{"id":48644,"date":"2023-11-14T18:01:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T02:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=48644"},"modified":"2024-03-26T14:27:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-26T21:27:00","slug":"set-up-drums","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/set-up-drums\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Set Up A Drum Set (With Photos)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It&#8217;s finally time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums\/\">learn how to play drums<\/a>! You&#8217;ve picked out the kit of your dreams (or at least one that matches your budget) and now you have all the pieces sitting in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you set up your drums, map it out in your mind: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Where do you want everything to go?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will the drums fit there? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which direction do you want it to face? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Will you be able to get behind the kit comfortably, and are you in a spot where you won\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-practice-without-driving-the-neighbors-crazy\/\">disturb the neighbors<\/a>? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do you need a rug underneath to prevent the drums from slipping or damaging the floor (it\u2019s also a sound dampener).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Every body is different, so every drummer has different needs. Bob is 6 feet tall. Jimmy has short legs. Stephanie has limited movement in her right knee. All of them will probably set up their kits a little bit differently, and what\u2019s comfortable for them might be your ergonomic worst nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to remember one thing, it\u2019s that when you\u2019ve finished setting up, you should be able to reach every piece of the kit easily. No over-extending your arms or legs, and you should never have to twist or contort your back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are instructions for a traditional right-handed drum kit setup. If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/left-handed-drumming-tips\/\">left-handed<\/a>, reverse the instructions (or betray your people and learn how to play like a righty).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/22114343\/blog-graphics-labeled-drum-kit.jpg\" alt=\"how to set up drums\" class=\"wp-image-20522\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/22114343\/blog-graphics-labeled-drum-kit.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/22114343\/blog-graphics-labeled-drum-kit.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/22114343\/blog-graphics-labeled-drum-kit.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/22114343\/blog-graphics-labeled-drum-kit.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is a basic five-piece drum setup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#how-to-set-up-acoustic-drums\">How to set up acoustic drums<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-set-up-your-throne-and-bass-drum\">1. Set up your throne and bass drum<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-attach-the-pedal-to-the-bass-drum\">2. Attach the pedal to the bass drum<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-set-up-the-snare-drum\">3. Set up the snare drum<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-set-up-the-hi-hat\">3. Set up the hi-hat<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-set-up-the-toms\">4. Set up the toms<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-set-up-your-cymbals\">5. Set up your cymbals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#final-tips-for-setting-up-your-drums\">Final tips for setting up your drums<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-set-up-acoustic-drums\">How to set up acoustic drums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So you\u2019ve decided to become a noise machine &#8211; and what a beautiful thing it is. Here\u2019s how to set up a simple traditional drum set.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"blue-text-block\"><strong>Quick tip<\/strong>: When you\u2019re setting up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-complete-guide-to-drum-hardware\/\">hardware<\/a> &#8211; meaning the heavy silver-toned stuff that\u2019s used to connect pieces of your equipment together &#8211; you\u2019ll mostly loosen and tighten wing nuts to make adjustments. Once you know this, the rest is a breeze!<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170422\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-113-1024x683.png\" alt=\"drum hardware\" class=\"wp-image-49247\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170422\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-113-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170422\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-113-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170422\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-113-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170422\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-113.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some examples of drum hardware that might come with your kit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-set-up-your-throne-and-bass-drum\">1. Set up your throne and bass drum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by opening up the legs of your throne (seat) by loosening the wing nut and pulling the legs outward. Adjust the height so you can sit comfortably with your feet flat on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1-666x1024.png\" alt=\"set up drum throne\" class=\"wp-image-49223\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1-666x1024.png 666w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1-768x1181.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1-998x1536.png 998w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160751\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-102-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Your legs should be at just over a 90 degree angle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Next, put down the bass drum (aka the &#8220;kick drum&#8221;). Think of this as the centerpiece of your kit. Once the bass drum is in the perfect spot, you\u2019ll build everything else around it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your bass drum has spurs (legs), make sure they&#8217;re extended and angled slightly forward to prevent the drum from moving when you play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"set up bass drum legs\" class=\"wp-image-49245\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170408\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-105.