For upon |Buying a drum set for your kids should be a fun and exciting experience. Parents often worry about whether or not they will be able to find a quality drum set at an affordable price. They worry about what is included and what is not included in the purchase price, and they worry if their kids will even like playing the drums two months from now! These are all legitimate concerns, but once you have all the information you need about buying the best drum set for your kids, it will be easier than ever to make your decision. Getting kids hooked on music at any age is a good thing; whether they like to listen to music or they like to play instruments, music is an important part of a child’s development. Even if you are on a budget, we’ve got a drum set that your child will love. In this review of the best drum sets for kids, we’ll review five categories of drum sets including the best overall, and provide you with a detailed buying guide, so you know exactly what to look for when you head out to buy your child a new drum set.
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Best Drum Set for Kids Reviews
In this section of our comprehensive review, we’ll tell our top choice for the best drum set for kids, and we’ll provide you with a good alternative for the runner-up; we’ll give you an option for smaller children, as well as something for older kids to learn to play the drums on, and we’ll give you a great option for when budget is a concern. Here we go!
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Best Drum Set for Kids |
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Runner-up for Best Drum Set for Kids |
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Best Drum Set for Smaller Children |
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Best Drum Set for Older Kids |
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Best Economy Drum Set for Kids |
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1. Best Drum Set for Kids
If you are looking for a top of the line junior drum set, then look no further than the Gammon 5-piece junior starter drum kit. This kit comes with everything your child needs to start playing the drums from the minute you put it together. It has a full stack of drums and the cymbals. So it’s like a full-sized drum set, only smaller. This drum kit features real wooden drum shells, just like the pros use, and it has a 16” bass drum. In case you are wondering, a full-size bass drum is about 22”, so it’s a good size for kids. There are two tom drums and a snare drum. You also get the snare stand, which is nice because some drum kits don’t come with the stands and hardware. You’ll also get the hi-hat cymbal, stand and other cymbals in this great junior drum kit. What’s more, you’ll get the bass drum pedal, a throne – which is the stool your child will sit on to play the drums – and you’ll get a drum key to tune the drum, as well as a set of drumsticks. In addition, you’ll get complete instructions on how to set the kit up in no time. Gammon is a popular teaching product, and it’s recommended by a lot of professionals as a great option for a kid’s first drum set. This drum set is best for kids age 3-12. We love it for our pick as the best drum set for kids.
Pros:
- Suitable for kids aged 3-12
- Easy to assemble
- Full line up of drum components
- Comes with all the hardware to set it up
- Comes with throne, pedals, and drumsticks
- Made from real wood
- Great brand name
- Available in multiple colors including black, red, blue, pink, and green
Cons:
- There aren’t really any negatives to report about this junior drum set; it’s a great deal all around
2.Runner-up for Best Drum Set for Kids
Our runner-up for the best drum set for kids is the Mendini 5-piece drum set. It is a complete drum set that features everything you need to get started and is rated for kids from 2 ½ feet tall to 5 feet tall. It has a 16-inch bass drum, and two tom-tom drums measuring 10 inches and 8 inches. There is also a 12-inch floor tom, and a 10-inch snare drum. The cymbals include an 8-inch hi-hat cymbal, 10-inch crash cymbal, and you get the adjustable throne to sit and play. The bass pedal is also included in this kid, as well as a part of drumsticks. You can easily put this drum set together in a few hours, and the instructions are included in the kit. Some drum sets have their assembly instructions online, so this is a nice feature. It saves parents from having to search for instructions online. This drum set is for younger children who are just learning to play the drums. This junior drum set is available in several colors including blue, black, deep red, bright red, green, silver, It comes with a one year warranty and provides hours of enjoyment for children and parents, alike.
