Drum sets are among the most popular instruments sold. They’re a cost-effective way to get into playing music, and they’re also an easy way to bring some life into a party or to accompany a singer or guitar player.
If you’re wanting to play music, you’re probably no stranger to the many different drum kits available from entry level options to professional grade.
Any of the below kits will sound great and are an affordable option for drummers of any skill level.
Looking for ideas for your drum kit and to make sure you know what to look for? Read more below and see our full list of drum kit reviews. The drum sets listed below are the best of the best in 2022.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl EXX725S/C 5-Piece Export New Fusion Drum Set | Best Overall |  |
| Best Choice Products 3-Piece Kids Beginner Drum Set | Budget Pick |  |
| PDP By DW 5-Piece Concept Maple Shell Pack | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Pearl EXX725S/C 5-Piece Export New Fusion Drum Set
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- It has a well-built sturdy frame
- The drums sound fantastic
Cons:
- It’s more expensive than some other options and may not be the best to start with
- You will need to replace the heads after a few years
Pearl is a company that has been around for over a century, and they’ve been putting out drum kits for even longer.
This Pearl export New Fusion set has the kind of performance that will be outstanding for playing live, including a total of three toms. It is an ideal set for the beginner and intermediate to intermediate player, and you can use it with a variety of music genres for example Jazz, Rock, Blues, World, Reggae, Funk, and Soul.
This set is best for use in small to medium sized rooms, with a maximum overall volume of volume of about 110 dB. It can also be used for recording, adding a ton of sound options.
2. PDP By DW 5-Piece Concept Maple Shell Pack
This is our top pick when it comes to the best small drum kits for the money. Considering the price-to-value ratio, we feel that this is one of the best buys available in the market. The PDP by DW 5-piece concept drum set features maple shells with a high-gloss silver to black fade finish.
You get to choose from four different versions of this kit: Blue Black, Red Black, Natural Mahogany, and Wine. It’s interesting enough though that each shell can be purchased separately. So, you may choose to purchase three out of the four shells and have a custom-made kit that’s easy on the budget!
3. Best Choice Products 3-Piece Kids Beginner Drum Set
Pros:
- 3-piece set with drum, seat, and sticks
- Also features an adjustable counterweight
- Sturdy construction
- Padded seat and 3-piece drum set
- Cool beginner’s set
Cons:
- Could benefit from more accessories
- Drum pedal is sensitive, as is the beater
Sticks, & Drum Key.
The Best Choice Products Kids 3-Piece Drum Set is a good starter drum kit because it offers a complete 3-piece drum set for kids ‗ especially those just starting out in music and looking for a place to begin their journey. And this 3-piece set is more than just a drum and a pair of drumsticks ‗ it also comes with the only necessary piece you’ll need to play the drums ‗ a drum stool.
The drum stool is comfy and adjusts to a wide range of heights, so kids of all sizes can play this drum kit without having access to an adult-sized seat.
4. Ludwig Drum Shell Pack
Pros:
- Available for both professionals and amateurs
- Variety of finishes available for customization
- Includes cymbal stands, drum sticks, drum key, and a drum throne
- Tension rods and tom arms are adjustable for different playing styles
- The lugs are designed to fit tightly for a precise and balanced sound
- The drums are easy to tune and maintain
- Crafted with high quality materials
- The set is easy to transport
- You have the option to personalize your drum set
- The set is an excellent value for your money
Cons:
- Some reviewers have reported cracks or splits in the shell
- Some reviewers found the bass drum to be difficult to tune
- Some buyers found a discrepancy in the color between the product and the advertised image
It’s important to note that this particular drum set was designed to be used by amateur musicians and is not suitable for professional playing. However, for an amateur drummer, it’s an excellent choice. It comes at a high-quality price point, a wider variety of finish options, and a sound and feel that closely mimic a full-size drum kit.
This is a sturdy kit at a reasonable price. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to a full-size kit, this is a perfect choice.
5. Mapex MA528SFGW Mars Series 5-Piece Crossover Shell Pack
Pros:
- Back Light Drum Kit is the best example of drum kits that are packed with flash and features to deliver an unmatched musical experience. The drum kit has the ability to offer a great starting point for a drummer of any age and skill level.
- The drum kit also comes with a 7-strand snare wires and drumsticks to provide the user with a lot of interesting combinations that will help them to continue to hold their own in the world of music.
Aesthetically, the drum kit is well designed, and if you are looking to choose the best drum kit with good looks that will last for many years to come, then it will be a good choice.
All the drums have a strong and sturdy construction that makes them very suitable for live performances. This is another hooping feature that makes the Mapex drum kit stand out.
The drum has a thick shell that gives depth to the sound produced by the drum kit and protects the delicate wood structure of the drums from scratching and damage. It has been styled to allow the purchase to enjoy playing the drums for hours on end and still hold up very well.
6. Gammon Percussion Full Size Complete Adult 5 Piece Drum Set
Pros:
- Full size with mesh heads
- Provides a realistic experience
- Great for beginners
- Affordable
- Wide range of drums
- Plenty of extras
- Padded stool included
- Sturdy stands
- Great for recording
- Very loud!
