Drums for a 13 year old beginner?
Discussion
Any advice please?
One of my son's is pretty good on the guitar but wants to learn to play the drums.
He's been offered a six piece Pearl Export Kit for about £350 - does this seem a good deal and a good choice for him to start with?
He's on the waiting list at his High School for lessons but is there any reason not to buy him a kit now to start on?
One of my son's is pretty good on the guitar but wants to learn to play the drums.
He's been offered a six piece Pearl Export Kit for about £350 - does this seem a good deal and a good choice for him to start with?
He's on the waiting list at his High School for lessons but is there any reason not to buy him a kit now to start on?
As long as the kit is in good condition it'd be a fine starter kit! 
Does it come with cymbals and other hardware? Worth putting some reasonable heads on there as well (I like Remo pinstripes with Ambassadors or Emperors on the bottoms) as it'll help him to develop technique as well. A good kit really accelerates your playing ability, as does any instrument.
You'll be able to sell it for very similar to what you're paying once he either needs something better or decides it's not for him.
Does it come with cymbals and other hardware? Worth putting some reasonable heads on there as well (I like Remo pinstripes with Ambassadors or Emperors on the bottoms) as it'll help him to develop technique as well. A good kit really accelerates your playing ability, as does any instrument.
You'll be able to sell it for very similar to what you're paying once he either needs something better or decides it's not for him.
The best reason to not buy a kit is that drums are really, really, really loud; you don't want to listen to someone learning to drum at home (take this from someone who had a budding drummer as a flatmate years ago). If you've got the money to spend I'd recommend spending it on private lessons now to get him ahead. That drum teacher will probably know of practice rooms in the area where they have kits to play on, which is the only viable solution if you don't happen to have a nice warm practice room at the far end of your garden.
If he ever plays in a band he'll spend most of his time playing other people's kits anyway, so not having a set at home is nowhere near as much of a handicap as you might imagine.
If he ever plays in a band he'll spend most of his time playing other people's kits anyway, so not having a set at home is nowhere near as much of a handicap as you might imagine.
I'd disagree entirely I'm afraid. I had my first kit at 10 years old and was able to practice more than if I had to be taken to a local practice room.
With regard to playing 'other peoples' kits' at gigs etc, that's also incorrect. A band is expected to bring their own gear, including PA more often than not. However, that's a ways down the road for the OP's kid.
What I will say is that having your own kit will help development of skills and techniques enormously; playing someone else's kit (be it in a practice room or a drum tutor's) is like trying to drive a hire car without being able to adjust the seat and mirrors. It's been thrashed mercilessly by all an sundry and things aren't where you'd like, want or need them and it's pretty unpleasant to play tbh.
The OP has clearly considered the noise factor (it's not likely to be a surprise that drums are noisy). It's possible to get rubberised pads that dampen the sound, but like an 'extra-safe' condom, they also remove 90% of the feel - I didn't like them and I didn't progress at all when I had to use them.
There are some good 'quiet' ways of learning rudiments. I have a 'real-feel' practice pad that is near-silent yet responds like a drum skin; great for practising techniques when you're away from the kit.
With regard to playing 'other peoples' kits' at gigs etc, that's also incorrect. A band is expected to bring their own gear, including PA more often than not. However, that's a ways down the road for the OP's kid.
What I will say is that having your own kit will help development of skills and techniques enormously; playing someone else's kit (be it in a practice room or a drum tutor's) is like trying to drive a hire car without being able to adjust the seat and mirrors. It's been thrashed mercilessly by all an sundry and things aren't where you'd like, want or need them and it's pretty unpleasant to play tbh.
The OP has clearly considered the noise factor (it's not likely to be a surprise that drums are noisy). It's possible to get rubberised pads that dampen the sound, but like an 'extra-safe' condom, they also remove 90% of the feel - I didn't like them and I didn't progress at all when I had to use them.
There are some good 'quiet' ways of learning rudiments. I have a 'real-feel' practice pad that is near-silent yet responds like a drum skin; great for practising techniques when you're away from the kit.
Thanks for all the comments.
Noise isn't really an issue as we have a summer house, which we could put a heater in for the winter.
We've also got some brick built empty stables, which he could use if he joins a band later.
My daughter plays Bluegrass on guitar and the band that she is in sometimes practices here.
Our only neighbour is a farmer and so we should be okay.
How much are drums affectd by temperature and are they easy to tune up.
Should the skins be slackened off when not in use - especially if the room is unheated for some of the time?
Noise isn't really an issue as we have a summer house, which we could put a heater in for the winter.
We've also got some brick built empty stables, which he could use if he joins a band later.
My daughter plays Bluegrass on guitar and the band that she is in sometimes practices here.
Our only neighbour is a farmer and so we should be okay.
How much are drums affectd by temperature and are they easy to tune up.
Should the skins be slackened off when not in use - especially if the room is unheated for some of the time?
