Best Beginner Drum Set Under $1000

On a recent trip across country, my family and I stopped to stay with some relatives. My cousin commented on my YouTube channel, and I asked him if there was anything he could recommend. He asked what kind of drum set a beginner should buy, so I did some searching and encouraged to learn how many deals are out there.

The fact is that buying a drum set requires lots of consideration and an understanding of the options in terms of what to expect from certain drum set packages. For someone with little to no experience, it could be a daunting task, especially considering the big expense a new drum set can be.

This article shares some questions I’ve had to answer over the years of buying drum sets, as well as some of the new questions I’ve researched about what’s available for new buyers. I’ll give you my recommendations as well as the things to watch out for while searching for the right drum set for you.

Things You May Want to Consider

• What size drums should I buy?
• Does the brand matter?
• How much should a beginner spend?
• What comes with a drum set?
• How many drums do I need?
• Are there drums that work for beginners and advanced players?

The following series of questions and recommendations addresses these considerations and more.

How much do drum sets cost?

Drum sets range from $300 to $3,000 and beyond. For this article, I am focusing on drum sets that are under $1,000 because they often provide the most value for beginner and intermediate players. If you spend too little on your first kit, it’s unlikely that you’ll buy something that will suit your needs for very long.

	Pearl Roadshow (w/ hardware) $660	Check the price on zZounds
	Pearl Export (w/ hardware) $999	Check the price on zZounds
	Tama Imperialstar (w/ cymbals) $899	Check the price on zZounds
	Ludwig Accent $499	Check the price on zZounds
	Ludwig Element Evolution $999 (w/ cymbals and hardware)	Check the price on zZounds

Before you start searching for a beginner drum set, you’ll want to know that a lot of online stores will advertise pictures of drums all set up but are only marketing the drums. This means the cymbals and stands are not always factored into the price.

If you don’t spend enough on your first lit, you may find yourself spending more money in the long run. Although the expense can be concerning, several of the big music shops offer zero percent financing plans.

What hardware do you need?

At the very least, you’ll need the following.

• Hi hat stand
• Snare drum stand
• Cymbal stand (straight or boom)
• Rack tom mounting hardware
• Floor tom legs (or mounting hardware)
• Drum throne (seat)

Most drum sets that are sold as drums only (shell packs) come with the hardware needed for the toms. Sometimes a shell pack will come with a snare drum, and it may or may not come with the snare stand.

Read descriptions carefully for the list of hardware included.

Hardware packs often come in light, medium, or heavy duty. The heavier duty hardware often has double-braced legs and can support heavier cymbals, cymbals positioned higher off the ground, or may be better for cymbal stands that also hold tom mounting hardware.

I prefer lighter duty hardware made by a more reliable brand because it’s easier to load in to a session or stage. The brands listed below make light or medium duty hardware that holds up well on the road and could certainly handle hanging out at home for several years.

Hardware Pack Recommendations

You get what you pay for when it comes to hardware. The less expensive hardware on this list, however, is more than suitable for a beginner.

Pacific Drums by DW 800 8.155 HW PACK – 5 PIECE W SP450

At about $100, this Pacific Drums hardware pack is a deal. Let’s say you want to buy another cymbal stand, it’s only $50-$70, depending on the make and model.

Ludwig 400 Series

This pack comes with two cymbal stands (straight and boom), a snare stand, kick pedal, and hi hat stand. The quality is comparable to Pacific Drums pack, and just as reasonable in terms of price.

Tama Stage Master 5-Piece

If you’re looking for quality and don’t mind going a little over the $1,000 budget, this is the pack for you. Tama’s hardware is the best in the business — the hardest hitting drummers have relied on it for decades.

It’s usually about $300, so it would put most people trying to spend $1,000 total for a drum set over budget. But you get what you pay for. The value is all there.

What are the best cymbal packs?

You can spend as much on cymbals as you would on drums. And, although the cymbal packs seem like a big investment, you will save money in the long run buying a pack. If I could go back and change a gear buying choice of mine as a beginner, it would be to save more money for a better cymbal pack.

