What Are Jazz Drum Sets?
In this article, I’ll share 3 drum kits I’ve played that I truly believe are the best drums for Jazz. Jazz drum sets are a special breed of drums. Their sizes are smaller than Rock or Pop drum kits and are also often tuned higher in pitch. They’re melodic, full of tone and a heck of lot of fun to play!
Jazz Drum Kit Setups
Jazz drum kit setups usually only have 4 drums that includes a bass drum, snare drum, rack tom and floor tom. Creating many musical ideas with such few drums is one of the exciting challenges in playing on a Jazz drum kit.
The drum sizes of a standard Jazz drum set are:
- Bass drum: 18 inches x 14 inches
- Snare drum: 14 inches x 5.5 inches
- Rack tom: 12 inches x 8 inches
- Floor tom: 14 inches x 14 inches
The other important parts of a Jazz drum set are the Ride cymbals and hi-hat. In Rock or Pop drumming we usually have at least one crash cymbal and one ride cymbal. In Jazz drumming, it’s actually very common not to have a crash cymbal and instead have two or more ride cymbals.
The reason for this comes down to the way we play Jazz on the drum set. The ride cymbal is our time keeper and the pulse of our groove. Having more than one ride cymbal gives us additional color to play time for different sections of a song.
If we have only one ride cymbal, the sound can quickly become monotonous. Having at least one more ride cymbal gives us contrast in our sound.
Ride cymbal and hi-hat sizes are typically:
- Hi-hat: 14 inches
- Ride cymbals: 20-22 inches
I also want to mention that ride cymbals serve as crash cymbals too. In Jazz drumming, our ride cymbals are multi-purpose.
Learn everything from your first beat to playing in a band in my Jazz Drums Total Lessons Course Pack!
Small Kits, Big Sound
Are you tired, like me, of lugging around heavy drum sets and with heavy double-braced hardware? Well, the good news is, small drum kits are the best drums for Jazz so you’ll never need the rototoms and double bass drum setup.
Most Jazz drum sets are also called “Bop drum kits” (short for “Be-Bop”). They’re known for their compact size and portability. Easy to load and setup but still plenty versatile.
Bop Drum Kits
A Bop drum kit has the standard 4-piece drums, ride cymbals and hi-hat. The hardware is also usually lightweight and compact.
Some Bop drum kits also have smaller drum sizes than listed above. My Bop drum kit for example has a 16-inch bass drum, 10×8-inch rack tom and 13×13-inch floor tom. With this kit I also use either my standard sized 14×5.5-inch snare drum or the more compact 13×5-inch one.
Jazz drum beats feeling confusing? This article helps make them simple and easy to understand.
Get A Full Jazz Drum Set
When looking for a new Jazz drum set, be sure to get a complete set of drums. Make sure that it includes all of the parts I’ve listed above.
The reason is, when you’re on a gig, those are the parts that most other musicians are comfortable hearing. They’re also the parts usually needed to play Jazz music. You can of course add more cymbals and here is an example of that.
Adding To Your Jazz drum set
Sometimes I use another China cymbal to ride on like in the pic below. In Jazz drumming, the China cymbal can also be a ride cymbal and light crash cymbal. We won’t often hit it hard like we do playing Rock music.
You could also add another floor tom or an extra rack tom. There are no real rules about your Jazz drumming set setup, but just be sure you have the basic Jazz drum set and you’re good to go.
Ready to expand your Jazz music library? These are 5 albums that are a must in any collection!
Best drums for Jazz I’ve Played
Now we come to my favorite part of this article. I want to share some Jazz drum set recommendations that I have personally played on over the years.
These are drum kits that are durable and sound great. They also won’t break the bank.
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Looking for some Jazz drum sticks to get going on your new drum set? Check out my top 4 picks that’ll make you feel and sound great!
1. Gretsch Catalina Club 4-piece – Best budget drums for Jazz
The Gretsch Catalina Club 4-piece shell pack is one of those sets that’s been around for years because it sounds great. My drum student got one of these and for the price it’s amazing how spot on it sounds for Jazz. It’s got mahogany shells with a warm, punchy tone and a bit of vintage vibe. The ideal sounding kit for Jazz, Blues, or smaller club gigs. It feels like the kind of kit that just settles into the mix and makes everything groove.
Looks-wise, Gretsch nailed it with the Catalina Club. The finish is classy without being over the top, and the retro-style hardware gives it that old-school touch. It’s the kind of kit that looks just as good on stage as it does in your practice room.
The 4-piece configuration makes it easy to haul around, and the bass drum has that low-end thump you’d expect from Gretsch. The toms and snare have a nice balance too, warm but still crisp enough to cut through. If you’re after a kit that’s versatile, affordable, and has that unmistakable Gretsch vibe, the Catalina Club is a solid pick.
