The 5 Best Church Drum Sets

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best church drum set is, then I’d recommend Roland TD-50KV2 Electronic Drum Kit as the best one.

Worship leaders have the role of creating heartfelt moments of worship when performing on stage. When churchgoers attend the service, they should feel welcomed by how the leaders play. This guide will help you choose the best church drum set that does not sound too loud or too soft for the congregation to be comfortable singing while praising and worshiping.

Here are the Best Church Drum Sets we will be reviewing:

• Roland TD-50KV2 Electronic Drum Kit
• Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 22″ Kick 5pc Drum Shell Pack 
• Pearl Roadshow RS525SC 5-Piece Complete Kit Drum Set 
• Alesis Strike Pro SE Electronic Drum Set
• Ludwig “Drive” Red Foil 5 Piece Accent Drum Set

What is the Function of a Church Drum Set?

Just like any other instrument in a band, each has a unique function that needs to be played. A church drum set has the foundational role of providing the rhythmic backbone of every song played. The dynamics of the whole worship performance depend on how a drummer plays in their drum kit. 

So if a drum set produces a low-quality sound, everyone will automatically hear and notice it. Other musicians rely on the quality of sound a drum set has since it is responsible for the strong beat that keeps a song together at an appropriate pace. 

What are the Parts and Components of a Church Drum Set?

Hardware

These are the pedals and stands of a drum set that are essential. These comprise the hi-hat stand, stands for your snare drums and cymbals, and the bass drum pedal. This hardware may or may not be included in your drum set purchase, as they are not part of the standard kit. Also, they are sometimes referred to as the “metal stuff” attachments. They hold up different pieces on the drum set: the actual drum’s fittings like casings or lugs, rims, tension bolts or tuning screws, and the like. 

Breakables

These are parts of a drum set that you would most likely consider bringing when the drum set you’ll be using is not yours, and you have your personal preference. These are the cymbals, snare drum, sticks, and drum throne or stool. These depend primarily on the personal preference of the drummer. 

Shells

Often called “shell packs.” These only include the toms and the bass drum, which are the central part of any drum set. Shell packs are pretty much the heart and soul of the drum. It is where the sound is coming from. They are constructed uniquely from different materials like wood, metals, and synthetics. 

Extensions

These are usually the add-ons, depending on the drummer’s specific preference. Extensions are also what helps a drummer develop their playing style while discovering a more comprehensive range of sound. For example, these are the cowbells, side snare, chime tree, and some more which are not usually part of the standard kit. When you want to upgrade to pro-level grade products, you can buy Extensions separately. 

Factors to Consider in Choosing the Best Church Drum Set

Purpose

Before anything else, your objectives in purchasing the best church drum set should be clear for you to know the most suitable set for your church and budget. Remember that the primary purpose of buying a drum set is not to entertain an audience but to let the church members experience God’s heartbeat in the sound and form of a drum beat. 

Setup

Where will the drums be located in your church? How big is your venue? Do you need to place it on a particular spot permanently? What is the nature of the worship songs you will be playing in church? These are some of the questions you need to consider in setting up your drum kit. It is essential to know which size and shell material are appropriate for your church. Again, this is not for a rock concert or a gig.

Number of Pieces

Basic drum sets are usually 4 or 5 pieces, including a bass drum, floor tom, one tom, and snare. However, an additional one tom is for a 5-piece set. As you add certain pieces, your drum dynamics increase in various configurations. Of course, not all drummers prefer the same drum kits. Some may use more or fewer pieces than others. However, it is also good to consider giving them more pieces or gears that can help them improve and explore. 

Quality

You need to choose your gear wisely because drums are like the anchor of a worship band, so make sure that you are buying a high-quality brand instead of an unknown brand for affordability. A well-known drum set brand because of its quality is a great investment that expects to last many years. These established brands are proven to use high-quality materials for drum shells and hardware, producing good sounds. 

Drum Set Size

Physically smaller-sized drums tend to have higher pitches than bigger drums. When setting up, expect that a full-sized drum kit can take up a lot of space. That is why electronic drum sets are also a great choice, especially for small churches. Keep in mind that the physical size of the drums will affect the sound it produces. Also, consider the ones who will play the drums. It is not appropriate for adult drummers to play small-sized drums and vice versa. 

