Children start showing interest in things that they like at a minor age. You can discover it when you have a keen eye on him/her. Once you notice that your child loves something, it is wise to build a strong foundation at an early stage.
Many musical instrument manufacturers understand that a child needs to be nurtured at a tender age. Therefore, they have designed toddler drum set, junior drum kits, entry-level drum kits, and advanced players’ drum kits. If you start your child’s career with a junior drum kit followed by an entry-level kit, you will have an incredible drummer in your home.
The kid’s drum sets are designed to suit the needs of a junior drummer. They have all the components that a professional drum set has. However, the difference comes in sizes, quality, and durability. Therefore, in this article, we will focus mainly on some of the best junior drum sets on the market.
The 7 Best Junior Drum Sets for All Budgets
When it comes to junior drum kits, we consider their prices and the age limit for the kit. The sets that we will discuss are the best junior drum sets for kids in 2021.
Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit Drum Set
Ludwig Questlove drum set is an affordable and fun kit that any young drummer can easily play. The kit is packed with vibey classic drum tones and incredible retro looks. It is a formidable little kit that comes with stands and cymbals.
Just like how attractive Ludwig Breakbeats is, the Questlove drum set also features a smart sparkle-wrapped finish. However, the difference is its full outfit of powder-coated black hardware. The kit must be made attractive because children like lovely things. The young drummer will like space-saving features such as kick mounted boom arm that supports the included crash/ride cymbal and low-profile legs.
Also, the kit has spurs that help maximize space in a crowded bedroom. The child must have the kit at his/her convenient location for maximum playing and learning. Another amazing thing about this kit is that it is made of high-quality hardwood that offers inspiring response and durability.
If you are looking for other Ludwig drums aimed at beginners or kids, you can also make Ludwig Accent drum one of your choices.
Items included in the pack are:
- 16″ x 12″ Bass drum
- 10″ x 6″ Tom tom
- 13″ x 10″ Floor Tom
- 12″ x 16″Snare drum
- Foot pedal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal arm
- Snare stand
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks
- Drum key
- Hi-hats
- Crash/Ride Cymbal
Pros
- It is made of high-quality, durable material.
- It is easy to set up and use.
- Kids of different age groups can use it.
Cons
- It lacks an instructional manual.
Gammon 5-Piece Junior Starter Drum Set
Gammon’s 5-piece complete junior drum set is arguably among the best drums in the market now. The kit comes as a complete set of standard-sized drums for kids. The company itself is well-known for the design and manufacture of the best drums in the world.
The kit comes equipped with decent overall quality and price. Many parents always opt for a durable drum kit that can be used by the child for an extended period and can withstand vigorous playing. Most pieces of this drum kit produce excellent sounds.
The kit features a great adjustable throne and a 16-inch bass drum, which is large enough for your child. The good thing is that drumsticks are included in the pack; thus, your child will start drumming immediately.
Some of the things included in the pack are 16″ x 11″ Bass drum, 11″ x 7″ & 10″ x 7″ Toms, 13″ x 10″ Floor Tom, 12″ x 5″ Snare drum, 10″ Hi-hats, 12″ Crash/Ride Cymbal, Hi-hat stand, Cymbal Arm, Snare stand, Foot pedal, Drum throne, hi-hat cymbals, Drum sticks.
Your child will start drumming immediately because this kit has everything that they need. The two available finishes are green and black. The kits are well-furnished with amazing finishes to attract the child.
The shells are made of durable poplar shells and are responsible for the quality of sounds produced by the drums. It is easy for these drum sets, and the child will learn all the moves so fast. The first thing that the manufacturer considered while making this drum kit is the child’s comfortability and ease of use.
The good thing is that it is available at a pocket-friendly price, and it can be shipped to your location easily. Therefore, it is wise to consider this drum set before setting your eyes on the wrong kit for your lovely child.
Pros
- It is durable and comes in attractive colours.
- It comes equipped with many components.
Cons
- They are few due to high demand.
