Novel hardware is disclosed for supporting drums. The hardware is of a hinged construction and has one part of the hinge connectable to an external support, e.g., J-rods on a fixed support or a marching drum carrier, and another part of the hinge connectable to the shell of a drum or to the tension rods on a drum or to other hardware on the drum. The drum hardware and drum secured thereon is preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier having a plurality of separate parts removable from each other and formed of a rigid light metal such as magnesium, aluminum or titanium. Special padding is provided on the shoulder straps, belly plate portion and other parts where cushioning is needed. One embodiment is universally adjustable. Some of the vests or T-bar carriers have cymbal supporting hardware adjustable carried on a fluted, vertically oriented tube. Special hardware is shown for supporting cymbals.