Most musicians will tell you that there’s no such thing as “the best” regardless of experience, budget and drumming know-how. All instruments – especially drums – should be witnessed in person, and played for a short while in an appropriately sized room.
That being said, if you’re buying a drum kit for you or your child as a first-time starter, the list below should give you some ideas as a starting point. Note that most drum kits are not sold with cymbals, so you’ll need to factor this into your budget.
Whether you go for second hand or new, the options below have been shortlisted to last – from beginners to intermediate and semi-professional performing drummers. This ensures your investment will last but also retain resale value if and when you decide to upgrade or throw in the towel.
Quality drum kits for beginners
Prices listed are for *new* kits
- Gretsch Catalina Club £550+
- Pearl Export £350+
- Natal Arcadia £495+
- Ludwig Breakbeats £359+
- Tama Club Jam £325+
- Mapex Pro M £399+
Second hand drum kits
As with any new hobbyist, it’s best to dip your toe in the water before committing too much time and money to buy the perfect drum kit. There are many second hand drum kits available to purchase privately through marketplaces such as Facebook, Gumtree and Ebay, or via a music shop with a dedicated second hand section. Furthermore, the price of new drums has increased in recent years due to the availability and cost of wood, metals and skins.
One of the many benefits in buying a second hand drum kit is that the seller is often upgrading or has given up, and subsequently a lot of extra accessories, cymbals and hardware can be sold together. Almost all drums sounds better once they’ve been played, but skins do wear down over time so you might want to buy some fresh drum heads with your second hand kit.
New drums kits for beginners
If you’re struggling to locate a second hand kit, or you have the budget to go all-in on a new drum kit, look for a ‘starter kit’ or ‘intermediate kit’ at a drum shop or musical instrument shop. There are plenty of online businesses as well, but it’s always better to see the drums and try them before you spend your hard earned cash.
Electric drums are certainly a possibility, but for beginners I would not recommend buying an electric kit until you have been playing for a few years – it’s much harder to learn the fundamentals of drumming and stick control without acoustic drums, heads and metal cymbals.
