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If you’re a drummer on a budget, finding the right drum set can be a game-changer. The durability, sound quality, and versatility of your kit can significantly impact your playing experience.

That’s why we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll guide you through the best cheap drum sets that deliver high-end sound without breaking the bank. We understand the term “cheap” is subjective, but rest assured that these selected drum kits are perfect for drummers looking to save some pounds and turn some heads!

Buying options Gear4music

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Acoustic Drumkit

The modern drum kit is only about one-hundred years old. This makes it a relative newcomer in the world of percussion. While many other types of drums remain rooted in tradition, the drum kit has evolved constantly. In its earliest form the “traps kit”, as it was called then, consisted of a bass drum, snare drum, and some small percussion effects (e.g. woodblock, cowbell, cymbal).

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SNARE DRUM

If you look at a picture of any drum kit, no matter how big or small, they are all centered on the snare drum. Out of all the pieces in the kit it is the most important. The name is attributed to the snare wires that run along the bottom head to produce the distinct snap sound. Drummers spend considerable time developing their technique on just the snare drum through rudiments and other exercises for stick control. These skills are then applied to the larger kit. Modern snare drums can range anywhere in size from 10-16” in diameter (14” being the most common), and 3-12” deep (5-6” being typical).

BASS DRUM

The bass drum is the large drum that sits on the floor. It is struck with a foot operated pedal. When the term “drumbeat” is used what is being referred to is the interplay between the bass and snare drum. As the biggest drum in the kit it can range in size from 18-28” in diameter (22” being the most common), and 12-18” in depth (16” being typical).

TOM-TOM(S)

The toms are used primarily to provide color to the music and for fills. They range in head size from 6-20”. The depths vary quite a bit relative to the diameter of the drum. The most basic drum kit configuration utilizes two (one high, one low). There are no limits to how many can be included though. This is more of a personal choice that is dictated by musical requirements. They can also be played with a single head, or a top & bottom head. This is a matter of personal preference by the drummer.

HI-HAT

The hi-hat is comprised of two cymbals nested on top of each other. They can be played with a stick, or struck together with a foot operated pedal. This allows for a multitude of sounds to be produced. In contemporary music the primary function is to “ride” on the cymbals with a constant pulse. This provides a foundation for the drum beat occurring between the bass and snare. The cymbals range in size from 12-16” with 14’ being the most common. The hi-hat is the modern day offspring of the low-boy.

This more primitive version consisted of two small cymbals at floor level that were clapped together by a foot pedal. As Jazz music developed the drummers of the day began raising the cymbals with a piece of pipe so they could be played at hand level with the sticks.

RIDE CYMBAL

A ride is typically the largest cymbal within the kit. Functionally it is used in the same manner as a hi-hat - to ride on. However, it provides a bright “ping” sound to color the music with. Ride cymbals can be anywhere from 18-24” in diameter. The most common size is 20”

CRASH CYMBAL

Crash cymbals are used primarily to accent and punctuate the music with a sharp, cutting tone. When a drum kit includes many cymbals they will be mostly of the crash variety. Sizes range from 14-20”. The most common sizes are 16” or 18”.

PERCUSSION

Just like the original traps kit, the modern kit can also incorporate a wide variety of percussion items (e.g., cowbell, tambourine, woodblock). This comes down to musical and creative requirements as determined by the music.

Electronic Drumkit

The first being a physical kit that has electronic trigger pads in lieu of drums and cymbals. These pads mimic the acoustic counterpart in physical positioning. The drum and cymbal sounds don’t emanate from the pads themselves, though. They are generated from a brain module that stores the sounds as “samples”. While the sounds may originate from an artificial source, a human drummer is still required to play the kit.

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Hybrid refers to any combination of acoustic and electronic drums. The term is vague, but can be divided into three broad categories:

ACOUSTIC DRUMS W/ ELECTRONIC TRIGGER PADS

This would be a standard acoustic drum kit with some additional trigger pads included in the set up. The pads are used to generate sounds that aren’t easily produced by the acoustic kit. This could be to maintain authenticity with the sound of the original recording. Or it may also be due to the physical constraints of carrying around large, specialized instruments on the road.

ACOUSTIC DRUMS W/ ELECTRONIC TRIGGERS

This approach became popular in the late 1980’s, particularly for the Arena Rock sounds that were in vogue at the time. An acoustic drum kit is set up and mic’d through the PA as normal. Then an electronic trigger is placed on the drum. Each time the drum is struck a computer generated sound is triggered as well. The two are then blended together in the mix. This allows the drummer to maintain the authenticity of playing an acoustic kit while the sound engineer has an added element of control and predictability.

ELECTRONIC DRUMS W/ WOOD SHELLS

To maintain the look and feel of acoustic kits some electronic manufactures have begun producing fully electronic kits that look like wood kits. The triggers are built directly into the shells. In some cases mylar heads can be placed on the drums to convert them to a fully acoustic kit. This continues to blur the line between what is acoustic or electronic.