How To Set Up Drums

Setting up drums is a personal and very subjective thing. There are no universal rules as to how drums should be set. The "right" way is the way that is most comfortable for you and your playing style. You should experiment with different settings and decide which one works best for you.

On this page we'll try to explain how to set up your drums from scratch. Today, most drum kits are sent by mail, which means that you have to set it up yourself. If you've never done that before, you may need a little help.

Setting Up Drums From Scratch

A basic rock drum set comes equipped with five drums: a snare drum, a bass drum, and 3 toms (floor tom and two mounted toms also called rack toms or tom toms). You also get hi hats and cymbals. Usually, putting all this together is a pretty straightforward procedure.

Here is a step by step instructional video on how to set up your drums from scratch:

Tips:

• Make sure you are comfortable and that your throne is at the correct height. You should feel balanced with your feet on the floor.
  
  
• You should be able to touch every piece of the drum set with your hand. If you have to reach for something to hit it, you know it's too far away.
  
  
• Drums should be set up to accommodate you, the player, not the other way around.
  
  
• Remember, drums are not an easy thing to master so don't get discouraged too quickly. When you're ready for some good instructions, check out Learn & Master Drums.