Looking for how to set up a drum set? Drums are a great way to add rhythm and excitement to any music performance, and with the right setup, they can be easy to play and produce a great sound. Check out this guide for everything you need to know to get started, including a step-by-step guide and tips for getting the perfect sound.
How To Set Up A Drum Kit
When it comes to putting up your drum set, the number of components you’re dealing with will dictate how you organize your drums. Most novices begin with a four- or five-piece drum set, but as their skills grow, many artists add extra components to their setup.
Determine The Three Primary Components Of Your Drum Set.
When you first get your drum hardware out of the box, it may appear tiresome and tough, but it’s fairly straightforward, so follow these instructions to get your drum throne, snare stand, and cymbal stands set up.
Drum throne
The foundation of any drum set is your drum throne. Take some time to adjust the height and find a comfortable seating position after setting it up. Make sure your thighs are slightly higher than parallel with the floor when you sit.
This improves your playing technique while also preventing back and leg tiredness by allowing your limbs to rest in a more natural seated position. Set up it by following these steps.
- Loosen the bottom wing nut, then expand the legs before tightening the wing nut.
- Place the seat on top and use the wing nut below the seat to secure it to the height adjustment rod.
- Adjust the height adjustment rod to raise or lower the seat until you reach a comfortable sitting position.
Stand for snare drum
The snare drum stands on the snare stand. The basket is used to connect the drum to the stand. Some drummers also use it for rack toms.
A snare drum stand is comparable to a drum throne in terms of setup, but it may also be adjusted to angle the drum.
While having the snare drum level with your hips is ideal, you want to set it so that you can play it comfortably and consistently without becoming exhausted. To set up the snare drum stand, follow these procedures.
To expand the legs, loosen the wing nut at the bottom and then tighten it again.
Adjust the height of the stand by loosening the middle wing nut. Once you’ve reached the desired height, tighten it up again.
Once the stand is in place, open the basket, lay the snare drum inside, and tighten the basket’s adjustment nut.
Loosen the wing nut at the joint to adjust the tilt of the snare basket. Tighten the wing nut on the joint once you’ve found the drum angle that feels right for you.
Stands for cymbals
Most drum setups usually include a hi-hat stand and at least one crash cymbal stand. Straight, boom, or conversion stands are all available, serving the same purpose.
Follow these procedures to set up the stands and cymbals before dialing in the positioning after this article.
Hi-hats Stand
- Expand the legs by loosening the bottom wing nut. Retighten the stand after it has become stable.
- Insert the two hi-hat foot pedal brackets into the two holes at the middle base of the stand on the bottom of the pedal.
- Insert the tube assembly over the pull rod (the skinny rod with threads) and screw it into the stand. Place the felt on the hi-hat seat after adjusting the tube to the desired height.
Cymbal stand, straight
- Expand the legs by loosening the bottom wing nut. Retighten the stand after it has become stable.
- After that, adjust the stand’s height with the middle wing nut.
- To modify the angle of the cymbal, adjust the wingnut closest to the bottom cymbal felt till it feels comfortable to you when playing.
Stands for booms and convertibles
These stands will be put together like a straight stand but with additional steps.
Boom stands have an extendable arm for more accurate cymbal positioning. At the top of the stand, the wingnut adjusts the arm angle and length, while the wingnut closest to the cymbal felts adjusts the cymbal angle.
These stands are most commonly used for ride cymbals, but depending on your setup, you can use them for other cymbals.
Convertible stands have a hidden boom arm inside the upper tube and can be used as a straight or boom stand.
Get Your Bass Drum In Order
Place your bass drum or kick drum in the middle of your drum equipment. It’s worth noting that the legs on your bass drum are adjustable. These are used to keep your bass drum from moving around when you’re playing.
As a result, it’s critical to adjust the legs on both sides to equal, as uneven legs will cause your drum set to wobble during the performance.
Change The Pedal On Your Bass Drum
When setting up your drum set, pay close attention to the bass pedal. The bass drum pedal can be found attached to the hoop of your bass drum.
The beater should strike the bass head in the middle of your drum as you step on the pedal and bounce back.
If stepping on the pedal is too difficult or exhausting for your legs, loosen the action or tension of the bass pedal. The tension is too loose if the pedal stays on the drum head and does not bounce back.
