Playing live music as a drummer usually requires a lot of gear – drums, hardware, cymbals, sticks, and more. That core equipment will usually be all you need to get through the gig. But as you may know, unforeseen problems can always arise at any live performance. So, along with your standard drum gear, bringing a few extra basic emergency supplies can really get you out of a jam.
Before we get to the list, remember that it’s always a good idea to bring a couple of spare parts that are specific to your own hardware. Bass drum pedal key screws, for example, can be easy to lose. This list won’t include those types of supplies because there are so many specific varieties. Instead, this list would be helpful to most drummers, no matter what gear they play with.
On with the list! These are the easy emergency drum supplies you may want to bring along to your live shows.
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Gaffer Tape
Gaffer Power Professional Gaffer Tape
Gaffer tape is to musicians what duct tape is to DYI homeowners. This tape has so many uses for musicians that it’s always a good idea to bring it along to all of your live shows. You never know when you’re going to need it, or even what you might need it for.
The beauty of gaffer tape is that it’s fairly strong (like duct tape), easy to tear to size (like duct tape), and easy to remove without leaving residue (unlike duct tape). If you’ve ever used duct tape, then tried to remove it, you probably know it can leave an adhesive mess behind. That’s especially true on carpet. Not so with quality gaffer tape. It holds well without the grime, so you can use it at a venue without messing up the stage or your gear.
The most common use of gaffer tape for musicians is taping down cables, but it’s also strong enough to tape down cymbal stands that have a tendency to slide or to tape down bass drum spurs that might not grip enough. It works as a subtle tone dampener for drumheads, which is particularly useful for bottom heads, where gels tend to fall off.
Gaffer tape can also be perfect for that super-quick fix. If a clip-on microphone is slipping off of a drum hoop, just tape it in place between songs. In the rare case that you break a head, some gaffer tape may be able to patch it up, allowing you to keep playing. The sound might not be great, but it’s better than ending a performance or trying to play your bass drum part on a floor tom. There have been drummers who have gotten a blister while playing, then got through the show by covering it up with a small piece of gaffer tape.
In any of those situations, having some of this tape is a great idea. Some venues will have gaffer tape around for live shows, but not all. It’s best to throw a roll into your hardware bag just in case.
Cymbal Stand Parts
A situation you want to avoid is setting up for a gig and realizing you’re missing parts to a cymbal stand. It could be cymbal felts, a cymbal sleeve, or a wing nut. All of those are easy to lose, especially on a dark or cluttered stage.
Missing a wing nut or cymbal felt may not be a big problem, depending on the style of music you play. If you play relatively quietly, you might not need wing nuts or top felts at all. That’s especially true for larger cymbals. However, for smaller cymbals and louder players, missing stand parts can be a bigger issue. A missing wing nut can cause a cymbal to fly off its stand. That’s a little embarrassing and can also crack or dent a cymbal quite easily. Bringing a couple of extra wing nuts along with you could actually save a cymbal.
Cymbals sleeves are also very important. Using a cymbal stand without a sleeve can create unwanted metal-on-metal sound, but worse, it can easily do damage. The stand’s threading will grind on the cymbal every time the cymbal sways, slowly elongating the center hole. It’s surprising how many drummers use cymbals stands without sleeves, since it’s so easy to fix.
If you’re using someone else’s drum kit at a show, but you’re bringing your own cymbals, you’ll want to have a spare sleeve or two along with you. The minimal cost and small size of the sleeves compared to the risk of damaging your cymbals makes it an easy choice. You can even go the extra mile and leave the parts on the stands when the night is done.
Zip Ties
Zip ties can be a lifesaver in one particular situation. Have you ever been at a gig and wondered what you would do if the chain on your bass drum pedal or hi-hat broke? Maybe it’s actually happened to you before. It’s a rare occurrence, but one that may be easy to prepare for. A few zip ties could help you get through the show with minimal downtime. Just use one or two ties as a short-term chain link.
Quality zip ties are surprisingly strong. They’re used in everything from construction to law enforcement. Even small zip ties that can fit through chain links can take a good amount of stress without breaking. Hopefully you would never need them, but the peace of mind of having them around is worth the small cost.
A more general non-emergency tip: zip ties are a great way to replace broken or missing zipper pull tabs. Some drum cases come with brittle pull tabs that can snap off, making opening and closing the case difficult. They’re often the first thing to break on a case. With a simple zip tie loop, you can replace that part in no time. In fact, the zip tie loop will probably last longer than the rest of the case.
Drum Multi-Tool
This one is pretty obvious. Drum multi-tool sets are designed for drummers needing a quick fix. Including drum keys, sockets, screwdrivers, hex wrenches, and more, these tools are always good to have on hand. Some even include a bottle opener, so even if your gear is perfectly fine, you can crack open a cold one with ease.
The sizes of the wrenches and sockets don’t fit every make and model of drum hardware, but they cover the most common sizes. Wouldn’t it be great if there were standard sizes in the industry? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Just check which tools are included and compare them to your own gear. The most common fixes drummers need to perform are tightening hex screws on pedals and hi-hat stands, fixing a spring assembly on a pedal, and tightening a snare drum’s strainer or butt plate. Problems with any of those can make a piece of gear unplayable. Phone, tablet, and music holders often have screws that need to be tightened, as well.
There are a few good multi-tools on the market, each with their own specific features. Our favorites are the Pearl Tech Tool, as shown above, and the Tama TMT9 Multi Tool. But again, the main consideration is getting features that apply to your specific gear.
Waterproof Tarp
It’s a tough lesson to learn – you’re playing an outdoor show, the weather is nice, the band is playing great, and then you see some dark clouds rolling in. Before you know it, a few drops fall, and then a downpour. You didn’t even have time to get your drums packed up and now they’re getting soaked. Even if the stage has an overhead cover, rain can still get in from the sides. This is a big inconvenience and can even damage your gear.
Getting a few raindrops on your drums might not be a big deal. In that case, you can probably just dry everything off with a towel and not worry about it. A lot of rain can be a bigger problem. Water can get into surprising places. Anywhere there’s a small gap, water will find its way in. It can get into hardware tubing, between drum hoops and heads, between the heads and shells, and even get inside your shells through vent holes or a bass drum port hole.
Much of that water won’t dry out on its own for quite some time. To avoid damage, rust, or mold, you’ll want to remove all of the heads, and carefully dry everything inside and out. You also may need to take stands apart to dry each section off.
All of this could be avoided by bringing a tarp along with you inside a bass drum case or to be kept in the trunk of your car, just in case bad weather moves in. If you play outdoor gigs, this purchase could save you a lot of time and possibly money. A tarp is something you may not use for years, but when the time comes, you’ll be very happy to have it.
The biggest thing to consider is size. You’ll want to make sure the tarp is big enough to cover your drums down to (and beyond) the ground on all sides. The Cartman version listed above is 12’x16′, which should cover most standard drum kits. A 10’x12′ should cover most smaller drum kits. The extra size that lays on the ground can be used to weigh down the tarp in windy conditions.
Wrap-Up
Those are our picks for easy emergency drum supplies. The good news is that none of these items cost very much. Maybe you own one or two of them already. They’re easy to carry along to a gig or to have stashed inside your car. Plus, they’re all super-simple to buy online. If you’re a gigging drummer, do yourself a favor and be prepared for the unexpected!
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
If you’re unsure of your drumming soundcheck routine, check out Introduction To Drum Soundchecks!