If your beginner drummer is under 11 or 12 years old, they may have trouble reaching and playing all the parts of an adult drum kit.
Manufacturers make junior kits that have a smaller drum diameter so that younger children can reach all the drums and the kick pedal.
Try the kit before you buy to make sure that reach and size are not an issue. Unless your child is 5 or younger, avoid kits sold in toy stores. These may look like the real thing, but the drums are likely plastic and are just toys.
Most major drum manufacturers sell junior kits or “pocket kits” that are sized appropriately for young drummers. Your child will eventually outgrow a junior kit, but not quickly.
All of the beginner drum kits on this list will be able to withstand daily home practice and, when the time comes, they will be ready to take to the stage for their first live performance. Best of all, they will look great!
Top 10+ Best Drum Sets for Beginners in 2024
1. Yamaha Stage Custom Birch
This drum has received some really good reviews from users. However, it is clear that Yamaha knows how to make drums, and there is no doubt that the quality is poor.
This kit is made of birch wood and has a beautiful and nice tone. Many customers have said that the mounting toms and leg toms are the best.
Along with the excellent quality, it comes in a wonderful honey amber color that many drummers love!
Another great thing about these drums is the hardware protection. They are really well made and do not sacrifice quality.
There have been complaints that these drums are hard to get resonance or flavor out of, but that is not common or confirmed. With proper tuning and good drum heads, these drums will sound better than many drum sets in their price range.
The only valid complaint was about the snare drum. However, some drummers were not satisfied with the sound, so you may want to consider changing it.
2. Ludwig Accent 5-Piece Complete Drum Set
The Ludwig Accent Series complete drum sets have helped launch the careers of many drummers.
This 5-piece kit consists of a snare drum, bass drum, two rack toms, and a floor tom, and is made of carefully selected solid wood with an attractive wrap finish.
The Accent kit also includes an unrated hardware package that includes a hi-hat stand, snare stand, cymbal stand, double tom mount, and kick drum pedal.
But that’s not all! Hi-hats and cymbals are also provided, both of which deliver a bright, modern sound that will cut through even the densest mixes.
With road-worthy construction, classic Ludwig tone, and great looks, the Ludwig Accent Series complete drum set provides everything a new player needs to get started on their drumming journey.
3. Natal KAR-UFX-WHT Arcadia Series UFX 5-piece drum set
The Natal Arcadia Poplar 5-piece 20-inch drum kit offers versatility for beginners and intermediate drummers. Made of poplar wood, this drum kit delivers a bright, clear tone.
This kit includes a bass drum, snare drum, two rack toms, and a floor tom.
The Natal Arcadia Poplar drum kit is designed with triple-flange hoops and a black protective finish to ensure durability. This makes it an excellent choice for gigging drummers who need reliable gear.
In addition to the drums, this kit comes with essential hardware such as a bass drum pedal, a hi-hat stand, a snare stand, two cymbal stands, and a drum throne.
These accessories complete the setup and provide the extra convenience you need.
4. Ludwig Breakbeats
Designed in collaboration with The Roots drummer Questlove, the Ludwig Breakbeats is more than just a beginner drum set.
The ethos behind its sleek, compact design was to provide urban drummers with a kit they could carry in the back of a taxi. It’s suited to this purpose, so you can consider it an investment in your musical future.
The small size makes it sound much bigger than you might expect, and the ergonomics make it easy to move around the kit, making it perfect for beginners.
The shell is made of solid poplar and has a particularly excellent tone for hip-hop and jazz. It also comes with a bag (although a bit thin for safe transport) making it perfect for throwing on top of your drums as a damper.
If you’re looking to focus on heavier rock or metal drumming, you might want to consider something bigger, but otherwise: don’t dismiss this one outright.
It packs a surprising punch for its size, and is definitely gig-ready! My only complaint (and really only for gig situations) was the finicky kick drum riser.
Having to re-adjust the pedal on the riser every hour or so isn’t ideal, but I guess pedal issues are something any gig drummer can experience!
