You might think guitarists get all the gear love. Electric and acoustic guitars. Amps. Pedals. Cords and cables. Accessories and even more stuff. Well, not to burst your stringed-instrument bubble, but drummers use a ton of gear, as well—everything from the grand (complete acoustic and electronic drum kits) to the practical (stick bags, practice pads, metronomes) to essential goodies (drum keys, cleaning products). All of this is wonderful news if you’re looking to buy your favorite drummer something fun or useful. The Guitar Center staff has curated the following gift suggestions, so you can make an informed choice regarding the perfect “percussion present.” And, of course, if you want to leave the choice up to them—there’s always that no-risk Guitar Center gift card.

Table of Contents

The Best Beginner Drum Kits
   Rogue Junior Kicker 5-Piece Drum Set
   Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece Drum Set With Hardware and Cymbals
   Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set
Essential Drum Gear for Every Drummer
   Guitar Center Lessons
   Zildjian Galaxy Practice Pad 12"
   DeltaLab DMT-1 Digital Metronome
   Vic Firth Essentials Stick Bag
   Sound Percussion Labs SPA10 Drum Key 2-Pack
   Vater Multi-Pair Drum Stick Holder
   Pearl GPX Limited-Edition Snare Drum
   MusicNomad Premium Drum and Cymbal Care System 4-Pack
Fun Gift Ideas for Drummers
   Zildjian Gray Flap Laptop Backpack
   Gretsch "Power and Fidelity" Retro Wall Clock
Conclusion

The Best Beginner Drum Kits

Rogue Junior Kicker 5-Piece Drum Set

This all-inclusive drum set, with cymbals, hardware, sticks and pedals included, is scaled for the young drummer. A smaller kit is a great place for a developing player to start—it puts all drums, cymbals and pedals within easy reach, and also lets you manage both budget and volume (they’re not quite as loud as full-sized drums). The Junior Kicker comes in four wrap finishes to match any style.

Pictured: Rogue Junior Kicker 5-Piece drum set 

For more information on choosing a drum kit, check out our comprehensive drum buying guide.

Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece Drum Set With Hardware and Cymbals

The Pearl Roadshow kit delivers expert quality at a student price. It's built with 6-ply 7 mm poplar shells for warm tone, double-braced Pearl stands and a smooth-playing chain-drive kick drum pedal. It comes with a 20" ride, 16" crash and 14" hybrid hi-hats. With all the hardware and even a double-braced throne, the only other things you need are sticks and a drummer. It’s available in four lush colors.

Pictured: Pearl Roadshow 5-Piece drum set with hardware and cymbals 

Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set

The Alesis Nitro Max is a fantastic e-kit for practicing songs, getting your technique together, writing drum parts and just rocking out. Furthermore, every session on the kit can be done in virtual silence, and the four mesh pads (snare and three toms) provide the feel and rebound of a traditional acoustic set. The Nitro Max control module is loaded with a staggering 440 drum sounds curated from the BFD sample library, and Bluetooth connectivity enhances your educational experience by letting you access streaming music to play along with, as well as audio from YouTube drum lessons.

Pictured: Alesis Nitro Max 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set 

Want to learn more about electronic kits? Check out our e-kit buying guide. 

Essential Drum Gear for Every Drummer

Guitar Center Lessons

The best gift for a drummer is skill. Guitar Center Lessons are here for drummers at every level, from those just starting out to seasoned players who want to stay sharp and learn new techniques. We offer highly customizable, one-on-one lessons in-store (where available). From learning songs or the basics of hand-foot coordination, to double kick drum technique and mastering polyrhythms, our instructors tailor the curriculum to meet the student's unique goals.

Zildjian Galaxy Practice Pad 12"

Every drummer needs to work out their chops. So, why not practice with pizzazz? Escape the mundane and stand out with the Zildjian Galaxy practice pad, featuring a responsive playing surface, solid base, 8 mm mounting insert and bold, colorful artwork.