Edited by Davel on Sunday 24th April 19:29
Being wood, drums can be very sensitive to temperature and humidity changes; the more stable this can be kept, the better. The wood can warp otherwise.
As for the skins, no, slackening them off will change their tone as they won't be re-tensioned in the same way. Best to leave them as they are. Might be a pain in the backside, but could your son store them in the house when not playing them? He could leave all other hardware such as stands and cymbals in place, but I would have concerns about leaving the drums out. If it's a six piece he could do that in four trips..
As for the skins, no, slackening them off will change their tone as they won't be re-tensioned in the same way. Best to leave them as they are. Might be a pain in the backside, but could your son store them in the house when not playing them? He could leave all other hardware such as stands and cymbals in place, but I would have concerns about leaving the drums out. If it's a six piece he could do that in four trips..
Drums can get affected a bit by temperature changes - I'm no expert at all, but certainly when I've roadied in the dead of winter (-16 in the van the next morning!) the drums have needed a bit of tuning. I think they're a good deal more resilient than a guitar though.
-edit-
Going on Funk's statement there, it's usually the speed of temperature change rather than the change itself that causes the problem, certainly it's that case for guitars. So if you can cover the kit with something insulating (a blanket, an old sleeping bag or duvet for example) it'll slow the temperature change right down.
Pearl Export kits are probably the most common ones I see on the road, which is almost always a good sign for quality and tone. Chances are it'll be the only kit he'll ever need.
-edit-
Going on Funk's statement there, it's usually the speed of temperature change rather than the change itself that causes the problem, certainly it's that case for guitars. So if you can cover the kit with something insulating (a blanket, an old sleeping bag or duvet for example) it'll slow the temperature change right down.
Pearl Export kits are probably the most common ones I see on the road, which is almost always a good sign for quality and tone. Chances are it'll be the only kit he'll ever need.
Edited by davepoth on Sunday 24th April 11:38
Forgot to mention; tuning is something of a black art. There are loads of vids online though that will help.
The rule of tuning a drum head is to 'work opposite'; tighten the lugs opposite to each other rather than in a circle, as this ensures even tension across the drum head. Even I still have fun and games today trying to get the sound I want...!
Youtube will be his best bet.
Re. davepoth's comment - yes, speed of temp change will have the biggest impact. I would still be hesitant about leaving them in a place where temps and humidity fluctuate a lot, but that said it's a £350 starter kit, not a £2k custom job..
The rule of tuning a drum head is to 'work opposite'; tighten the lugs opposite to each other rather than in a circle, as this ensures even tension across the drum head. Even I still have fun and games today trying to get the sound I want...!
Youtube will be his best bet.
Re. davepoth's comment - yes, speed of temp change will have the biggest impact. I would still be hesitant about leaving them in a place where temps and humidity fluctuate a lot, but that said it's a £350 starter kit, not a £2k custom job..
Edited by Funk on Sunday 24th April 11:43
When I got my first kit at the age of 14 I got a beginner kit for £250, that comprised of 5 piece kit, hardware, hi hats and a crash/ ride oh and a stool. The cymbals were god awful and bent out of shape after 2 days so I immediately upgraded to a 200 quid beginner set of cymbals( still pretty crap ones to be honest) that 400 quid set up lasted me about a year and a half, I bought my self a premier artist series birch kit for about 650 and a nice set of paiste cymbals for about 500 quid, I'd say the beginner kit made sense as it meant I could get my basic technique right with out too much fear of wrecking the kit, so if that pearl kit comes with cymbals sounds like you'll be on to a winner
My first kit was a Premier APK - fantastic kit with a great sound if you picked the right heads.
IMO the key is to spend money on the cymbals - cheap is cheap for a reason - I recently used a set of 'beginners' cymbals at a rehearsal while mine where elsewehere and absolutely destroyed them in short order - so advice is either look on ebay or go to your local drumshop and see what they have to offer in second hand kit/cymbal combo's.
Sounds like you don't have any neighbour issues so playing isn't an issue that most drummers come up against (I have a Roland TD6 for home practice and my acoustic kit stays in the band rehearsal room).
I would recommend some sort of initial tuition just to learn to how to hold sticks correctly and learn some basic patterns - you'll soon know if drums are for your son or not. Your local drumshop might also have an offer of a free lesson if you purchase a kit through them.
IMO the key is to spend money on the cymbals - cheap is cheap for a reason - I recently used a set of 'beginners' cymbals at a rehearsal while mine where elsewehere and absolutely destroyed them in short order - so advice is either look on ebay or go to your local drumshop and see what they have to offer in second hand kit/cymbal combo's.
Sounds like you don't have any neighbour issues so playing isn't an issue that most drummers come up against (I have a Roland TD6 for home practice and my acoustic kit stays in the band rehearsal room).
I would recommend some sort of initial tuition just to learn to how to hold sticks correctly and learn some basic patterns - you'll soon know if drums are for your son or not. Your local drumshop might also have an offer of a free lesson if you purchase a kit through them.
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