In fact, on a very recent tour, I had to play the entire first song without my kick drum. It fell out of place in the first 4 measures because I didn’t tighten the beater properly!
5. Pearl Roadshow Junior
The Pearl Roadshow Junior is a high-quality drum set for young drummers. It features a 16″ bass drum, 10″ toms, 13″ floor toms, and a 12″ snare drum, all made from durable poplar bark.
Following in the footsteps of Pearl’s Roadshow series for beginning drummers, the all-new Roadshow Jr. is a complete drum set package scaled down to best suit little drummers ages 10 and under.
This all-in-one 5-piece kit features solid drum hardware, cymbals, and high-quality white poplar shell construction for a powerful, fully tunable playing experience.
Featuring a 16″x10″ bass drum, 13″x8″ floor toms, 10″x5.5 and 8″x5″ toms, and a 12″x4″ snare drum, Pearl’s new Roadshow Jr. proves that it’s never too early to start your rhythmic journey!
The drum set includes cymbals, hardware, and drumsticks, making it the perfect package for any young drummer looking to get started.
6. Yamaha Rydeen 22-inch drum kit with cymbals
Yamaha is a brand known for its exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail, and the Yamaha Rydeen drum kit is no exception.
The drum kit includes a 22-inch bass drum, 10-inch and 12-inch mounted toms, a 16-inch floor tom, and a 14-inch snare drum.
The drums are made from poplar wood, providing a balanced tone and excellent projection.
Yamaha has all the technology Known for being a quality instrument manufacturer that is suitable for all levels.
Named after the Japanese god of thunder, the Rydeen is a great beginner kit designed to get drummers started with something fun and powerful.
One nice thing we noticed is that although it is officially available as a shell pack, most retailers offer a package that includes hardware and cymbals for the price.
This drum kit with its eye-catching orange glitter finish boasts a visually appealing appearance and comes with a Paiste cymbal set.
Every kit needs cymbals, and these cymbals provide a premium feel right out of the box. The kit also includes a pair of 14-inch hi-hats and a 16-inch crash cymbal.
The Yamaha Rydeen 22-inch drum kit offers high-quality sound and durability, making it a reliable choice for practice and performance.
Plus, it’s designed to be easy to set up and play, allowing novice drummers to focus on technique and musical expression.
One minor complaint is that as a kit that is particularly suitable for the beginning stages, a ‘Compact’ option would have been nice for very young drummers.
That said, the two options available are versatile enough for almost any style. Overall, the Yamaha Rydeen feels like a thoughtfully crafted beginner kit. It’s a great place to start your journey, and it’s great value for money.
7. Gammon Junior Starter Drum Kit
The Gammon 5-Piece Junior Drum Set is a great choice for young, aspiring drummers looking to start their musical journey.
Designed with quality and affordability in mind, this drum set provides a fantastic introduction to the world of percussion.
This junior drum set is the perfect size, with all the components comfortably within reach. It’s the perfect choice for beginners, making it easy to learn and play.
This package includes everything a budding drummer needs to get started. It includes a bass drum, two mounted toms, a snare drum, and cymbals.
It also comes with all the essential hardware, including a bass drum pedal and drum throne.
8. Gretsch Energy 20-inch Drum Kit w/ Hardware and Paiste 101 Set, Black
Gretsch is synonymous with quality and heritage, and the Gretsch Energy drum kit lives up to that reputation.
This is a comprehensive drum kit package designed for beginners and intermediate drummers and includes a 20-inch bass drum, 10-inch and 12-inch mounted toms, a 14-inch floor tom, and a 14-inch snare drum.
It also comes with essential hardware such as a bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, two cymbal stands, and a drum throne.
The included Paiste 101 cymbal set consists of a 14-inch hi-hat pair, a 16-inch crash cymbal, and a 20-inch ride cymbal.
These cymbals are suitable for a variety of musical styles, and since they are made by well-known and respected cymbal manufacturer Paiste, you can expect great sound and durability.
