Kit setup involves many very personal choices, because there is no perfect setup that will work for everyone. Body sizes and shapes, playing styles, and many other factors affect the placement of each element of your kit. Setting up your drumset with these factors in mind will improve your sound and keep your body healthy.
The following guidelines will help you find your ideal setup. Remember though, that kit setup is an ongoing process of adjustment as you play more and get more comfortable behind your kit.
Drum Throne
The correct seat height will place your feet in the proper position for playing your hi-hat and bass drum pedals. Sit on your drum throne and adjust so that your feet are flat on the floor with a 90 degree angle between your knee and thigh (your thigh will be parallel to the ground). This will give you good balance and keep your legs from working harder than they need to. Some drummers adjust their seat a bit higher than this position. Start with the base position and adjust up in tiny increments if you play heel-up and feel like you have more control with a bigger angle at the knee.
Bass Drum Pedal
Move your foot forward a bit so that your ankle is just a few inches out from your knee. Position the bass drum and pedal here as a starting point.
Snare Drum
Place the snare drum so that it fits between your legs (your legs should be at a comfortable width apart so that you can maintain your balance). Adjust the stand height so that the top of the snare is at about the level of your belly button or the top of your belt loops. The closer together your hi-hat and bass drum are, the less twisting you’ll have in your back as you play.
Hi-Hat Pedal
Position your hi-hat pedal the same way you positioned your bass drum pedal, with your ankle a few inches in front of your knee.
Tom Toms
You need to find the right balance between height and angle when positioning your toms. Make sure that the bottom of your toms are at least an inch above the top of your bass drum. Tilt them toward your throne so that they are angled for the best stick attack. If the angle is too drastic you won’t be able to get a good sound because your sticks will be poking the heads instead of striking them. More than a 45 degree angle will make it difficult to get a good attack. A good way to find the right angle is to strike your snare, then raise your arm in an arc to then strike the center of your tom. Adjust the tom so that you’re hitting it at the same angle you hit your snare. You shouldn’t have to make radical changes to your wrist position when moving from the snare to a tom.
Cymbals
The lower you place your cymbals, the better off you’ll be ergonomically. The hi-hat should clear the snare drum, but be low enough that you don’t have to increase the angle of your arm more than about 65 degrees. A smaller angle will reduce the strain on your shoulder and arm, and you’ll find that you can play longer without discomfort.
Keep your ride as flat as you can for the best sound (because your angle of attack will be neutral) and for the least amount of arm strain.
Crash cymbals should be within easy reach while you are sitting straight, but not so low that they are in the way of your toms.
Begin with these positions and you’ll have a good foundation to begin making adjustments. The goal is to get all the elements of your kit within easy reach and at the right angle to get the best sound possible while limiting the stress on your body.
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