drumkit

A drumkit, also called a drum set or trap set, is a collection of percussion instruments designed to be played by a single drummer. It combines drums, cymbals, and hardware to produce a wide range of rhythmic textures and dynamics, typically controlled by sticks, brushes, or hands.

Acoustic drumkits usually include a bass drum (kick), a snare drum, and one or more toms, commonly a rack tom and a floor tom. The cymbal complement typically includes a hi-hat, a ride cymbal, and a crash cymbal. A drum throne, bass drum pedal, snare stand, tom mounts, and cymbal stands form the primary hardware. Some configurations feature more drums or a double kick.

Electronic drum kits substitute pads and a sound module for traditional drums. They can be entirely electronic or hybrid, combining acoustic shells with electronic triggers. Electronic kits enable silent practice via headphones and a wide variety of sounds.

Historically, drum sets emerged in the early 20th century as jazz orchestras required a single drummer to play multiple percussion roles. They were often referred to as a trap set, combining drums, cymbals, and percussion instruments around the drummer. The design evolved with improvements to the bass drum pedal, hi-hat control, and rack systems, spreading into rock, pop, and other genres.

In modern practice, drumkits vary widely in size and configuration, from compact 4-piece sets used by beginners to large multi-tom, double-bass configurations used in professional genres. They may be custom-built or mass-produced by brands specializing in drums and hardware.