The Ultimate Gift Guide for Drummers
15 awesome gifts drummers will love
Drummers work hard, and catch a lot of flak from other musicians. Sure, I love a good drummer joke as much as the next guy. But drummers are the rhythmic center of all bands. They have the most gear to load in (most of the time), it takes forever to set up and tear down, and they definitely get the most sweaty.
So take care of your drummer friend, family member, or spouse this holiday season! Skip the brick of sticks or drum head gels, and check out these really awesome and very thoughtful gift ideas.
SoundBrenner Core
The Soundbrenner Core is a smartwatch designed specifically for musicians. This sleek watch contains a silent, vibrating metronome (so nobody has to listen to that annoying click again), a magnetic contact tuner, a decibel meter and alarm that alerts you when things get too loud, as well as smart notifications for calls and texts. Use it with Soundbrenner's free metronome app (our metronome app of choice) and you can even control it hands-free with STOMP Bluetooth Foot Controller. It’s the ultimate tool for musicians – all on your wrist.
$329
Shure SE425 In Ear Monitors
Drummers need more low end than most of the other musicians on stage. Which is why I like the SE425s best for drummers. These have better bass response then the less expensive models. Combined with 37dB of sound isolation, they’ll hear that kick drum nice and loud.The moldable foam sleeves make sure they’ll fit any ear.
$269
AKG K371 Studio Headphones
If in ears aren’t your jam, definitely get a quality pair of headphones. Cheaper headphones tend to lack bass response, so I like step up models like this. The snug fit will provide sound isolation so you can hear your kit and the music clearly.
DrumDial Drum Tuner
Having consistent tension on your drum heads is important for overall tone. It’s difficult to tune by ear alone (especially in a loud environment), and it’s hard to make that tone repeatable every time you change heads. This drum tuner lets you know the exact tension so your tuning is precise and repeatable.
$64.99
Evans Realfeel Practice Pad
Practice pads are wonderful for warming up before gigs, practicing away from your kit, or for the times you can’t play your kit. The Evans Realfeel has two sides. The first is meant to feel like a real snare with realistic stick rebound. The second is a firmer rubber with less rebound for harder practicing. This comes in 6” and 12” sizes (price listed is for the 12” model).
$34.99
Meinl Kick Drums Practice Pad
Just like having a snare practice pad is important, having a way to practice kick technique is important. The Meinl practice pad will work with single or double bass, and is a quiet way to work on your skill.
$89
Drum Dampeners
Because drums are naturally loud, it’s hard to practice. Even if you’re in a house with cool neighbors, you still might need to play quietly. Drum dampeners are a great way to reduce sound while still playing your kit.
$23
Zildjian L80 Low Noise Cymbal and Remo Silent Stroke Set
If you want to go all in on quiet drums, without getting an electric kit, this is for you. The set comes with Zildjian L80 Low Noise Cymbals and Remo Silent Stroke mesh drum heads. The cymbals are 70-80% quieter than traditional cymbals. And the heads being mesh are super quiet.
$399
String Swing Tablet Mount
If you use a tablet for any reason, even just for rehearsals, you need a tablet mount. This clips securely on any drum or stage hardware you’re already using, and makes it easy to see what you’re doing. The low profile magnet mounts discretely to your table. The two hinge points make it so you can find that perfect position.
$49.99
Coda STOMP Bluetooth Page Turner
If you use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone for shows or rehearsals, you should check this out. STOMP is a hands-free, Bluetooth page turner and app controller pedal. That means you don’t have to take your hands off your instrument to change charts or sheet music, start/stop click tracks, or trigger backing tracks.
Basically, you can control anything you use your laptop, tablet, or smartphone for in your set.
String Swing Drum Stick Holder
I see a lot of drummers strap their stick bags on a floor top. But I prefer a stick holder like this, it’s much easier to grab a spare. You can mount it to your high hat stand, or a cymbal stand.
$13
Legit Stick Bag
Every drummer should have a stick bag. But a refined drummer carries a genuine leather stick bag. Add a touch of class to your set up.
$44
Shure 5-Piece Drum Mic Set
Shure makes some really good low-cost microphones, and this is a great first mic set. You’re looking at a kick, snare, and three tom mics. The set includes all mic clips and a softshell case to store it all.
$329
ddrum Trigger set
Drum triggers have been used for the past couple decades. You can use them to replace weak hits, or use drum replacement software to turn an iffy sounding kit into a great one (while preserving the performance).
$199
ROC-N-SOC Nitro Throne
As drummers, we have to sit a lot. Sit through our sets, sit through most of rehearsals and practice sessions. So it’s well worth the investment for a good drum throne. It’s better for circulation, posture, and the ol’ bum.
$217
Awesome Stocking Stuffers for Drummers
Pearl Tech Tool
A multitool made specifically for the drum set. It has 6 different hex key sizes, 5 screwdrivers, and perhaps most importantly, a bottle opener.
$20
Drum and Cymbal Cleaning Kit
Over time, oils, acids, sweat, and dirt from your hands build up on drums and cymbals. This can cause corrosion on cymbals, and degrade your drums’ finish over time. It’s a good idea to clean your drums and cymbals every time you change your drum heads (or when the guitarists are spending forever trying to work out harmonies, amiright!).
$32
Have some gifting to do for the rest of the band?
Check out these Holiday Gift Guides:
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Guitar Players
The Ultimate Gift Guide for Keyboard Players
The Ultimate Gift Guide for the Gigging Musician
