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Top drum accessories to make playing easier

Playing drums is a ton of fun, and for many, a business too. That said, drums require a lot more work than some other instruments — between things like setting your drums up, tuning them, selecting the right drum heads, and more. That’s why the right drum accessories are so important.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide of drum accessories — to help you get past all the extra stuff and spend more time playing the drums.

Best drum accessory overall: ROC-N-SOC Nitro

Drum accessories ROC-N-SOC Nitro drum throne with legs extended and black seat with company logo
Best drum accessory overall
ROC-N-SOC Nitro
A well-designed throne with features that assist your playing.
Pros
Nitrogen gas shock absorber for bounce when playing
Heavy bracing for sturdiness
Bicycle design reduces leg fatigue
Optional backrest available
Cons
More expensive than most drum thrones
Best of 2024 Award

Every drummer needs a throne, so why not go in on one of the most efficient and comfortable?

The coolest feature is the nitrogen gas shock absorber that adds bounce that works in time with your playing. It also provides comfort and stability.

A “bicycle” design reduces leg fatigue, and the seat is adjustable from 18″ to 24″. And if you need a back rest, ROCK-N-SOC sells an aftermarket model that makes the Nitro even more comfortable.

Best drum tuner: DrumDial drum tuner

drum accessories drumdial drum tuner example image being dialed in on drum head
Best drum tuner
DrumDial drum tuner
DrumDial helps you tune your drums faster, more accurately, and with consistent drum head tension.
Pros
Helps drummers tune faster
Makes it easy to get consistent head tension
Cons
Not the most efficient accessory for tuning drums

Tuning drums can be a real art form, and while a DrumDial isn’t going to totally replace learning how to fine tune your drums’ tone, many pros agree that it can at least help get you in the right ballpark quickly and easily.

The way it works is that it basically measures the tension of the drum head through a spring, which helps you get the same head tension every time you tune.

That means you can find the sweet spot for your drum, then match that next time you tune, the time after that, and so on. It’s a pretty neat device, especially if you go through a lot of drum heads, gig a lot, or just want to save a few minutes during the tuning process.

Best practice pad: Vater Practice Pad

Vater Practice Pad top shot with red surface, black outline, and Vater logo
Best practice pad
Vater Practice Pad
Practice silently with this with a durable pad that can mount onto any 8mm cymbal stand.
Pros
Built from high-quality materials
Realistic rebound and feel
Non-slip base
Mounts onto any 8mm cymbal stand
Cons
Doesn’t fully replicate practicing on a full kit

You can’t always get behind a kit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t always practice. Getting a practice pad is a perfect way to keep practicing even when it’s late at night and your neighbors have gone to bed.

Not only that, but it also forces you to practice the things you really should be practicing every day — rudiments and technique.

One of the best practice pads on the market is built by Vater. Apart from the fact that it offers a more realistic feel than some others, the pad also boasts the ability to screw onto any standard 8mm stand for cymbals, so you can ensure the right position to maximize your technique.

Best stick bag: Vic Firth SBAG2

black Vic Firth stick bag for drummers open with sticks in pockets and Vic Firth logo
Best stick bag
Vic Firth SBAG2
Carry and organize your sticks with one of the best stick bags.
Pros
Good amount of storage
Pockets for organizing different types of sticks
Attaches to drum via hooks/straps
Cons
Might have too much space for some drummers
Doesn’t provide much protection for contents
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A great stick bag is important, especially if you’re a gigging drummer. Not only does it store and keep safe your tools for drummer, but it also helps you organize and manage them, which is very helpful in maintaining a flow behind the drum kit.

There are plenty of reasons many consider Vic Firth’s stick bags to be the best, but the main reason is simple — it has tons of room and pockets for organizing your sticks, tuning keys, metronomes, and other time-keeping tools.

The bag is a little pricier than the others, but whoever said drumming was cheap?

Best metronome: Boss DB90 Dr. Beat

Boss DB90 Dr. Beat example with user dialing in settings
Best metronome
Boss DB90 Dr. Beat
A customizable metronome with a lot of features that fits well in a stickbag or backpack.
Pros
Convenient size with robust features
Footswitch input
Backlight
Customizable
Built-in speaker
Cons
Steeper learning curve than other metronomes

Every great drummer needs a good metronome — after all, drumming is all about keeping the beat, and if you can’t stay in tempo then that’s going to be a major issue for both your music and for your band mates.

Boss has been making excellent metronomes for years, and the DB90 is no exception — in fact, it’s the flagship of the Dr. Beat line. The DB90 includes a number of different sliders, buttons, and a rotary dial for quick and easy tempo changes.

On top of that, it has a foot switch input, allowing you to tap out the tempo for a song with your foot. It also has a backlight, for darker environments, and a number of different voices to choose from.

Safe to say, if you’re looking for the best metronome available, the DB90 is the metronome to beat.

Best cymbal bag: Zildjian 22″ Gig Cymbal Bag

black Zildjian 22-Inch Gig Bag with straps and gold Zildjian logo
Best cymbal bag
Zildjian 22″ Gig Cymbal Bag
A convenient bag that carries cymbals up to 22″ with padding protection and internal dividers.
Pros
Fits cymbals up to 22″
Easily portable
Padded compartments provide solid protection
Internal dividers for organizing cymbals
Cons
Has to be carried

If you’re a gigging drummer, you need a safe way to carry your cymbals around– after all, those precious cymbals don’t come cheap. Zildjian’s 22″ Gig Bag is one of the best drum accessories to quickly and easily transport your cymbals and keep them safe.