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that when you sit down, your body shouldn\u2019t face in the exact same direction as the front of the bass drum; you should actually position the drum at a slight angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set the height of your seat so you can sit comfortably with your hips slightly higher than your knees, and set the seat far back enough that your right foot can just reach the bass drum without overextending or cramping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-attach-the-pedal-to-the-bass-drum\">2. Attach the pedal to the bass drum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Place the pedal in front of the drum and slide it forward so the clamp fits nicely onto the hoop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tighten the clamp (usually under the pedalboard) to firmly attach the pedal to the drum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the beater is too close or something else doesn\u2019t feel right, check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/ultimate-guide-bass-drum-pedals\/\">pedal guide<\/a> for instructions on how to adjust it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"719\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160740\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-109-1-1024x719.png\" alt=\"set up bass drum pedal\" class=\"wp-image-49222\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160740\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-109-1-1024x719.png 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160740\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-109-1-300x211.png 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160740\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-109-1-768x540.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160740\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-109-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The bass drum beater should make contact with the center of the drum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-set-up-the-snare-drum\">3. Set up the snare drum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the three legs of the snare stand the same way you opened the legs of the seat. Put it in front of and slightly to the left of the bass drum, then place the snare drum into the basket (where the three rubber-tipped \u2018arms\u2019 cradle the bottom of the drum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the drum doesn\u2019t fit nicely on top of the stand, you might need to loosen the metal piece beneath the basket so the arms can open wider.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160803\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-110-1-719x1024.png\" alt=\"set up snare drum\" class=\"wp-image-49225\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160803\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-110-1-719x1024.png 719w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160803\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-110-1-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160803\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-110-1-768x1093.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160803\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-110-1.png 843w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Make sure you can hit the snare drum without smacking your knuckles on the rim!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve got the drum sitting nicely in the basket, give it a tighten. Adjust the stand\u2019s height so the top of the snare drum sits a little below your bellybutton. You may need to play around with your seat height as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also give the snare stand a slight tilt so you don\u2019t accidentally hit the rim. The goal is a comfortable playing position where you can easily strike the drumhead with zero tension or awkward movement.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-set-up-the-hi-hat\">3. Set up the hi-hat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Open the hi-hat stand\u2019s legs fully so the feet and hi-hat pedal all touch the ground evenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Screw in the rod and make sure it goes up and down when you press down on the pedal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take the bottom hi-hat cymbal (it\u2019s usually the one without the logo, and it might feel slightly heavier) and slide it down the rod with the outer bell facing down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"hi-hat cymbals\" class=\"wp-image-49246\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14170414\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-109.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some hi-hats will have a label on the bottom so you can tell the difference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now take the clutch &#8211; the small piece of hardware that looks like a collection of felts and nuts &#8211; and remove the bottom nut and felt. Thread it through the top hi-hat cymbal so the outer bell is facing up. Replace the felt and the bottom nut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Place the cymbal-clutch combo onto the rod, loosening the wing nut on the clutch if it won\u2019t go down. And voila!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To activate the stand\u2019s open-close motion, use your hand to raise the clutch and top hi-hat up the rod about an inch, then tighten the clutch\u2019s wing nut. Now you can press down on the pedal to control the height of the top hi-hat!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"blue-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-28223 size-medium aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-300x60.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"60\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-300x60.png 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-1024x203.png 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-768x152.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-1536x305.png 1536w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/30143903\/NDSH-logo-dark-2048x406.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><br \/>We&#8217;ve launched a course to make getting started on the drums easier than ever.<\/div>\n<div class=\"blue-text-block\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">It\u2019s called <em>New Drummers Start Here<\/em> &#8211; and it&#8217;ll take you from a total beginner to playing drums with <strong>real <\/strong>music in 90 days or less.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/new-drummers\/\"><strong>Click here to check it out<\/strong>!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-set-up-the-toms\">4. Set up the toms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a standard five-piece kit, you&#8217;ll probably have two mounted toms and one floor tom. Some toms are built to attach to your cymbal stands, but most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/best-beginner-drum-sets\/\">beginner drum sets<\/a> have a piece of hardware that connects them to the bass drum &#8211; and that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to show you.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160814\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-122-1-683x1024.png\" alt=\"set up toms on drums\" class=\"wp-image-49227\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160814\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-122-1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160814\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-122-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160814\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-122-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160814\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-122-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Most drums come with a mount for your toms.