Pros:
- Complete drum kit ready to go out of the box
- Includes stool, drumsticks, and pedal
- Available in 6 colors, so there’s something to suit every style
- Full range of drum components
- Great for kids up to 5 feet tall
- Adjustable stool
Cons:
- Junior drums sets don’t always sound as good as you might hope; adjusting the tightness of the drumheads can help improve the sound quality overall
3. Best Drum Set for Smaller Children
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For the little kids in the group, aged 3-7, we have the RockJam 3-piece junior drum kit. This isn’t a full drum kit, meaning it doesn’t feature all the drums that the other sets do, but for a smaller child, this is a great way to introduce them to the world of drumming without overwhelming them. It features a 16-inch bass drum, a 10-inch snare drum and a 10-inch hanging tom drum. There is also a 10-inch cymbal. All of the stands come with this set, which is nice because some drum sets don’t always come with the hardware you need to start playing right away. There is a drummer’s throne included in this drum set, and it is adjustable so it can grow with your child. There is also a set of drumsticks included with this set. You’ll find this junior drum set in red, black, and blue. Parents can easily assemble this junior drum kit in less than an hour. It offers hours of fun and entertainment for children, and parents will love watching their kids turn into music fans. No matter how old your kids are, they can start learning to play the drums. Making noise soon turns into making music. While this doesn’t have all of the components of a full drum set, you could add more drum pieces over time to accommodate your child’s growing talent. Investing in musical instruments is always money well spent, and we like this RockJam 3-piece drum set as our choice for the best drum set for smaller children.
Pros:
- Available in three colors
- Great starter drum set
- Suitable for kids up to age 7
- Features 3 drums
- Includes stool, foot pedals, and drumsticks
- Can grow with your child
Cons:
- Doesn’t have all the components of a full drum set; you could add more over time
4. Best Drum Set for Older Kids
If you have a teenager who wants to learn how to be a drummer, or if your drummer child has outgrown their junior drum set, the Rise Student Drum Set is a great stepping stone drum set for older kids. Without investing in a full-size professional drum set, a student drum set gets you everything your child needs to continue to learn and improve their drumming talents, without the price tag of buying a more expensive drum set. This drum set features a 22-inch bass drum, two tom-tom drums measuring 12 inches and 13 inches, as well as 16-inch floor tom. There is a 14-inch snare drum and a hi-hat cymbal. In addition, you get a 2-tier cymbal stand that will hold a 14-inch hi-hat and 16-inch crash-ride cymbal. You also get the hardware for the tom drums, floor tom, and lugs for the bass drum. This drum set includes a drum key so you can adjust the tone for your drums, and you get a set of drumsticks. Some junior drum sets come with lighter drumsticks, but as your child grows, you’ll want to invest in a pair of heavier drumsticks to maximize their playing. This set has them included, so that is a nice feature. This drum set also comes with the drummer’s throne, which you will notice is a much bigger size than the junior drum sets if you are upgrading from a smaller drum set with this kit. You have your choice of red, black, or blue for the exterior finish of the drum kit, and truthfully, they all look great. So when you are looking for a drum kit for your growing teenager, check out the Rise by Sawtooth full-size student drummer kit. It’s a great deal and will provide many years of enjoyment for your the little drummer in your family.
Pros:
- Full-size student drum kit
- Available in great colors
- Comes with throne, pedals, hardware, and drumsticks
- Great option for upgrading or starting out
- Full-size bass drum and other components
- Looks and feels like a professional set without the price tag
- Drum key for tension and tone adjustments
- Adjustable throne
Cons:
- If you buy this for smaller children, they won’t be able to use the drums properly
5. Best Economy Drum Set for Kids
If you are in the market for an affordable, yet practical drum set for your kids, the GP 5-piece junior drum set is where it’s at. This drum set is good for kids up to age 12. Not only does this drum kit come with everything you need to get started, but it looks great too. Kids will love it, and you’ll love the affordability of it. This drum kit is available in black only, but the company does offer other models in other colors. There are nice logos on the drumheads, and the drumheads are clear. It comes with the bass drum pedal, so there’s no need to spend extra money getting accessories for this set. It also comes with the drummer’s throne, so your child has somewhere to sit properly when playing the drums. Kitchen chairs and stools are too high for these drum sets, so it’s convenient when you can get a drum kit that has the throne included in the package. There’s also a drum key so you can adjust the drums as needed. You’ll get assembly instructions, and in no time your child will be enjoying their complete drum set. There are two tom-tom drums, a bass drum, a snare, a ride cymbal, a hi-hat cymbal, and the floor tom drum. The shells are made from high-quality wood construction, and it’s a sturdy model for kids. Overall, this is an economical option for investing in a junior drum set for your kids.