The Gretsch Energy drum kit offers a good balance of quality and affordability, making it a popular choice for those just starting out on the drums.
The sleek and stylish black finish adds elegance to the overall look of the drum kit.
9. Sonor AQX 22-inch 5-piece drum kit
The Sonor AQX drum kit is a visually stunning option for beginners who want to stand out.
Part of the Sonor AQX series, this drum kit features a stylish, eye-catching Blue Ocean Sparkle finish and consists of five pieces, including a 22-inch bass drum, 10-inch and 12-inch rack toms, a 16-inch floor tom, and a 14-inch snare drum.
Along with the drums, the kit comes equipped with essential hardware such as a bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, two cymbal stands, and a drum throne.
Designed to provide a versatile and high-quality drumming experience, the Sonor AQX 22” 5pc drum kit is suitable for both beginners and experienced drummers.
Made from the highest quality materials, these drums produce a balanced and powerful sound that musicians can rely on.
10. Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit
It is very common to expect a high-quality drum kit from Ludwig. However, the sound this kit produces is quite good enough to satisfy young and upcoming drummers.
Many users are shocked by how good the snare sound is, even for such an inexpensive drum kit. The build quality is also excellent, as this drum kit is originally aimed at children.
The biggest advantage is its convenience. It is very compact, taking up a relatively small practice space.
According to drummers, this is not the best feature of this drum kit, so you will want to replace the cymbals. However, it is not that terrible. It will do well at first.
While the tuning part is easy for some, it is a bit difficult for others. However, overall, considering the quality and price, this kit produces an amazing sound.
11. Pearl Export EXX
The Pearl Export is one of the most popular drum kits of all time. We all have fond memories of practicing our basics on the classic chrome finish Export in our school days.
The modern reissue features a poplar/mahogany shell that is very playable and offers a distinct tone. The stock heads sound fine, but upgrading here would really help you unleash the kit’s full potential.
The EXX kit comes with solid Pearl 830 series hardware, including the excellent P-930 Demonator kick pedal, and a set of Sabian SBR cymbals.
In theory, you should have everything you need to get started, but some retailers sell the kit separately, so be sure to check. The packaging is eye-catching and classic-looking.
Overall, this is a flawless beginner drum kit. It’s perfect for most styles, and the hardware and cymbals included make it a very easy purchase.
The lack of an 18-inch kick in the lineup may leave potential jazz drummers looking elsewhere, but for the rest of us – especially rock, gospel, and R’n’B – you can’t go wrong with the Pearl Export. Read Pearl Export’s full review
12. Mendini By Cecilio Kids
Obviously, this is not a professional drum kit, so your expectations should be reasonable. On the other hand, this is not a cheap, plastic drum kit. This is made of real wood and the material quality is average.
There were a few complaints from users of the Cecilio Kids set, one of which was the squeaky pedals. The loud squeaky chain can be a bit annoying, so try using a spring or a locking system to eliminate this problem.
Instructions are not included, but if you follow my instructions on how to set up the drum set later, you should be fine.
Keep in mind that the assembly is not that complicated either, so even a complete beginner in this field should find it quite easy to set up.
As for the hardware, of course, you can’t expect the best quality. However, it is a pretty standard grade and you should have no problem tightening things up.
The only thing that can be changed is the cymbals. However, some users were not satisfied with the overall sound due to the unpleasant tone.
Finally, the kick drum also ranked as a weak point of this kit. One thing you can do to improve the sound is to put a towel inside as a damper. However, this affects the sticks and the most elastic ones.
13. PDP Concept Classic 18
PDP’s Concept Classic kit is seriously awesome. Available in four configurations (ranging from 18″ to 26″ bass drum), this 18” bass drum/12” rack tom/14” floor tom set is the smallest and most affordable of the line.
You might be skeptical about picking the cheapest kit in the series, but this drum set delivers professional quality at a lower price than the pros.
The shells are all maple, providing incredible definition and punch, but with the factory-fitted coated Remo heads and thick wood hoops, this Concept Classic exudes a soft warmth that any drummer will fall in love with.
