The Best Beginner Drum Sets of 2024

TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Complete Drum Set With 22" Bass Drum

Why It’s Cool: Designed with keeping a small footprint in mind, the Stagestar provides TAMA's renowned build quality in a standard-size format.

Things to Consider:

Poplar shells offer warm, punchy tones ideal for beginners
Includes a full set of hardware and cymbals, so it’s ready to play out of the box
Compact design fits smaller practice spaces without sacrificing sound quality

TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Complete Drum Set With 22" Bass Drum

Shop Now: TAMA Stagestar 5-Piece Complete Drum Set With 22" Bass Drum

The aptly named TAMA Stagestar is a gig-ready Goliath of groove—especially if you’re a beginner looking for a set that will grow along with your evolving skills. Right out of the box, this 5-piece, full-size drum set includes everything you need to lay it down—a boom-tastic 22x16" kick drum, 10x8" and 12x9" rack toms, 16x15" floor tom, 14x5.5" snare, 14" hi-hats, 16” crash cymbal, kick drum pedal, all necessary hardware and even a double-braced drum throne.

The roadworthy Stagestar drum shells are crafted with 6-ply, 7 mm poplar—a tonewood known for its sweet attack and warm lows. In addition, poplar produces an even, balanced sound whether you hit the drums aggressively, softly or anywhere in between. The TAMA Stagestar can handle a lot of different styles—from rock to jazz to pop and beyond—and it’s available in five stunning colors (Black Night Sparkle, Cosmic Silver Sparkle, Lime Green Sparkle, Sea Blue Mist and our exclusive Scorched Copper Sparkle). Own the stage with Stagestar.

Ludwig BackBeat Complete 5-Piece Drum Set With Hardware and Cymbals

Why It’s Cool: This complete kit combines Ludwig’s signature tone with a durable build and all the essentials for beginner drummers.

Things to Consider:

Poplar and birch blend shells provide a warm, balanced tone with enhanced projection
Includes hardware, cymbals and a sturdy throne, making it a true all-in-one package
Full-sized drums deliver a professional feel that will grow with your skills

Ludwig Backbeat Complete 5-Piece Drum Set with Hardware and Cymbals

Shop Now: Ludwig Backbeat Complete 5-Piece Drum Set with Hardware and Cymbals

One of our top-selling exclusives, Ludwig BackBeat is a complete, full-size drum kit that’s ideal for younger and smaller players to grow into, as well as for older beginners looking for an all-inclusive setup. Sporting a 22" kick drum, 16x16" floor tom, 7-ply hardwood shells and legendary Ludwig quality, it’s got the projection, resonance and bottom-end oomph for whatever style of playing you hit it with.

The BackBeat 5-piece set comes with bronze alloy hi-hat and crash/ride cymbals, heads, sticks, round-top throne, double-braced hardware and all the associated accessories to set up and get playing.

PDP by DW Encore Complete 5-Piece Drum Set With Chrome Hardware

Why It’s Cool: This formidable first-drum-kit contender combines poplar tonality, double-braced hardware and striking colorways.

Things to Consider:

Poplar shells deliver warm, resonant tones with beginner-friendly dynamics
Includes hardware and cymbals, so you’re ready to play out of the box
Chrome hardware and high-gloss finish provide a polished, professional look

PDP by DW Encore Complete 5-Piece Drum Set With Chrome Hardware and Cymbals Royal Blue

Shop Now: PDP by DW Encore Complete 5-Piece Drum Set With Chrome Hardware

Drum Workshop, simply known as “DW” in drummers’ circles, has a proud history of serving the drumming community since 1972. The full-size PDP by DW Encore drum set offers exceptional value with its quality poplar shell construction, full hardware package and sticks. Each drum is equipped with True-Pitch tension rods to ensure accurate tuning and smooth tone with satisfying punch.

Complete with lathed brass cymbals, 22" kick drum with pedal, two tom toms, floor tom, 14x5" matching snare and hardware, it’s the perfect all-inclusive setup for any aspiring player eager to grow into their kit. It’s available in visually striking Azure Blue, Ruby Red, Royal Blue and Black Onyx durable sparkle-wrapped finishes.

Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack

Why It’s Cool: Designed in collaboration with drummer Questlove of The Roots, this compact, portable kit offers rich tones and unmatched portability.

Things to Consider:

Built to Questlove’s compact kit specifications
7-ply poplar shells with a 45-degree bearing edge yield punchiness with an articulate edge
Doesn’t include hardware and cymbals

Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack

Shop Now: Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove 4-Piece Shell Pack in Red Sparkle

This 4-piece Ludwig Breakbeats by Questlove shell pack is ideal for drummers needing a portable, professional-sounding kit. With a compact 16" bass drum and one-up, one-down configuration, this kit is perfect for small practice spaces, busking or intimate gigs—as well as for anyone with an inclination to the “less is more” approach.

While it doesn't include cymbals, pedals or stands, its size makes it easy to transport, and the included drum riser ensures the bass drum punches above its weight. Breakbeats is an excellent option for The Roots fanatics and beginners alike looking for an endlessly versatile, compact setup.

Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece New Fusion Drum Set

Why It’s Cool: The Pearl Roadshow combines premium construction with a sleek design, offering everything a beginner needs to start strong.

Things to Consider:

Poplar shells provide balanced tones with powerful projection
Includes high-quality hardware and cymbals for a complete setup
New Fusion configuration, featuring a 20" bass drum

Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece New Fusion Drum Set

Shop Now: Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece New Fusion Drum Set in Jet Black

Keen beginners looking for the intersection of quality and affordability might find the Pearl Roadshow 5-piece New Fusion drum kit to be the sweet spot. Its poplar shells offer a well-rounded tonality at every playing volume, while its double-braced hardware ensures rugged reliability from rehearsal to the stage.

