Acoustic drum sets are a collection of symbols, drums, and sometimes other percussion instruments including tambourines. Acoustic drum sets are arranged by a single drummer for convenient playing and sometimes more than one kit is on stage during a concert so two drummers can play an array of percussion instruments. In the 1980s drummers like Bill Bruford and Neil Peart were adding more pieces to their kits and began using electronic drums. Before the invention of electronic drums acoustic drum sets were simply known as drum sets or drum kits because they needed no qualifier to separate them from any other kind. After the introduction of electronic music in the new wave during the 1980s, the word ‘acoustic’ was added for historical discussion and for musicians who wished to stay away from the new electronic sound.

One advantage of an electronic drum set is that you can easily control the volume. This makes them ideal for musicians who must practice in their home. While there are acoustic drum sets for beginners designed with pads instead of drums, the sounds of the two are distinctly different.

The components of acoustic drum sets depend on factors like musical style, financial resources, personal preference, and transportation options for the drummer. (Unfortunately, if the gigging musician does not have a van to load drums into, he or she will be limited to a basic kit.) The term ‘hardware’ is often used by percussionists to refer to pieces like symbols, hi hat, bass drum pedals, tom-tom stands, and drummer thrones.

A musician makes noise on acoustic drum sets by striking pieces of the kit with a variety of implements held in the hand. These include brushes, sticks, and mallets. However, two pieces of the drum kit – the bass drum and hi hat cymbals – are operated by a foot pedal in addition to the normal striking motion.

Acoustic drum sets first came into being when drummers were encouraged to play as many instruments as possible because of budget and space constraints in theaters. Previously, drums and cymbals were played separately in an orchestral fashion. During World War I marching bands became more popular and drum kits were characterized by very large marching bass drums that had percussion items hung on and around it. Acoustic drum sets also became a central part of jazz music. In 1926 hi hat stands appeared.

In the 1930s Gene Krupa streamlined drum kits down to a basic four piece set standard. He utilized bass drum, tom tom, snare and floor tom. Krupa also used rim-mounted symbol holders. Jazz musician Max Roach also revolutionized the use of acoustic drum sets by taking a harmonic approach as well as a rhythmic approach to his accompaniment and solos. Musicians before Roach focused on using the drum kit to keep time; Roach used brushes and sticks and struck the percussive components in such a way that intricate melodies could be heard during his acoustic solos.

Acoustic drumming kits became more popular during the 1960s when Ringo Starr of the Beatles played on American television. Rock 'n roll then took in excessive approach to using drums with large drum sets filling the stage and some of the components becoming powered by electricity. In the 1990s and 2000s, drummers in indie music and popular music have stripped down their sound and gone back to using smaller drum kits.