The drum throne (otherwise known as a drum stool) is an essential part of any and every drum kit. The throne doesn't just provide drummers with a place to sit, but offers comfort during those long playing sessions and place you in the optimum drumming position, preventing injury in the long-run. At Bax Music, you'll find an array of different drum thrones made by big names including Pearl, Mapex, Dixon, Gibraltar, Tama, Roland, Stagg and Ludwig.
Not Just Any Stool
Drummers can't just sit on any normal stool or chair to play the drums. They need a purpose designed 'throne' or stool that can be set at the optimum height and in the optimum position so the drummer can comfortably reach every bit of their kit. The optimum height also supports a better playing posture, because if you're stool is even just a little bit too high or too low, it can have a negative effect on your technique, and over time, you run the risk of developing injuries. You can find more tips in our Drum Throne Buyer's Guide.
Picking Out Your Drum Throne: Saddle or Round Seat?
Drum thrones can have one of two different seats: a saddle seat or a round seat, which can be made of various different materials and have different kinds of padding. Some drummers prefer round seats because it gives their legs freedom to move left and right at will, while other drummers prefer a saddle seat because it can be more comfortable and offers extra support. Saddle seats are inspired by the seats of classic motorbikes, so it has indents for the underside of your thighs. There are also drum thrones (which can have either a round or saddle seat) that feature a hole in the middle of the seat which is designed to help with certain back problems.
Drum Thrones with a Backrest
Some drum thrones even come fitted with a backrest. Whether or not a throne with a backrest will be good for your back and offer more comfort depends on your drumming posture and position. Basically, it's a question of trying it out and seeing if it works for you. There are some drum thrones that come with the option of fitting a backrest later.
The Support: Spindle, Pneumatic, Hydraulic or Step-Adjustment
The central support of any drum throne will have two really important features: the level of stability it offers and the height-adjustment system it's fitted with. Double-braced legs are the most stable you can get, but they're also more expensive. And as for the height-adjustment system, it can range from the very simple to the complex. Via the spindle system, the height is simply adjusted by rotating the seat left or right to screw it up or down. A pneumatic or hydraulic height-adjustment system works in much the same way as an office chair: pull the lever to push the seat down or pull it up. Then there's the telescopic system, where a small pipe is pushed into or pulled out of a wider pipe, and once you've reached the ideal height, is locked in place with a bolt - a lot like a cymbal stand. Then there are step-adjustment systems, which can only be set at fixed increments before being secured in place with a bolt-and-hole system.
See our more general range of Musician's Chairs, Benches and Stools.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drum Thrones
What's best? A round seat or a saddle seat?
This is a really personal choice since the answer will be different depending on the drummer you ask. Round seats tend to give you more playing freedom, while a saddle seat is often more ergonomic. But neither of these things will always be the case.
Can you also get drum thrones for children?
While you can get specially made extra-low drum thrones for children, you can just as easily adjust the average drum throne so that it's low enough for a child.
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