Hans Van Tartwijk serves as co-founder and partner at Princeton Property Partners, a real estate investment and development company. In this capacity, he works with foreign clients and advises them with respect to investments in the United States. When he’s not busy with work, Hans Van Tartwijk enjoys playing the drums.
Buying your first drum kit can be as overwhelming as it is exciting, due to the sheer variety of brands and drum styles available. The first thing you should think about is the kind of sound you are looking for. This will reduce the number of options immediately and guide you as you begin deciding on the smaller details of your drum kit. Once you know the style of music you most want to play, you can figure out how many drums you need. Most basic kits come with four to five drums. If you want more of a jazz sound as you play, you will most likely be fine with five drums: three toms, a snare, and a bass drum. Meanwhile, if you are looking more for a metal sound, you might want a larger kit.
Next, you will need to figure out the type of drum shells and drum heads you want. Shells are made from a huge variety of materials, from maple and oak to mahogany and basswood. Each wood shell material will create a different sound. While maple wood creates a warm and balanced tone, mahogany creates a low-end, vintage sound. Try drums made from as many different materials as you can find in order to make the right choice. In terms of drum heads, thicker drum heads create less resonance and a darker, more focused sound and thinner heads create a lighter sound. If money is an issue, focus more on getting high-quality drum heads than shells. Good drum heads can create a very good sound even if they are on an entry level shell.