- 7-ply mahogany shells for warm, vintage-style tone
- Compact 4-piece configuration ideal for Jazz, Blues, and small gigs
- Punchy 18” bass drum with deep low-end response
- Easy to tune – you don’t have to fight with it to get a good sound.
- Comes with a snare – you don’t have to buy one separately to start playing.
- Great for all levels – solid enough for experienced drummers but simple and affordable for beginners too.
Need some new drum brushes too? This article has my top 3 picks to play smooth grooves on your new drum kit!
2. Pearl Decade Maple Artisan Limited Edition Bop Kit – Best Drums For Jazz Overall Pick
The Pearl Decade Maple Artisan Limited Edition bop kit is a great choice for something with character. I played on this one in a rehearsal in Tokyo and was pretty blown away by the sound. The maple shells give it the warm, open sound that works for Jazz and smaller gigs, but it’s versatile enough to handle other styles too. Because it’s a limited edition, it feels like you’re getting something unique rather than just another off-the-shelf kit.
The black satin marble finish is a nice touch. It’s understated but eye-catching, the kind of look that feels classy under stage lights without being over the top. A lot of bop kits can look pretty plain, but this one has a nice dose of personality.
It’s compact and easy to move, but the bass drum has plenty of thump, and the toms have that clean, maple resonance that’s really musical. It’s a kit that’s practical, sounds great, and looks sharp.
- All-maple shells for warm, balanced tone with great projection
- Limited edition Artisan series for a unique, premium feel
- Satin lacquer black marble finish that looks sharp under stage lights
- Compact 4-piece bop configuration (18” bass drum, toms, floor tom, snare) that’s easy to transport
- Versatile sound suited for Jazz, small gigs, practice rooms, and beyond
Get some swinging drum practice tracks with your new Jazz drums!
3. Pearl Midtown Drum Kit – Best Compact Drum Set for Jazz
The final of the budget Jazz drum sets I recommend, is one I own and use all the time. It’s my Pearl Midtown drumset. I also have a full review of this kit in another article and in the video below.
This kit is made of Poplar wood which is not a hardwood like Maple. Even so, the sound is pretty darn good! I’ve used it in the recording studio and at live performances.
Non-standard drum sizes
The drum sizes are not your standard Jazz drum set sizes. Instead you have:
- Bass drum: 16 inches x 14 inches
- Snare drum: 13 inches x 5.5 inches
- Rack tom: 10 inches x 7 inches
- Floor tom: 13 inches x 12 inches
Don’t let this compact size fool you though, these drums can sing and really cut through the mix. For such an inexpensive shell pack, this drum set really packs a punch.
I can use it for Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul, Gospel, Pop and many other styles of drumming. If you want a very inexpensive kit that will look and sound great, I recommend the Pearl Midtown drum kit. They’re some of the best drums for Jazz I have played.
Drums Hardware
Now for the part of a drum set that usually weighs more than the drums! As I said above, when we play Jazz, we don’t need double-braced drums hardware. Single-braced, lightweight drum hardware will do the trick.
Get A Drum Hardware Package
In my video above, you will also learn about my compact, lightweight drum hardware setup. Links for all of that hardware are in the video description. Here’s a great standard hardware package I also recommend.
Hardware packages generally save you more money than buying each of the pieces separately.
Tama hardware is some of the best designed and durable drums hardware on the market. The Tama HC4FB Classic Hardware Set hardware package is also incredibly lightweight. I own the hi-hat stand from this set and love it!
If you’re going to buy a lighter weight drum set, my advice is not to bulk up on the hardware. Keep the weight reasonable and save your back.
Looking for drum hardware that won’t break your back or your bank account? Check out the 3 other lightweight drum hardware packs I have used and recommend!
The Drum Throne and Kick Pedal
If you also need a drum throne (drumming stool), I encourage you to check out my article about 3 great drum thrones I recommend. For a great lightweight kick pedal, I recommend the Yamaha 7210 Single Foot Pedal with Single Chain Drive. It has great action and breaks down easily to fit into tighter spaces in hardware bags.
You might also enjoy my 4 other recommendations for bass drum pedals.
Conclusion
So, if you’re ready to take the plunge and get a Jazz drum set, I think you can’t go wrong with the kits I’ve recommended above. They all sound and feel great for playing Jazz. The resonance for each of these will blend beautifully with the other acoustic instruments in a Jazz ensemble.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are other drum manufacturers out there that make good kits. These happen to be some that I know first-hand through various playing situations. For this reason, I can personally recommend them.
Getting a drum set that sounds great will motivate you so much more to sit down and work out those complex coordination exercises and to get out there and play. Have fun and keep swinging my friend!