Likewise, throwing in a few clear heads will give you a bit of that natural maple brightness.
The 18-inch bass drum is definitely smaller than you’ll get in most kits, but it has no trouble reproducing the tone of something much larger.
For beginners, the drum tones available are easy to approach and impressive sounding.
14. Mapex Mars Maple
Mapex has written the book on delivering high-end features that far outweigh the price tag, and recently the long-standing Mars kit got a brand-new all-maple Completely redesigned to include shell format.
The drums use Mapex’s SONIClear bearing edge (inherited from the more expensive range) for a wider tuning range and easier dial-in, and the SONIClear tom suspension system maximizes resonance.
The 7-ply 7.2mm shells are available in a few different set configurations, each of which also includes a snare drum.
The Rock kit is likely to grab most people’s attention, but the Fusion configuration with a 20″x16″ bass drum, 14″x12″ floor tom, and 14″x5.5″ snare rounds out the two most common 5-piece configurations.
However, Mapex offers a portable Bop kit with a 6-piece Studioease configuration (plus floor toms) in Mars Maple or an 18″x14″ bass drum, 10″x7″ rack toms, 14″x12″ floor toms, and a 14″x5″ snare drum, so there’s something for everyone.
The sturdy chrome hardware is built to last while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic. Mapex has once again done a great job of making these kits affordable without looking ‘cheap’.
All kit configurations are available in the same four lacquer finishes: Natural Satin, Matte Black, Glossy Amber, and Midnight Blue.
15. Gretsch Catalina Club
Gretsch has been synonymous with top-quality drums for nearly 150 years. For the past decade, they’ve offered this piece of history for beginners at an affordable price with the Catalina Club.
Of the many beautiful finishes available, we like the Blue Satin Flame (pictured), but there’s definitely something for every taste.
The drum shells are 7-ply, 100% mahogany and the kit is equipped with Remo Ambassador heads. The tonal depth right out of the box is rich and consistent.
The drums stay in tune even when pounded hard. This allows beginner drummers to focus on technique and performance without having to worry about frequent re-tuning.
The various configuration options are suitable for all types of drummers, but the 20-inch setup is a true rhythm chameleon.
If you’re looking for an all-rounder, look no further. The Catalina Club is a great choice for beginners, intermediates, and potential touring drummers alike.
For this reason, it’s hard to recommend a better product at this price point.
FAQ
What is an electronic drum set?
An electronic drum kit has rubber pads that, when pressed, transmit sound to an amplifier or headphones. This is why you can turn down or eliminate the volume of the drums.
For students living in apartments or other places where noise levels are a concern, using electronic drums in a children’s drum set is a great solution.
What is the finish on the wooden drum covers?
In many cases, the wood grain of the drum shell is hidden by the cover of the drum. These drums are covered with a vinyl cover that protects the wood and decorates the shell.
Changing this cover can give an old or damaged kit a new life and a different look.
How much space does a drum set take up?
Acoustic drums typically take up to 4 square meters of space. If you live in a house where every inch counts, go for an electric drum set.
Acoustic drums are much louder than electric drums, but fortunately, there is little you can do to reduce the sound.
What parts of a drum set should I look for?
A drum set is made up of several components, the main categories being drums, cymbals, and hardware. Drum sets are a fairly modern instrument that developed in the early 1900s with the invention of the first foot pedal.
This allowed drummers to play more than one drum, creating a richer sound. Previously, drummers would stand or march while playing a single element of the drum kit.
Playing with multiple drums on a kit requires additional setup time and knowledge.
Once you have your kit, you’ll need to spend some time learning how to set it up and break it down, making sure all the drums are in place and all the hardware is properly tightened and adjusted.
What is the most basic drum set?
A three-piece drum set is the most basic set. A typical three-piece kit consists of a bass drum, a 14-inch diameter snare drum, a 12-inch to 14-inch hi-hat, a single hanging tom of 12 inches diameter (8-9 inches deep), and a 14-inch to 18-inch cymbal (the latter two are mounted on the bass drum).
