Your best option when choosing your first drum kit is to keep it simple. You have to keep in mind that even if you purchase the most expensive and the most elaborate drum kit, you can t expect to play the drums right away like how the professionals do. It takes years of experience and many professional drummers learned how to play the drums the hard way and most of them also started out learning how to play the drums using the basic drum kit. If you are already an experienced drummer, then upgrading the cymbals and hardware are a must. You can also invest in a shell pack if you already have the cymbals and hardware you want. The next question that you should ask relates to the type of music you play. If you constantly play rock music with your drums, then sets with larger drums are for you. It s not as loud as the real drums, and it is also very portable. The drum pad will also let you feel like you are playing with the real thing. Always remember that without learning the drum rudiments, there wouldn t be any drumming. So, by practicing and mastering the drum rudiments, you will eventually have an easier time playing the drums. For basic kits, you only need three cymbals, namely the crash, hi-hat, and the ride. You need to remember that cymbals are available in different brands. Always go for reliable brands that are known to produce good quality cymbals, such as Zildjian, Sabian, or Paiste. Although it is recommended that you buy the same brand together, you can still mix it up a bit. When you tighten the tension, you will produce a higher pitch and vice versa. To test the sound, tap on the drum about two inches from the lug you just tightened or loosened. The second lug that you should tighten should be the opposite lug to the first one you just tightened. When you hit the drum near the second lug you tightened, it should sound similar to the first one you turned. After learning about the different type of drums used in a drum kit, the next step is to learn how to properly hold the drum stick. Basically, you can hold it any way you can as long as you are comfortable. But, it is best to get some advice on how to hold the drum sticks as it can have a great impact on the way you play the drums.