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Okay, so I really want to learn how to play drums, but I have no idea what good brands are, price ranges, etc. I could use any tips you can give me :)

I can't pretend to know a whole lot about drum kits, but I would recommend an electric one unless you want to be really conventional. From what I've seen, electric kits are much better because you can control how loud they are, which makes having drums bearable for anyone else within about 25 metres of your house.
Plus, there are some other cool features, like changing which sounds can be made with each part of the kit.

The only problem with electric ones is that they don't have entirely the same feel as a non-electric. Still, I think they're generally superior.
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Cap'n Lendog, I must respectfully disagree with you there. V-drums are good for practice, or more advanced triggerwork, but as far as actually enjoying playing the drums, learning the subtleties of kitmanship, and being able to play respectfully live or in the studio, you need a real acoustic drum kit.

Look into getting a cheap one for about a grand, standard hats, snare, two or three toms, and a crash. Ride too, if you're lucky. If you can't learn to play on that, you don't want to be spending any real money on a good kit.

DWdrums or Ddrums sell beginners kits, to my knowledge. But yeah, as Alex said, get a basic kit and learn the basics, and you will eventually want to customize the kit to sound the way that you want, with as many different options as you like. Try to get a ride cymbal; I didn't get one of those for two years and the moment I did I was so happy.
And yeah, drum making is a very precise and delicate process, and it greatly determines the sound. Acoustic kits are definitely superior.

Go for acoustic... I have a Pearl drum set in my basement I got when I was around 7, which I rarely play since whenever I use it someone complains of the noise... :/

A good set of electric drums is more expensive than a good set of acoustic drums.

And also, my drummer has me under the impression that electric drums are the great Satan.

I recommend some steel drums.

Okay...so how much is a beginner set usually going to cost me? And ive checked out a few electric ones, they seem cool. But i'd like to say i can actually play the drums, you know? people dont usually think of drums in the electronic sense.

From my experience as a drummer, to get a 'good' electric set, you need to pay about 4 or 5 times that of what you would pay for a 'good' acoustic set. Electronic drums are good for all of the reasons mentioned here, but to get one that has the same feel as an acoustic set will cost you. One that I remember playing on in a music shop that was amazingly similar feeling to an acoustic set was around £3000. Cheaper ones will just be with rubber pads, which just don't have the same feel.
Part of the fun of playing drums is just hitting something and hearing the boom that comes from it. Drums are loud and should be played loud.
For a beginners kit I would just go with the standard set-up of bass, snare, hi mid and floor toms with hats, a crash and a ride. You don't really need much more than that to start off with, and that set-up will give you plenty to play around with.

Locational differences will affect my opinion on price here, but I would be thinking around the £500 mark for a good beginners kit. Each particular brand has it's individual sound or feel but for a beginners kit you should probably just focus on the price. My old school had an awesome Premier kit that sounded very nice. My housemate has a very nice Pearl drum kit. A few others to mention are tama and mapex, in addition to the ones already listed here. Also, for a beginner I would definitely be looking to get one second hand. I see no real point in shelling out a load of money for a new kit just to practice your basics on. Meh.

Man, it's funny that a few people have mentioned Pearl. I have actually been looking at an eventual upgrade of my kit, and I will most likely move on to a top-end Pearl kit. For now, though, I have to replace the heads on my Boston kit. But a bit more advice: the standard top-end kit will cost you around $8000, depending on the company, and that's minus the cymbals. I actually inherited my kit from my sister's ex-boyfriend who gave her a kit as a present, so the only thing that I have bought is a couple of cymbals and a stand. It's worth hunting for a second-hand kit, like wedgie said.

Um..not to sound stupid or anything...but how much is 500 pounds in dollars..? Im in America lol :P

Hoohah2x2sday wrote:Um..not to sound stupid or anything...but how much is 500 pounds in dollars..? Im in America lol :P

...

If you're too lazy to click,

500 British pounds = 816.6 U.S. dollars

Ahaha thanks :) I am /quite/ lazy :P

Buy a standard Ludwig set. It's great for any song out there, and since I am a drummer myself, I highly recommend this for beginners.