The drum throne is probably the most underestimated part of the entire drum set. Obviously, you have to sit on something while playing the drums, but many drummers completely overlook the importance of having a drum throne (also called a drum stool) that is of proper quality.
There are three crucial factors for choosing a drum throne:
- First, it is important to choose a stool that has the right type of seat.
- Second, it is important that it is of good quality and that it is solid enough for you to use it for a long time.
- Last but not least, it is important that the height of the seat of the throne can be adjusted. Preferably, you want to be able to do this quickly and easily and it is particularly important that the throne can maintain your selected height and not “sink” down again.
Read more about drum thrones and see our test winners:
Top 5 Best Drum Thrones
As promised, I have selected a few drum thrones that I think are worth buying – some products where you get great value for money. I use one of them myself when I play.
Let’s take a closer look at those I recommend:
Overall winner: Best drum throne
Best drum throne for beginners
Best drum throne for intermediate and advanced players
Best drum throne for big guys
Best drum throne for back pain
Best drum throne with backrest
Drum throne buying guide
Drum Throne Seat
Drum thrones need to be comfortable if you wish to be able to sit and play/record for hours at a time. The best type of seat for you differs from person to person and it is, therefore, important that try some different options in order to be able to compare. There are generally 2 types of seats: namely, the saddle-shaped seat and the completely round seat. The round seat is the most common one and, if you buy a complete beginner drum set, there will always be a throne with a round seat. The saddle-shaped seat, or the ‘tractor seat’ as some call it, is often considered more comfortable, but thrones with this seat are, however, a bit more expensive.
It is up to the individual drummer to choose what kind of throne is the most suitable for them but, for the drummers who play with a double pedal, it is often advantageous to choose a throne with a tractor seat. The reason why this type of throne is so widely used by these drummers is that the shape of the seat provides better flexibility for the thighs, making it easier to play faster with the feet.
Height adjustment
All drum thrones must be adjustable in height. This is one of the most important factors when it comes to drum thrones and it is equally important that each drummer spends time finding out which height is ideal for him or her. By rule of thumb, it is a good idea to adjust the height of the throne, so that the angle between the drummer’s thighs and the legs is slightly over 90 degrees. If this angle is lower, the drummer needs to use the thighs more when playing. And this is not appropriate as it limits the drummer’s speed. On the other hand, if this angle is too high, the drummer will probably have difficulty getting enough power and energy in the strokes of the bass drum pedal.
The height of the drum throne is adjusted in various ways depending on the brand and model. Many cheaper drum thrones are adjusted by a metal screw that can be unscrewed and which can be inserted in one of several holes, depending on how high the seat is. Other drum thrones are adjusted by a screw, which is always found in the same place; where the part below the seat is divided into two and where the seat can be lowered and raised, gradually. With the latter solution, the screw tightens onto the part on which the seat is placed – this keeps the height constant. However, thrones with this type of height adjustment cannot hold as much weight as the part with the seat on it can begin to slide downwards, gradually.
The best solution and the one seen in virtually all professional, more expensive models is the solution where the height of the throne is adjusted by spinning the seat up or down using a specially designed spiral inside the bottom of the throne. This way, the height can be adjusted more accurately than other types of thrones and the adjustment is easier and faster. In addition to this, this type of throne can often hold a lot more. These are particularly suitable for drummers who play concerts, places where many drummers are sharing the same equipment all evening.
Extra equipment for drum thrones
Many drummers mount special containers/bags for their drumsticks onto their drum throne. These can be either a cylinder-shaped fabric container, a standard bag for drum sticks or a completely different solution. Using the drum throne in this way can be a good idea for many drummers, as losing a drumstick in the middle of a concert can happen to anybody and you’ll have to grab a new pair as quickly as possible.
Something that has become particularly popular over the last few years is that drummers get so-called ‘butt kickers’ installed on to their drum throne. A butt kicker is a device that is placed on to the underside of the drum seat and is connected to the PA system. When the drummer plays the bass/kick drum, it will emit vibrations to the seat that the drummer can feel. This may sound like a banality at first, but the increasing popularity and propagation of the butt kicker is due to the fact that many drummers have problems with not being able to hear the kick drum clearly in monitors. With the butt kicker, the drummer can now feel exactly when the beater on the bass drum pedal hits, and this makes it much easier to follow the pulse. The butt kicker is used especially in genres where the drummer plays fast on the bass drum. For example, rock and metal music genres.
Other factors when buying a drum throne
As previously mentioned, what type of drum stool the individual drummer prefers is entirely subjective but, in any case, it is important that you try out as many different types of drum throne as you can. When you have found the throne that you think is best for you, the next thing to do is to find the optimal height. The drummer’s legs should never angle below 90 degrees but, beyond that, there are no rules as such. Some drummers angle their legs just over 90 degrees, and some sit as high as the seat can get. It depends on the individual drummer’s style of play and the set of drums they are using. However, it is always a good idea to spend time finding out what works best for you. The drum thrones I have shown you are some of the best in the world and you will no doubt sit comfortably on them.