In addition, bass drums are usually 20″ or 22″ in diameter and 14″ or 16″ in depth. Snare drums are often 14″ in diameter and 5″ to 6.5″ in depth. A more comprehensive range of sizes are offered for mounted toms. Their standard sizes usually start at 10″ to 13″ in diameter and 7″ to 11″ in depth. Floor toms have diameters of 14″ or 16″ while its depths are usually measured by 12″, 14″ or 16″.

Budget

A range of $300-$1,000 is the usual price of a basic acoustic drum set. But a set can be pretty expensive depending on the quality of the gear you are willing to purchase. It may cost you more than a thousand dollars, but how much are you willing to spend for a drum set that will provide the melody and rhythm of your worship team responsible for the dynamic governing of your church service? Note that excellent-quality drum sets are good investments, and excellence honors God anyway.

What Makes the Best Church Drum Set?

Great Sound Quality

In choosing the best drum set for your church, the most critical factor is the quality of sound it produces. It should produce the pitches and volume that is appropriate for the nature of your church service. Different types of drums are suited to different types of music. 

While acoustic drums produce great quality sounds, electronic drum kits are more effective in sound control. They have wall-penetrating frequencies that make the produced music an excellent option for quiet staged performances like worship platforms. Its main advantage is its construction which reduces the level of ambient noise dramatically in a venue. 

The best church drum set that produces excellent sound quality is the one that will follow along with a wide range of dynamics. It should respond well with soft playing and loud sounds if needed because worship music requires sensitivity and effectivity. 

Drum Woods and Construction

Different natural woods wrapped in various colors and designs are used to create acoustic drums. Traditionally, drum shells are made out of Maple or Birch, while cheaper drums use cheaper wood or condensed paper. The wood and construction of a drum set play a huge difference in the sound it produces. 

Additionally, the woods used to make acoustic drums are Maple, Birch, or Mahogany. Maple is one of the popular choices because it produces a warm and balanced tone that has slightly boosted lows with smooth mid and high frequencies. Birch is known for its low-end solid punch causing harder and darker tones. In contrast, Mahogany produces a sound that is a bit warmer with beautifully smooth mids. 

On the other hand, electronic drum kits operate with silicone or rubber pads. They have breathable mesh drum heads with improved pad sensitivity that allows you to play authentic sounds in different musical styles. They are also more compact and more flexible to adjust or locate. Also, they can be easily used and learned by kids at your church.

Right drum setup

The right drum set up for your church depends mainly on the most appropriate drum set for your church size. Study your worship hall and spend time figuring out all the said factors for your technical team to produce a great sound during service. Remember that the drum set will not arrive assembled. So when you buy a set, make sure it has all of the pieces you need because you might find yourself purchasing other parts separately, which adds up to another workload for you.

Roland TD-50KV2 Electronic Drum Kit

This drum set features a combined rich, natural, and dynamic drum sound that feels like playing real acoustic drums. It is also solidly built that will last for years. The great thing about the TD-17 is that you won’t need a drum booth since the produced sounds are easily controlled. They are also easy to assemble, and they don’t take up so much space. Also, with this, worship drummers can enhance their skills because of this drum set’s skill-building tools.

The Roland TD-50KV2 Electronic Drum Kit offers newly developed pads combined with a TD-50-class sound engine that produces an authentically close acoustic drum playing that is very reliable in terms of its sound module. The playability of its pads and pedals endures, as it is engineered to take a beating. That is why this drum set is voted as the Best Electronic Percussion in 2018. 

Pros:

• The kit comes with multiple set-up guides
• TD-17 can be expanded by adding an extra crash cymbal or second snare
• The TD-17 series features all the essential tools to improve drumming
• It includes a variety of expressive modeled drum sounds derived from the flagship TD-50
• Includes an array of built-in coaching functions

Cons:

• It does not have a real acoustic sound
• The kick pedal is separately sold

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch 22″ Kick 5pc Drum Shell Pack

The Yamaha-made drum set is 100% Birch drum shells with an air seal system, and it already includes some pieces of Hardware. The mounting and leg toms produce excellent quality sound. However, this set of drums is specifically great for the jazz-metal genre of music. But you can always change or mix and match different drum pieces to achieve the sound you want.

Whether your church’s drummer is a beginner or a seasoned drummer, this drum set will give you a trademark of Yamaha’s birch drum designs that have the same low fundamental and warm tone. This embodies high quality and craftsmanship for a very great value. Also, its excellent tone and durability are caused by the Air-Seal System that ensures its perfectly round shells. 

