Definition of the word drum kit

The term "drum kit" originated in the jazz genre of music in the late 1930s. Prior to this time, drums were played separately as individual percussion instruments in bands and orchestras. However, as jazz musicians began to explore more complex rhythms and syncopated beats, they found it difficult to switch between different types of drums in mid-performance. To combat this problem, drummers began to assemble a set of drums and hardware that allowed them to quickly and easily transition between different rhythms and sounds. These sets, which originally consisted of a bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and a few toms, were initially called "traps" by jazz drummers, a term likely derived from the French word for trap, "trappe." As the popularity of jazz music grew, the use of drum sets, or "traps," became more common in other genres of music as well. By the 1950s, the term "drum kit" had become more widely used in reference to these sets, as they had begun to include more components and had become an integral part of many types of music. Today, the drum kit, which can vary in size and configuration depending on the musical style and preferences of the player, is a essential component of modern music ensembles.