Parts of the Drum Kit
Before you can play a beat, it helps to know what you're hitting. Here's every piece of a standard kit, and what each one is for.
The core pieces
A standard modern drum kit is really a small ensemble of individual drums and cymbals arranged around one seated player. Every kit varies a little in size, but almost all of them are built from the same core pieces: a kick drum, a snare drum, a hi-hat, one or more toms, and a handful of cymbals — all held up by hardware.
Kick and snare: the heartbeat
The kick (bass) drum sits on the floor and is played with a foot pedal. It produces the deep, low thump that anchors the beat. The snare drum sits between the player's knees and has a set of metal wires (the "snares") stretched across its bottom head, giving it a sharp, bright crack. Together, kick and snare form the backbone of almost every drum groove.
Hi-hat, toms, and cymbals
The hi-hat is a pair of cymbals mounted face-to-face on a stand, opened and closed with a foot pedal and played on top with a stick — it usually carries the steady rhythmic pulse. Toms come in two flavors: smaller rack toms mounted above the kick drum, and a larger floor tom that stands on its own legs; both are used for fills and melodic accents. A crash cymbal gives a short, loud accent, while a ride cymbal gives a clearer, sustained "ting" used to keep time, especially in jazz.
Tap a piece above to learn what it does.
Hardware: what holds it all together
Hardware is the unglamorous but essential gear that keeps everything upright and playable: the throne (the drummer's seat), cymbal stands, the hi-hat stand and pedal, the bass drum pedal, and the mounts that hold the toms in place. None of it makes sound on its own, but a wobbly stand or a bad pedal can make even a great kit feel unplayable.
Common questions
What are the main parts of a drum kit?
A kick drum, snare drum, hi-hat, toms (rack and floor), and cymbals like a crash and ride, all held up by hardware.
What is the difference between a rack tom and a floor tom?
Rack toms are smaller and mounted above the kick drum; a floor tom is larger, lower-pitched, and stands on its own legs.
What's the difference between a crash and a ride cymbal?
A crash gives a short, loud accent; a ride gives a clearer, sustained sound used to keep time over long stretches.
What counts as drum hardware?
The throne, cymbal and hi-hat stands, the bass drum pedal, and the tom mounts — everything that holds the kit up.
Ready to play your first beat?
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