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Mounted toms:<\/strong> Attach them to the bass drum using the provided hardware. Try to avoid angling them too much! If the toms are too deep to fit over your bass drum without tilting them to the extreme, try changing their height or moving them to the left or right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Floor tom: <\/strong>Position it to the right of your right leg. You can remove and\/or adjust the legs to change the height and angle; make sure they\u2019re even (or almost even) so the floor tom doesn\u2019t wobble.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160819\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-124-1-683x1024.png\" alt=\"set up floor tom\" class=\"wp-image-49228\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160819\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-124-1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160819\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-124-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160819\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-124-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160819\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-124-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attach the legs to your floor tom.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now play the kit from left to right, hitting each drum one after another. You want to be able to move around the toms smoothly. If you can\u2019t, it\u2019s time to re-adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-set-up-your-cymbals\">5. Set up your cymbals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s time for your kit\u2019s crowning glory: the crash and ride, and any other cymbals you might\u2019ve picked to give your drums that final flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, assemble and position the cymbal stands. Remember how earlier you read about loosening and tightening wing nuts? You\u2019ll be very good at it after this step. Cymbal stands are basically telescoping tubes: you can make them taller or shorter.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"742\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160829\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-139-1-742x1024.png\" alt=\"adjusting a cymbal stand\" class=\"wp-image-49230\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160829\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-139-1-742x1024.png 742w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160829\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-139-1-217x300.png 217w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160829\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-139-1-768x1061.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160829\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-139-1.png 869w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Loosen\/tighten the wingnuts to make your stands taller or shorter.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Open the legs, give them some height, then remove the cymbal topper by twisting it off. Remove one of the felts, place the cymbal on the stand, then replace the second felt and topper.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160824\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-134-1-683x1024.png\" alt=\"putting a cymbal on a stand\" class=\"wp-image-49229\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160824\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-134-1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160824\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-134-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160824\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-134-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160824\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-134-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Don&#8217;t tighten your cymbals too much!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"blue-text-block\"><strong>Quick tip:<\/strong> Make sure your stand &#8211; not the cymbal topper itself &#8211; has a protective piece of plastic covering the metal top so it doesn\u2019t ruin your cymbal. And don\u2019t over-tighten the cymbal topper; the cymbal should be able to move freely.<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adjust the height and angle of each cymbal. Once the cymbals are on the stands, you might end up changing their placement or height. They should be angled ever so slightly toward you so when your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-best-drumsticks\/\">drumstick<\/a> makes contact it feels like cutting through butter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-tips-for-setting-up-your-drums\">Final tips for setting up your drums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once everything is set up, sit down and make sure everything is within reach and feels comfortable. Move things around if you need to.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160834\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-148-1-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-49231\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160834\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-148-1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160834\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-148-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160834\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-148-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14160834\/2022-07-14-30-day-drummer-gear-guide-Domino-148-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A couple of final thoughts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Drums sound best when they&#8217;re properly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-tune-drums\/\">tuned<\/a>. Use a drum key* to adjust the tension rods on each drum so they all have an even pitch.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Invest in proper <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-drummers-can-prevent-hearing-loss\/\">ear protection<\/a>, especially when you\u2019re playing an acoustic kit. You can\u2019t reverse hearing damage!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change your drum heads regularly and maintain your kit so it always sings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*New drum kits often come with a drum key, but if you don\u2019t have one, you can pick up a key from your local music store or online for a couple bucks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, the exact setup might vary based on personal preferences and your specific gear. The goal is to make it comfortable &#8211; and to make it <em>you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Set Up Your Kit Ergonomically - Drum Lesson\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lWOAhOPHRdE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Calling all beginner drummers (and non-drummers): this is how to set up drums!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":49262,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4020],"tags":[4014],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48644"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/124"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48644"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51450,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48644\/revisions\/51450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49262"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}