Pacific Drums PDP Junior 5-Piece Drum Set
The drum with excellent selling points is the PDP Junior drum set. It features a complete set that includes incredible hi-hats and crash cymbals that can be upgraded if the need arises. It is made by a well-known company that is known for high-quality drums.
Some parts of the drum included in the pack are a kick drum, a snare drum, two mounted toms, a floor tom, a crash cymbal, and a hi-hat with a stand. Other parts included in the pack are two drumsticks and some stands.
This kit is made of high-quality hardwood that makes it last for an extended period. The hardwood shell makes the kit sound incredibly effectively. It has normal-sized drum sets that are good for every child.
The tricky part in this drum set is setting up the kit. However, it comes with a setup DVD that will guide you through the entire process. The drum heads sound great, and a professional drummer will appreciate the sounds.
The hi-hat and bass drum pedals feature some chains that replace the straps available in other kits. The drumheads are durable, while the stands and drumsticks will amaze you. The drums are crafted for great tone and durability. The bass drum is 18 inches in diameter, and it has a more mature tone to suit older players.
Pros
- It includes all necessary hardware and cymbals.
- It features an adjustable drum throne.
- It produces amazing sounds.
Cons
- They are few.
Pearl Roadshow Jr. Drum Set
Pearl is a renowned company that makes great drums for advanced players and beginners. The roadshow series drums are the most selling drums, and hence the junior roadshow is an excellent starter drum kit.
This Roadshow Junior drum set is designed for young drummers with the passion of becoming the best drummers globally. This kit is portable because it is made of lightweight 6-ply poplar shells. It also features hand-cut 45-degree bearing edges that express a contoured, modern tone that suits all the players.
This set has amazing toms that can sing while the snare and the bass drum are more capable of filling a room. The kit comes with mini brass cymbals and a perfect outfit of real-deal Pearl hardware.
Stands and sticks are also included in the pack; thus, you will start drumming immediately. Pearl drums are the best because they balance specs and value without compromising the quality of their drum sets.
This 4-piece kit comes with everything that a young player needs ranging from the kick, tom, floor, and snare drums to the stands and arms that hold them. It also comes with a drum throne that offers great comfort to the next professional drummer.
The drums are available in four striking finishes (charcoal metallic, jet black, bronze metallic, and red wine). All these finishes make the drums attractive to the young player. The drumheads are tunable and replaceable.
The items included in the pack are:
- 12” x 18′” Bass drum
- 7” x 10” Tom tom
- 10” x 14” Floor tom
- 5” x 13” Snare drum
- 14″ Hi-hats
- 16″ Crash/Ride Cymbal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal arm
- Snare stand
- Foot pedal
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks and stick bag
Pros
- The shells and hardware are durable and reliable.
- The sounds are great.
Cons
- Some professional players aren’t happy with the durability of cymbals.
Mendini 5 Drum Set
Mendini Cecilio junior drum set 5-piece drum kit is the most incredible and well-known drum kit for kids. It is the most bought junior drum kit because of its amazing qualities. Its decent quality and pocket-friendly price make it the choice of many.
The bass drum is 16 x 11 inches; hence it is pretty low for children under 5 feet. The overall quality and the sound of this incredible kit are a perfect combination. Interestingly, there is nothing to complain about when it comes to the toms and the snare.
On the other hand, the hi-hats and the cymbals aren’t that perfect, which is the case in most junior kits. The hi-hats and the crash cymbal included in the pack is mounted right over the bass drum for great efficiency.
Everything is arranged close to each other but still spread well enough for a proper drum kit configuration. The kit comes with everything that your kid needs to start drumming immediately after receiving this great gift.
It is made of laminated wood drum shells; hence it is durable. It comes in a wide range of colors, meaning you can choose the color that your child likes. The items included in the pack are; 16″ x 11″ Bass drum, 10″ x 5″ Tom Tom, 8″ x 6″ Tom Tom, 12″ x 10″ Floor Toms, 10″ x 6″Snare drum, Foot pedal, Hi-hat stand, Cymbal stands, Snare stand, kick pedal, Drum stool, Drum sticks, Drum key, 8″ Hi-hats, 10″ Crash Cymbal.
