5-Piece Drum Kit Setup Diagram

This interactive diagram of a standard five-piece drum kit has clickable (tappable) cymbal and drums. They allows you to hear how each instrument would sound if played in its correct position as viewed from the drummer’s perspective.

Alternatively, you can play the basic rhythm section without picking up your hands if you prefer, using your computer keyboard instead. The number keys on the keyboard are mapped the same way as the drums, with each number indicating which shell is played. Key one is the bass drum, two is the snare, three is the high tom, four is the mid tom, and five is the floor tom. In this way you get the main rhythm instrument covered in a typical kit.

How to Use the Interactive Drum Kit

Each key press produces a synthesised version of the acoustical instrument it represents. These also include the option to mirror the set-up for left-handers by using the left/right handed button. If you’re a lefty and play left handed (i.e. Your dominant hand is on the left. This will give you an idea of how it would look on the diagram. It will swap the snare drum and cymbal positions.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred set up, there’s no waiting around for a visual update; it appears instantly. This allows you to set the total level of the drum sounds. If you’re listening on a computer and in a shared environment, this can help you adjust the volume so you can hear the details more clearly. Next to the volume slider, there’s a visual representation of the current setting as a percentage.

Pressing the shell tour button triggers a sequence of the five main drums in turn. It will play them for you from the bass drum, then the snare and onto the toms in order. The diagram is illuminated when they sound so that you can learn where on the kit each part sits and what they sound like. To end the tour press the button again whenever you wish.

The how to play button opens a small help panel that explains the overhead view convention. A little help panel is available via the “How To Play” button that shows keyboard shortcuts. If you’ve forgotten which key corresponds to which drum, this is your quick reference list of key mappings. It remains open until closed by clicking on the button again to hide it.

The fullscreen mode expands the widget to fill your screen when enabled. It’s useful for focusing only on the layout or when viewing from a smaller monitor where there isn’t much room to see everything in the kit diagram. To return back to normal size, simply click the button again.

One of the first things to try would of some simple kicks and snares alternating to make a basic beat. Once you’ve got your head around the timing, press the numbers on the keyboard that represent each drum. Keep it ticking over until you feel comfortabley enough to introduce additional percussion, such as the mid & high tom that can also be used for accents or fills. This reinforces how the physical set-up connects to the sound as you see which part is activated in the visual feedback.

Add a touch of texture to your rhythm by experimenting with the cymbals. The ride adds a longer sound that fits into a more sustained pattern. The crash is more percussive with a sharp accent. The hi-hats is ideal for maintaining time between the snare hits. Together they provide a full drum kit experience within one window.

The next thing is to adjust the volume slider so it’s at a luxurius level for you in your space. If you play left handed change the layout to match how you actualy play, otherwise have a go with the shell tour to learn where all the drums sits on the kit. All these little tweaks will help you make the most out of the tool for studying and practicing.

Now that you’ve got a basic understanding of what constitutes the typical five-piece kit, it’s time for some practice on the mouse/keyboard. Try out various rhythms with the rudiments, learn them by ear, and use the visualization as a guide to see how all the elements comes together in reality. Bring the diagram to life by starting to click on the drums and listen to the sounds.