The Drum Kit, Piece by Piece
Every kit is built from the same few pieces. Tap one to see what it does, how big it usually is, and how to get a good sound out of it. 🥁
Usually 14 inches across
Snare drum
Wires stretched under the bottom head give it the crack. It plays the backbeat, on 2 and 4 in most songs.
Tip: Hit the centre for a full sound. Hit the rim and the head together, a rimshot, for extra crack.
Every piece at a glance
- Hi-hatUsually 14 inches
- Two cymbals on a stand, opened and closed with your left foot. Closed, it ticks; open, it rings. It keeps the steady pulse in most beats.
- Crash cymbalUsually 16 to 18 inches
- The big splash for accents: the first hit of a chorus, the end of a fill. Loud, bright and short.
- Ride cymbalUsually 20 to 22 inches
- A bigger, heavier cymbal that rides the rhythm instead of the hi-hat, often in choruses and jazz.
- Snare drumUsually 14 inches across
- Wires stretched under the bottom head give it the crack. It plays the backbeat, on 2 and 4 in most songs.
- Bass drum (kick)Usually 20 to 22 inches
- The biggest drum, played with a foot pedal. It's the low thump that locks in with the bass guitar.
- Rack tomsUsually 10 and 12 inches
- Two smaller toms mounted on the bass drum. With the floor tom, they play the fills between beats.
- Floor tomUsually 14 or 16 inches
- The deepest tom, standing on its own legs. It ends fills with a big, low boom.
- Pedals and throneSet them to fit you
- The bass drum pedal under your right foot, the hi-hat pedal under your left, and the throne, the drummer's stool.
How a kit is set up
Sit on the throne with the snare between your knees and the bass drum pedal under your right foot. The hi-hat sits to your left, with its pedal under your left foot. The rack toms sit over the bass drum, the floor tom on your right. The crash goes up on the left, the ride up on the right.
Set it up so nothing makes you stretch or twist. Every piece should be in easy reach from where you sit, with relaxed shoulders.
Frequently asked questions
What is a five-piece drum kit?
Five drums: bass drum, snare, two rack toms and a floor tom. Cymbals don't count in the number, so a five-piece kit usually comes with a hi-hat, a crash and a ride on top.
What's the difference between a four-piece and a five-piece kit?
One rack tom instead of two. A four-piece is simpler and easier to carry, and very common in rock and jazz. A five-piece gives you one more step for fills.
How do I set up a kit if I'm left-handed?
Mirror it: hi-hat on the right, bass drum pedal under your left foot, floor tom on the left. Some left-handers keep a right-handed kit and play it open-handed instead.