Drum's ergonomics is often underestimated, especially in people who try to copy other player's setups. Each body is different and needs a proper and unique setup.

So. My wife bought me an electronic drum kit for my 70th b-day (don't laugh ... I'm still young a t heart :-), Anyway, I never had drums but always wanted 'em. It set up my kit a few weeks back but nothing felt right - until I watched this totally helpful vid. I took the whole kit apart and set it up just like Ash did here and man oh man, what a difference! Feels natural, comfortable, really good and my drumming (such as it is now) has improved a whole lot. THANK YOU, Ash !!!!

That drum set is beautiful.

my God those drums are well tuned, mic'd, and mixed. They sound outstanding!

If have trouble keeping your back straight (or slouch), put a piece of wood (a book, whatever etc..) about 1.5-2" thick underneath the rear leg of your seat, that way the block of wood will angle of the seat forward and it will help your back and posture tremendously! I've played with the angled seat for 10+ years and I'd never play another way. It helps you play into the drums without having to lean forward and strain your back, this makes moving around the kit a million times easier. This little trick has helped more than anything and I hope it helps others who try it out.

This has improved my drumming 10 fold thank you

Drumeo, you just made my day! I LITERARY was hoping for a lesson on this all YESTERDAY! I feel this topic of ergonomics is very essential for playing drums, but is often overlook or briefly discuss about. All my life I've tried different set up, but kept constantly changing it from having a lot of cymbals (cymbal guy) or using one only. I always love sitting slightly or "lording over" above my kit, it felt natural to me. Recently, I've raise up my snare roughly 3 or 2 inches near my 10 and 12 in rack toms, and it feels better than I expected. I'm still going to keep experimenting on this endless journey. Lol

"I'm a little bit high, but i'm not too high" So i should get a bit high?

I find this truly fascinating. I started drumming at the age of 5 or 6, took lessons from a music store, and eventually studied with Tony DiNacola, great jazz/big band drummer. It took me, and I imagine other "pre computer era" drummers a long time to figure out what this man just laid out in minuets.

this is extremely helpful. Closing eyes to see what comes naturally is a great tip

After watching this I'm definitely going to take my drums down and setting them back up with way more fine-tuning and more attention to detail

major kudos for your videos with great drummers Drumeo!!!

Mangini needs to watch this again. He’s gonna give himself a heart attack.

I've always played with my setup honestly and his advise on watching drummers and seeing how they set things up is SUPER helpful. I've tried things the way some drummers set up their kit and found it works for me too

Super helpful - I've just bought an electric kit with no prior knowledge and this has helped a bunch. Also the outer ones is a banging album and you should all listen to it.

Great advice! Thank you so much, I have issues with my elbow due to my work so having the correct setup is super important to me! 🙏🏿

Some things you mentioned I did unconsciously, but there are some suggestions that you gave I found very helpful. Thank you....I appreciate it!

I’m definitely adjusting my kit now. The thing is to adjust the kit to you not you to the kit if you’re the only one that plays it. I’m new still learning but not having everything set up the right way to you makes a lot of difference. A lot.

I am blind! Looked everywhere for a video to help me with placement! !! I am a beginner have one set now!! Wish to play double bass! Got new set on the way! !! I cannot find anything on KZfaq about a blind drummer at beginning to play drums!! Thank you guys so much! Love this channel!!

THANK FOR THIS, these tips made a world of a difference for the way I’ve been playing….i could’ve used this 10 years ago when I started lol.

These tips are golden. I had pain in one of my arms and this is helping. Thanks.

This kind of video are the ones that helps the most over time. Lot of mistakes can kill your progress and your heath (which is more important than anything). Thx!

Awesome vid Ash, I appreciate the pointers!

Appreciate it bro. Really do. I have a double bass and I'm constantly struggling with my toms and cymbal angle and heights.

EXCELLENT. SO APPRECIATED. LOVE THE WAY YOU REALLY EXPLAIN YOURSELF. GREAT TEACHER YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILS!!

Man i love the sound of that bass drum in the beginning!

Thank you man. The eyes closed thing is another twist I can add. Good job.

Ash,So great seeing you on here,I met you at Gaylord Palms,I believe it was a few yrs ago,You were really cool,personable & welcoming,I had brought the gear you were using and was asking about the drumming gig…..Thanks for being genuine,And I hope the best for you my friend!!

While ago I started doing this: I place all the wood first, so anything drums. I then place my mics for said drums. After that I place my accessorized percussion instruments: cowbell, tambourine etc , place those mics if applicable (which is rare). Later when all that is done I place my cymbals around it all, so that my cymbals are at the right place, but the stands don't create issues. I'm no big professional drummer, but doing this has helped me a lot with placement. It also helped me with obtaining comfort, appreciation and the confidence to play with mics on my kits regularly. It's a rarely discussed subject, but when I started, having mics on my kit intimidated me, and played with my perception of where I was hitting, both visually and mentally, as I was afraid to hit the mics. So even if it's a cheap mic kit, it's good to just have them set up, even if you don't use them, to just get used to them being there.

