Setting Up Your Drum Kit by Clint Strait

So you took the leap and bought your first drum kit, and now you are ready to get it all set up and start practicing for hours, or perhaps you have been playing the same old kit for years and are getting a little bored. What many drummers don’t realize is that setting up your drums is a fundamental part of becoming a great drummer. The mechanics of the human body, though somewhat flexible, cannot alter in shape completely, but your drum kit can. That is why it is important to build your kit around the most effective and comfortable mechanics of your own body while still creating a sound that really hits. Why not mold the sound formation completely to your body’s natural motion? It will increase your stamina, technique, and even your enjoyment.

There are several basic shapes that most drummers utilize when setting up their drums, but each of them are susceptible to change. These basic geometrical shapes greatly impact the way a drum kit’s sound is structured. The ‘buckets’ of shapes on a kit may form lines, triangles, or even more complex shapes such as a Rhombus. It is important to research these various configurations by listening to other drummers or reading recommendations. As you improve, you will be able to deduce how different geometric patterns will impact your sound. This structure also makes keeping track of patterns and songs easier and has a great impact on how you create beats and fills.

Once you have figured out your basic sound structure, the task of building that structure so that it molds to your personal body motion begins. This facet of kit building has much more to do with organization, reach, and mechanics. In other words, it is the utilitarian aspect of configuration and will actually determine how much you enjoy playing your drums. This is especially true for the avid learner who spends hours per day practicing (which is what you really need to become a great drummer). Anything that might discourage practicing should be rearranged. Your specific dimensions such as height, arm span, actual arm strength, flexibility, and sitting posture all affect how the kit should be built.

As you continue to play, new ideas for configurations will come to mind, and experimentation is healthy. The more you experiment, the more versatile you will become as a drummer. Shaping your drum kit should be one of your favorite rituals as a drummer. This is the time you spend considering how you will merge these mechanical drums with the motion of your body to produce a fresh sound that you love playing.

About the Author

About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, the best of drum set stores in Austin TX. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.