Pros
- It comes with five pieces of drums; thus, making it perfect for learning.
- It features a height-adjustable drum throne.
Cons
- They are on-demand; thus, they can run out of stock
GP Percussion Junior Drum Set
If you are a parent on a tight budget, then this is the right choice for you. GP Percussion kit is affordable, but that should never mean that it is made of poor-quality materials. The construction of this amazing kit is solid because artisans with great experience make it sound like percussion lab agents.
The drum set has everything that your child needs to start drumming. The drums produce great sounds, especially the snare and the kick drum. The kit comes with a 10-inch cymbal and a hi-hat. Also, it comes with a bass drum pedal that offers great playability.
This drum set is suitable for kids aged between 3 and 10 years. It is a 3-piece kit that is perfect for learning before getting a 5-piece kit. It sounds quite well for a junior drum set, and it is the best investment that you can make. The most amazing thing is that the assembling process is straightforward. It comes with an instruction manual with amazing playing techniques and drumming techniques.
Pros
- It comes at an affordable price.
- It comes with a bass pedal, a 10-ich cymbal, and a hi-hat
Cons
- They are few.
RockJam 3-Piece Junior Drum Set
Rockjam junior drum set is an incredible set for young and energetic drummers aged 3 to 7 years. It is a great starter pack for children with a great passion for music. The set comes in three amazing colours: red, blue, and black.
The bass drum has a chain-driven foot pedal and four lugs that help keep it steady. The most incredible thing about this kit is that it can be played independently without other drum sets. Included in the set is a pair of drum sticks that are light and perfect for any kid.
Other things included in the pack are mounted cymbals, crash cymbals that produce exciting sounds when played, and stands that keep the kick drums and hardware in position. Also, the kit comes with an adjustable cushioned drum throne that offers great comfort to the young drummer. The drum heads can be tuned easily with the key, and when tuned well, they produce excellent sounds.
Pros
- It is sold in a very reasonable price.
- The sound produced is unique and professional.
- Has instructions for easy assembling.
Cons
- The drums can be a bit loud depending on how they are tuned.
What Age Is A Junior Drum Set For?
When it comes to the age limit in best kids drum sets, we have no general rule. Kids can use all the junior drum sets, but it now depends on the kid’s height. Mostly, junior drum sets are recommended for children between the age of 3 and 10 years. Most of the junior drum kits are designed for children under 150cm. However, 3-piece drum kits are meant for smaller kids while the 5-piece kits are large; thus, they can be used by grown-ups. The children’s drum sets are for kids who like playing drums.
What Size Drums For A 12-Year-Old?
A 12-year-old child is old enough to have a more advanced drum kit. However, this doesn’t mean that they cannot use junior drum sets in the meantime. Some of the 5-piece junior drum sets are advanced enough to accommodate grown-ups.
Therefore, if your child has a 5-piece drum set and you think he/she is old enough to advance, you can buy him an entire standard-sized complete kit used by advanced players. This will largely depend on your budget and the passion of your child for the drums.
What Is The Best Junior Drum Set?
The best junior drum sets for kids are many, and we need to narrow them down to just a few. Many brands in the world make the best drums, and we need to be keen when buying them. However, you can buy the following brands of drums;
Gammon Percussion
Mendini
Ludwig
GP Percussion
Rock Jam
Pacific Drums
What Is The Difference Between A Junior Drum Set And A Normal One?
The junior drum sets are designed specifically for children; thus, they are smaller than the normal drums. Also, the components such as cymbals, drum thrones, bass drum pedals, and many others are smaller than the normal ones. Also, the kid’s drum sets are much cheaper and quieter when compared to the other drum sets. The bass drums are smaller in kids’ drum sets than in adult drum sets. A child that plays drums should not be exposed to a loud sound on his first kit.
The sound quality in junior drum sets is a bit low because they are used for learning. However, they produce massive sounds when it comes to normal drums, and they are made of highly durable materials. Apart from the acoustic drum set, there is an electronic drum set for kids. Therefore, there are major differences between these pieces of art.