I agree with pretty much all your points. I put out some vids last year with the same basic message and got so much negative flak for it. It’s astounding how dead set people are in playing with a poor setup. Especially not mounting the toms right on the kick. Yours look great, many people will die before mounting them in front on their own body instead of off to the right for no reason. It’s just amazing the way reasonable ergonomics is absolutely looked down upon by the average drummer. Good job taking a stand for the right way though! You even totally negate a lot of what the normal drumeo teachers say, which is brave and pretty savage. Going to their own channel to tell them their drum kit setup videos are full of boloney, to put it mildly. Right on. I have set up like you for almost 20 years and before that I was always irritated by the classic setup. I’ve been teaching this setup for around 8 years now. Keep at it bro, we have to start the revolution somehow.

Not only is this kit awesome looking, it sounds amazing! I wish my kit sounded that good when I record.

working the controls GREAT ANALOGY! 🤘

Ash, I also set my toms to the left side of my bass drum. Very comfortable,,, Thank You for the excellent tutorial

Only 3 seconds in an I’m overwhelmed . Holy shit :0 that was dope tho!

Regarding pushing... that is called your "power zone". You have two: one for pushing/pulling and another for lifting/lowering. (UPS guy).

Wow, this helped me a ton! Thank you!

Bozzio hates this.

All great advice. I had to deviate a little from the standard setup because I'm ambidextrous, but not in the typical sense. I write with my right hand, and throw a ball with my right hand, but, I play hockey left handed, swing a bat left handed, and my dominant foot is my left. I play high-hat with my left hand and snare with my right. I use a double bass pedal but my feet are equally good. My drums are setup relatively the same, but my snare is at center and my Tom's start under my high-hat and wrap around. Think of it like a cats paw. The other small change is, I have my ride setup just behind and to the right of my high-hat. Took me awhile to get the perfect setup for me. This video is great for anyone starting out, but don't be afraid to move items around for what's comfortable for you.

Well done young man! very informative

this is my kind of guy with his awesome metal stuff

Awesome dude🤘🏻doing this for my son (and me)😎

Great stuff !

thanks for that, great video!

Hitting the snare rim is one thing and that is the propper way of playing snare drum, but hitting the rim on tom or floor tom(s) is something I've been always avoids, because every toms have the sweet spot which is always in a dead center of any tom and it spans inside few centimeters around each center of the toms. Best way to discover does you tom(s) are setup ideal for you, is when you put new drum heads, tune them up and start playing 10 minutes. Sticks markings on new drum heads will show you immediately how your drum kit elements are placed, which tom(s) needs to be moves and where.. Always try to hit center of toms because this is the spot where your toms producing the best sounds (if they are properly tuned up). Setting your toms on high angle will cause "dimples" on your drum heads. The key is in experimenting with different drums set ups. Hitting rim on toms can be tolerable if drummer is technicaly able to perform this without any oscilations and if he wanted produce some kind of new "sound effects" from his toms, but that situations is very rare (because no matter how expensive drums you have, rim shot on toms always sounds awful!) l do not associates with straightforward rock'n'roll music with 99% of styles which were derivated from r'n'r. Ergonomics and ideal set-up of the any drums&cymbals kit is VERY IMPORTANT and should be first leasons to novice in any drum workshop, school or academy, or kid from next door if he ask you politely "Would you'll teach me to play drums?".

Great video, awesome video.

🤘🥁🌬thank you very much. Lots of experience and well done solutions on avoiding unncessary damage. Keep the good things up🙏wish y'all well

Thank u Ash🎉

I have an urge to send this video to almost every drummer I know.

Suggestion for a possible video: Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork giving some insight on how he obtained the athletic tier speed he has and how he can remember such complex rhythms for the band. Something along those lines given the style he provides for the band just to maybe help out those that also enjoy that said style. If it could work out, that'd be awesome.

Thanks man! Big underrated topic here

Love Ash Pierson. Dude is a badass

I was like holy shit benny greb play metal drums

More Ash please!

Underrated video

I'm a starting drummer, thanks for the tips.

Very good guide n advice. Thks a "tom" (sic... ton)

I love that double tom/cymbal stand setup. Anyone know the stand model(s)?

Great video

I've been getting pins and needles in my right arm towards the end of my bands first set and couldn't figure why that could be. Now I'm going to take notice of my hi-hat height and try some different positions to see if this elevates the issue. I've had my kit set up exactly the same way since I first set it up around 15 years ago but didn't consider that my "normal body position " could have altered as I've got older. Food for thought 🤔

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Ergonomics is the very 1st one i actually learned on drums 1st day of drumming never had my tom angled crazy like other beginners

stroking, hitting, denting and choking ..... this is what this video is really about!

Ash, thanks for discussing your kit setup. What about rack tom heights? Do you see advantages to higher or lower positioning.

Thank you!

Good tips, even for the seasoned drummer whom may forget to focus on the fundamentals at times.

What stand is he using to mount the rack toms? Looks like some sort of double symbol stand that he mounted the toms to. I've been wanting to get those rack toms off the kick drum, so I can place the snare in front instead of to the side.

what are your drum sizes in this vid?

ergonomics aside that kit is gorgeous.

