Welcome!

Setting up your drum set for the first time often leads to questions like, "Am I setting them up correctly?" or "Am I tuning them correctly?" This on-line assembly manual will answer these questions and more. We'll show you step-by-step how to set up a Pearl ELX Export Select 5 piece set; however the principles apply to all sets regardless of brand.

Drums are easy to start but very difficult to master so don't get discouraged. Find a teacher, practice and you'll get years of enjoyment from them.

One other thing—drums and music are about having fun. That's what your set is all about! Enjoy…
 

The Drums in This Set

A typical drum set consists of five drums: 14" snare drum, 22" bass drum, 16" floor tom, and 12" and 13" rack toms (also called rack toms or toms).

Pearl uses the traditional method of describing drum sizes: depth followed by diameter. Thus, a 10"x12" tom is 10" deep and 12" in diameter; a 6 1/2"x14" snare drum is 6 1/2" deep and 14" in diameter; and so on. Some companies, however, prefer to reverse these dimensions.



Before We Start

The bass drum and floor tom need to be assembled. Locate the drum key and the parts needed: shells, heads, rims and hoops, tension rods, and claws. Choose a clean, open area to do the assembly and you're ready to go!