Not only does the bag include a ton of padding for those cymbals, but it also has adjustable shoulder straps so you can wear it like a backback, and a number of different pockets for different size cymbals or other accessories that you may want to carry around.

The bottom of the bag is also reinforced — so expect it to be able to handle far more than your cymbals weigh. You’ll want to keep in mind the size of your cymbals. While 22″ is more than enough for the vast majority of drummers, if you have any cymbals larger than that you may want to look into larger bags.

Best in-ear monitors: Audio-Technica ATH-E70

Audio-Technica ATH E70 in-ear monitors with wiring and input jack
Best in-ear monitors
Audio Technica ATH-E70
In-ear monitors with a balanced frequency response and great isolation for drummers.
Pros
Balanced frequency response
Comfortable fit
Good isolation
Cons
Low end reproduction could be better
Not wireless

A good pair of in-ears is an important accessory for any gig — not only does it help you preserve your hearing, but it also ensures that you can hear the other musicians in your band.

While a good pair of in-ear monitors can run into the thousands of dollars and will most certainly do what you need, you don’t really need to spend thousands to get the job done. That’s where the Audio-Technica ATH-E70 headphones come in.

These in-ears are centered around three things — sound, fit, and functionality, and as such the drivers are tuned to offer an accurate sound reproduction while still ensuring a tight seal — blocking out all that external sound and preserving your ears.

They are a little pricey, but for what you get they come at a reasonable price.

Best drum dampeners: Moongel

blue moongel drum sound dampeners with black case
Best drum dampeners
Moongel
An affordable and easy-to-use solution for controlling overtones and focusing drum sounds.
Pros
Controls overtones and focuses drum sounds
Easy to apply
Don’t leave residue or damage drums
Cons
Limited lifespan
Can melt in hot temperatures
Results vary depending on application surface

A drum’s natural tone is often best, but sometimes you’ll need to kill some of those overtones in order to bring out a drum’s true tone. When that’s the case, Moongel is a great choice of drum accessories.

Like some drum heads and other dampeners, Moongel aims to remove some of the sustain from a drum. This makes drums and cymbals sound warmer and removes unnecessary overtones.

The difference between Moongel and other methods is that it’s far easier to use. Just put it on the drum or cymbal and take it off when needed.

That makes it perfect for when you gig and you’re using someone else’s kit — as well as for when you’re recording a need to tame overtones.

Best ear plugs: Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs

Eargasm earplugs with blue box and black carrying case
Best ear plugs
Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs
High quality, comfortable, reusable, and eco-friendly.
Pros
High-quality filtering
Comfortable fit
Includes carrying case
Variety of sizes
Eco-friendly and reusable
Cons
More expensive than disposable earplugs
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Sometimes you’ll want to use in-ears for listening to music while you’re playing, but other times, such as when you’re practicing, all you need to do is deaden the sound a little to preserve your hearing. That’s where ear plugs come in.

While these plugs from Eargasm are slightly pricier than other models, there’s a good reason for that — they’re comfortable, durable, and they cut out all that extra noise.

They come with a case that can clip to your keys or stick bag, which makes them convenient to carry around. When you’re preserving your hearing, you really don’t want to skimp on cheap ear plugs.

Keep your most valuable asset as a musician and get some ear plugs ASAP.

Best isolation headphones: Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones

black Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones with earcups, and audio jack
Best isolation headphones
Vic Firth Stereo Isolation Headphones
Great sound isolation and balanced frequency reproduction for practice, playing live, or recording.
Pros
Top notch isolation
Balanced frequency reproduction
Comfortable fit
Passive isolation
Cons
Some users might find fit a little tight

Some people prefer over-ear headphones to in-ears for one simple reason – they’re far more comfortable than in-ear monitors. This makes them perfect for live, studio, and practice use.

Vic Firth’s Stereo Isolation headphones have long been one of the preferred drum accessories for drummers around the world. They offer fantastic sound isolation, have wide frequency reproduction, and are very affordable price for the value.

Best drink holder: Vater Drink Holder

black Vater drink holder with attaching clip and white Vater logo
Best drink holder
Vater Drink Holder
A convenient way to keep drinks close by without worrying about spilling.
Pros
Keep hydration close by without spilling risk
Fits drinks with a 3.5″ diameter
Cons
None

This last accessory may not be as drumming-related as the others, but it can help you keep your flow on the stage or in practice nonetheless — by putting your drink in an ideal spot for you to grab.

Whether it be a beer at the bar you’re playing or a water bottle to stay hydrated, the Vater Drink Holder is perfect for keeping the gigging drummer thirst-free.

FAQ

What are the essential drum accessories every drummer should have?

Every drummer should have a few important accessories like sticks, a tuner or drum key, a practice pad, a comfortable and sturdy drum throne, and a stick bag.

What accessories are essential for practice?

The best accessories for practice include a metronome, a practice pad (even better if you include a kick pad to work on bass drum technique), and a way to easily view sheet music like a mobile device holder or a music stand.

Which accessories are best to protect and maintain my drum kit?

Cases or bags for your drums and cymbals keep things safe and organized. A humidifier or dehumidifier protects drum shells from damage due to temperature changes. And to keep everything looking show ready, a good polishing kit like one from Meinl or Zildjian.

Christian de Looper

Christian de Looper was born in Canberra Australia, and since then has lived in Europe and now lives in sunny California. When he's not tinkering with the latest music gear, Christian is devouring news on new consumer technology.

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