5.2.3.1.2 - d-Wizz' Online Academy of Membranophonic Instruction

Lesson 2: Parts of the Drum Kit


Most drum kits are not made up of drums alone. There are usually at least 3 cymbals and a plethora of hardware (stands, etc.) as well as the usual 5 drums.

Most drum kits are "5-piece", meaning they have 5 drums. Of course, this may vary either way. Bigger kits have more drums and smaller kits have less.

This is the make-up of a typical 5-piece kit:

Snare drum, 14" in diameter, and 5" to 6" deep.

Bass drum, 18" to 22" in diameter.

2 mounted toms, so called because they are mounted on the bass drum. Sizes vary, with 12" and 13" diameters being the most common.

Floor tom, which stands by itself on the floor, hence its name. The most common size is 16" diameter.

Some drums are known by more than one name. The bass drum is sometimes called the "kick drum" with reference being made to its method of playing by the foot pedal. Similarly, the floor tom is also known as a "bass tom".

As previously mentioned, a drum kit is not just drums. There are a wide range of cymbals and other percussion instruments which may be added to the drum kit to provide a greater range of sounds for the drummer. There are three common cymbals found on a drum kit:

Hi-hat cymbals. Although counted as one instrument, hi-hats (sometimes referred to as just "hats") are actually two similarly sized cymbals placed on top of each other. The most common size is 14". A special stand allows the drummer to play the hi-hats with both the drumsticks and via a foot pedal, which opens and closes the two cymbals. More about how this is used later.

Crash cymbal. Usually 16" diameter.

Ride cymbal. Usually 20 - 22" in diameter.

This is a very simplistic gereralisation. The reality is there are literally dozens of different cymbals to choose from, even in just the three major types. Variables such as materials, thickness and of course size all play a part in how a particular cymbal sounds.

Other cymbals, such as splash cymbals, and china crash cymbals are also available. It is not uncommon to see a drum kit with as many, if not more, cymbals than drums.

Then there are cowbells, woodblocks and other percussion instruments which may be mounted at convenient locations on the drum kit.

Here is a photo of my SONOR Force 2000 drum kit. It has all the standard components of most 5-piece drum kits. I have labelled each part for identification.


Lesson 1: Basics of Music Theory
Lesson 2: Parts of the Drum Kit
Lesson 3: Basic Techniques of Drumming
Lesson 4: Basic Drum Kit Technique
Lesson 5: Reading Drum Score
Lesson 6: Eighth-note Grooves
Lesson 7: Sixteenth-note Grooves
Lesson 8: Mixing It Up COMING SOON!
Lesson 9: Tricks and Tips COMING SOON!


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