The 60+ Best Gifts for Drummers: 2022 Ultimate Gift Guide

Drums, Drums, Drums

Whether you’re on the lookout for that special drummer in your life, or you are trying to get some ideas for yourself (don’t tell me I’m wrong), here is a list of some of the best gifts for drummers.

The Ultimate Gift List

This list could really keep growing because there are so many good ideas, but with it you shouldn’t have any problem finding the perfect gift. 

1. Drum Sticks
2. Drum Key
3. Drumstick pencils
4. Bottle Opener
5. Drum heads
6. Drumstick bag
7. Tama Tension Locks
8. Puresound snare wires 
9. Tension rods 
10. Drummer’s tech kit
11. Moongel
12. Hi-hat drop clutch 
13. Bass drum beaters
14. Cymbal cleaner
15.  Cowbell
16. Tambourine
17.  Hot Rod Sticks
18. Zildjian Super Drummer’s Towel
19. Headband
20. Brushes 
21. Big Fat Snare Drum
22. GROOVETECH TOOLS, INC. Drum Multi-Tool
23. Tambourine hi hats
24. Cymbal sizzler
25. Drum stick holder
26. Coffee mug
27. Hydro Jug
28. Duct tape
29. Desktop drum set
30. Wall mirror
31. Stress balls
32. Multi-surface practice pad
33. Drum rug
34. Kickstrap
35. Weighted practice sticks
36. Drum Dial
37. Language of Drumming (book)
38. Snare weight
39. Kickport
40. Snare stand
41. Cymbal stand
42. Cymbal boom clamp
43. Cymbal bag/case
44. Agogo
45. Cymbal clock
46. Headphones/in-ears
47. Drummer apparel
48. Drum gloves
49. Fan
50. Drum lessons
51. Soundbrenner Pulse
52. Drum shield
53. Hardware bag/case
54. Drum bag/case
55. Drum throne
56. Bass drum pedal
57. Drum mics
58. Roto toms
59. Snare drum
60. Floor tom
61. Cymbals
62. Roland Octapad
63. Electronic drum set

Too Many Choices?

While this list is extensive for your drummer needs, I did want to go into depth about each one a little bit, why it is an ideal gift, and a general price range, so you can really pick the best option for your pocketbook.

 The good news is that you will have a plethora (I wanted to use this word because it makes me sound smart) of drummer gifts and they will love you no matter what.

Gift Recap Unleashed!

I want to break all of these down by specific price range, so we’ll start with the lower prices and make our way up. I also do want to mention that you can buy used items for most of these on the list, so those will obviously be a bit cheaper. These first gifts are at a more affordable price. 

The three price ranges: 

Under $25

$25 - $100

$100+

Under $25: 

1. Drum Sticks

This is one of the best gifts you can get as a drummer because you can never have enough drumsticks. This is a great way to please the drummer in your life.

It would make it an even more excellent gift if you figured out what size drumsticks they use. Don’t just get them a random pair of sticks, but figure out what size they play (ask them or sneak a peek at their sticks).

I highly recommend ProMark because they have outlasted any other brand in my own personal drumming journey. You can get a couple pairs for under/around $25 and sometimes even 3 pairs (shop around and find the right place).

I’ve bought sticks from mostly reputable music stores like Zzounds, Musicians Friend, Sweetwater, Guitar Center and even Amazon (pay attention to reviews)!

2. Drum Key

Have you seen my drum key? I know I laid it and 12 others around here somewhere.. As a drummer, you can never have enough of these.

We are always losing them somehow and it’s a widely known thing we all like to joke about (even though it is very frustrating).

You could get them one or a few drum keys and still stay under $25. This is always a great choice and an extremely practical gift as we need drum keys for everything (tuning drums, certain hardware, etc). 

3. Drumstick pencils

Fun gifts like this one would be a good choice for someone who uses pencils. If they get bored they can also use them to give live performances in class on their desk, or in the office (guilty..). You can get a few sets of these for under $25 as well. 