The following suggestions are based on budget decisions as well as acquiring the gear beginners need to develop their playing on drum set. These are top brands and are all really close to one another in terms of durability and sound quality.

Paiste PST 3 Universal Cymbal Set

This is my top pick on the list because the sound quality and durability are great for the price, which is about $280, sometimes less. These are three cymbals beginners need to get started, and it matches the hardware pack options I shared above.  

Meinl HCS Super Cymbal Pack

This is second pick because it has the most for your money, but it will require more hardware for the additional cymbals.

These cymbals aren’t professional quality, but they are definitely a cost-effective start for beginners. It’s usually about $200. 

Sabian SBR Promo Cymbal Pack

My first cymbal pack was a Sabian B8 Pro. At the time, it was the best sound and pack for the money. This was before the ZBT series or the Meinl packs were available.

This cymbal pack includes four Sabian SBR cymbals. It comes with a bonus 10” crash and costs about $200.

Like other brands on this list, the Sabian packs include options for buying add on packs to match your starter pack. For example, you can usually find a crash pack or effects pack to add a china or more crashes to your drum kit setup.  

Does drum size matter?

Size matters because bigger drums are better for heavier music, like metal or hard rock. You would likely want a 22” kick drum and larger tom sizes. If you play a variety of styles, a 20” kick with 10”, 12”, and 16” (or 14”) toms would better suit your music style needs.

The size of the player matters, too. Younger players are smaller in size so they benefit from smaller drums. Check out this article for the best drum set for kids. The article digs into some of the things you’ll want to consider when buying a drum set for kids pre-teen and younger.

Drum Set Recommendations

The top brands are Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, Ludwig, and Gretsch. Other brands could be added to this list, but I had to draw the line somewhere. My favorite is Pearl, and I’ve played and owned all of the brands listed here and many more.

Pearl Beginner Drum Set

Pearl offers quality drums at affordable prices, and there are several series between entry level drum sets and professional.

Pearl Roadshow Complete 5-Piece Drum Set (w/ hardware and cymbals)

This is the most value budget beginner drum set on the list. The price ranges from $500 to $700, depending on the quality of the cymbals and the amount of cymbals and hardware the seller includes.

Pearl Export Fusion 5-Piece (w/ hardware)

For about $750, these drums are a level up in quality over the Roadshow model. It comes with hardware, but it does not come with cymbals or a drum throne. The budget still leaves you with $350 to buy everything else you need, which is plenty of money to purchase more value for your money.

Tama Beginner Drum Set

Tama has a long history of providing solid drums for genres like hard rock and heavy metal. This is a manufacturer that has some of the best hardware, too.

Imperialstar 5-Piece Complete Kit With Meinl HCS Cymbals

This kit is a good deal because it comes with everything you’ll need, including a drum throne. The drums are not professional quality but they are very close.

At about $700, this drum set is under the $1,000 budget, leaving you with some extra cash to save for upgrades down the road.

Yamaha Beginner Drum Set

The Yamaha brand has been making some of the best drums fro decades. You’ll never go wrong with a Yamaha drum kit at any quality level.

Ludwig Beginner Drum Set

Ludwig drum sets offer the best complete packages for beginner to intermediate players. The quality isn’t good enough for a hit record, but it’s more than enough to get started and excel toward the big stage.

Ludwig Accent Series

This series is the lower price of the two choices I recommend. It’s about $600 for drums, cymbals, and hardware.

You need to read the descriptions of these deals because sometimes they come with three cymbals but only two stands. This is not a budget problem, considering that these drums are well under the $1,000 budget.

Final Thoughts

Drums, hardware, and cymbals are the things you’ll need to get started. Some deals online come with everything you need, while others do not. The hardware and cymbal packs vary in quality, but the prices are usually right on the value – you get what you pay for.

I’m a fan of all of these options. The smaller drum sizes and packages with more cymbals and stands, including a throne, are more convenient. I would buy any of these kits for my beginner player with confidence.