So you are shopping for your first drum set, or a junior drum set for you child. The first thing you'll probably notice are the different configuration of starter or kids drum sets. Different drum sets have various number of drums, and for starter drum kits, its generally either a 3-piece, 4-piece, or 5-piece drum set. Now advanced and professional drummers go crazy and may add many more pieces to their kits, though many stick with a 3, 4, or 5 piece set forever. But we are talking junior drum kits here, which normally have 3 to 5 pieces.
While any of these configurations are perfectly fine when choosing a starter drum set, this post will explain the difference so you can make an education decision.
So first, lets establish what just about every drum set on the market has - essentially the 3 common pieces all drum kits have:
- Base drum
- Snare drum
- 1 Additional Tom-Tom (usually mounted on the base drum)
That essentially makes up the 3 pieces of a "3-piece starter drum set". Of course there are other parts to a starter drum set like cymbals, hi-hat, drum sticks, etc., but when it comes to 'pieces' the product descriptions are generally on talking about drums.
A 4 piece junior drum set usually adds an additional tom-tom drum mounted on the base drum. These means there are 2 tom-tom drums mounted on the base drum to go with the snare drum and the base drum. Note that 4 piece drums sets have become much less common, you'll normally find a drum set as either a 3-piece or a 5-piece.
A 5-piece starter drum set not only has the additional tom-tom drum mounted on the base drum, but also adds a floor tom. This is usually a larger tom-tom with a deeper sound that stands on its own using 3 legs. So the 5 pieces of a 5-piece junior drum set are: the base drum, the snare drum, the 2 mounted tom-tom drums, and the floor tom. The 5 piece drum set is the most popular drum kit configuration you will find with both starter drum kits and normal ones.
So what are the advantages of more pieces? Its really just the additional drumming tones you get with additional tom-toms that are used during "fill ins" (those moments of a song where the drummers does a short transition). More tom-tom drums just add more depth and complexity to your playing patterns. This also mean that if you are a beginning drummer, and just learning to play, it might be better to start with a 3-piece drum set. A smaller, less complex kit allows for more focused practice and you can still do some great drumming, including some awesome "fill ins" with a 3-piece child drum kit. When you are starting, you mainly want to practice basic beats and rhythms, and keep your fill ins straight forward.
That said, there's nothing wrong with buying a 5 piece starter drum set. As mentioned, its the most popular configuration, and its what most drummers end up with in the long run anyway.
The final consideration is the cost. In general, the more pieces to a drum set, the higher the cost. So a 5-piece starter drum set is going to cost more than a 3-piece. But this is a very general statement, and you'll find all kinds of other cost factors so its best to just decide which type you think is best first, then shop the best deal.
At FirstDrumSets.com, we highly recommend shopping used when your ready to buy a junior drum sets, and eBay is a great place to start. We have special stores set up to view the best listing for both 3 piece junior drum sets and 5 piece junior drum sets. Check them out, and happy drumming!
Similar Posts:
- Why Start With a 3 Piece Junior Drum Set?
- The Difference Between Starter Drum Sets and Regular Drum Sets
- Have a Future Rock Star? Consider a Junior Drum Set.
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