If the tension is too loose, tighten it up, so the drum head returns to its original position. The tension is usually controlled by turning a knob or screw on the pedal; however, this may vary depending on the model.
Set Up The Snare Drum
The height of your snare drum will need to be adjusted as you configure your equipment. The height of your snare drum should be a few inches above your leg, and it should be low enough that you can pound the drum with either hand without striking the rim.
Set up your drum so that the snare throw-off, or the lever that engages the snare, is on the left side. Most drummers position their snare drums flat, though traditional drummers may position their drums slightly down and away.
Pair Your Toms
Most drum sets have two types of toms: floor toms and mounted toms. Your floor toms should be the same height as your snare drum, but your mounted tom (or toms) should be slightly angled towards you.
It is possible to rearrange your toms to make playing easier. You can set your toms a few inches apart and at equal angles in drum configurations with more than one mounted tom.
If you’re having trouble hitting your floor, tom, try angling it slightly toward you. Although this can vary depending on the height of your drum throne, you may find that angling your toms is more comfortable than placing them up flat.
Set Up The Drum Throne
You will sit on the drum throne while playing. Place it where you can reach all of your drum set’s components for improved gameplay. This will let you play with the least effort and avoid injury.
Configure Your Hi-Hat
Your hi-hat should be just to the left of your snare when you’re sitting at your drum set. A clutch secures the top cymbal to the rod of your stand when you attach hi-hat cymbals to it.
The hi-hats can now be opened and closed. Make sure your hi-hat pedal is where your foot can reach it comfortably.
Your hi-hat cymbals should be higher than your snare drum. Setting your hi-hats to the same or lower height as your snare drum may make it more challenging to hit.
Plan Your Crash And Cymbals Ride
Most drummers utilize one or two crash cymbals and one ride cymbal in their setup. Your ride cymbal should be set up to the right of the floor tom, usually just above it.
If you have one crash cymbal, place it to the left of your kit, between your snare drum and mounted tom.
If you have a second crash cymbal, , it should be placed between your mounted and floor toms. Make sure both crash cymbals are just over the mounted toms but not too high. You’ll want to maintain them in a relaxed environment.
Now that you have your gear set up let’s speak about proper drumming posture. Maintaining an appropriate drum set posture will allow you to perform more efficiently, improve your sound, and reduce your chance of injury.
How To Sit In The Right Drum Set Position
Sit up straight in your seat. Keep your back straight when playing the drum kit. Slouching forward puts pressure on your lower back and can lead to pain.
Beginners can imagine appropriate posture by watching recordings or live performances of experienced drummers. Some drum thrones have a built-in back for added support when playing if sitting up straight is too difficult.
Increase or decrease the height of your drum throne. Adjust the height of your drum throne so that your thighs are at a 90 to 110-degree angle for optimum posture.
Setting your drum throne too high or too low will make playing your bass drum more difficult and exhaust your legs.
Maintain a relaxed arm position. Keep your arms close to your sides and your elbows tucked in when playing the drums. This will assist you in maintaining a good drum stroke and tone. If you raise your arms even higher, your strokes will sound pushed or forced.
FAQs
How Do You Place A Five-Piece Drum Set?
Most 5-piece kits include a floor tom with built-in legs. Place your toms where they’ll be simple to reach. I like the high and mid toms to be as low as feasible without touching the bass drum or each other and angled to be easy to hit in relation to the snare.
What Does A Standard Drum Kit Include?
These are the fundamentals in general.
Drum kits have a five-piece set, including two tom-toms, a floor tom, a bass drum, and a snare drum, albeit there is no original standard layout. The floor tom is a tom-tom that sits on the floor and has a stand or legs.
In My Home, Where Should I Put The Drums?
The sound in your drum room can be affected by where you put the set. I recommend placing the kit in the corner of your room, facing outwards, for the greatest results. Keep the kit away from any walls that are shared.
Which Cymbals Do I Require?
Sizes range from 14″ to 18″, with a lovely 16″ being a suitable starting point. The thicker the cymbal, the higher the pitch, is a general rule.
A thicker cymbal may endure the loud crashes better than a thinner cymbal if you’re performing a lot of rock music (although the latter has more flexibility).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the above is how we would recommend a beginner to set up a drum set. Again, Fidlar realize that this may appear to be a painfully lengthy procedure at first, but I can guarantee you that after you’ve completed it yourself once, it will become extremely simple.