The kit includes responsive cymbals and the wrap of your choice, making it both readily playable and catered to your visual taste. And for drummers ages 10 and under, the popular Pearl Roadshow Jr. is a scaled-down version of the Pearl Roadshow series.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack

Why It’s Cool: This shell pack brings professional-level construction to players of all stripes, with 100% birch shells delivering exceptional tone and projection.

Things to Consider:

All-birch shells produce bright, articulate tones with incredible resonance
Shell pack only; hardware and cymbals must be purchased separately
20" bass drum delivers punchy, controlled low end

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack

Shop Now: Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-Piece Shell Pack With 20" Bass Drum Natural Wood

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 5-piece shell pack is a boldly powerful choice for drummers seeking high-quality tone and craftsmanship. Its birch shells make it an ideal choice for players after a focused, punchy sound, while its on-shell hardware—lugs, hoops and bass drum claws—are made to last.

While it’s a shell pack, meaning stands and cymbals aren’t included, the Stage Custom’s build quality makes it a worthwhile investment—and a great starting point for building out your kit. Paired with the right accompanying hardware and cymbals, it’s an enticing option that can grow with you as you evolve as a drummer.

Pearl Midtown 4-Piece Complete Drum Set

Why It’s Cool: Compact yet strikingly powerful, the Midtown delivers a big sound in a small package, making it perfect for drummers with limited space.

Things to Consider:

Poplar shells provide controlled power in small venues
Designed for small spaces and on-the-move drummers
Includes hardware, plus hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals, for a ready-to-play setup

Pearl Midtown 4-Piece Complete Drum Set

Shop Now: Pearl Midtown 4-Piece Complete Drum Set in Pure White

Built for mobile gigging drummers street performers who aspire for portability without sacrificing tonality, the Pearl Midtown 4-piece drum kit delivers big with a beginner-friendly price tag. With its raised 18" bass drum, it projects remarkable resonance whether you’re playing at a coffeehouse or in a warehouse. But here’s the real kicker: It all fits into two lightweight Midtown gig bags (sold separately)—one for the bass drum, and one for everything else. Midtown’s poplar shells provide a warm, resonant tone that’s surprisingly full for such a compact setup.

Included stands, hi-hat, crash and ride cymbals mean you’re ready to play right out of the box, while eye-catching colorways add a touch of style to your swing.

Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Kit

Why It’s Cool: Boasting dual-zone pads with responsive mesh heads for quiet practice, the Nitro Max is a beginner-friendly e-kit loaded with a vast array of sounds.

Things to Consider:

Two-up, two-down configuration
Includes 385 drum and percussion sounds with customizable kits
Ideal for quiet practice, with mesh pads and headphone output

Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set With Bluetooth and BFD Sounds Red

Shop Now: Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set

Electronic drums such as the Alesis Nitro Max are like lands of adventure for beginners, because the digital tech lets them explore different kits (the Nitro Max includes 40), choose from tons of sounds (440 are onboard here) and access a bounty of educational tools (free Drumeo and Melodics drum classes, 60 built-in play-along tracks, recorder, metronome, sequencer and Bluetooth audio for streaming). Taking your drum journey even further by connecting to a computer or DAW is a snap—thanks to the kit’s USB/MIDI jack.

The mesh pads feel just like acoustic-drum heads, so when you’re ready to jump behind an acoustic kit, you won’t need to adjust your technique or feel. Nitro Max also gives you a generous kit configuration for practicing, writing parts and learning: a 10" dual-zone snare, three 8" single-zone toms, a set of three 10" cymbals (hi-hat, crash and ride) and a kick pedal. If you ever want to expand your setup, a Nitro Max Expansion Pack is available.

Simmons Titan 20 Electronic Drum Kit With Mesh Pads

Why It’s Cool: The Titan 20 features mesh pads and an advanced drum module, making it a smart choice for beginners considering an electronic kit.

Things to Consider:

Mesh drum heads provide a realistic feel and excellent responsiveness
Drum module packed with 400+ sounds and coaching features for practice
Compact design ideal for small spaces and easy storage

Simmons Titan 20 Electronic Drum Kit

Shop Now: Simmons Titan 20 Electronic Drum Kit with Mesh Pads

Another excellent e-kit is the Simmons Titan 20, featuring four mesh-head pads, a kick pedal with trigger, and three cymbal pads. The Titan 20 sound module is loaded with 10 preset drum kits, Bluetooth Audio and MIDI and an easy-navigating interface.

Like the Alesis Nitro, the Titan 20’s USB MIDI connectivity allows you to hook it up to your computer, so you can track in your recording software of choice. It also gives you the option to monitor via onboard headphone or stereo outputs. To maximize your practicing, use the optional Simmons iOS app to help you learn your chops and customize your sound.

In Closing

Getting the right kit for you or your drummer now could save you some serious headache in the future, and it could mean the difference between wanting (and being able) to practice … and not. Investing in a kit builds multi-limb coordination in ways that you just can’t get from using practice pads or a single drum. Other essential drumming accessories to keep in mind when getting a beginner’s kit are drum sticks, for when one breaks; stick bags, to keep your accessories in one place; and replacement heads to freshen up your sound. And when it comes to effective practicing, drum mutes and dampening devices, practice pads and metronomes can help maximize your budding skill set.

The beauty of growing into a drum kit is finding ways to expand your tonal palette, by using stick alternatives like rods and brushes, quieter options like Zildjian low-volume cymbals, cowbells, chimes and additional drums, conventional cymbals—and the hardware that goes with them—when desired. And, when you're enrolled in Guitar Center’s drum lessons, you’ll have us in your corner to help you learn and grow along the way.

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Table of Contents

Comparing the Best Beginner Drum Sets