Frontrunner Magazine
If you don't like dealing with a bunch of gear and accessories, you probably shouldn't become a drummer — maybe look into the harmonica instead. Drummers can't make noise without a back seat full of metal stands, hardware trinkets, sticks, tools, and of course, drums themselves. But if you really want to be a professional drummer that's prepared for every scenario, you'll want to make sure your gig bag includes these six items before you leave the studio.
The drum key is the universal tool of the drum set, allowing you to tune your drums, swap out heads, adjust hardware, and, in some cases, affix your kick pedal to the bass drum. Get your hands on a heavy, reliable drum key, because a flimsy one is sure to break when you need it most. Don't forget the drum key.
This one is non-negotiable. Every drummer is guaranteed to break or significantly deteriorate their sticks over time, so it's absolutely necessary to keep a few additional pairs handy whenever you play. For live shows, make sure you position your spare sticks within arm's reach so you're able to grab one without miss a beat.
Don't forget the Hi-Hat Clutch. You can survive with a missing cymbal stand topper for your crash and ride cymbals, but your drumming will be frustratingly handicapped if you lose your hi-hat clutch. It happens more often than we'd like to admit, but you can avoid disaster by keeping an extra one at the bottom of your bag.
It's great to have a towel nearby to wipe off your hands between songs, but towels serve a variety of purposes for drummer. Use them to wipe down your drums before a gig, or rest them across the heads of your drums to dampen the sound. This can be a useful trick for playing in small clubs without overpowering the room.
Duct tape is another useful material for dampening drums, but more importantly, duct tape is a musician's best friend for fixing just about any problem. It's hard to describe the myriad applications where duct tape comes in handy — holding a cymbal stand upright, patching a drum head on the fly, giving your sticks extra grip — but trust that you'll want it around when unexpected problems arise.
Too many drummers spend their later years in life suffering from mild to severe forms of tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears that develops after prolonged exposure to loud noises. Protect your hearing by keeping ear plugs with you every time you sit down to play. To be a true professional, pack a few extra pairs to help out your forgetful bandmates.