4. Bottle opener

This would be an ideal gift for the soda drinkers out there. 😉 There is actually a bottle opener drum key that I found out about recently! So, that’d be a great way to get 2 gifts for 1. Check it out below.

5. New drum heads

This is almost always the perfect gift! Figure out what size head your drummer friend needs and if they need a top (batter) or bottom (resonant) head.

A lot of the drum heads they’ll probably need should be below $25, although you’ll start passing that price range with different brands, lines/series and larger sizes.

You can get these at an affordable price, unless your drummer friend opts for playing the more expensive drumheads (which is fine, but I’m a coated Remo Ambassador/Pinstripe type a guy myself and save a ton of money).

 If you can find a few decent drumheads under $25, that would be a deal to go for right away! Prices WILL vary here and be under and over $25. 

Fun fact: Ringo Starr of The Beatles uses Remo.

6. Drumstick bag

This gift is another great option, especially if they don’t already have a stick bag. Whether it’s just keeping their sticks in one place, or they are doing some live performances, this is never a bad gift.

You can find this under $25, at $25 and also over that price. Most of the time, the more expensive ones may be more durable.

There are several options for you to choose from and just like with drumheads, prices vary from company to company. 

7. Tama tension locks

If your drummer plays a lot, there’s a chance that they probably have to tune their drums often (especially if they do a ton of rim shots).

An easy way to help this problem is with Tama tension locks. These little nylon pieces slip over the top of the tension rods and keep the drum in tune longer.

This can be handy, especially for a live show. It’s no fun having a detuned snare drum. These devices wedge against  the drum hoop as the tension rods start to move (due to vibrations) and do a really good job at keeping those tension rods locked!

You can get a pack of 10 for around $14 currently, so a couple packs would set you over $25 by a few, but I know it wouldn’t be a waste for them. I use these and I don’t have to tune nearly as much because they do their job. 

8. Puresound snare wires

You can never go wrong with some snare wires and I would highly recommend Puresound snare wires for optimum sound quality. Sometimes, our individual snare wires can start breaking because of the constant hitting/vibrations and stress of shows.

It is honestly one of the most annoying things ever because then you have to break/cut that one off and you’re left with a jagged metal piece just waiting for your demise.

Snare wires are always an excellent gift because having spares is important. Puresound has been a staple in the drumming industry for quite a while and their snare wires are made in the USA.

You can get different strands (16, 20, 30, etc) and the more strands, the more responsive the snare drum will be. The 30-strand one is just over $25 (at $25.95), so you can opt for the lesser strands if you want to stay under. 

9. Tension rods

Out of all the drum accessories, tension rods may be the most overlooked. These hold the drum head down, screwing into the lugs.

Sometimes these can be overtightened and snap off (especially for those who like high-tuned drums) or the threads can get stripped.

This is something you would also figure out the size on before you buy them, but you can get several sets for under $25. I always make sure I have at least a few spare because these are a practical gift. 

10. Drummer’s tech kit

While we are on the subject of drum accessories, why not get your favorite drummer an ‘emergency’ kit that comes with drum accessories that would be useful, especially if they are out playing a lot.

This kit comes with a few cymbal washers, tension rods, cymbal sleeves, felts, snare cord, bass drum click pad, and even a drum key! WE ALWAYS LOSE OUR DRUM KEY. 

It’s hard work being a drummer with the most equipment in the band, so this gift could really come in handy if they need one of those things in a pinch (and it doesn’t take up a lot of room). It’s also made by Gibraltar, who is a staple company in the industry (their stuff is solid).

11. Moongel

Moongel are for dampening your drums (getting rid of that annoying reverb) and thousands of drummers use them, including professional drummers to control the sound of the drums. They are little sticky square gels that you put on top of your drumhead.

They’re great because you can wash them with soap and water if they collect too much dirt, debris, etc (which is annoying because it can affect how well they stay on your drumhead).

This is most definitely one of those awesome gifts and you can get a few of these and still be under $25. Each pack consists of 6. 

12. Hi-hat drop clutch

This is a great gift for a drummer who wants to be able to toggle between an open and closed hi-hat quickly.

