have at least one of these!
Cheap tuning keys are available for only a few hundred yen, so you may want to buy them together with drumsticks.

⇒ List of Tuning Keys

Drum Sets, Electronic Drum Sets, and Practice Pads

The following items are drum sets, electronic drum sets, and practice pads.
Some of these sets may not be suitable to play in your house, so please choose one that best suits the nature of your home!

Acoustic Drum Set (For houses with sound insulation)

If your house is well sound-insulated, go ahead and get an acoustic drum set!
There are many ways to practice drums for example, playing on practice pads and electronic drums, but nothing is better than an acoustic drum set to practice on.
Playing on acoustic drums is not only just a part of your regular practice, but also you can learn how to set up and tune your drums, so it’s ideal to have a home environment where you can set up your own acoustic drum kit.

PLAYTECH (ZENN) / ZDS3000X Black

Electronic Drum Set (For houses without sound insulation but independent houses with enough space to practice)

An electronic drum set is recommended for those who have the space but are not allowed for an acoustic drum set in their homes. Of course, you will also need to do something to prevent thumping through the floors, but many electronic drum sets allow you to practice as if you were playing acoustic drums. Furthermore, electronic drums let you practice along with songs and are equipped with unique convenient functions for practicing.

PLAYTECH / PDS-750 Electronic Drum

Practice Pads (For those who have no sound insulation or space)

If there is no way that you can own a drum set or even an electronic drum set due to limited space, the most basic item to play on is a practice pad.
Some practice pads are even made to keep a low response, so using a practice pad is a perfect option for those who live in apartments.

TECHRA / THBAPAD12

Metronome

Next, I would like to introduce a very handy item, the metronome.
Nowadays, metronomes are available on smartphone apps, so you may wonder if you really need to buy one. But hear me out first. Pricier metronomes have a lot of functions that will save you when you’re practicing. Metronomes are not only necessary for drums but they are also necessary to use when practicing other instruments too!

TAMA / RW200 Metronome

The RW200 metronome is simple to use, yet has so many useful functions. It can play not only quarter note beats, but also eighth notes, sixteenth notes, and triplet beats, making it ideal for training your sense of rhythm for every note!

BOSS / DB-90 Dr. Beat

In addition to a pitch output function, the DB-90 Dr. Beat is able to check the rhythmic deviation by connecting a trigger pad or by using the built-in microphone, allowing for more accurate rhythm training.

Finally, here are some more useful accessories.

Some of these items may be completely unnecessary for some drummers, so check them out before you feel you have to buy them first!

Drumstick Case

TECHRA / STICK BAG

⇒ List of Drumstick Cases

As the name suggests, this is a case for carrying drumsticks. Some drumstick cases can even hold a practice pad, sheet music, metronome, and other accessories. Choose a case that best holds the number of drumsticks and other items that you plan to carry.

Mute

EVANS / EQ Pods Drum Damper Gels

The EQ Pods Drum Damper Gels are a set of mutes for snare drums, toms, and other types of percussion. The EQ Pods contain a set of gel mutes, but there are also ring mutes and other various types of mutes.
They are useful when you need to play a little more quietly!

Support Plate for Pedals

PEARL / PSP-1

Attach the PSP-1 to a drum pedal or hi-hat stand to help small children to reach the pedal.
This product is very useful for younger students in elementary school who want to start playing drums!

In this article, I introduced some required and useful drum items. I would be very happy to know that you found this article helpful for getting you started on playing your first drums.