What to buy a drummer? 10 gift ideas they'll actually use

Drums are an instrument where things get used up really fast. Sticks break, the drum key wanders off somewhere every time, ears ring after a gig and most drummers can't afford to practise on a full kit in a flat. That's why, when choosing a gift, it pays to think of practical things a drummer will use every time they play. Smaller gifts such as sticks, earplugs or a practice pad suit anyone who sits behind a kit, and if you have a bigger budget, you can go for a comfortable throne, a cajon or electronic drums.

Sticks break, splinter and go missing while playing, so a new pair will please any drummer and will never go to waste. NRG DS500 5A are maple sticks with a versatile thickness that rank among our best sellers, and they're so affordable you can buy several pairs at once. Anyone who plays more gently, for example jazz or pop, will appreciate the thinner NRG DS500 7A. A classic known to almost every drummer is the hickory Vic Firth American Classic 5A, which can also handle harder playing. Before buying, just check which size the drummer uses, because 5A, 7A and 5B feel very different in the hand. You'll find the whole range among our drumsticks.

A drummer who carries sticks in their hand or stuffs them into a backpack keeps losing and breaking them, and then searches the whole room for them at rehearsal. A stick bag keeps several pairs of sticks, brushes and the drum key together and can be hung straight on the floor tom, so the drummer always has a spare pair at hand when a stick slips out mid-song. The Tama Powerpad Stick Bag is a sturdy bag with excellent reviews that lasts for years. A practical, slightly smaller option is the Pro Mark Everyday Stick Bag. You'll find more colours and sizes among our stick bags.

Drums are among the loudest instruments and the drummer sits right next to the cymbals, so after a few years of playing without protection they can damage their hearing for good. Alpine MusicSafe Pro musician's earplugs have interchangeable filters that reduce the volume while keeping the sound clear, so the drummer still hears the whole band and themselves. A cheaper option for gigs is Alpine PartyPlug. If the drummer practises along with recordings, they'll love the Vic Firth SIH2, headphones that also block out the sound of the drums, so there's no need to crank up the music. You'll find other types in our hearing protection section.

Most drummers can't practise on a drum kit at home, yet they need to work on their stick technique every day, which makes a practice pad one of the most useful gifts. The NRG PP12 is a quiet pad with a rubber surface that rebounds much like a drumhead, and the drummer can use it anywhere, even in front of the TV. If you want something tried and tested, the Evans RealFeel RF12G is a pad drummers practise on all over the world, and thanks to its two sides it offers both a softer and a harder surface. You'll find other types among our practice pads.

The drummer holds the tempo for the whole band, so their rhythm has to be the steadiest of all, and regular practice with a metronome helps with that the most. The digital Pianonova PEM metronome is small, loud and offers various rhythms and time signatures, so the drummer can practise more complex things too. If you want to give something that also looks nice on a shelf, go for the mechanical Pianonova MM2025 metronome, which works without batteries. You'll find more models among our digital metronomes and mechanical metronomes.

Well-tuned drums sound like the record, but badly tuned ones can spoil even an expensive kit, and tuning by ear is a big challenge for many drummers. The Tune-Bot Gig clips onto the drum hoop, measures the pitch of the head and shows how to adjust it, so the drummer gets the same sound at every rehearsal and gig. If you want a little extra that always comes in handy, add an NRG drum key, because drummers lose them as often as sticks. You'll find more tools among our drum tuners.

A drummer can sit behind the kit for hours, so a wobbly, hard throne sooner or later takes its toll on their back and their technique. The NRG NDT-55 is a sturdy throne with a round padded seat and adjustable height, a great choice for the rehearsal room as well as for home. More comfort for long sessions comes with the NRG NDT-57 and its thicker seat. A drummer who gigs a lot will appreciate the robust Gibraltar 9608E, which can handle frequent transport. You'll find more models among our drum thrones.

For acoustic jams with a guitar by the campfire, small gigs in a café or a quick rehearsal, there's no need to haul a whole kit, a cajon is enough. It's a wooden box the drummer sits on and plays with their hands, and thanks to the snare wires inside it can produce both a kick and a snare sound. The Meinl Jam Cajon is smaller and lighter, so it's easy to carry. The Sela Primera Black Bundle comes with a bag and a seat pad, so the drummer can start playing right away. You'll find more models among our cajons.

Acoustic drums can be heard several floors away in a block of flats, which is why many drummers practise at home on electronic drums that play into headphones and don't disturb the neighbours. The NRG EDK-10 Kickstart Kit is an affordable electronic kit that fits even into a smaller room, and the drummer can play it any time, even late in the evening. If you want the kit to feel closer to real drums, go for the NRG EDK-100 Student Kit. You'll find more kits among our electronic drum kits.

Every drummer knows they could use one more cymbal, whether it's a new crash, ride, hi-hat or an effects china or splash that gives the kit a new sound. With this gift, however, be careful, because every drummer has their favourite sound. Some like dark, dry cymbals for jazz, others bright, loud ones for rock, and size, thickness and brand also matter, as the new cymbal needs to blend with the rest of the kit. So only buy a cymbal if you're confident enough to surprise them and you know what sound they're after. You'll find inspiration among our cymbals and acoustic drums.

For a drummer who has everything, buy something that makes practice easier or improves the sound of their kit. A good choice is the Vic Firth SIH2 headphones, the Tune-Bot Gig tuning tool or the Evans RealFeel RF12G practice pad. If you're not sure, a gift voucher is a safe choice.

For under £20 you can buy a drummer things that wear out or get lost: NRG DS500 5A or Vic Firth American Classic 5A sticks, a drum key, Alpine PartyPlug earplugs or the NRG PP12 practice pad. The safest tip is sticks, just check the size.

For under £45 you can choose from thrones, pads and hearing protection. A good choice is the NRG NDT-55 throne, Alpine MusicSafe Pro earplugs, the Evans RealFeel RF12G pad or the digital Pianonova PEM metronome.

First find out which size the drummer uses, for example by taking a discreet look into their stick bag. The most versatile are 5A, which suit most genres, the thinner 7A are for lighter playing and the thicker 5B for rock. Proven choices are NRG DS500 5A or Vic Firth American Classic 5A. You'll find more among our drumsticks.

For quiet practice at home, a practice pad such as the NRG PP12 together with the Pianonova PEM metronome is ideal. If the drummer wants to play a full kit without disturbing the neighbours, go for the NRG EDK-10 Kickstart Kit electronic drums, which play into headphones.