Children are natural percussionists. A drum set is a great way to captivate their blooming musical minds and teach them the discipline and dexterity that only years of drumming can afford. With today’s range of affordable and pro-featured kids’ drum sets, built specially for smaller players, it’s easier than ever to get your child’s drumming career started right.
Before we break down our best sellers, let’s look at a few reasons you might choose a child’s kit over a standard kit:
Kids’ drum sets cost less than full-sized kits.
This makes the price of admission far more attractive to parents who don’t want to sink a great deal of money into their child’s first kit. Also, many children’s drum sets include cymbals and hardware, which makes them both economical and convenient.
Kids’ drum sets are sized for smaller players.
Thrones and stands are made shorter to facilitate proper posture and technique for little arms and legs. Drums are built more compact for easier handling and setup.
Kids’ drum sets are quieter than large kits.
Let’s be honest — the first few months your child spends learning the drums will not be your favorite. The payoff comes in time. Smaller drum shells mean higher pitches and less amplitude, for less noise to wake you and your neighbors on the weekends.
Kids’ drum sets are fun.
Even if you’re a veteran drummer, don’t underestimate the fun you and your child or student will have learning together on a first kit. Even many adult players have returned to smaller kits because of the tones and control they offer.
Here are Sweetwater’s best drum sets for kids that will kick-start your child’s musical journey.
Ludwig Jr. (Ages 3+)
Ludwig is one of the most celebrated names in the drum industry, and the Ludwig Jr. kit is a sound investment in your child’s drumming career. The Jr. has all the makings of a pro kit — such as 6-ply poplar shells and tunable heads — and includes a full set of cymbals, hardware, and everything your child needs to get started. Just add drumsticks. The 16″ bass drum offers a surprisingly full sound, which makes this a great little side kit to grow into.
PDP Player Junior (5+)
PDP is a sister company to DW Drums, a major producer of boutique kits here in the US. So it should come as no surprise that the PDP Player Junior is crafted for great tone and childproof durability. This is a real instrument, with hardwood shells, that is perfectly sized for your favorite student. The 18″ bass drum is a little larger than the 16″ bass drum of the Ludwig Jr., which evokes a more mature tone for older players. All necessary hardware and cymbals are included.
Pearl Roadshow (8+)
The Pearl Roadshow is not expressly a child’s kit. Actually it’s a compact, gig-friendly set of drums that happens to be the right size for your budding Buddy Rich. The 9-ply poplar shells with hand-cut 45-degree bearing edges express a contoured, modern tone that suits just about any style of music. The toms in this kit absolutely sing, and the kick and snare are more than capable of filling a room. The Roadshow is available with either standard brass cymbals or with the name-brand Wuhan 457 B8 bronze cymbal pack for a stage-ready sound. Hardware, stands, sticks, and even a stick bag are included.
Sonor Martini SE (3+)
With its 14″ bass drum, the bite-sized Sonor Martini SE is the smallest in our kids’ kits lineup. Yet it’s arguably packed with the most pro features of any kit here on this page: crisp, cutting 9-ply poplar shells crowned with retro-sparkle wrapped finishes and Sonor’s TuneSafe tuning system, which prevents heads from going flat. Both the Martini SE and the Roadshow are kits your child can grow into — the Roadshow for rock ‘n’ roll and the Martini SE for jazz and dance. Note that this shell pack doesn’t include stands, cymbals, and hardware, so you’ll need to budget for those separately.
Alesis Nitro Kit (5+)
If volume is a concern, the whisper-quiet Alesis Nitro electronic drum set is the perfect solution for your up-and-coming Keith Moon. Its rubber pads are only a fraction as loud as acoustic shells, privately delivering up to 385 different drum kit sounds straight to your student’s ears via headphones. The Nitro Kit is also convenient to record — send audio directly out to your camera for filming drum covers, or send MIDI to your DAW to trigger virtual instruments. No mics are required. The Nitro Kit includes five drum pads, cymbal pads, a rack, and pedals. Throne not included.
Few hobbies are as fulfilling as learning a musical instrument. If you feel your child or student has the gift of rhythm, help channel their creative energy into a rewarding life of drumming with these children’s drum sets. If you have any questions about drum sets for kids, call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700
