The most important step in purchasing a drum set happens before you even start looking at the kits. You first need to think about what your goals are for this drum set. For example, are you planning on using this drum set until you're ready to start gigging and using it to gig with? Are you only intending to use it as a practice set and when the time comes to play out, you'll purchase a new one? Do you just want a drum set to start out on to see if you're going to want to continue playing the drums? Determining your goal is very important because it greatly determines which drum set is best for you.

Once you've determined your goals with this drum set, you need to start thinking about budget. How much money do you have and are willing to spend on this drum set? This can be a tricky step. There are a couple of things to think about. Just because you have a certain amount of money doesn't mean that you should be willing to spend all of that money. If your goal is to use this kit to start out on in order to see if you'll want to continue in the future, then spending your entire savings might not be a great move. However, if you know that you're going to be playing the drums 5 years down the road, then spending more money is probably a better decision.

Below are a couple of case examples to get you started thinking about the future of your drum set and how much money you are willing to spend.

Case 1: You buy an inexpensive kit for $200 that includes all the hardware and cymbals that you need to start. Your goal is to use this kit just to see if you will want to continue playing in the future. Two years down the road, your kit is collecting dust and your interests have turned to something else. You decide to sell it and get $75 for it because it's not a very good kit, and it's used. In the end, you've only spent $125 for a bit of fun and to find out that drumming isn't for you.

Case 2: You start off just like in case 1 buying a $200 drum set to learn on and to find out if you're going to want to continue playing in the future. Two years down the road you realize that drumming is your thing. You are getting very good and are ready to start playing out with a band, but your drum set is a beginner set and does not have great sound. You need to buy another drum set that will do the job. You sell your old drum set for $75, and you buy a new one for $700. In the end, you've spent $900 on drum sets but got $75 back. So, your net investment is $825.

Case 3: Your goal is to use this kit to learn on and to eventually take to play on gigs. You purchase a decent drum set with everything you need to play for $700. A few years goes by and you realize that you don't really want to play anymore. You decide to sell it, and since it's a decent kit you get $450 for it. In the end you spent a net of $250 for a bit of fun and to find out that drumming isn't for you.

Case 4: You start out like in case 3 buying a drum set for $700 to start learning on and eventually gig on. A few years goes by and you've found that you really enjoy drumming and you're ready to start gigging. You bought a set that is good enough to gig on, so you're all set to start. In the end, you've spent a total of $700.

You know you best. I cannot encourage you enough to create a few case examples for yourself thinking about what could happen. Even if you don't think some of the things will happen, make sure you consider all of the possibilities. Creating a couple case examples for yourself is a great way to think about the future and to make a wise decision about what's best for you.

You can see that there are a lot of things to think about before purchasing your drum set. You know you best. You know your tendencies, your situation, your talents, etc. Think about these things before you decide which drum set is best for you.