The good thing about junior or beginner drums is that although they are quality instruments, they are generally affordable. There are enough on the market now that you can usually find one for between $100 and $150. This is much less than the several hundred dollars you’d pay for an actual drum kit. Additionally, junior drum kits usually come with all the necessary accessories to start drumming right away, such as drumsticks, bass pedal, throne (drum seat), and drum key. This means that kid drummers can usually start drumming right away once they purchase their kit.
There are junior drum kits in a variety of configurations, but choosing one is usually relatively simple. Beginner drum kits are typically ranked first by how many ‘drums’ are in the kit. You’ll find 3-, 4-, and 5-piece junior drum kits, which really defines how many tom-toms come with the kit besides the kick and snare. Any of these setups are fine for a young drummer to start playing, it’s just a matter of preference and budget. Junior drum kits also come with cymbals and a top hat to complete the drum kit components.
There are also children’s drum sets of different sizes, and most will list the appropriate age for each set. You will find small games made for children from 3 to 7 years old, then games for children from 7 to 10 years old. Some of the older kids drum kits are suitable for kids well into their teens, which they will use for as long as they enjoy drumming and until they are ready to upgrade to a full kit. These junior drum sets will also last for many years as the main parts that wear out are the easily replaced drumheads.
Finding a great drum kit for kids is also relatively easy. Many of the major musical instrument manufacturers that make drums will also make junior drum kits as part of their product offerings, and as mentioned, they are generally affordable. You will find some exclusive youth sets with more features that cost more. However, another option is to buy a used junior battery. Since young drummers are always upgrading to complete sets, and because their youth drum kits are usually perfectly serviceable, there are always plenty of used drum kits on the market. Finding used kids’ batteries on eBay is a smart place for parents to find their child’s first battery.
So if you can put up with your child’s noise while enjoying their new drum kit, but are willing to introduce them to the new world of drumming, then consider a beginner’s drum set and get them started in the right direction.
