The extras a player adds onto their drum kit are one way for them to make it truly their own, and buying them an auxiliary percussion instrument can help them find their ideal sound. If the perfect instrument isn’t springing to mind, though—or you don’t at least have a way of conducting some covert research—one of the more all-purpose gifts on the list above may be a better choice.?tag=bestazy-20

If the drummer you’re shopping for is already an avid user of extras like cowbells and woodblocks, you might do them a world of good with a gift like the Everything Rack from Latin Percussion . It has six different mounting locations so you can put all your auxiliary drums in one place.

Auxiliary percussion can make a great gift for a younger drummer, too. Hand drums like bongos and congas are fun for kids to play around with, and since they’re simpler than full drum kits they can be easier to get started on. From a parent’s perspective, they also have a similar advantage to the practice pads on the gift list above: they’re not quite as loud and jarring, making home practice less intrusive.

One thing about auxiliary percussion instruments is that they tend to be specific to a style. While there aren’t any hard and fast rules on what instruments you can use in what musical genres, you’re more likely to hear things like claves and bongos in Latin inspired music, to give an example. This can make them less versatile gifts, and a trickier thing to give if you’re not sure exactly what kind of music the drummer plays.

Classic rock just wouldn’t be the same without the cowbell. From bongos to windchimes, there are tons of different ways drummers can add more variety and options to their drum kit. These peripheral instruments are collectively known as auxiliary percussion. Most professional drummers will already have all of the auxiliary percussion instruments they need, but if you’re buying for an advanced student an auxiliary percussion instrument could be just what they’re looking for.

Hardware: Most starter drum kits will come with a basic stand for the cymbals and snare, but many drummers will want to upgrade these as they continue playing on the instrument. The hi-hat stand especially can have a big impact on how easy the kit is to play. Along with the drum stands, the category of hardware includes the foot pedals used for the hi-hat and kick drum. This is another piece of equipment that often comes included with starter kits, but is frequently updated as players evolve.

Mallets and brushes: Just like changing the material in the drum head can change the sound that’s produced, drummers can use different kinds of implements to hit the drums and add new tones or effects to their palette. Metal brushes give a softer, rasping sound when used on the snare or cymbals, and is a popular effect for jazz. Mallets are more often used to get deeper tones out of the toms.

Sticks: Drummers who play a lot can go through drumsticks pretty quickly, especially if they play in harder, louder styles. They can range from just a few dollars a pair for basic sticks to $50 or more for more innovative designs . Different kinds of wood will be favored by different players for their sound and feel. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a stick, including its durability, its flex, and the shape and density of the tip.

Most music programs have an array of auxiliary percussion instruments available for students to use. The only unfortunate thing about this is that students get used to playing certain instruments then lose access to them when they graduate—and won’t exactly be flush with cash to buy a collection of their own. That makes these instruments great gift ideas for recent grads.

It can be great to get professionals the nice toys they can’t justify buying for themselves. Many professional musicians will opt for cheaper, more practical versions, of basic, peripheral gear, putting their extra cash toward more important expenses. Anything that helps their gigs go more smoothly will be a welcomed gift for a professional drummer.

A professional drummer has been at this a long time. She knows her gear and style, and has a well-established practice routine. They probably won’t need things that help them practice; if they’ve reached this point, they’ve got plenty. Similarly, they likely already have necessary things like pedals and gear bags, so those don’t tend to be good choices (unless the drummer has specifically mentioned they’re looking for an upgrade).

For the hobbyist, the best gifts are one with a bit of extra style or novelty—things they might not necessarily need, but that will streamline their playing sessions. The SoundOff drum mutes from Evans on the list above can be a great choice, since many hobbyists play at home and they make home practice less intrusive.

The skill level of the recipient isn’t the only thing that matters when you’re buying them a gift. You should also think about how seriously they take their craft, and what their ultimate goals for it are. If the drummer just enjoys playing occasionally, and mostly around their own home or for their friends and family, they won’t necessarily make use of more sophisticated equipment that’s designed for professionals—but neither will they get much out of things designed for kids or complete beginners.

Depending on the age of the student, you may still have to think about the size of the kit and how it works with the gear you’re buying, although it’s more common for a more experienced student to still play on a full-sized version of the drum set.

As students progress and become more advanced, they’ll probably need something a bit more sophisticated than the fun gifts you’d give a kid—but might not yet make use of things that are designed for on-stage performance. This middle ground can be tricky to shop for, but the best option is often to get them a gift that can help push them to the next level, whether that’s helping them prepare for their first gigs or giving them gifts that make their practice sessions more productive.

Since an adult will be playing on a full kit, even just starting out, getting them upgraded versions of the equipment they started on can also be a great way to go. Again, drums can be a very personal choice, but the hardware that’s used to play it can be a great gift option.

The drums might seem simple to play, but learning to play the kit can be a challenge, with so many different drums to keep track of at once. Any beginner is going to need tools that help them work on their rhythm.

Keep in mind, too, that a lot of younger players don’t start out on a full-sized drum kit. They just don’t have the reach to hit the cymbals or use the pedals on a drum set that’s made for an adult. Companies instead make smaller, kid-friendly drum sets so they can play comfortably. If you’re thinking about buying a gift that attaches to the drum set, double-check to make sure it will fit.

When you’re buying a present for a child, you want to get something that plays into their excitement about being a drummer. At the same time, you want to get them a gift that will help them develop their budding talents.

This has come up a couple times in passing, but the skill level of the drummer and what their goals are as a player will be big considerations when it comes to picking the right gift. Think about this: a grade school student who just got his first drum set isn’t going to need the same things as a touring drummer who plays shows every night. Some of the gifts above are more all-purpose, but some of them are definitely geared toward one age group or another.

