If you’re a fan of drummers and their instrument, you’ll love our accessories. They make our life easier, more fun, they can even look after us, and they make the best gifts for drummers! There are accessories for all drummers of all abilities spanning a wide price range.
Practice pads
A practice pad is a practice tool designed to offer the same feel as an acoustic drum but at a much quieter volume. They are great to use at home, letting you go for hours without disturbing your neighbours but also ideal for taking on the road as they are so compact.
The pads come in different materials, including soft rubber, hard rubber and mesh. The difference in a material affects the response from your strokes and also the volume. Some only have one material on a single side, and some pads use different materials on either one or both sides. The size also varies, from pads as small as four inches that you can strap to your leg up to a more realistic drum size of 12 inches.
They also come in many choices of colours, designs and sizes, making them great gifts for drummers.
As well as pads that imitate drum heads that you strike with a stick such as a snare drum head, there are also pads that imitate bass drum/kick drum heads. This also allows you to practice your technique and agility anywhere you like.
Drum sticks
Drum sticks can affect your drum sound, agility, and overall skill level. This is all down to their weight, sizes and material. There are also many variations that allow us to create different textures which suit different styles. This is one of the best gifts for drummers because we always need them! Whether you are a heavy-hitting drummer or have a lighter touch, a decent pair of sticks will stand you in much better stead than a cheaper pair.
Vic Firth American
Classic 5A
Hickory Drumsticks
The “go-to” drumsticks for students and professionals
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Material: Hickory
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Price Level: Medium
- Wood tip
- Versatile - these sticks are a good size and weight to cover all styles
- Superior Durability
- Slightly less grip than other brands
Drum brushes
Traditionally these parts are used for jazz, but you can use them for whatever you like. You have a handle and then a wire brush that fans out. They are usually retractable to prevent any damage. You can also buy brushes in nylon which help give a heavier sound, often used for rock styles.
Here is Clayton Cameron playing an amazing drum solo using brushes.
Vic Firth Heritage
Brushes
Great for all Jazz
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Suitable for: All drummers
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Design: Retractable Wire Brush
- Smooth Rubber Handle
- Versatile
- High Price Point
Drum rods
Also known as hot rods, we use these parts as another low volume option. Different sounds can be achieved by adjusting the rings to loosen or tighten the rods. The materials used are either bamboo, wood or plastic.
Ahead Light
Rockstix
Great for a range of styles
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Suitable for: All drummers
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Design: Fibre-bundled Rods
- Aluminum Handle
- Fiber Rods last longer than alternatives
- Thinner Rods for finer articulation
- Not ideal for heavy playing
Stick bags
This is a must for any drummer. It does what it says on the tin, simply containing your various drumsticks and other smaller accessories. They are available in all sizes, colors, designs and prices.
You may only need to take a couple of pairs around with you, so a slim design such as the Tama Powerpad Vintage Stick Bag could work well for you.
Tama Powerpad
Vintage Stick Bag
Great for travel
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Suitable for: Beginners
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Design: Navy Blue
- Inner pockets for accessories
- Compact & Durable
- Only holds six pairs
Or, for those of you after something more comprehensive, the DDrum Drummers Backpack with detachable Stick Bag offers more features and flexibility.
DDrum Drummers
Backpack
with detachable
Stick Bag
Great for travel
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Suitable for: Beginners
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Design: Navy Blue
- Inner pockets for accessories
- Heavy-duty construction
- Plenty of room for all of your essentials
- Plain Design
Drum stick holder
You may want to change drumsticks mid-song or suddenly find yourself holding half a drumstick or even no drumstick at all! This is where a stick holder comes in very handy. We usually clip them onto the hi hat stand or a cymbal stand, so those spare sticks are in easy reach. They come in two designs, one that holds one pair of sticks and the other that can hold multiple pairs.
They make a great gift for drummers as they are cheap, small and always handy to have whether at home or out gigging.
Tuning and rhythm
Keeping your drum kit sounding good as well as your own ability to play in time is what will take you from being an ok drummer to a top-quality drummer. Some of this can be quite easy to improve on and even on a budget. However, an aspect such as timekeeping will probably take you more time to develop through lots and lots of practice!
Tuning key adaptor
You cannot own a drum kit without owning a drum key. Not only do we need them to tune our instrument, but they can also be used to adjust memory locks on your hardware and keep all parts of your drum kit tight together. If you are short of gift ideas, you can’t go far wrong with this one. They are a budget-friendly tool, great for gifts because you can get some really cool looking ones and even keys that double up as a bottle opener!
Gibraltar Speed
Drum Key
Great for quick changes
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Suitable for: All ability drummers
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Design: Fits all standard tension rods
- Crank Shaped
- Designed for quick drum head changes
- Plain Design
A gift for drummers that isn’t quite as well known is a multi-tool. A pocket-sized bit of kit that includes tools to help you with hardware on both acoustic and electric drum kits.