Pictured: Zildjian Galaxy practice pad 12" 

DeltaLab DMT-1 Digital Metronome

A drummer’s number one job is to keep a steady beat. A metronome serves as a rhythmic guide for players to practice along with. This pocket-sized DeltaLab DMT-1 digital metronome is adjustable for tempos from 30 to 360 beats per minute, and it features a built-in speaker. It can handle any time signature from 1 to 9 beats per measure.

Pictured: DeltaLab DMT-1 digital metronome 

Vic Firth Essentials Stick Bag

Sticks, brushes, mallets … oh my. Drummers have a lot of different implements to get the sounds they need. A stick bag is an essential accessory for any percussionist. This Vic Firth Essentials stick bag offers portability and protection, plus a hook-and-strap system to suspend the bag from a floor tom or snare, keeping sticks at easy reach. It even has a loop to hold your drum key.

Pictured: Vic Firth Essentials stick bag 

Sound Percussion Labs SPA10 Drum Key 2-Pack

The drum key is what the drummer uses to tune the drum. It's a special type of wrench that adjusts drum head tension to change the pitch. Drum shells and heads are susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature, meaning they constantly need to be retuned. A key is also necessary to swap out heads. It's the essential drummer’s tool. This affordable pack from SPL includes two keys that are compatible with any standard drum-tuning rods. They have holes for easy attachment to keychains.

Pictured: SPL SPA10 drum key 2-Pack 

Vater Multi-Pair Drum Stick Holder

With a clamp-style fastener to connect to any cymbal stand, this Vater multi-pair drum stick holder provides ultraconvenient access to drum sticks. The holder’s angle is adjustable, too, meaning it can be set to match any drummer’s grip or preference.

Pictured: Vater multi-pair drum stick holder 

Pearl GPX Limited-Edition Snare Drum

For those looking for a workhorse snare from one of the most iconic names in the industry, these limited-edition GPX models from Pearl perfectly fit the bill. Their 6-ply select hardwood shells deliver all the fat, crispy punch you'd expect from a 14x6.5" drum, and with four unique durable wrapped finishes to choose from, there’s something here for everyone.

Pictured: Pearl GPX limited-edition snare drum 14 x 6.5 in. Satin Taupe 

Need help finding the perfect snare to round out your drum kit? Check out our snare drum buying guide.

MusicNomad Premium Drum and Cymbal Care System 4-Pack

Keep drums and cymbals clean, polished and protected with this care kit from MusicNomad. The acid-free cymbal cleaner returns cymbals to a gleaming showroom-new shine without corrosion. The drum detailer works for shells and hardware alike. It also includes two microfiber polishing towels. The bottles are 100% PET recyclable.

Pictured: MusicNomad Premium Drum and Cymbal Care System 4-Pack 

Fun Gift Ideas for Drummers

Zildjian Gray Flap Laptop Backpack

Whether the destination is the classroom or the studio, this laptop backpack from Zildjian is designed for the drummer on the go. The pack has expandable pockets and padded spaces for the laptop, headphones and any electronic gear you may need to trigger sequences or samples onstage or in the studio. The drum stick pocket on the front keeps sticks safely stowed and easily accessible. There's Zildjian branding on the front, back and the sunglasses hook, broadcasting pride for one of the most iconic names in music. The reflective strip on the front makes this pack highly visible on the street and easy to find onstage.

Pictured: Zildjian gray flap laptop backpack 

Gretsch "Power & Fidelity" Retro Wall Clock

Gretsch is a storied name in both drums and guitars, with a history going back to the 1800s. This stylish retro clock calls to mind the 1950s, when Gretsch drums were played by greats like Max Roach, Art Blakey and more, and the guitars were in the hands of players like Eddie Cochran and Chet Atkins. This clock adds a classy touch to a studio, rehearsal room or even the office. 

Pictured: Gretsch "Power & Fidelity" retro wall clock 

Conclusion

It can be daunting to seek out gifts for drummers—especially when it appears their needs are more elaborate than a package of guitar picks or strings that would make a guitar player happy. But from sticks to practice bags and other accessories, you can see from this guide that drum gifts are available for all types of drummers with all kinds of wants and wishes. So, get into the gifting groove—we’ve got your back here at Guitar Center.