I know I used to use one and it would come in handy with a double bass pedal (I played heavier rock). You can find some under $25, with most of them being over that price point slightly. 

13. Bass drum beaters

This is another practical gift idea for the working drummer. It’s always nice to try out different bass drum beaters and figure out which one you flow with the best as a drummer.

There are ones made of different materials, hardness, etc. Also, with so much force from stomping on the bass pedal and slamming that beater into the kick drum head, they can become warped and beaten over time (including even the metal shaft).

Make sure that if buying a beater for an electronic kit, that you avoid the felt ones (they can eat away at most electronic kit bass pads due to friction and force). You can find a bunch of these beaters for under $25, with even more above that price point. 

14. Cymbal cleaner 

Out of all the great gift ideas, this is yet another one that keeps on giving. Sick of the fingerprints and smudges all over your cymbals?

Every drummer deals with this one and it can be really annoying. You can keep your cymbals clean and shiny at all times with this under $25 gift. There are so many different cleaners to choose from. I recommend Groove Juice and also recently went over it, **Click here to check it out!**~

15. Cowbell

“Guess what! I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” That is a quote from Christopher Walken on SNL’s “More Cowbell” skit.

A cowbell is a cool gift for adding in some unique patterns, sounds and accents into your drumming. If you got me a cowbell, I would be stoked. You can find many of these under $25. 

16. Tambourine

Another sweet gift is the classic tambourine. Whether it’s for acoustic sets or playing with your drums live, you can get some fullness added to your playing with one of these.

If you listen to a lot of songs, tambourines are also added to the snare backbeat for more oomph. I’ve always loved their versatility. You can find many of these under $25, with a ton over that price range. 

17. Hot Rod sticks

Promark makes these nifty little sticks that are essentially several dowels wrapped together (2 unique wraps hold them together at different ends of the sticks).

For some versatility in volumes and playing, these are an awesome pair of drum sticks. These are perfect for lower volumes and Promark is always my personal brand to go with. You can pick these up for around $20. 

18. Zildjian Super Drummer’s Towel

Zildjian makes this drummer’s towel that is absorbent and perfect as a sweat rag. You could always just bring a regular hand towel too, but you have to admit it looks official with the Zildjian logo. Other companies make different sweat rags too that may be worth looking into. This one is around $20.

19. Headband

This leads me to this next practical gift idea. You could always just buy them a headband, but tell them it’s for drumming.

I’d be way more excited if someone got me something and told me to use it for drumming. It’s some weird physiological phenomenon. Try to find a headband that is absorbent and dries off quickly if you can. 

20.  Brushes

If you are going to buy your drummer friend a pair of sticks and hot rod sticks, you might as well get them a pair of brushes as well!

Used mainly in Jazz and big band music, these are the next volume below hot rod sticks and you can get some awesome sounds from using these on your drums.

21. Big Fat Snare Drum

The big fat snare drum is a special ring that you drop on top of your snare. It adds some vintage beefiness to your overall snare tone.

You could opt to use this instead of Moongel to control that resonance! For about $21, this is a good choice for the drum arsenal and also a great idea for a gift.

22. GROOVETECH TOOLS, INC. Drum Multi-Tool

This would be an extremely thoughtful gift! This tool comes with a drum key, different-sized allen wrenches, and a flathead and phillips screwdrivers. You’d be able to adjust anything on your drum kit if needed. At around $17, you would find much use out of this.

23. Tambourine for hi hats

This is another neat way to get different sounds out of your drums. You mount these on top of your hi-hats (on the upper pull rod).

Every time you play the hats it will be mixed with the tambourine sound. You can get some of these under $25. There are also ones that just lay on the top hat cymbal, which is great because the rod will keep them there. 

24. Cymbal sizzler

There are these little cymbal sizzlers that you add to your cymbals to give it a cool effect. A similar sound to a cymbal with rivets in it, they are just ceiling fan pull chains, but given a logo. I’ll have to admit, they do sound neat though and you can get these for $9.99. 