Metronome
Playing in time and maintaining the same tempo is important for all musicians, but most of all, the drummer. Metronomes help us achieve this and are a must-have in the rehearsal room. A metronome is a device that you can set at a given speed and act as an audio and sometimes visual cue. The pocket-size Korg MA-2 is an accessible and quality drum accessory with essential features.
Korg MA-2
Digital Metronome
Great for drummers on the move
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Suitable for: : All ability drummers
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Design: Black or Red
- Timer & Sound Out Modes
- Portable
- Easy to read display
- Limited features
Drum dampers
The way we dampen drum heads can completely transform the drum sound. We use dampeners to decrease unwanted overtones and give a more focused sound. There are increasingly more types, from small stick-on pads to cushions and even pads covering the whole drum head.
Gels are a cost-effective way of reducing excessive rings, or if you want more options within the same device, then the Snareweight is the way to go; this is definitely one of the best gifts for drummers; it improves your sound and looks sexy.
Meinl Drum Honey
Great for all settings-
Suitable for: In the studio and live settings
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Design: Gel Pads
- Can be washed and reused
- Non-toxic
- Does not leave any residue on the head
- Only contains six pads
Snareweight M1
Great for all settings-
Suitable for: In the studio and live settings
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Design: Leather, Black
- Magnetic flexibility for quick changes
- Five different dampening settings
- Fits all drum sizes
- None
We also use silencer pads as a practice tool as they allow us to play the drum kit at a much quieter volume. They are foam pads that sit on and cover the top of each drum head. Where accessories such as gels and weights change the focus and tone, silencer pads completely kill the sound.
Silencer pads have many benefits as they allow you to play on your own kit rather than a practice pad, which, let’s face it, is much more fun! They will also help you practice without disturbing anyone, which also means practising later into the night.
Evans SoundOff
Drum
Mute Pack
Great for all settings
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Suitable for: All Abilities
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Design: Neoprene, Black
- Reduces volume by 95%
- In-expensive
- Durable
- Does not include pads for bass drum and cymbals
Bags and rugs
When you have spent all of that money buying your perfect set-up, the last thing you want to do is take it to a gig, and it ends up covered in scratches. If you are a touring musician, then you may want to consider cases rather than bags, as these offer that next level of protection.
Drum bags
Drums bags are a great choice when it comes to transporting your drums as they are lightweight and durable whilst still providing a good level of protection.
Most budget bags have a durable and abrasive resistant exterior. Still, there are alternative options that have added protection on the inside of the case, such as foam padding or a fleece lining. Protection R
Protection Racket
Fusion Drum Bag Set
Great for easy transport
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Suitable for: All Abilities
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Design: 20”, 5 Piece Set
- Pro Grip Handles
- Inner Fleece lining prevents scratching
- Rack tom cases are slightly larger to fit rims
- Higher Price Point
Hardware bags are also available. Look out for one with wheels and a good quality carry handle, as the weight of all of those stands really adds up!
Cymbal bags
Cymbals are parts of the drum kit that we take around with us the most, along with your snare and bass drum pedal. So bags are a must-have.
Ideally, go for a case with padded dividers to keep them more secure and prevent any damage. If you’re going to be carrying them around, then go for two shoulder straps because it’s not going to be light!
Meinl Cymbal
Backpack
Great for easy transport
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Suitable for: All Abilities
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Design: 22"
- Two Backpack Straps
- Padded Dividers
- External Hi-Hat Stand/Splash Compartment
- Higher Price Point
Drum rug
As well as helping to keep your kit all in the same place, particularly the bass drum and hi-hats (as these are prone to moving away from you if you are set up on a slippery wooden floor). A rug is the perfect accessory to mark your territory on stage!
They can also add even more style to your set-up, from Persian to oriental and even animal designs.
Pearl Crash Pad
Drum Mat
Great for easy transport
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Suitable for: All Drummers
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Design: Non-Slip and Non-Skid Rubber Trim
- Covered Wood Barrier
- Fits the whole kit, including stands and a throne
- Includes a nylon bag for transport
- Plain Design
Accessories for your comfort
Accessories often help us out of all sorts of potential problems as well as making us feel like the real deal! From tablet holders to multi-tools and on-stage fans to gloves or a simple carabiner clip. They make the best gifts for drummers as you can never go far wrong.
Drinks holder
Whether in the rehearsal room or on stage, you’ll no doubt be working up a thirst! To keep your drink within easy distance, what better than a drinks holder. Low in price but high on the essentials list!
Dixon Drink Holder
Great for rehearsals and gigs-
Suitable for: Any drummer or musician
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Design: Soft Drink Holder
- Attaches to almost any stand
- Suitable for Cans, Bottles and More
- Plain Design
Ear plugs
Your hearing is priceless. Ear plugs should be at the top of your list of accessories. They should be worn in the rehearsal room and at gigs, as playing and listening to music at high volumes for extended periods of time can potentially cause irreversible hearing damage.
