KIT SET UP

The general rule of thumb should be to avoid extremes. The drums should be close enough so that it takes minimal effort to move around the kit. Have a look at as many pictures of pro drummer’s kits as you can to get an idea of what works.

Get a friend to help you. Sit on your stool and air drum for a bit to find the natural heights and places your arms and sticks want to move to. Get your friend to add the bass drum in; then the snare and then the hi-hat. Keep drumming and adjusting all the while. Finally add the toms and cymbals. As far as seating height is concerned I find it is best is to have your throne set up in such a way that when your heels are down the top of your thighs will be parallel to the floor. A very slight angle either way from true level is fine if it is comfortable.

To get a good rack tom angle I hold a stick very relaxed in front of me so the butt end is above the centre of my snare. I angle my tom so that it is parallel to the stick. This way, without too much effort (a slight flex of the wrist) I can hit a rim shot on the tom, but will never hit rim shots by accident because the rim is too high up. Nor will I have to bend my wrist un-naturally to hit the rim.

Whatever you do, whether you have a three piece or a 15 piece drum kit, don’t make life difficult for yourself. The drum’s position should serve you and not the other way around.

J