Drums on the Go: Essential Travel Gear

For many musicians, there is often a need to take your instruments with you wherever you go, so you can practice, perform and enjoy your passion anytime, anywhere. While this can be challenging no matter what instrument you play, it’s especially difficult for drummers.

Finding gear that is both compact and portable, without sacrificing sound quality, can be a real struggle. Technically, any drum kit can be a “travel drum kit” whether it’s large or small. But in most cases, touring with lightweight, compact products is much more convenient.

Here’s a list of essential products for drummers looking to learn more about travel gear.

Travel Drums

Let’s start with a brief history of drums designed for travel.

In the early 1940s, with the rise of jazz and the growing need for portable instruments, drum manufacturers began to create more compact designs. Drum kits became more modular, and the idea of travel drums began taking shape.

Early compact kits, such as the so-called “Cocktail Kit” (sometimes referred to as “Combo,” “Jobber” or “Be-pop” kits) combined both bass drum and snare drum sounds into a single drum. These kits featured a vertical bass drum, a snare drum and a cymbal, along with various other percussion instruments.  They offered a compact and lightweight solution, but this convenience came with a trade-off as playing these kits required a drummer to develop different skills, along with a loss of tones that are offered by a full-size drum kit.

Luckily, over the years, compact drum kits have significantly improved, without as many compromises in quality and performance. Yamaha offers several compact options that could be the perfect fit for your needs

Yamaha Compact Kits

The Yamaha Stage Custom Hip drum kit is available in four finishes and is in the same family as the larger Stage Custom Birch, made with the same six-ply birch wood and equipped with the same hardware. It provides a big sound in a compact design, making it an excellent choice for drummers on the go.

When fully assembled, this kit fits comfortably within an area of about 3′ x 5′, making it ideal for gigs with tight stage layouts. The standout features of this kit include a compact yet full of tone 20″ x 8″ bass drum and a versatile 13’’ x 8″ SNOM (snare/tom) drum.

If you’re looking for even more compact drum kit options, be sure to check out the Yamaha Stage Custom Bop and Tour Custom kits. The latter can be configured in a variety of sizes, making it a versatile choice for drummers in need of a portable yet powerful setup for any gig.

Electronic Drums

What if you’re looking for a solution that offers even more versatility and convenience? This is where electronic drums come in.

These kinds of kits have become an increasingly popular choice for drummers who need a portable, flexible option. Unlike acoustic kits, electronic drums can be easily transported and set up without taking up much room, making them ideal for practice or performance on the go. Plus, with the ability to change sounds and adjust volume and tone, they offer a wide range of sonic possibilities.

Finger Drums

As a drummer, have you ever found yourself tapping rhythms on your lap or any nearby surface?  We’ve all been there.

Luckily, Yamaha have just the thing you’re looking for: finger drums. The company’s FGDP line includes the FGDP-30 and FGDP-50 models, shown below.

These are not only fun products to play with, they give you the freedom to create and explore music wherever you are!

Accessories

Now that you’ve added a drum kit an electronic drum pad or FGDP pad to your arsenal, you’re probably eager to hit the road. But before you go, be sure to check out these essential accessories to complete your setup.

The Yamaha EAD10 is a highly versatile product designed to streamline the process of miking, recording and sharing drum performances. It eliminates the need for a complex setup involving multiple microphones, cables, mixers and a P.A. system.

The EAD10 is made up of two units: a sensor and a module.

The sensor unit is comprised of an XY stereo microphone and a trigger sensor, which allows you to capture a balanced recording of an entire kit when placed at the center of the bass drum. 

The module unit features large, easily adjustable knobs for quick control of volume, preset scenes, reverb and other effects. It includes high-quality Yamaha effects and PCM sound sources, along with trigger sensing technology that can transform acoustic drums into new musical instruments. In addition, its high-performance headphone amplifier ensures exceptional sound quality during practice sessions. It even offers built-in recording without the hassle.

Hardware

The final essential item every touring drummer should have is a set of lightweight, reliable hardware. Yamaha offers several compact and portable hardware packs, including the HW-680W and the HW-3.

HW-680W hardware delivers dependable performance in one complete package. Designed for drummers seeking easy transport options, this pack features lightweight, single-braced hardware with a high-quality design for superior durability.

The HW-3 pack is the result of thorough research and collaboration with artists and designers. It strikes an ideal balance between weight and strength, offering hardware that is extremely light while maintaining the durability and reliability drummers expect from Yamaha.

Good for both practice and performance, these hardware packs combine efficiency and quality to enhance your drumming experience.

Take Your Groove on The Move

With travel drum products, your passion for drumming never has to stop. Whether you’re a touring drummer, a session player or simply someone who loves to practice on the go, Yamaha offers a variety of compact high-performance products that fit your needs.

Click here for more information about these and other Yamaha drum products.