Advice for Drummers
Are you a drummer looking for some guidance? We have advice that covers everything from the different types of gear available, types of drum lessons as well as career support.
Explore Advice for Drummers
Head to Head
Two products, one buyer, one honest answer. Our head-to-head guides put the kits, snares, cymbals and sticks people actually cross-shop side by side, row by row, with a verdict on each and the price band for your region.
All Our Buying Guides
The best and worst thing about playing the drums is the amount of gear available for purchase. The selection of sounds is incredible but where do you start?
Getting Started
New to the drums? Start here — what to buy first, how to set a kit up, and the lessons and practice habits that get you playing songs soonest.
How to
Step-by-step guides for drummers — tuning, technique, recording and gear setup, plus the fixes for the things that go wrong, one step at a time.
Latest in Advice for Drummers
Head to Head
Best 5A drumsticks | Vic Firth vs Promark vs Vater
The three 5As most drummers actually buy, side by side: dimensions, tip, balance, durability, consistency and price per pair — and which one to put in your bag first.
Head to Head
Ludwig Supraphonic vs Black Beauty | Which Ludwig snare?
Aluminium against brass: the two most recorded snare drums in history, side by side — shell, sound, sensitivity, the price gap, and which one belongs in your first serious snare slot.
Head to Head
Pearl Export vs Tama Imperialstar | Which first kit?
The two kits every beginner cross-shops, side by side: shells, hardware, the cymbals in the box, the pedal, the sound and the resale — with a verdict on every row and a straight answer at the end.
Head to Head
Roland TD-07KV vs Alesis Nitro Max | Is the Roland worth double?
The two electronic kits at the start of the ladder: pads, module, sounds, Bluetooth, what is in the box and what is not, row by row — and whether the Roland earns its price over the Alesis.
Head to Head
Sabian AAX vs HHX | Bright and cutting, or dark and complex?
Sabian's two professional lines side by side: the hammering, the sound, the cut, the price per cymbal, and which range fits the music you actually play — with a sound comparison at the top.
All Our Buying Guides
Beginner drum kits | How to buy your first kit
Everything you need to buy your first drum kit with confidence — what's in the box, what the sizes mean, and the kits we'd actually spend money on.
All Our Buying Guides
Cymbal buying guide | Your first proper set
Packs vs individual cymbals, brass vs B8 vs B20, the sizes that matter and the cymbal sets we'd actually buy at every budget.
All Our Buying Guides
Drum head buying guide | Coated vs clear & more
Single vs double ply, coated vs clear, Remo vs Evans vs Aquarian — how to choose drum heads, and the setups that actually work.
All Our Buying Guides
Electronic drum kits | The complete buying guide
Mesh vs rubber, why the module matters more than the pads, and the electronic drum kits we'd actually buy at every budget in 2026.
All Our Buying Guides
Snare drum buying guide | Wood vs metal & more
How to choose a snare drum — sizes, shell materials, hoops and wires explained, plus the snares we'd buy at every budget from £150 upwards.
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Buying used drums online | Best places and tips
Where to buy used drum kits, cymbals and hardware online, what to check before you pay, and how to spot the gear that only looks fine in photos.
Drumsticks
Drumstick size guide | Finding the perfect stick for your playing
Drumsticks are extremely personal to every drummer. We all have a feel we want to have from the sticks and a sound we want to get from them. Although
Drumsticks
Drumstick wood types | Hickory vs maple vs oak
Hickory, maple, oak or hornbeam? What each drumstick wood does to weight, durability and shock — and a finder that picks the right one for you.
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Mesh head guide for drummers | What's best for your budget?
Mesh heads have become the go-to drum head type for electronic drum kits and are also a great option when you want that real kit feel at a lower volume.
Buying guides
Floor snare drums | The floor tom and snare crossover you didn't know you needed
One of the latest trends in drumming is floor snare drums. Often called a "Snom drum" or a "Baritone Snare drum". It is both a floor tom or a snare at the
All Our Buying Guides
Direct Drive Bass Drum Pedals | Ultimate guide
Direct drive bass drum pedals have become increasingly more popular amongst drummers in the past 10 years. Originally adopted by metal drummers they are
Drum Lesson Guides
Drum Lessons Online | Benefits, Disadvantages, Free vs Paid
Taking drum lessons online has become commonplace in the drumming community. In the digital age where people want things on demand, it is no surprise. Why
How to
How to get a drum endorsement? Cymbals, heads, sticks and more
At every point in a drummers career, you are more than likely going to think “Damn I want a drum endorsement, I would love loads of free cymbals etc etc”.