Cons:
- Cymbals are a bit too close
- Odd ly shaped stands
- Cymbals are a bit loud for a beginner set
- Snare drum is a bit high for a beginner set
This set comes with a two-year warranty and if you register your drum set with Gammon Percussion, they will extend it to ten years.
Satisfaction guaranteed: At Gammon Percussion, we believe there is no greater joy than making music. And we believe that when musicians are happy, they make great music. Our company is built around that belief. We provide the highest quality instruments that create a world of possibilities for you, the musician. We offer you service that helps you select the right drum set for your needs as you take your first steps in music.
7. Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece Drum Set
This drum kit is a favorite among users because it’s well-built and durable. It comes with 4 tom-toms, a snare, and an adjustable hi-hat, and a bass drum pedal with a kick pad. Moreover, the kit comes with drumsticks, a drum stool, a pair of cymbals, and a drum key.
For beginners, this kit is a good option because it provides a better sound than the other models. The drums deliver a punchy resonance and are ideal for the professionals and hobbyist alike. The drumsticks are ergonomically designed and lightweight. They also have a rubber tip and a thicker grip for enhanced durability.
Finally, this kit is a good option for those who play in bands. The hardware is a 6-ply (6mm) birch wood. This makes the kit durable and sturdy and can hold up well to the stage life of even travel. The bass drum pedal is just as sturdy. The bass drum pedals are also double braced for extra stability as well.
8. Gretsch New Renown Maple 3-Piece Euro Drum Set Shell Pack
Pros:
- Great sound
- Comes with high-quality hardware
- Lovely fretwork
- Great price for value
- Simple and straightforward build
- Authentic vintage look and feel
Looking for a drum kit that gives you clean, natural sounds? If so, one of the best cheap drum kits you can get is this three-piece drum kit by Gretsch.
It’s extremely easy to set up and dismantle on account of its color-coded lugs. The bass drum and tom mounts have separate ball-style feet so that you have an easy time setting up your kit. The snare is one of the great things about this set. It comes with its own unique stand and it’s also very easy to mount on a chosen tom mount with its quick-release tom clamp.
The kick-drum stand also comes with a clutch that you can use to adjust its height between 23.5 and 27.5 inches. In terms of sound, it’s not the most impressive kit in this price range. If you like to play heavy music, then you might not want to get this kit. But the sounds it does produce are fiery, full of depth, and extremely natural and pleasing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the best sounding drum kits?
When discussing drum sets, there is a massive amount of variation in price, style, and sound. This variation is due in part to the wide variety of drums available, as well as a variety of other customization options. So, with so many choices out there, how do you choose the best set?
We have narrowed our recommendations to eight choices (five acoustic drum sets and three electronic drum sets) that we think are the best buys. All of these options are both high quality and relatively affordable, making them excellent options for any drummer, from beginners to professional.
It doesn't matter if it'll be your first drum set or your fiftieth, if you need an upgrade, or if you're just curious about a new setup. You're sure to find an option that suits you. There is something here for everyone, no matter what you're looking for or how much you want to spend.
What is the best drum kit for a beginner?
Drum kits come in all shapes and sizes and are all positioned for different markets. So when it comes to finding the best beginner drum kit, it pretty much boils down to personal choice. Sure, we could list some great entry-level kits below, but it would be unfair to claim any of them is the best.
The reason? Every beginner drummer is going to have a different set of preferences and requirements.
It's our goal with this guide to give you a flavor for what the different markets have to offer, so you can decide which is right for you. And if you're still unsure, you can then check out the drum kit reviews further down the list.
Once you have a list of prospective kits in hand, you can decide which one is best for your needs – budget, strength, size, sound – it's entirely up to you.
How much does a good set of drums cost?
The answer is: it depends on what you're getting. Beginners often spend a few thousand dollars on a drum set, while the more serious players spend up to 10,000-20,000 on a custom-made one.
What are the best drum kits for FL Studio?
[Cayenne] How much should I spend on a drum kit?
Drum kits typically come in three different price ranges. The first and least expensive type of drum kit is a drum set with no bells and whistles, just the bare essentials. These types of kits are typically low-end, entry-level drum kits; they won't break the bank, but they're not going to sound as good or last as long either.
The other two categories of drum kits are the middle- to upper-range drum sets. Middle-range drum kits typically feature cymbals, a bass drum, and a tom-tom drum, and they tend to sound better than entry-level kits. As you climb up into the high-end category, you'll start to see some extras on the drum set, such as more toms, more cymbals, and often a better snare drum. Of course, those additions also drive up the price.
Conclusion
We looked for a range of products that are not just easy to use, but quality and offer excellent value for money. In our guide you’ll find drum sets that are great for intermediate and advanced players as well as for beginners. They aren’t all the highest-priced models on the market but are the best in terms of customer satisfaction and value for money.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl EXX725S/C 5-Piece Export New Fusion Drum Set | Best Overall | |
| Best Choice Products 3-Piece Kids Beginner Drum Set | Budget Pick | |
| PDP By DW 5-Piece Concept Maple Shell Pack | Upgrade Pick | |