So you've got your very own drum kit, congratulations! In this post, I will guide you through how to set it up. The first thing you need in order to set up your kit is to recognise the different parts. Hardware includes all the parts that aren't the drums themselves, such as your drum stool, kick pedal, cymbal stands, snare stands and any other clamps/accessories. The images below give you an idea of what these parts look like:
For the drums themselves, a typical setup includes a snare drum, (usually the thinnest drum which has snare wires underneath that give it its sizzle/snap sounds), 1-2 rack toms (including a high tom which is usually the smallest drum and then a slightly bigger mid tom), 1 low/floor tom (typically the largest tom) and a bass drum (typically the largest drum, which sits horizontally on the floor). For cymbals, a typical setup includes two high hats (top and bottom), 1-2 crash cymbals and 1 ride cymbal which is usually the largest cymbal. The image below give you an idea of what these parts look like:
Now that you recognise the parts of your drum kit, here are some steps to set it up:
Step 1: Pedals and Bass Drum
The first thing you want to decide is where to put your pedals (high-hat pedal and kick pedal). To determine this, first sit on your stool how you normally would and analyse where your feet naturally land. Where they land is where you want to put your pedals. They should feel comfortably within reach, but not too close that you feel cramped. Once you're happy with your kick pedal placement, bring your bass drum towards it and line it up so that the beater (the part of the pedal that hits the drum) is in line with the centre of the bass drum. Make sure you use the clamp under the foot board to clamp your pedal to the bass drum so it doesn't move around.
Step 2: Snare
Next you want to set up your snare. To do this, place your snare stand in between your two pedals and place your snare on top. Your snare should sit in between your legs and be at a distance which allows your hands to naturally land around the middle of the drum when you play it.
Step 3: Toms
Place your low/floor tom to the right of your kick pedal and line it up horizontally with your snare. Adjust the height so it is the same or slightly lower than your snare. As with your snare you want it to feel easily within reach but also at a distance that feels natural for your hands to land in the centre of the drum. For your rack toms (high tom and mid tom) place the mount into the holder on top of the bass drum and tilt the arms slightly toward you. Attach each tom to the L arm. If your drum set comes with snare stands for the rack toms, position them so the snare arms are positioned above the bass drum and angled slightly towards you and place each tom within the snare arms. Position each tom so you can easily reach them with your arms bent but make sure they aren't too close that they are in the way of your snare or low/floor tom.
Step 4: Cymbals
The first cymbals you want to set up are your high-hats. You typically have two high-hat cymbals - a top and bottom one (this is often written on the cymbals themselves so you know which is which). Having already set up your high-hat stand in step 1, place your bottom hat on the seat so that it is laying horizontally. Attach the top cymbal to the clutch and loosen the T-bolt so that you can slide the top cymbal and clutch onto the rod. Tighten the t-bolt to the rod when you are happy with the distance between the two hats (leave enough room between them for open high-hat grooves/high-hat lifts to ring out, but not too much room that its difficult to press your foot on the pedal enough to close them). Next we want to set up our crash. Loosen the lowest t-bolt on your stand and spread out the legs then re-tighten the t-bolt once the legs are keeping the stand steady. Place the stand next to your high-hat stand and remove the top wing-nut and felt from the stand. Check that there is a bottom felt on the stand and place your crash cymbal on top. Check that your crash is at a height and distance that is easy to reach from your normal playing position but isn't in the way of your high-hats or high tom. Next grab your boom stand for your ride cymbal and place it in the space between your bass drum and floor/low tom. As with the crash, remove the top felt and wing-nut and place your ride on top of the stand with a felt underneath and on top. As with your crash, ensure it is at a distance that feels easily with in reach, but have it sitting lower than your crash and angled more toward you so it is easy to play. Ensure it is not sitting in the way of either of your toms.
Happy with your cymbal placement? Congratulations! Now your ready to play!
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