25. Drum Stick holder

“Any perfect gift starts with practicality.” - Me. 

This is an absolute necessity I think for any drummer and I should have included it higher on the list (to be fair, this list isn’t in any specific order of importance other than price)! 

You can put all your sticks and mallets in this drum stick holder and have it installed on your hi-hat stand for easy access. Sticks break and you need to be a ninja to grab another one. This makes you a ninja. 

26. Coffee mug

A great option if they are a coffee drinker is getting them a drum coffee mug. I have one that my buddy got me and I always look forward to using it over regular ones. There are different ones you can find online and most of them are under $20. 

27. Hydro jug

Every drummer needs to hydrate! People in general don’t drink enough water and it’s so important for a drummer, especially if they are practicing/playing shows.

We exert a lot of energy as drummers and sweat more than anyone. The best thing to give them is a vehicle for hydration!

Help them oxygenate their cells by getting them a Hydro Jug, that way they have over 70 ounces of water to stay hydrated! I love my Hydro Jug. You have several different colors and styles to choose from for under $25, although there are a lot over that price range that look cool.

28. Duct tape 

If you handed me duct tape and said, “It’s for your drums only”, I’d find it so useful for emergency, quick-fix scenarios that can happen with drum equipment.

Just like anything else, stuff malfunctions/fails and duct tape saves the day. I always try to bring a roll with me to shows on the road.

Also, it may be a good idea to have on hand for another bandmate. I have helped many musicians by being the guy with the duct tape. Gorilla tape is really great and you can get a couple rolls for under $10. 

29. Desktop Drum Set

Looking for novelty gifts instead? This is something that would be a great ornament for their desktop. If they get bored during meetings, they can mute themselves and rock out on their desktop drum set (I know I would).

30. Wall mirror 

This is a good choice for helping them with their practicing. I have a wall mirror and use it (in front of me) when I’m playing drums.

I can see if my sticking and posture are correct. I’ve used one over the years and would highly recommend it to any drummer who spends time practicing. It will make a world of a difference in their playing. You can find one for under $15 online. 

31. Stress balls

I’ve included this gift that doesn’t seem related to drums, but this is another important one. It’s always great to strengthen your hands/fingers and also relieve tension in the hands.

When drumming, it should be a goal to play tension-free. I’ve been using a stress ball for quite a while now and it has helped me out a lot.

There are also finger strengtheners that I would recommend. If you decided to buy both of these together it’d be under $25. 

Almost half the list was $25 and under, let’s look at some cool gifts over that price range.

$25 - $100: 

32. Multi-surface practice pad

A practice pad is an amazing gift for any drummer. When they aren’t playing on the actual drums, drum pads can be super convenient for everyone.

They can use these multi-surface practice pads that are able to give different stick rebounds, just like a regular acoustic kit (minus the sound of drums, you’re welcome household).

It’s important for a drummer's chops to be accustomed to different playing surfaces. You could also probably find an old (used) electronic drum kit and that would serve as the perfect practice experience, if you’ve got the room.

A single practice pad is conveniently sized. If you opted to pay $80-$85, you could get Zildjian’s Reflexx pad, which is phenomenal for practicing with based on my own personal experience. There are plenty of pads in the current range, however.

33. Drum rug

I have never bought an actual drum rug and instead have used regular rugs. I do think that drum rugs have their advantages and would be a great gift.

Some are weighted and offer resistance to any sliding (due to non-skid rubber material). This rug by Zildjian also offers a large foam bass drum stopper, perfect for keeping it steady through a whole practice/performance.

It’s 5-1/2' wide by 4-1/2' deep which is perfect for a standard-sized kit. You can get it for around $74 currently. 

34. Kickstrap

The Kickstrap is perfect for stopping a drummer’s bass drum, hi-hat, etc from sliding around. This is an annoying thing drummers have to deal with if they don’t have a solution in place.

A lot of drummers use a carpet/drum rug (as previously mentioned), but this device's sole purpose is to stop things from moving around and it works.

