Wood harvesting isn’t the free-for-all it once was, and drum and guitar manufacturers now face restrictions on the types of wood they can obtain. Some types of wood are now rare and used only in high-end models. Maple is by far the most common type of wood used in drums, but you may also encounter birch, mahogany, bubinga, and other more common types of wood. But the sound of your drums is influenced by many factors. The type of wood used is one of them, but other important factors include the number of piles (wood layers) in the drum shell, the diameter of the drum, and the depth of the drum. With all of these factors at play, it's best to avoid shopping for a particular type of wood. Instead, buy your drums based on how they sound, especially if it's your first kit.
A drum set is made up of many elements, the main categories are drums, cymbals and hardware. The drum set is a fairly modern instrument as it was developed in the early 1900’s with the invention of the first foot pedal. This allowed a drummer to play more than one drum and produce a fuller sound. Prior to this, drummers stood or marched as they played single elements of the drum kit. The ability to play multiple drums arranged in a kit requires additional setup time and knowledge. Once you have your kit, you’ll need to take time to learn how to set it up and break it down, making sure that all drums are secured in place and all hardware properly tightened and adjusted. This can take some time, so be sure to check out our guide to setting up a drum set.