Part 1 · Getting Started · Chapter 2
A basic drum set has four or five drums (bass drum, snare, one or two rack toms and a floor tom) and two or three cymbals. Every drummer sets up a little differently, but the parts are the same. This book uses a four-piece kit.
| PART | WHAT IT DOES |
|---|---|
| Bass drum | The big drum on the floor, played with your right foot on a pedal. It is the low heartbeat of the band. |
| Snare drum | The drum between your knees. Metal wires (the snares) under the bottom head give it its crack. Most backbeats are played here. |
| Rack tom | Mounted above the bass drum. Higher-pitched, used mostly in fills. |
| Floor tom | Stands on its own legs to your right. Deep and booming. |
| Hi-hat | Two cymbals on a stand with a pedal. Played with sticks, with your left foot, or both. Closed it is tight and crisp; open it sizzles. |
| Ride cymbal | A large cymbal on your right used to “ride” a steady pattern, especially in jazz. |
| Crash cymbal | Used for big accents, usually at the start of a new section. |
Each drum and cymbal in turn: bass drum, snare, rack tom, floor tom, hi-hat, ride, crash, hi-hat foot.
Many left-handed drummers set up a mirror-image kit: bass drum on the left foot, hi-hat on the right. Everything in this book works the same way; just swap “right” and “left”.