I have a couple of these and have used them at several shows and my drums didn’t budge at all (and the music was heavy music, so I smashed the drums). Also, they barely take up any space. The price starts around $30. 

35. Weighted practice sticks 

This is something else I would recommend to help a drummer get better (faster). I’ve always used weighted drum sticks to practice a few minutes (either before a regular practice or as a stand alone quick practice).

They are great for loosening up as well, but using these will increase a drummer’s endurance, speed, and control.

When they pick up a regular pair of sticks again, they’ll feel like toothpicks! You can get a pair of Ahead weighted drumsticks for around $34. Be sure to only use weighted sticks on a practice pad and not your drums/cymbals!

36. Drum dial

A Drum Dial is one of the most magical tools available to us. This device is placed on the drumhead an inch or two from each tension rod (as you tune the drum).

It measures the actual drum head tension, so you can tune your drums correctly. This tool provides you with consistently great sound quality from your drums.

 I’ve been using one for around 15 years or so and always try to make sure my drums are tuned before shows and recordings. It has never failed me. You can get one for around $65. 

37. Language of Drumming (Book)

Different drum books are the perfect gift for any drummer. It’s always important to continue pushing the boundaries on your playing and this book is really eye-opening for any drummer.

This will take your understanding of the drums (and music in general) to another level and give you practical exercises to expand your own drumming voice.

This system Benny Greb put together is for achieving freedom of expression on the drums. I don’t want to give too much away, but this book has helped me a ton and continues to because there are pages I haven’t even looked at! You can get this for around $30 (prices may vary from $25-$30). 

38. Snare weight

This would be another great way to get rid of any unwanted overtones on your snare (similar to moongel in a sense).

Snare weights seem to have gotten really big over the past several years in the drumming community and there’s a good reason for it. They give you more control over the sound of your drums.

The company Snareweight has a few different options. The Snareweight m80 is pretty much a leather strap with a piece that connects securely to your drum hoop.

There is a magnet that allows you to manipulate the leather differently to achieve your desired sound resonance and unlike Moongel, there’s no potential for moving. You can get this for around $30, but there are many other companies who make snare weights. 

39. Kickport

This is another great and practical gift for drummers. This device you put in the port hole on the resonant head of your bass drum and it improves the tonal qualities (power, feel, and enhanced subsonic frequencies)!

There are several different colors available and once it’s on, you don’t have to worry about it taking up space.

I’ve been using one for several years and have been given compliments about how much better it made my kick drum sound. I’d highly recommend this and at a price of around $46-$50, it’s a steal! 

40. Snare stand

Whether they are replacing their current snare stand, getting a side snare, or they want to use the snare stand for another drum (like a rack tom), this is a good idea for a gift. Gibraltar makes a great snare stand for around $55, but there are a ton of others in the range (and even less than $55). 

41. Cymbal Stand

A cymbal stand would be a great gift, especially if your drummer friend plans on getting more cymbals. I would ask them if they plan on adding more cymbals beforehand.

You can find a ton of cymbal stands in this price range. I’d recommend anything Pearl, Tama, or Gibraltar. They’ve always been solid with their cymbal stand builds. 

42. Cymbal boom clamp

This is another good option over the cymbal stand if they plan on adding smaller cymbals to their set. You can add larger cymbals too, but because this piece of hardware is clamped to another piece, I’d be careful with potential weight overload.

It is not fun with cymbal stands fall over or malfunction! Tama makes a sturdy one for around $57!

43. Cymbal bag/case

If you’ve got to transport cymbals or even want to protect them when you’re not playing drums, a cymbal bag/case is the perfect gift!

There are several under $100 that are worthy of purchasing and I will say that anything by Humes & Berg and Gator are solid bags/cases! I’ve had both brands before and am really fond of H&B. 

44. Agogo

These things are awesome! They are basically multiple bells (think cowbells) that are tuned differently. You can clamp them to you kit and add some flavor to your drumming.

LP has always been a staple with Latin-based percussion instruments (Latin Percussion - LP) and you can’t go wrong with their Agogos at around $55. 

