How to assemble a drum kit

• Drum key
• Rug or drum mat
• Soft cloth

Before you start, lay everything out on a soft surface (the flattened box works) and check it against the parts list in your manual.

• Bass drum with spurs and tom mount
• Bass drum pedal and beater
• Snare drum and snare stand
• Rack toms and floor tom with legs
• Hi-hat stand and hi-hat cymbals
• Cymbal stands with felts and sleeves
• Drum stool (throne)

1. 1

   Step 1: Lay down a rug or drum mat so the bass drum and stands do not creep, then place the stool where you want to sit.

2. 2

   Step 2: Stand the bass drum on its side, extend both spurs until the front hoop lifts slightly off the floor, and lock the spur screws.

3. 3

   Step 3: Clamp the bass pedal onto the centre of the batter-side hoop, tighten its clamp screw with the drum key, and set the beater so it strikes near the centre of the head.

4. 4

   Step 4: Open the snare stand, set the snare in its basket, and adjust the height so the drum sits just above your thighs when seated.

5. 5

   Step 5: Set up the hi-hat stand on the side of your non-kicking foot: bottom cymbal cup-down on the felt, top cymbal in the clutch, leaving a small gap between them.

6. 6

   Step 6: Fit the rack toms onto the tom mount or their stands and angle them toward you, then fit the floor tom's legs and set it beside the stool on the other side.

7. 7

   Step 7: Assemble the cymbal stands, slide on the sleeve and felts so metal never touches the cymbal, and do the wing nut up only loosely so the cymbal can swing.

8. 8

   Step 8: Tune each drum by tightening the tension rods a little at a time in a star pattern with the drum key, then play and adjust the reach of every piece.

• Clamping cymbals tight between metal parts, which cracks them.
• Skipping the rug, so the bass drum walks away while you play.
• Tightening one tension rod fully before the others.