Drums

From entry-level to professional gear, our drum & percussion collection offers everything a drummer could need.

The timeless appeal of an acoustic drum kit lies in its resonant sound, produced by the interplay of wooden shells and drum heads. These traditional kits come in various styles to suit different genres: compact jazz kits, expensive rock kits etc. A standard set-up typically features a bass drum, snare, three toms (including floor tom), hi-hats, ride, and crash cymbals, but the possibilities for customisation are endless.

An electronic drum kit offers a solution for players seeking versatility or neighbour-friendly practice options. These models have revolutionised home drum practice and recording over the past few years; they can be played both through headphones, or amplified for use in a band or orchestra. Electronic kits faithfully recreate the traditional drum layout while offering extensive sound libraries, built-in lessons for beginners, and direct recording capabilities. 

FAQs

What’s the difference between an acoustic drum kit and an electronic kit?
An acoustic drum kit uses wooden shells and drum heads with a thinly-stretched skin that produce sound through physical vibration when struck. These kits deliver a classic, rich sound perfect for live performances and studio recording, but can often be too loud for quiet practice.

In contrast, an electronic drum kit generates sound electronically, which can be played much quieter, while also offering live performance and recording capabilities. They can also be hooked up to a range of effects, and some kits even include on-board effects.

What pieces make up a drum kit?
A standard drum kit typically consists of several key components that work together to create a full percussive sound. The core pieces include:

• A bass drum which is kicked by a foot pedal and provides the backbone of most rhythms

• A snare drum - the crisp, distinctive drum that drives the beat forward

• A set of tom-toms - these are mounted drums of varying sizes that add depth and variation to drum patterns

• Cymbals - usually including a hi-hat (two cymbals that can be opened and closed by a clutch pedal stand for different sounds), a crash cymbal for dramatic accents, and a ride cymbal often used for adding bell-like chimes and maintaining steady rhythmic patterns

Most full drum kits also include additional elements like a floor tom, rack toms, and splash or china cymbals.

What factors should you consider when choosing a drum kit?
When making the decision on a new drum kit, consider the following:

• Where will you be playing and practising? If you have limited space or noise restrictions, then a silent drum kit or drum pad may be ideal.

• How big is your budget? Electronic kits typically come at a higher cost, but do offer many more features.

• What genres of music will you be playing? Both acoustic and electric kits are very versatile, but an electric kit would be better suited for electronic music or players who want to play with dub-style effects. They also come with pre-programmed sounds for different styles of music, so can be a good choice for players who want their kit sonically tailored to the particular genre they’re playing in.