45. Cymbal clock

Zildjian makes this sweet cymbal clock for a little under $100. If you look online though, there are so many other people doing it and you can definitely find it cheaper.

I made my own cymbal clock out of an old Saluda V-bell (below). I just bought the clock kit at Hobby Lobby and put the roman numerals for 12, 3, 6, and 9 on there! It works perfectly and it’s cheaper. This is a great gift to add decoration to a drummer’s space. 

46. Headphones/in-ears

I will say again that this list isn’t really in order of importance, but by price range. With that being said, as a drummer you ABSOLUTELY need some type of headphones or in-ear earphones.

I’d recommend anything MPOW makes for headphones (specifically the MPOW H19 Noise Canceling Headphones). These are great and I’ve been using them for a couple years now for practicing with.

They are around $50 and a great value! For in-ears, I’d recommend MEE audio and their M6 Pro in-ear monitors. They are around $50. I have the M7 pro, but it doesn’t look like those are available anymore.

 If you are playing a lot live and running through a mix, you definitely need the in-ears and if you are practicing, you can opt to use in-ears that protect your ears, or headphones.

I have been playing for over 20 years and got these both for under $100. Don’t let anyone tell you that hundreds or thousands need to be shelled out! 

47. Drummer apparel

Whether it’s a shirt or a hoodie, drummer apparel will get them excited! Who doesn’t like a nice cotton shirt with their favorite brand on it? You can find tons of brands from Zildjian to Pearl, who sell different types of apparel. This Zildjian shirt is around $30 and it is classic. 

48. Drum gloves

I guess drum gloves could be considered apparel, but this could be a good gift, with a purpose. I don’t personally use gloves, but I know a lot of drummers do to help keep a good grip on the drum sticks when they’re playing. Vic Firth makes some gloves for around $32 and they look pretty slick. 

49. Fan

I highly recommend getting the drummer in your life a fan. We move and sweat more than any other musician. It’s a workout and constant, refreshing air blowing in our direction is like the heavens opening up.

 I always keep a fan near my drums in case I need to crank it on. I’d go for a nice Lasko or Honeywell fan for around $30-$40. They would not be disappointed! 

Most of the things on this list are under $100, which is great for the pocketbook! Let’s look at some things that you can give a drummer that are over $100. 

Over $100: 

50. Drum lessons

If they are actively practicing, drum lessons are the perfect compliment. Whether it’s in-person, or with reputable companies/names like Drumeo or JP Bouvet, drum lessons are a gift that keeps on giving.

It’s always great to see improvements on the drums and breaking through personal plateaus. I’ve included lessons on the list over $100 because they may take several months/years of lessons.

Drumeo’s membership is $240 annually (billed at $20 a month) or you can opt to pay $29.99 every month. You get a lot of great lessons and bonuses included and I highly recommend their services. 

51. Soundbrenner pulse

This is a great gift for any musician! The Soundbrenner uses powerful vibrations (and lights) for a metronome you can feel.

There’s an app you can download on your phone to use with it and you can customize the vibrations/lights. I had one of these, but ended up giving it to my brother because I found out I was more accustomed to a regular metronome.

 That’s not the case with every drummer though and it is a handy gift! You can strap it on like a watch, or wear it where it’s convenient (upper arm, upper leg, ankle, etc). It’s priced around $120 currently. 

52. Drum shield

This is a useful gift that is great for both the drummer and everyone in the immediate area. Drum shields are perfect for isolating the sound (for live performances or practice) and can get rid of certain frequencies (such as higher frequency cymbal bleed).

You can find one on Musicians Friend for around $150. With these, the more you spend, the better they tend to be at sound isolation. 

53. Hardware bag/case

Hardware bags/cases are great for being able to effortlessly transport drum hardware to and from places. If you decide to get them this, I would recommend going with a decent one with wheels. The Gibraltar GHLTB goes for around $130 and seems to be a decent bag (and also has wheels).