There are several options out there. Some reduce all types of sound, whereas some only block the damaging frequencies and also have interchangeable filters so you can choose the level of attenuation. There are also earplugs that are moulded to your ear sizes for that extra level of protection and comfort.
Headphones
Headphones are, of course, the big selling point for electronic kits, letting you have the time of your life without your next-door neighbours having any idea! But they are just as useful for those of you with an acoustic set. They make great gifts for all drummers.
Protecting your ears should be at the front of your decision making when it comes to choosing which headphones to buy. Any sets that reduce external noise are a wise choice, as you are then able to set the volume coming through your headphones at a lower level. These include closed-back designs and in-ear monitors
Roland RH-5 Closed
Stereo Headphones
Great budget headphones
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Suitable for: Any drummer or musician
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Design: Closed-back
- Comes with a conversion plug for standard and mini adapters.
- Lightweight and Robust
- Lesser quality sound
In-ear monitors are discreet and can produce good sound quality, similar to headphones; some may say they are the ultimate drum accessory. They are designed for the stage, to give you the same sound that goes out to the audience. You can buy sets with adapters, to find the most comfortable fit, or you can order/go to a shop and have a mould taken of your ear to have your very own custom-moulded monitor.
Sennheiser IE 100
Pro In-Ear Monitors
Great for Stage Performances
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Suitable for: Gigging drummers
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Design: 20”, 5 Piece Set
- Foam & Silicone Adapters
- Exceptional sound isolation
- Capable of huge volumes without distortion
- Not moulded to your ear.
Drum keys
A drum key should be at the top of the list for any drummer. A simple bit of kit that allows you to adjust the tension bolts on your drums and adjust memory locks on hardware. If we have a problem, we can usually fix it with a drum key!
They make a great gift as not only are they low in price, but they come in a variety of different colours, finishes, brand logos and even double up as bottle openers.
Gibraltar Speed
Drum Key
Great for quick changes
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Suitable for: All drummers
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Design: ¼” Socket
- Crank Shaped
- Crank shape speeds up drum head changes
- More expensive than other options
Quick release cymbal lock
If there is one downside to playing the drums, it’s the setting up, packing down and transporting of them. So any gadgets that make this a less painful experience are always welcome. Quick-release cymbal locks save you from turning wing nuts round and round whilst still giving you a robust lock.
Gibraltar Speed
Drum Key
Great for quick changes
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Suitable for: Gigging drummers
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Design: Spring Loaded Release Button
- Release button has inner teeth
- Fine Tuning Adjustments
- More expensive than other options
Double bass drum pedal
A double bass drum pedal is an alternative choice to having two bass drums. There are advantages to going down the double pedal route, not least of all the space it saves, fitting the pedal into your setup and the financial saving. They can also be used on an electronic bass drum pad.
They are mainly used in Rock music, notable drumm
Mapex Double Pedal
Great for Developing Drummers-
Suitable for: Intermediate players
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Design: Single Chain Drive
- Release button has inner teeth
- Reversible Beaters
- Affordable Price
- Not as responsive as a double chain drive pedal
Snare heads
A double bass drum pedal is an alternative choice to having two bass drums. There are advantages to going down the double pedal route, not least of all the space it saves, fitting the pedal into your setup and the financial saving. They can also be used on an electronic bass drum pad.
They are mainly used in Rock music, notable drumm
Remo Coated
Ambassador
Great for Developing Drummers
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Suitable for: Studio & Live Playing
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Design: Single Ply, Coated 14”
- Reversible Beaters
- Affordable Price
- Not as responsive as a double chain drive pedal
Drum microphones
If you are recording or playing in a large venue, you want to not only pick up the sound from all of your kit but for that sound to be a true reflection of your drum sound. You get what you pay for in this respect.
The genre you play will help guide your decision. For example, with jazz, two overhead mics and then individual mics for the bass and snare drum will work well to capture the sound. With rock, however, as well as overhead mics, all of the drums are mic’d – the snare drum is often mic’d on the batter and snare head.
If you are regularly gigging, you will want something durable that is going to cope with an inevitable drop and an intense touring schedule.
AKG Drum Set
Session 1
Microphone Set
Great for all settings
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Suitable for: Practice & Gigs
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Design: Low Profile & Stemless
- Small & Discreet
- 3 Ear tips for best fit
- Music & speech remain clear
- Case included
- Not moulded to your ear for the next level of protection.
11 Drumming Accessories
Summary
I hope you have gained useful information from this gift guide. There are so many drum accessories and all with valuable uses, but the ones we have explored in this article are certainly worth considering. Accessories are there to help us enjoy ourselves even more and make life easier. So have fun with them and indulge yourself or your drummer friend!
Best Budget Ear Protection
Flare Audio Foamies
Best Ear Protection For Children
Alpine Muffy for Kids
Best All-Round Ear Plugs
Etymotic ER20XS
