By Alice Mackenzie
There are far more amateur drummers in the world than professionals. The distance between moving from one to the other is quite large and requires lots of practice. However, if you intend to become a master drummer, you will need the right drum accessories.
Also, if you already play professionally, the kit will help improve your playing. Drumming necessity includes quality drum set, drum tool, books, racks, bags, and other necessary accessories.
Drum Kit
Every drummer needs drum accessories like a drum kit. The right drum kit should showcase your ability and music style while allowing you to have fun. You could start with a five-piece drum kit and add to it as your drumming gets better. This set will comprise a bass drum, rack toms, floor tom, and snare drum. Also, be ready to invest in quality drum heads that will take all the beating.
Drum Tool
Since you never know what might go wrong with your drum kit, having an all-in-one tool for adjustments and repairs is necessary.
Drum multi-tools come in all sizes and can contain loads of essential tools you never knew you needed. The best thing about a drum tool is that it is small to keep handy, but not so little that it ends up missing when needed.
This CruzTools multi-tool contains a drum key, Allen keys, screwdrivers, and wrenches that you will require at one point or the other. It is a maintenance kit with a collection of heat-treated S2 alloy tools in a polished chrome finish. The drum key helps you tune your drum heads and make them sound better. Two wrenches are present to take care of the bass drum pedals and other hardware that need maintenance.
Drum Books
If you’ve ever tried mastering your own tracks, you know how difficult it is to get everything up to the right volume. It takes a lot of effort to make sure a song is loud enough that listeners don’t have to keep turning up the volume, but How are you supposed to be a pro if you do not improve your drumming?
There are several drum books written to teach drummers how they can strengthen their hand and foot techniques. You can also get lessons on stick control, learn how to play different drumming styles, and better know your drum rudiments.
Our recommendation:
Anatomy of Drumming (John Lamb)
Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer (Jim Chapin)
Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer (Ted Reed Publications)
Drum Rack
A drum rack is a mounting system that grants you easy access when you play different instruments. As you develop your drumming skills, you start adding new appliances. These percussion pieces, which might include rack toms and cymbals, need proper arrangement to enhance your playing, and drum accessories like a drum rack can make this possible. It replaces the need to have different stands occupying space.
What makes a good drum rack:
Sturdy
Memory lock
Material slip-proof
Cymbals
Quality cymbals will increase the joy you derive in your drumming. As your drumming proficiency increases, you will find the need to upgrade the sound of your cymbals. Get hi-hat, crash, or ride cymbal packs made for the type of music style you play. Note that the alloy material used to make the cymbal will determine how it plays.
If you are unfamiliar with cymbals, you are better off getting a new pack from one of the top cymbal makers: Paiste, Zildjian, Sabian, and Meinl. If you use an electronic drum set, you can expand your setup with these e-cymbals from drum-tec works.
Drumsticks
Drum accessories like drumsticks are essential, and you can never have enough of them. Durable wooden or aluminum materials are used to make drumsticks, and even the type of wood used impacts your drumming more than you know. The best one for you depends on your budget and how hard you play. Look at the thickness, the taper length, and the tip before choosing, no matter your music style. If you’re a jazz drummer, you may prefer a lighter stick, while rock and metal drummers will be more comfortable with a heavier one.
Drum Bags
As a master drummer, you need drum accessories like drum bags to keep your drums from damage. They are great, especially if you have to travel with your drums for rehearsals and shows. You could get a bag for each piece of your drum kit or have a big drum case where everything fits in nicely. The drum bag can also be an excellent place to keep your drumsticks and books while on the road.
Practice drums
Instead of banging away at your very expensive drum set at every point or constituting a level of noise with it, you can use practice pads to rehearse your drumming skills. The advantage of practice pads is that you practice silently, which improves your accuracy and speed significantly.
One can also use electronic drum sets as practice pads, which are essential drum accessories. The volume buttons aid in sound control, making them less loud. You can always plug in a headphone and be in a world of your own. Virtual drumming is another vital consideration, with Freedrum making it possible for you to learn new techniques without waking your neighbors. Of the free synth plugins out there, Helm easily has the best GUI. On top of that, it is an excellent software synthesizer that comes packed with features.
Metronome
Do you feel like rhythm changes at times? It's fast when you're excited, or sometimes it feels dragged. You can fix it by working on your natural sense of timing by using a metronome. At Soundbrenner, we create metronomes but instead of auditory cues, we use tactile cues like vibration to keep you on a beat.
Check out our shop to find out more about our vibrating metronomes.
