10 Gift Ideas For Drummers
Every drummer needs these essentials in their stick bag.
Musicians love to joke about their drummers but let’s face it: every band needs a solid drummer. Think about how The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rush, or Nirvana would sound with a different drummer. Weird, right?
I’ve been drumming most of my life. I always need essential gear, whether it’s drumsticks, earplugs or Moongels. That’s why I compiled this gift guide for the drummers in your life.
Show your favorite drummer some love this holiday season by picking up some essentials every drummer needs in their stick bag. (They might even practice, too!)
10 Gift Ideas For Drummers:
Drumsticks. Drummers always need sticks! There’s lots of different stick types based on wood, size, and length, but the 5A offers a balanced starting point that works well across genres.
Metronome. Apps are helpful but a standalone metronome eliminates distractions so your drummer can focus on practicing. Be sure the metronome has a headphone output.
Practice Pad. Your drummer probably has a practice pad but they might not have one that fits in a stick bag or straps to their knee for practicing on-the-go.
Drum Key. Drummers can never have enough drum keys! These are used for tuning drums and adjusting hardware.
Multi-Tool. Every drummer should have a multi-tool in their stick bag. Allen keys, screwdriver (and bottle opener) are essential for maintaining drums and fixing problems before showtime.
Cymbal Felts. We’ve all played gigs on crappy house kits without felts on the cymbal stands. Felts protect your cymbals and make ‘em sound better, too! I like this Zildjian survival kit.
Moongels. Having some way of quickly dampening drums lets you dial-in your sound by taming overtones. The options are endless: Moongels, Big Fat Snare Drum, Remo’s Tone Control Rings, or good old gaff tape.
Earplugs. Playing drums and performing on-stage can be loud! Always protect your ears.
Bass Drum Beater. Having a backup bass drum beater is always a good idea. You can also get different sounds out of your bass drum depending on the beater, like this vintage-style beater.
Percussion. Small percussion instruments like shakers, maracas, cowbells, or noisemakers like a ching-ring or cymbal sizzler give your drummer a variety of sounds for any gig. (Or gift your own DIY percussion shaker!)
I’ve always appreciated family and friends gifting me anything music-related, from records to music books to new gear. (Quick aside: my friend Sean Paulsen wrote an entire song called Love of Gear which I played drums on!)
I’m not endorsed or sponsored by any of these products and I don’t receive a commission when you purchase. I’m just speaking from experience!
If you’re still not sure what to get your favorite drummer, you can’t go wrong with a gift card to their favorite drum shop or music store. Better yet, gift them tickets to see their favorite band!
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Wishing you a very musical Happy Holiday and New Year!
-Keith