The Nitty Gritty Details

As you can see from the buyer’s guide above, drummers already have a lot of little things to buy so they can play their instrument—and those little things can add up quickly. That’s one reason they’ll probably appreciate getting some nice accessories like the ones reviewed here as gifts. If they’ve got extra money, they’re more likely to put it toward buying a new cymbal than they will to buy themselves a new stick bag, and that’s where you step in to make their life easier.

Of course, even if you buy the perfect gift, there are always some logistical things to think about. Even though all of the companies on this list are generally reliable when it comes to their products, there’s always a chance that something can happen during shipping and the product arrives damaged. You can never account for every twist of fate. If the recipient happens to get a similar gift from someone else, for example, you don’t want them to be stuck with both.

The sections below are the extra little things you may want to think about as you’re picking out the perfect gift. They won’t all be applicable to all the products or situations, but often taking a second to think through these details will prevent later stress.

Warranties

A good warranty can take all of these concerns and thoughts out of your head completely. It’s one way to ensure that, no matter what, the recipient will get a gift that’s intact and usable—and to make sure it will be replaced easily, for free, if it arrives in any other state.

Warranties can get a bit complicated, especially when you buy through an online marketplace, like Amazon. You not only have to consider what kind of warranty is offered by the manufacturer itself, and what aspects of the product that covered, as opposed to what is offered by the seller of the product.

Typically, the warranty from the company is going to cover internal problems that originated during the manufacturing of the product. If something arrives broken or non-functional and it was that way even before the item reached the distributor, that is where the manufacturer’s warranty comes in.

If the product was damaged during shipping, on the other hand, this is something that you may find isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, since they weren’t responsible for the problems with the gift. For those issues, you’ll typically be better served reaching out to the seller, who will often be able to refund or replace the product after you’ve shipped it back.

The majority of manufacturers and sellers will offer you the level of protection and replace products that are damaged before they reach you. If you’re looking for a more in-depth level of protection, however, that’s something you’ll have to look into item by item. Some manufacturers will offer to take care of user-caused damage but many will not. The length of time that the item is covered after purchase will also typically vary, so that’s something you’ll want to look into if this is important to you.

Generally, the pricier the item the more concerned you’ll be with whether or not it has a good warranty. It’s something that’s likely to be more on your mind if the gift is going to a child, too—kids do have a tendency to be rougher on things than adults, especially when it comes to something like the drums that they’re going to be pretty rough with.

In terms of the products on this list, Boss has a fairly good service program for their products. If something is wrong with your Dr. Beat metronome, you can take it (or ship it) to one of their service centers and they’ll repair it for you. The only catch is that these repairs aren’t always free. All the parts are covered under warranty for the first year, but you’ll still have to pay for the labor after 90 days. Basically they will cover any faults with the product that can’t reasonably be considered user error. After that, they’ll still fix the problem even if you have to pay—still typically a more affordable option than buying another metronome.

All Shure products also come with a limited warranty, including their SE-215 earphones. Similar to the coverage program from Boss, it typically will cover any defects in the parts or the initial construction of the product, but won’t cover any damage caused by the user more than a few months after the product’s arrival.

The specifics of what is covered and for how long for each individual product will usually arrive on a card in the box with the product itself. If it doesn’t, just check the manufacturer’s website, and you should be able to find their coverage information.

Note: many warranties are limited and don’t cover products for long, even if the defect was there from the beginning. If you’re buying this a few months in advance of when you plan to give it—a common practice with Christmas presents, especially—make sure you check it out as soon as it arrives. If you wait until you actually give the gift, the warranty may have expired already and you might not be able get any defects fixed, even if they were the fault of the manufacturer.

Shipping

There are two ways you can go when you order items online to give as a gift. You can have them shipped to you and then wrap them and give them in person, or you can have them shipped straight to the recipient—a great option to have if they live far away or you’re not likely to see them around the time you’ll be giving the gift.

All of the gifts listed here should ship pretty well—there aren’t a lot of things with moving or delicate components that could be damaged on their way from one place to another. That’s one of the things that makes them all such great gifts.

In terms of shipping costs, that will vary depending on the weight and size of the item. Many of the products are eligible for the free shipping program through Amazon Prime, so if you’re a member of that service you won’t need to think about shipping costs. If you’re not, this is something to account for in your budget when you’re shopping for the gift.

Even non-Amazon Prime members will get free shipping on certain items. Usually this will mean a longer delivery time, so you may still have to pay for shipping on these items if you’ve procrastinated your gift buying and need to get the item right away. Amazon makes it easy to see exactly what you’ll have to pay for different estimated delivery times when you get to check-out, so this is something you may want to compare and contrast as you’re making your final decision.

Returns

Even if you’ve thoughtfully selected your gift and it works perfectly, there may be a reason the recipient needs or wants to return it. This can be a bit more complicated with online shopping than it was when you bought the items in person.

Amazon.com’s return policy is generally that you can send any unopened items back within 30 days of purchase (they do have some special allowances around Christmas, and will allow the return of gifts until January 31 if they were purchased during the holiday season).

Individual sellers and manufacturers will also have their own return policies, so you should also look into that if you think the item may need to be returned. Like warranties, returns tend to be time sensitive. If you want to make sure there won’t be any problems if the person you’re giving the gift to decides to return it, you should wait to buy the gift until closer to the date you’ll be giving it. This will make sure it’s not outside of any time constraints.?tag=bestazy-20