Pros:

• It has a wide variety of colors to choose from (Honey Amber, Cranberry Red, Natural Wood, Raven Black, and Pure White)
• It is also available in two sizes (18” and 22”)
• 100% birch drum shells with Air-Seal system
• 45-Degree bearing edges and Absolute-style lugs

Cons:

• No cymbals, stands, kick pedal, and throne included

Pearl Roadshow RS525SC 5-Piece Complete Kit Drum Set

Pearl Roadshow is well known for its quality drums. The best thing about this set is how it includes everything you need to start on playing it. Its professional features guarantee a next-level play performance, and the quality of the hardware is good. With the proper tuning methods, you’ll get this set to sound even better. Also, it has some weight, so it is expected to be very sturdy.

One of its interesting features is that it can easily be modified. It will make sound like it is a studio kit. Also, this drum set’s power and attack will impress you. It delivers anything from chest-pounding bass frequencies to the most subtle ghost notes. But the best thing is that it is sensitive enough for any volume at any musical genre, including worship music. 

Pros:

• Has other styles to choose from (Fusion, Jazz, and Rock)
• The set comes with Hardware, cymbals, and a drum throne
• Complete Drum Set
• Double-braced stands with adjustable die-cast tier joints
• Includes chain-drive bass drum pedal and geared, locking stands
• Available in four gig-ready set-ups and four durable wrapped finishes

Cons:

• Floor tom legs may not be longer than you expect

Alesis Strike Pro SE Electronic Drum Set

The Alesis Strike Pro Special Edition Electronic Drum Set comes with full-size real wood shells, mesh heads, and samples from over 1,800 instruments. It features an industry-exclusive full-sized 20″ kick for incredible feel and impact, latest-generation mesh heads for an unequaled response, and Alesis’ most capable, versatile drum module ever. The 3-zone Strike Pro Special Edition 16” ride, 14” crash, and 14” movable hi-hat cymbal pads are covered with a new thick, comfortable rubber that creates the perfect blend of feel, control, bounce, and volume. These pads offer a large bell area for enhanced playability, along with a cool “hammered” look. Plus, they’re much quieter than traditional e-cymbals, perfect for your late-night practice sessions when volume needs to be minimized.

The Strike Pro Module is by far the most versatile and capable module that Alesis has ever offered. The module has on-board sampling capability, 16GB external card storage, and USB/MIDI connectivity, which you can use in conjunction with your favorite music production software as well as the powerful new Strike Software Editor to make this e-kit uniquely your own.

The Simmons DA2110 Advanced Drum Amp is a powerful and versatile drum amplifier that combines high-fidelity sound, ample power, 2 stereo line inputs, and Bluetooth audio input. The result is a rig that provides rich bass and high-impact studio monitor-style sound quality for your drums and tracks with full control of your tone via a 3-knob EQ.

Pros:

• Premium 10″ speaker + 1″ compression driver
• Two Stereo Line Inputs, Aux Input and Bluetooth
• 3-Knob EQ to take full control of your sound
• Headphone out for silent practice
• Detachable mobile device holder included

Cons:

• There may be missing parts when shipped 

Ludwig “Drive” Red Foil 5 Piece Accent Drum Set 

The Ludwig Drive configuration drum set already has a complete set package when purchased. It includes everything a drummer needs. Also, this set is made with a 7-ply Select veneer shell. It features a Red Foil finish that is aesthetically pleasing, and the Accent’s upgraded features guarantee a lifetime foundation of drumming. 

This beginner’s kit won’t feel like it because the sound it produces is way more versatile than you think it is. Also, its affordable price is even made better because of its hardware inclusions like the pedal, stand, throne, brackets, and others. 

However, there are also things to be noted if you want an upgrade. 

Pros:

• Includes 200 Series hardware
• Accent Series Complete Drum Package
• Red foil finish
• Complete with 13″ Hi-Hats and 16″ Crash/Ride Cymbals
• Perfect for Gospel musical styles 

Cons:

• It does not include instructions to set-up

Conclusion

As technology advances, the world of music provides quicker access to a wide variety of sounds. A single touch of a button allows a drummer to change and provides a better tempo and dynamics for the band. 

So to conclude this guide, I recommend the Roland TD-50KV2 Electronic Drum Kit. Roland is known for the excellent quality of sound it produces for an electronic drum set. Electronic drum sets are expected to be more accessible and controllable than the traditional ones. They don’t make much noise, and the drummer can enhance the sound palettes. Also, they can easily be connected to computers and other electronic gears. Remember that you play for an audience of One, so you might as well buy the best.