Accessories
Drum thrones, practice pads, hearing protection, cases and the rest of the kit around the kit — the small purchases that change how long and how well you play.
Nobody dreams about a drum throne. But the throne decides whether your back lasts the second set, the earplugs decide whether you can still hear the hi-hat at fifty, and the practice pad decides whether you practise at all on the nights the kit is not an option. The accessories are the cheapest part of the kit and the part with the biggest effect on the drummer.
Three to get right first: a throne that fits you, hearing protection you will actually wear, and a practice pad that lives by the sofa. Cases, rugs, dampening and the rest follow. The drummer health section covers why the first two matter more than they look.
Latest in Accessories
All Our Buying Guides
Drum thrones | The seat matters more than the snare
How to choose a drum throne: the height rule that fixes back pain, round versus saddle seats, the thrones worth buying at every budget, and when to replace one.
All Our Buying Guides
Headphones for electronic drums | What works
The best headphones for electronic drums: closed-back studio pairs, the drum-specific models with isolation built in, and why Bluetooth is out.
All Our Buying Guides
Hearing protection for drummers | Plugs to in-ears
Hearing protection drummers will actually wear: musicians' earplugs, custom moulds, isolation headphones and in-ears, compared by how much they cut.
All Our Buying Guides
Practice pads | The best ones and how to use them
The best drum practice pads, from the Evans RealFeel to the Drumeo P4: how the surface changes what you learn, how to mount one, and what to practise on it.
Not sure what to pick? Ask the Gear Guru — free, honest gear advice for your style and budget.