Pros:
- Full drum kit for kids up to age 12
- Nice design and logo work
- Made from high-quality wood
- Stands and hardware included
- Throne and drumsticks included
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- Only available in black
Buying Guide for Best Drum Set for Kids
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Trying to find the right drum set for your kids is sometimes like trying to find a needle in a haystack, especially if you or your child don’t know anything about drum sets. It’s pretty easy to overbuy when it comes to drum sets. If you have a teenager, you might be tempted to buy a full-sized adult drum set, but depending on their age, a junior kit might be enough. With so much information out there, we’ve compiled the best of what you need to know to help you decide which drum set is right for your children.
Your Child’s Age
The first thing you’ll notice about junior drum sets is that they are much smaller than full-sized drum sets that you might have seen in shows or in showrooms. While kids can certainly sit on a full-sized throne and tap the drums, they could never get the full experience of playing and learning to improve on a full-sized drum kit. That’s why it’s important to know what age group the drum set you are looking at is rated for. All of the drum kits on this review list are for kids aged 3-12, except for the model designed for older kids, such as teenagers. If you buy a drum kit that is too small, your child won’t get the most out of their drumming, and if you get one that is too big, they might struggle to learn as well. Always check the age range for any drum set you are going to buy.
Their Interest Level
When it comes to investing money into a musical instrument, parents might hesitate at first, especially if their child has already gone through the gamut of musical instruments and doesn’t stick with any of them. Maybe drums will be for them, and maybe they won’t, but junior drum sets are pretty economical in their own right, and if they are still too much to invest in, consider getting a less robust set of drums, like a 3-piece set, or opting for an economy model to test the waters.
Where Will You Store the Drum Set?
Junior drum sets are much smaller than full-sized drum sets, but they will still require a bit of room for storing them and using them properly. Kids need a good bit of clearance behind them in order to facilitate playing. So if you are short on space, consider a smaller drum set to start. Something else parents should consider is the noise level that will be created by having drums in the house. You might opt to put your child’s drum set in their room, the basement, or even the garage to be able to encourage their playing without disrupting others.
Do They Need a Full Drum Kit?
If your child is a complete novice when it comes to drumming, you can probably get away with a smaller set of drums; however, your best value is always found in the full set because they are packaged to provide convenience, value, and affordability. If you opt for a 3-piece drum kit to start and your child loves it, you’ll end up spending more money, in the long run, to upgrade your drum kit to have more pieces than if you had just invested the money in the first place. Younger children, aged 3-5 don’t need a full drum kit. A 3-piece kit will do them just fine for a long time.
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Quality of Construction
Most drum kits are made from durable materials, such as wood. If you are in the market for a drum kit for your kid, opt for a wooden drum set. The wood resonates better and creates a better sound; plastic or resin drums don’t sound as good and tend to be more cheaply made than wooden drum sets. Plus, you can beat the look and feel of a wooden drum set.
Accessories and Added Value
Choosing the right drum set for your child should include getting one that comes with all the bells and whistles, or accessories if you will. This means that your drum kit should come with a throne for sitting, and it should be adjustable so that it can grow with your child. You should get a drum kit that has drumsticks, so you don’t get your kit home and find out you need to order more stuff or go back to the store, and your drum kit should come with the bass and cymbal pedals. A quality kit, like the ones on this list, will have all of these things. You get the most bang for your buck when you buy a drum kit that comes with everything you need. Plus, things look better when they are designed to work together. Rather than piecing together a drum kit, get a set of drums that match for maximum impact and value.
Overall Thoughts
Investing in a drum kit for your child is a great idea. Kids love the drums, and they are fun to play. If you are still unsure of what drum set is right for your child, then opt for the best drum set there is: you can’t go wrong with the highly recommended 5-piece full drum kit from Gammon. It’s got great value, loads of features is made from durable wood, and looks great. Easy to assemble, backed by a good warranty, and presented by a popular brand, it’s got everything your child needs to get started on the right foot and keep them learning for years to come. With a full range of drums, an adjustable throne, all the hardware, and a set of drumsticks, the Gammon junior drum set is perfect for your future drumming star.
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