Thank you👍

Ultimately YOU have to set up YOUR kit the way YOU want it to be set up. Everyone is different and has a unique preference regarding what is most comfortable for them.

"I'm a little bit back and i'm a little high, but I'm not too high" lmao 2:26

I just setup my very first drum set today. I've moved a few things around but overall it feels good. I think I did well because everything you guys mentioned is pretty much how mine is. Now I just gotta learn how to play. Help! Lol

I think the TL;DW of this video is, set up your drums in a way that you're comfortable playing them.

dudes like, I watch heaps of videos and see where their feet are in relation to their snare etc. literally why I came here. to see how another drummer sets up. I feel like I used to angle my kick out more in high school. I gotta bring it back. his Tom snare trinity is a fucking sensible idea.

This tip is very important.

At 2:10 he so wanted to say “hip flexors” lol Marthyan!!! Edit: can’t remember who it was but I saw them build the kit from the throne out.. also Mapex’s cymbal stands (at least the 800 series black) have it where their legs pivot inward to allow for packing my gear closer. But I love Mapex. Great video!

Still trying to find the sweet spot for fast double bass. Is my throne too high? Are speed cobras too close together? Spring tension not tight enough? so much to consider.

I put my mid tom on my ride cymbal stand and put my ride cymbal on my bass drum. I can reach the ride much easier but i hit on accident when i do certain fills, any tips?

I got a Gibraltar double tom stand. I just cant seem to get it in the right spot. It wants to come out to far to the left or the toms are to low to sit very flat. I cant seem to arrange it like the set in the vid.

Ergo is da way to go in the long run.

That's a great Tama drum kit! sounds awesome! what's the exact model of your drum kit Sir? Thanks and God bless you!

What's the best way to achieve this kinda setup with a 3-bar Pearl Icon straight rack?

Excellent real world demistration!

What are the models / specifications of the kit and cymbals?

YOUR SHIRT! LOVE FROM VANCITY!

My dad is musician like me. But he plays piano and bass. I am the drummer. I play on church. So, as we are like 3 or 4 drummers in church, each time I get over the drumset... I have to set it, or check if it is well set for me. And my dad asked me: Do you have to set it so much every time? 'Cause I notice you take a good time for each piece in a specific place or position. Is a rule for the position each piece should be? And this video is the answer. I used to set the drumset practically the same this guy (Bass drum with an angle, air toms also in angle more to my left hand, not exactly above the bass drum, cymbals at my shoulders high, hi-hat at my elbo? high, ride/cymbal not so far or close, just like toms, floor toms at snare high, or a little bit more down), I realized that way is the most comfortable/healthy for me (Or even, every drummer, but obviously... for his bbody to set it. And it is also, not ugly. I mean, I also like a good view of my instrument. Not a disorder... But In fact, I watch it stetical fine... with order, beutiful, with body/presence and cool. That's way I really like this video. Thanks Drumeo!

Which is the hardware used to mount the toms??

what are the names of the two on the floor im trying to upgrade my kit and cant figure out what the two on the ground are called please if anyone can ansewer i would appreciate it

What ride specifically was that delicious HH number he plays at the beginning?

I only use a single kick pedal, I never found a comfortable spot with a double bass pedal, and I've always been addicted with my hihat pedal. I have a Bonham foot, so I get away with a lot of floor tom's and bass drum triplets making it sound like double bass, but still get to use my hi hat pedal

How big you are is a very important factor. I am 165 cm tall and sizes of drums and cymbals make it difficult for me to set it up in an ideal situation. I am in a situation where all my cymbals and drums are few mm from each other so I can play it easily. I can't have my Tom Tom in a perfect place because it needs to be slightly off so I can have it in a right height because of my drum bass (And I have only 20"). Which also makes me to set up my cymbals slightly away from me so they do not hang over my drums to still hit them. Also another thing that pisses me off are Snare Drum stands, in order to have it at height I find comfortable I need have the basket very loose. Then of course the bottom skin starts the hit center of the basket so I had add some "padding" on the claws to get as close to the perfect place as I can get. The only drum company that is making a proper stand for me is Pearl and it was designed for deep Marching Snares.

5:09 "Your not gonna feel very good, ya know." Canuk moment.

Yay Canada 🇨🇦

how would you go about finding good placement with toms that are mounted into the bass drum ? i don't have space to add a rack for my toms and i never seem to get them in a comfortable position any tips ?

How do you get the high toms over there? So close to the snare. Is that a separate stand just for the toms to get them in the right place? The high toms are usually on top of the bass drum.

Anyone have an idea what that dual Tom rack stand is?

"and I'm a little bit high, but not too high;)"

Sir, you may want to consider getting back support added onto your throne. You have a really good throne, and I know this is more a question of taste to most drummers. The only thing I can offer is that my Dad, who played drums professionally from, 1965-1991/1992, told me repeatedly to get a throne with the back support built in. He was 6'9", I am 6'2", he had to quit playing drums due to back problems, so he Continued his career as a musician as a Bass player. Good luck 😊

My friend learnt me to put the snare's height a hand from cymbal. What do you think?

What brand of Tom rack is that?