I personally have the SKB 1SKB hardware case (around $235) and it has been such a nice case over the past several years. It has taken a beating and is still working like the day I got it. Everything SKB makes is pretty solid as well. 

54. Drum bag/case

If we are going to recommend a cymbal bag and a hardware bag, you know we have to mention the drum bags/cases as well!

With these, you would be purchasing for each drum of the drumset and you’d need to measure and get specs, so you don’t purchase the wrong sizes.

Once again, I’d recommend Humes & Berg and Gator, but there are other great companies as well. If you are going to go with Humes, you will likely end up spending $225-$250 or more (standard 5-piece), but I can tell you they will protect those drums.

I’ve been using them for several years and my drums have moved around so much in them. This was definitely one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, drum-wise. Invest in the protective bags/cases, so you can preserve those drums. 

55. Drum throne

A drum throne is a great gift for any drummer, given we spend our whole time sitting there while we play. It may not be time for a new drum throne, but when it is, you’ve got a bunch of choices!

I’d highly recommend the Roc-N-Soc Nitro throne. I’ve been using mine since about 2010/2011 and it is still extremely comfortable. It is a little more pricey than lower-end drum thrones, but it’s justified by the solidity of the hardware and the comfort it provides. The price currently varies from $205-$217 online. 

56. Bass drum pedal

This is another gift that they may not need if they have a perfectly good pedal. However, after a few years (if wear and tear is highly evident), it wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask them if they’d like a new pedal.

I remember when I replaced my double pedal and noticed a night and day difference in my playing. It seemed that my old pedal had a bit of delay and I had been playing it for quite a while.

There are a lot of great brands such as Tama, DW, Pearl, and Trick. I’d suggest going with the Tama Iron Cobra 900 single pedal, which runs at around $230. If you’re looking for the double pedal, it runs at about $500.

These are pricier, but you are paying for high quality equipment that will last a long time if taken care of properly. 

57. Drum mics

If the drummer you are buying for is talking about recording their own drums, some drum mics would be perfect. You could always get them a combo pack of both drum mics and some sort of a mixer (digital or analog) or audio interface.

Rockville Audio has this Mackie digital mixer + a 7-piece drum mic kit for close to $450, which honestly seems like a steal of a deal!

 I used to have drum mics and an audio interface and would record all the time with them and learned so much more about the sound of the drums and audio in general.

These days, I’m running just a single Shure MV51 digital microphone (around $200) and it’s also an excellent choice and way easier to run. I just plug it into my phone and can record through the phone application Shure has. 

58. Roto toms

Roto toms are pretty awesome! They are (normally) 3 drums with just a batter (top) head and you can tune/detune them by twisting the drum.

They are all attached to one single stand. They have a unique and higher pitched sound because they are usually smaller sized.

This would be a great addition to any drummer’s kit and offer them 3 more toms to incorporate into their playing.

I used to have a pair of roto toms and enjoyed them a lot. I’d recommend the Remo Rototoms, as they have always sounded phenomenal and Remo is another staple in the drumming community. They run for around $275 currently. 

59. Snare drum

Who doesn’t love a new snare drum?! This is always a great option as a gift because there are so many different varieties out there (different sizes, material, and thickness), so the possibilities of various sounds are almost endless!

With there being metal (brass, bronze, steel), ply, acrylic and stave snares, you’ve got a lot of choices! I’d personally recommend the Pork Pie Little Squealer Steel snare drum (14 x 6in).

This was one of my first snare drums and it is extremely versatile with different styles of music. Also, Pork Pie’s builds are high quality with a punch and at a fraction of the cost of bigger names like Ludwig or DW. You can pick it up for around $200. 

60. Floor tom

If your drummer friend has a standard 5-piece kit, a floor tom could be a great idea for giving them extra surfaces/playability for their drumming.

As far as the floor tom matching, if it matters to them, I would try to find a similar color (or the same line), but I have been mixing and matching drums over the years and aesthetics really aren’t that important. If something sounds good, that’s the goal!

