Anyone who enjoys playing drums knows that drum kits need to be well maintained to ensure superior sound and longevity – it also helps to save you money in the long run. As a touring professional, music artist, someone playing drums at local gigs with their band, or maybe just someone who is learning the drums for fun or as a beginner, caring for your drum kit is essential.
Below is a quick guide we’ve put together to help you learn the best maintenance practices for your drums. These care tips will help you keep your drum kit in peak condition for years to come.
Wipe down your drums after each use. Dust, dirt, and residue can stick to and build up on your kit over time, affecting the appearance and overall sound quality. Keep microfiber or drum hardware cloths handy to remove the dirt, dust, and fingerprints, and keep your drums in tip-top shape.
You can use a mild soap with a water solution or even find a drum-specific cleaner and wipe down your drums for deeper cleaning. Don’t use any abrasive materials like scratchy sponges or cloths that may damage the finish.
Tune your drum regularly. Tuning regularly is another part of drum maintenance that ensures your drumheads don’t lose tension and keep at a consistent tone. Use your drum key to adjust the tension rods evenly.
Your cymbals are a crucial component of your drum kit, so ensure you’re wiping them down with a soft cloth each time you use them to remove dirt and oils. There are cymbal cleaners you can purchase to help retain their sustain and brilliance. Investing in top-rated cymbals for professional drummers is a great way to have cymbals that are durable and have an unmatched tonal range so they last a long time.
Store your cymbals properly. Another important factor to consider for good cymbal care is storage. You should store them on their cymbal stands with felt washers or in a padded cymbal back to prevent cracks or keyholes.
After enough consistent use, your drum heads literally take a beating and end up with scratches, dents, and loss of responsiveness. In this case, it may be time to replace your drum heads since they are worn out. Some drummers do prefer drumheads that are more worn-in for a specific sound, but fresh new drumheads supply a better sound clarity and control.
Invest in high quality gear. Investing in high-quality drumheads suited to your playing style can make a big difference; they can improve your overall performance due to their tone, attack, and sustain. There are single-ply and double-ply drumheads, depending on your desired sound or genre. Single-ply heads provide maximum sustain and a bright sound for pop or jazz drummers, while double-ply have fewer overtones with a deeper, controlled sound.
Drumsticks, drumheads, pedals, and stands need to be reliable and of good quality to reduce the need for frequent replacements. Although it’s tempting to pick up cheap gear to save money, superior materials serve you better and longer.
Check your items regularly. Pedals, rods, screws, bolts, and stands all need to be checked regularly for their performance. Look at these often for signs of any wear and tear, tighten or loosen the screws or bolts if needed, and lubricate moving parts like drum pedals or hi-hats. If your hardware is well-maintained, it helps improve your playing ability and prevents any performance issues.
Securing all of your drum gear during transport is another essential part of ensuring your drums are under proper care. If traveling in a vehicle, ensure drum parts don’t shift around too much and keep them performance-ready for your gigs.
Enlist some help from a professional. If you’re new to the drums or unsure if they sound right, you can enlist a professional drum technician for help. They will check your drum shells for warping, cracks, or separation of plies. They can examine bearing edges for tuning and resonance. A drum tech can expertly tune or perform necessary maintenance and repairs to your drum kit to restore its sound quality and overall playability.
By incorporating these maintenance practices and care, your drum kit can stay in peak condition and deliver top-notch performance for a long time. A well-cared drum set enhances the playing experience when studying music and saves you from expensive repairs and replacements.
