Parts of a drum kit, explained

A drum kit looks like a lot of gear at first. It is really a handful of drums and cymbals, each with a job.

The drums

Bass drum (kick)

The biggest drum, played with a foot pedal. It sits on the floor in front of you and provides the low thump that anchors the beat.

Snare drum

Sits between your knees. Metal wires on the bottom head rattle when you hit it, which gives the snare its crisp crack. It usually plays the backbeat, the strong hits on beats two and four.

Toms

Toms are tuned drums with a rounder tone. Rack toms are mounted above the bass drum. The floor tom is bigger, lower in pitch, and stands on its own legs. Drummers use toms for fills that move around the kit.

The cymbals

Hi-hat

Two cymbals facing each other on a stand with a foot pedal. Pressing the pedal closes them for a tight sound, and releasing it lets them ring open. It is often played in steady eighth notes.

Crash

A cymbal that makes a big, bright burst of sound. It marks the start of a new section or a big moment.

Ride

A larger cymbal with a clear ping. It keeps a steady pattern, often in place of the hi-hat. Its raised center, the bell, gives a sharper tone.

Splash, china, and cowbell

Many kits add extras. A splash is a small, quick accent cymbal. A china has a trashy, aggressive sound. A cowbell is a small metal bell that adds a distinctive tone.

Hardware and extras

• Throne: the drummer’s stool.
• Pedals: one for the bass drum and one for the hi-hat.
• Stands: hold the cymbals, snare, and toms at the height you choose.
• Sticks: usually wood, with a small tip that touches the drum.

A standard right-handed layout

The snare sits in the center, the hi-hat on the left, the rack toms above the bass drum, the floor tom on the right, and the crash and ride at the sides. Left-handed players often mirror this layout.

Playing the kit in VR

VR has no foot pedals, so DRUM VR uses controller buttons for the kick and hi-hat. The default kit follows the standard layout above, and the Left-handed preset mirrors it, including the hi-hat button. You can also build any layout you like.

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