I would recommend this Yamaha Stage Custom Birch (16 x 15in) floor tom at around $200. These drums are warm and inviting and offer more sound to escape due to lighter hardware.

Yamaha has always had excellent build and sound qualities with their drums and you can’t beat that price in comparison to some of the other higher-tier brands. 

61. Cymbals

If you are in the market for a new set of cymbals for your favorite drummer, you’ve really got a lot of choices! The amount that is spent is dependent on the cymbal brand and line you choose.

The cheaper cymbal packs (of lower-end mostly B8 bronze) will set you at anywhere from $200-$500. While medium and higher-end cymbal lines (of also some B8, but B10, B12, and B20) will be $500 and up.

 Most medium-end cymbal packs are going to be between $550 and $1,000, with higher-end cymbal packs being over $1,000 and it can be daunting to choose what may fit the bill.

For lower-end cymbals, the Sabian B8X performance pack is budget-friendly and great for many styles of music. These cymbals are able to cut through and have nice stick articulation and wash. It includes 14" hi-hats, an 18" crash/ride, and an explosive 14" thin crash at around $280.

For the medium-end cymbal packs, I highly recommend the Sabian XSR performance cymbal pack for around $675. It includes 4 cymbals (14" Hats, 16" Fast Crash, 20" Ride and 18" Fast Crash) and is really a great way of getting that professional B20 cymbal sound, for a fraction of the price.

These cymbals are extremely versatile and cut through the mix with bright and powerful projections. I played them for several years and always appreciated that they could be played with even higher-end cymbals (being they’re made of sheet bronze and not cast) without a notice of difference.

If you are looking at the higher-end cymbal packs, I highly recommend the Sabian HHX Legacy pack for around $1,155, which includes 3 cymbals (. These cymbals are sonically matched and are even more versatile than the XSR line.

This is one of Sabian’s higher-end lines and I definitely wouldn’t sleep on the opportunity to buy them again.

62. Roland Octapad

This is another one of those great gift ideas because it gives a drummer hundreds and thousands of possibilities to create and imbue midi drums with acoustic drums (you can also use it with an electronic drum set).

This Octapad (8 drum pads) comes with an enormous library of different sounds and samples, but even more options for manipulating all of those sounds. You can create loops, use it as a standalone drum set, and even input your own samples.

With so many possibilities, this would be the ideal gift for any drummer looking to expand their sound. For around $856, you could get your hands on one of these and the good thing about Roland is their equipment tends to last a really long time because of their top-notch quality.

 I always play one of these when I go into Guitar Center and I haven’t gotten one yet, but the day will come when I do. 

63. Electronic drum set

Last on this list is an electronic drum set and for a great reason! With electric kits, you are able to practice/play without really disturbing anyone, which is great for all parties.

You can either play through an amp or conveniently through a pair of headphones. Just like an Octapad, an electronic drum set uses the same technology (midi and a drum brain), so there are so many possibilities for a drummer to explore.

You can change around different sounding kits, create your own, and more! There are a few companies that make great electric kits, like Roland, Yamaha, and Alesis.

 I would highly recommend the Roland V-Drums TD-07KVX for around $1,700. You’re going to get the best bang for your buck with these midline e-kits.

It features the same amount of drum pads/cymbal pads that a standard acoustic kit would have, so you’re not missing out on that.

 I have a Yamaha DTX-532k electronic kit and I always regret not going with a Roland and spending a little more money. Several of my Yamaha pads have stopped working and I ended up replacing them with Roland pads. 

Make Your Drummer Proud!

Whether you have a friend/family member/significant other who is a drummer, or you are the drummer, I hope you can find some great ideas here! I think this list would also be perfect to run by them and ask them casually what they would want as a gift. 

Sometimes it can be hard to buy a gift for someone when we aren’t as familiar with their interests or hobbies. 

Save Your Money And Your Rep

Some of the best gifts for drummers don’t have to be pricey if you are looking to save. The thought is really all that counts in the end.

Want FREE drum hacks to help your drum chops foundation and get you on the right track?

Get those by clicking here.

Until next time! 

-Evan C.