I'm buying a drum kit to start learning drums

[Hypercaffium]

I'm 42 years old. I started with singing and piano as a little kid, added guitar around 16 years old, added bass 3 years ago, now I think it's time for the drums.
I want to learn everything and I suspect I'll absolutely love it.

 

[DirtDog]

Go get your paradiddle on and enjoy!

 

[pcake]

are you getting an acoustic or electronic kit?

btw, i started drumming some when i was in my 50s. i did, in fact, absolutely love it.

 

[dalkowski]

Go directly to Craigslist. There is no reason ever for a beginner of any age to buy a new kit.

Have fun, don't give up the one.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm 42 years old. I started with singing and piano as a little kid, added guitar around 16 years old, added bass 3 years ago, now I think it's time for the drums.
I want to learn everything and I suspect I'll absolutely love it.

Be prepared to start sleeping on your guitarist's couch and start dating a stripper.

Riis

 

[Ostie]

A couple years ago I took up percussion. I play congas, cajon and djembe. Love it. The only problem I have is when I learn a song, I am also thinking about the bass, guitar, and mandolin parts, and I can’t play them all at the same time. I really need to get into home recording, but I’m very tech challenged. I did some recording back in the eighties with a Foster four track, but it’s very time consuming.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I started as a drummer, it was alot of fun for a long time.

Made the transition to bass easier since I understood the rhythm aspect of music.

Just sold my latest kit over a year ago. Didn't play it enough to justify the space. About once a month I wish I still had it.

 

[Hypercaffium]

are you getting an acoustic or electronic kit?
btw, i started drumming some when i was in my 50s. i did, in fact, absolutely love it.

Cheap, electronic starter kit.

Go directly to Craigslist. There is no reason for a beginner at any age to buy a new kit.
Have fun, don't give up the one.

Like I said, I'll buy a beginner cheap kit to study at home. Since I have another friend who wants to get better at drums (he's mainly a guitarist) we'll share the cost.

A couple years ago I took up percussion. I play congas, cajon and djembe. Love it. The only problem I have is when I learn a song, I am also thinking about the bass, guitar, and mandolin parts, and I can’t play them all at the same time. I really need to get into home recording, but I’m very tech challenged. I did some recording back in the eighties with a Foster four track, but it’s very time consuming.

I'm like you and got into home recording, and I love it.

 

[wraub]

I wanted to play drums as a kid, but the band leader had other ideas... After a couple decades as a bass player, I recently got my drums and I am absolutely pleased that I did. I'm actually playing drums more than bass these days.

I got my first kit at a thrift store, second from OfferUp, my current kit is from CL. Definitely start used.

I suggest you get a practice pad and some sticks you like and work on basics while you research drums. There's a lot to know, and a lot of it may not be obvious at first. A lot of inexpensive used sets are missing bits, some are just old and worn out.

edit- For example, there's a Ludwig set locally priced at $65. As a beginner, I might have jumped at that set, but some research tells me it's a bottom-barrel import set, and some knowledge tells me it's incomplete. These are things that were not apparent to me as a beginner.

There's a really good drum forum at Invalid Link Removed
definitely worth a visit- it's similar to TB, well run and informative.

Also, in the "Miscellaneous" section here on TB, there's a thread called "Ask A Drummer"- worth a look.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Thanks! I'll do.

 

[Jefenator]

Great idea! I got a drum set about 15 years ago, no regrets whatsoever.
I'm no Vinnie Colaiuta but I've learned a few things, had lots of fun and even made a bit of money here & there. (The three major reasons for anyone to do music.)
I can't manage a lot of the things the "real" drummers can, but I can at least show some taste & restraint where I wish they all would. (Quieting the **** down during a bass solo: easy as pie for me - pretty much impossible for them.)

 

[equill]

Be prepared to start sleeping on your guitarist's couch and start dating a stripper.

Bought my wife a guitar already, and we have a comfy couch, so I can work with this :grin:

 

[equill]

Thinking seriously about doing that myself, with an electronic kit (apparently I just don't do acoustic instruments).
Just not sure about testing the waters with a cheap beginner's kit, or investing in something that'll last.

 

[Scott Lynch]

Congrats @Hypercaffium. I have had on-again off-again stints with practicing drums since my days as a music ed student. Since COVID I set up my kit again and have been working through the Alfred method.

Drums and percussion IMO are something with which every musician should strive to try and develop a rudimentary understanding at some point. Glad you’re starting your journey!

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Get prepared to get fired often, that comes with the job. If you don't mind that, have fun...

 

[lfmn16]

.

Also, in the "Miscellaneous" section here on TB, there's a thread called "Ask A Drummer"- worth a look.

I thought that was a there for a joke?

Get ready for the drummer jokes.

 

[bass81800]

I am no serious drummer. Bass and piano are more than enough. But I did buy a new jazz style Pearl kit several years ago off of Amazon for the music room and jam sessions. Had fun putting it together and then upgraded the drum heads to Remo heads and upgraded the hi hat and ride cymbals. Also learned about noise dampening. And, of course, got a comfortable drum stool. The drummer for my jazz group actually likes to play this little set. Do not play it much, but glad I have it. Can play basic rock pop on drums, but jazz still eludes me. It is really helpful overall to understand how a drum set works and have some experience playing.

 

[31HZ]

I bought a mid-grade Roland kit a few years back. Yes, I do *LOVE* it.

That meditative clarity of locking into a simple groove and getting down to its molecular essence? When practicing alone, I find it perhaps even easier to get to that place on drums than I do on bass.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Analog pedal, the only drum needed

 

[trevcda]

Cheap, electronic starter kit.

Make sure you understand the limitations of the kit you buy and electronic drums in general at that price level. Mis-triggering, double triggering, running out of voices on the sound module are all common problems that can be off putting, especially when just starting out. If you have a chance to try it out and get some guidance from someone who has played a few E-kits, I would definitely do that.

Once you have a kit, you might want to familiarize yourself with MIDI and and how to record MIDI tracks to your DAW. Once you have the MIDI drum track down, you can use it to trigger any number of drum sounds well after the fact. Don't like the snare? Use a different one, without have to rerecord the track!