Are drum heads for beginners good quality?
When it comes to drum heads for beginners, it’s worth noting that many drum kits come with good-quality heads.
These heads are often versatile and designed to suit a variety of musical styles and playing techniques. This provides an ideal foundation for finding your drumming sound and preferences.
Having good quality heads in your beginner drum kit is beneficial for a number of reasons. Firstly, you’ll have decent-sounding drums to start with.
This can be especially encouraging and motivating for beginners, as they can experience the joy of playing on a well-tuned drum set.
Secondly, it saves the hassle and expense of having to upgrade immediately after purchasing a kit. Since heads are crucial to defining the tone and feel of a drum, having a solid foundation in terms of high-quality heads allows you to focus on developing your skills without being distracted by poor sound quality.
All-round heads are designed to provide a balance of durability and tone, meaning they can withstand the rigors of practice and regular playing while still providing a satisfying sound.
For beginners who don’t yet have a specific preference for a particular drum style or sound, these all-around heads provide a versatile starting point.
What are the best drum brands for beginners?
Tama is a highly regarded drum brand known for its quality and durability, making it a great choice for beginners.
Gretsch and Pearl are also well-known brands in the drumming world, and they offer excellent beginner kits.
Is a 5-piece drum set good for beginners?
A 5-piece drum set can be a good choice for beginners. This type of drum set usually consists of a bass drum, a snare drum, two mounted toms, and a floor tom.
It provides a solid foundation for beginners to develop their drumming skills and explore a variety of musical styles.
What is the difference between a shell pack and a complete drum set?
When purchasing a drum set for your teenager or child, you can purchase all the parts of the drum set separately, as well as the parts for each individual drum.
This is the most time-consuming method, but it can yield better quality and potentially save you money.
When you purchase a drum kit, you get everything you need. However, you can purchase each drum individually, buying only the hardware needed for each.
This is a good option for those who are experienced and want something that doesn’t exist as a kit, such as a mix of elements from a fusion and standard kit.
You can also purchase a shell pack that only includes wooden drum shells. This is a good option for upgrading the shells of an otherwise complete kit.
Should you choose a 4-piece drum set or a 5-piece drum set?
Most drum sets come packaged as either a 4-piece or 5-piece kit. This refers to the number of drums, not the total number of parts in the drum set, including hardware and cymbals.
4-piece drum kit: This beginner drum set typically includes a bass drum, snare, floor tom, and one mounted/rack tom.
5-piece drum kit: This drum set includes a bass drum, snare, floor tom, and two mounted/rack toms.
Both configurations are great for beginners, and it may be easier to navigate a 4-piece kit when you’re starting out. Interestingly, most high-end “pro” kits are 4-piece sets, not 5-piece drum sets.
Do I need ear protection?
Ear protection is strongly recommended to prevent hearing damage. Drumming often produces high noise levels, often exceeding 100 decibels (dB), which can lead to hearing loss over time. It’s important to prioritize your hearing health and take the necessary precautions.
Wearing ear protection, such as earplugs or in-ear monitors, can help reduce the intensity of sound reaching your ears while still allowing you to hear your music clearly. This will protect your ears from excessive noise levels and minimize the risk of long-term damage.
In-ear monitors are a popular option for drummers, as they not only provide hearing protection but also allow you to monitor your performance and hear other musicians clearly.
They provide a balanced sound while reducing the overall volume, allowing you to hear everything you need to hear without damaging your hearing.
Conclusion
Choosing the best drum set for beginners can have a significant impact on your drumming journey. Whether you’re a child who needs a smaller kit or an adult beginner, there’s a set that’s perfect for you.
The best choice for a beginner drum set will provide high-quality sound, and durability, and is ideal for learning and growing as a drummer.
When choosing a set, consider your budget, the music you want to play, and the size. Smaller sets are easier to learn, while larger sets offer more options as you progress.
Ultimately, the best beginner drum set is a personal choice based on your needs and preferences. Trust your instincts and choose the set that resonates with you the most.