Parts of a Drum Set: Labeled Diagram and What Each Part Does

Knowing the names of the parts makes learning the drums much easier. A teacher will say "play the ride on the bell," "loosen the snare strainer" or "lower your throne," and a video lesson will talk about the batter head or the beater. This guide walks around the kit the way the diagram does, then explains how each drum is built, how a kit is usually set up, and what the hardware is for.

Drum set parts names at a glance

If you only need the names, here they are, grouped the way drummers think about them:

• Drums: bass drum (kick drum), snare drum, rack toms (also called tom-toms or mounted toms), floor tom.
• Cymbals: hi-hat cymbals, crash cymbal, ride cymbal. Many drummers add a splash or a china cymbal later.
• Hardware: bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand and pedal, snare stand, cymbal stands (straight or boom), tom mount, floor tom legs, bass drum spurs, throne.
• Parts of each drum: shell, batter head, resonant head, hoops, lugs, tension rods, and on the snare drum the snare wires and snare strainer.
• Things you hold or carry: drumsticks and a drum key, the small square-ended wrench used for tuning.

The drums

• Bass drum. The biggest drum, lying on its side on the floor in the middle of the kit. You play it with your foot through the bass drum pedal. It gives the deep "boom" that anchors the beat. It is often called the kick drum. Most full-size kits have a 20 inch or 22 inch bass drum; smaller kits for jazz or younger players often use 18 inch or 16 inch.
• Snare drum. The shallow drum on its own stand, between the drummer's knees. Underneath it, a set of thin metal snare wires stretches across the bottom head. When you hit the top, the wires buzz against the bottom head and give the snare its sharp "crack." The snare plays the backbeat in most rock and pop songs. The standard size is 14 inches across, usually 5 to 6.5 inches deep.
• Snare strainer. The small lever on the side of the snare drum, also called the throw-off. Flip it one way and the snare wires press against the head; flip it the other way and they drop away, so the drum sounds more like a tom. A knob on the strainer sets how tightly the wires are pulled.
• Rack toms. The two drums mounted above the bass drum. They are also called tom-toms or mounted toms. The smaller one plays a higher note and the larger one a lower note, so drummers play fills by moving from high to low across them. Common sizes are 10 and 12 inches.
• Floor tom. The large tom that stands on its own legs, usually next to the drummer's strong-hand knee. It is the lowest-sounding tom, and it is often 14 or 16 inches across.

The cymbals

• Hi-hat. Two cymbals facing each other on a stand with a foot pedal. Press the pedal and the top cymbal closes down onto the bottom one; let it up and they open. Played with sticks while closed, they make the tight "tss tss" that keeps time in most beats. You can also play them with the pedal alone for a "chick" sound. Hi-hats are usually 14 inches.
• Crash cymbal. A thinner cymbal used for accents, the loud splash of sound at the start of a chorus or the end of a fill. Crashes are usually 16 to 18 inches.
• Ride cymbal. The largest cymbal, usually 20 to 22 inches, placed on the strong-hand side. Instead of crashing, you "ride" it with a steady pattern, the way you play the hi-hat. The raised dome in the center is called the bell; hitting it gives a clear ringing "ping."

The hardware

• Bass drum pedal. A spring-loaded pedal that clamps to the bass drum hoop. You press the footboard, and a chain or strap swings the beater into the head. A double pedal adds a second footboard so both feet can play the bass drum.
• Hi-hat stand and pedal. Holds the two hi-hat cymbals. A part called the clutch grips the top cymbal and moves it up and down with the pedal.
• Snare stand. A three-legged stand with a basket that cradles the snare drum. You can tilt it and set the height.
• Cymbal stands. A straight stand holds a cymbal directly above its legs. A boom stand has an arm that swings out, so you can place the cymbal exactly where you want it over the drums. Felt washers and a wing nut at the top keep the cymbal from touching metal.
• Tom mount. The holder that sits on top of the bass drum and carries the rack toms. Some kits mount the toms on a cymbal stand or a rack instead. Many tom mounts have memory locks, small collars that let you put the toms back in exactly the same place after you pack up.
• Floor tom legs. Three metal legs that slide into brackets on the floor tom, so you can set its height.
• Spurs. The two legs at the front of the bass drum. They keep the bass drum from sliding forward when you play the pedal.
• Throne. The drummer's stool. A good height is one where your thighs slope slightly down toward your knees, so your feet can work the pedals without strain.

