Drum sets for sale haven’t always had that cool ”wow” factor like the ones we see today’s drummers playing. Although it can be said that drum playing first started during caveman times, they did not become drum sets for sale until they were invented in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Prior to this drummers played a single drum without any combination of pieces.

Why Were Drum Sets For Sale Invented?

 

Not unlike the issues of today, drum sets for sale were invented due to financial reasons. Most bands previously had at least two drummers, one on snare and one on the bass drum. However, due to financial hardships the number of percussionists was reduced to one and drummers needed a way to play both drums, hence the drum set. This was also a time when mass production was introduced by Henry Ford. Following suit, drum sets for sale were mass produced on assembly lines in factories which kept down their cost.

 

Drum Sets For Sale Were Influenced By The Music Of The Era

 

The beat of U.S. music was based on a 2/4 European classical feel and marching feel in the late 1800’s. However, this changed when the dance styles and swing beat emerged from the African American community and crossed over to influence all music in the U.S. in the early 1900’s. Ragtime style with its definitive syncopated or “off-beat” rhythm became extremely popular and was probably why the portable bass drum pedal was invented at this time by the Ludwig Company. Even though the piano was used as the main way to express ragtime, drum sets increased in popularity. At this time drum sets for sale consisted of just the bass drum, snare drum and a few traps.

 

Early New Orleans jazz with its powerful 2 or 4 swing beat became popular in the 1900’s to the 1930’s. Jazz was a time in which musicians took on the unique ability to improvise and became even more free with their musical styles. They used their music as an outlet for human expression of emotions. With the need for more movement and a stronger beat, the wood block, cow bell, small cymbals, china cymbal, and sometimes a small tom were added to drum sets for sale. This allowed drum players, such as Warren ‘Baby’ Dodds or Buddy Rich just to name a few, to have more freedom in their sound and ability to maintain different rhythms.

 

Jazz improvisation gave way to big bands in the 1930’s. Big bands used percussion, woodwind, brass, and even string instruments. An increase in the number and type of instruments influenced the style of music. The 4/4 swing feel of big bands was the driving force for the invention of the high hat. Drummers such as Sonny Greer now switched from playing primarily on the snare drum to the high hat using their foot or hand to open or close it. Other changes to the drum set included an increase in size of the cymbals and a floor tom was added giving rise to many drum solos.

 

Improvisation returned in the 1940’s with the advent of bebop music. A faster tempo, fragmented rhythms, intricate melodies, and more involvement in the art of bebop further enhanced drum sets for sale. Percussionists were not just time keepers during this time, but were involved in the interworkings of the music. Drum sets for sale became complete in their ensemble with the ride cymbal and cymbal tilters which were invented for ease of playing. Drummers like Kenny ‘Klook’ Clarke kept time on ride cymbals, while playing syncopated beats between the snare drum and bass drum.

 

After The 1940′s Drum Sets For Sale Did Not Change Much

 

From this time forward, drum sets for sale did not change much, but the way drummers played were influenced by the style of music of the time. During the late 1940’s to early 1950’s blues, gospel, and country music made some changes. Prior to this time period, these types of folk music didn’t use drum sets, but as a way of commercializing music, drum sets were added. Drum style techniques were simpler with more repetition and new shuffles.

Rock ‘n roll of the early 1950’s was based on a swing feel with the 2 and 4 afterbeats played on the snare drum. Just picture Elvis with that swing feel and you’ll understand the type of style. With the influence of boogie woogie piano players, the beats became more and more even until they were played with a straight 1/8 feel. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s rock and roll and funk music were influenced by drummers from England, like Ringo Starr, and U.S. drummers assimilated a strong swing pulse in their music.

Drum Sets For Sale Became Larger In The 1970′s

 

The 1970’s brought additional changes in rhythms and style with the influence of cultures such as India, South America, and the Caribbean. As a result, jazz rock and fusion styles developed and musicians, such as Keith Moon, learned to play in different and odd time signatures. Changes in drum sets for sale came about as they became larger with a double bass and with multiple tom kits.

 

Other minor changes have been made to drum sets for sale since that time as a means of adapting to the varying styles of the musical genre, whether in rock, country, or jazz music. Today, drummers can purchase a variety of different drum sets for sale or put together their own combinations with drum kits. If you are in need of percussion instruments you can check out the selection at DJ Music Store where you can find individual pieces or  drum sets for sale.