A standard drum set usually includes a kick drum, snare drum, floor tom, tom-toms, throne, cymbal stands and an assortment of cymbals, including a ride cymbal, hi-hats and one or more crash cymbals. The correct set up is usually determined by the style of music played and the drummer's own personal choice. For instance, in most types of rock music, the bass drum, hi-hat and snare drum are the core instruments used to create a drum beat as opposed to jazz, where ride and snare patterns are usually more common and the hi-hat is played with the foot.

The fundamentals of percussion playing are actually quite easy. Percussion is all about striking various drums and cymbals in order to make some type of structured noise. The type of sound that's generated depends on a number of things, such as what you hit, how it's hit, where you hit it and what it's hit with. All four of these factors are essential in getting the proper sound that you want when playing percussion instruments.

The bass drum is the large round drum that rests on the floor with two adjustable legs. This drum is the foundation of any good drum kit & usually makes a big difference in the overall sound. Bass drums use a foot pedal that's connected to the back of the bass drum. The kick pedal is played by pressing down with your foot, which pulls down a chain that then hits the drum.

The snare drum is essential to any drum kit and a good quality snare can make a vast difference in the overall sound of a drum set. The snare consists of a batter head, a shell, a snare head and snare wires. The batter head is the top head of the snare drum that's actually hit. The shell is the body of the snare drum itself that consists of either metal or wood. The snare head is the skin at the bottom of the shell that's seated under the snare wires. The snare wires are attached across the bottom of the snare and help produce the pop that's heard whenever the snare is hit.

The floor tom is the tom that stands on the floor next to the kick drum. This is the same concept as a hanging tom except the floor tom has adjustable legs. Most floor toms don't actually have a bottom head but rather just a batter head on top. This drum produces the most bass of all the toms and with no resonant head it produces a deep, thunder-like sound.

The toms are the drums that sit on top of the bass drum and most kits consist of one or two, although some kits can have numerous toms. They contain a shell with a batter head on one end and a resonant head on the other end. They are also excellent for fills, as they add additional sounds to the standard beat of the kick and snare drums.

The hi-hats are two cymbals that sit on a stand next to the snare drum and are played by the hi-hat pedal. They can be played opened or closed to create an assortment of sounds and are used to keep the pace of the music tight and also to help keep time. The thinner and lighter cymbals have a higher cutting sound, whereas the larger and thicker cymbals have a fuller and richer sound.

The cymbals and cymbal stands encompass the actual drums of the kit itself. Cymbals are a matter of individual taste and there are several types but the most common cymbals are the crash, ride, splash and china. It's generally recommended to start with no less than a set of hi-hats, a ride cymbal and a crash cymbal to complement the drums. A cymbal cannot be tuned like a drum, so it's always important to buy high quality cymbals when possible.

Drum sticks provide the necessary attack when it comes to beating the drums. When choosing a drum stick, there are several different types, models and sizes. Sticks are typically selected according to musical styles and are generally a matter of personal preference. Mallets, multi-rods and brushes are other instruments that are often used when a softer touch is needed.