How each drum is built

Every drum on the kit, from the little rack tom to the big bass drum, uses the same parts:

• Shell. The round body of the drum, usually made of thin layers of wood (plies) glued together. Birch, maple, poplar and basswood are common. The shell's wood, thickness and depth all shape the sound.
• Batter head. The drumhead you hit: the top head on the snare and toms, and the head facing the drummer on the bass drum. Modern heads are made of a thin plastic film.
• Resonant head. The head on the other side, the bottom of the toms and the front of the bass drum. You do not hit it, but it vibrates and shapes how long the drum rings. Bass drum front heads often have a round port hole to let air out and make room for a microphone.
• Hoops. The rings that hold each head onto the shell. Toms and snares usually have metal hoops; bass drums often have wooden hoops.
• Lugs. The metal fittings bolted to the outside of the shell. Each lug holds the end of a tension rod.
• Tension rods. The long screws that run through the hoop into the lugs. Tightening them with a drum key stretches the head and raises its pitch; loosening them lowers it. Tune a little at a time, going across the drum in a star pattern, so the head stays even.

How a drum set is set up

A right-handed drummer usually sets up like this, from the drummer's seat:

• Right foot: the bass drum pedal.
• Left foot: the hi-hat pedal, with the hi-hat cymbals just to the left of the snare.
• Between the knees: the snare drum, low enough that the sticks hit it comfortably.
• In front, over the bass drum: the rack toms, high tom on the left and low tom on the right.
• To the right: the floor tom, with the ride cymbal above it.
• Above the left side: the crash cymbal, within easy reach of either hand.

A left-handed drummer mirrors the whole layout. Because the diagram shows the kit from the front, as the audience sees it, everything in the picture appears the other way round from the drummer's seat.

Five-piece kit, shell pack or complete set?

These words come up as soon as you start shopping:

• Five-piece kit. Five drums: bass drum, snare, two rack toms and a floor tom. A four-piece has one rack tom; a six-piece adds a third tom.
• Complete drum set. The drums plus the stands, pedals and cymbals, often with a throne and sticks. Everything you need to play the day it arrives.
• Shell pack. The drums only. You add your own hardware, cymbals and throne. Experienced drummers often buy this way so they can choose each piece.

Drum sets to learn the parts on

Every set below has the parts described in this guide. Prices and stock update automatically.

Good to know: a shell pack does not include cymbals, stands or a throne, so plan for those. Browse all our complete drum sets and cymbals, or see our gift ideas for drummers. Learning guitar too? See the parts of a guitar.

Frequently asked questions

What are the parts of a drum set called?

The drums are the bass drum (kick drum), snare drum, rack toms and floor tom. The cymbals are the hi-hat, crash and ride. The hardware includes the bass drum pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, cymbal stands, tom mount and the throne, which is the drummer's seat.

What comes in a 5-piece drum set?

Five drums: a bass drum, a snare drum, two rack toms and a floor tom. Cymbals are not counted in the five pieces. A complete set also includes stands, a bass drum pedal and usually cymbals; a shell pack is the drums only.

What is the difference between the snare drum and the bass drum?

The bass drum is the big drum on the floor, played with a foot pedal, and it makes the deep low beat. The snare drum is the shallow drum between your knees, played with sticks; snare wires under it give its sharp, buzzy crack.

What is a hi-hat?

Two cymbals mounted face to face on a stand with a foot pedal. The pedal opens and closes them. Drummers play the closed hi-hat with sticks to keep time, and use the pedal on its own for a soft "chick."

What is the difference between a crash and a ride cymbal?

A crash is thinner and is hit for loud accents. A ride is larger and heavier, and is played with a steady pattern to keep time. The raised center of the ride, the bell, gives a clear ringing note.

What is the drum seat called?

A throne. It is a sturdy, height-adjustable stool. Set it so your thighs slope slightly down toward your knees and your feet rest easily on the pedals.