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In the fall of 1964, Karen was "developing a strong interest in rhythm." While back in New Haven, her drumming fingers went unnoticed by her family. At the age of 14, Karen joined the school band with the help of Richard. She took up the glockenspiel. It didn't take long for her to take interest in the drums. Once she picked up the sticks, she just knew that was what she wanted. She asked her parents to buy her a set of drums. Karen practiced hours and hours learning all the beats. Playing the drums came so natural to her. As her brother would say, "Boy, could she play'em!"

By 1966, The Richard Carpenter Trio were playing for weddings and dances while polishing up their sound. All the while, Karen still considered herself a drummer who sings. She felt this way throughout her life. Wes Jacobs, double bass and tuba player for the RC Trio, said, "Karen could sing and play drums at the same time, quite remarkably."

On June 24, 1966, the Trio won "The Battle of the Bands" playing an instrumental Richard composed called Iced Tea. Named after Karen and Richard's favorite drink.

Later, Karen was asked to get from behind the drums so people could see her. She was 5'4" and could barely be seen over the drum set. So, she would front the group for the ballads as Richard suggested.

Richard's answer to what Karen played found on his official site:

"Karen immediately liked Ludwig drums. One person she looked up to was Jim Squeglia, a high school pal in New Haven who owned a set of Ludwigs. At the time Ludwig, Rogers and Slingerland were arguably the best, with a couple of people Karen looked up to playing Ludwigs; Joe Morello who played with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Ringo Starr, who played with some group who's name I can't quite remember. She was 14 years old, telling my folks she wants to play drums, and we weren't "in the chips" and were already paying on the Baldwin. Nevertheless, they bought her an entry-level Ludwig set. She proved immediately that she could play. What she really wanted was the big set in silver sparkle (Karen's original silver sparkle Ludwig set is on display at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center). It was the full size, two top toms, with dual floor toms. She liked, of course, Zildjian cymbals. She also liked the Rogers "high hat", and a Rogers kick-drum pedal; that's what she always used. The snare she really wanted, but we couldn't afford, was the "Supersensitive" top-of-the-line, Ludwig with adjustable snares, all chrome. We started with getting the next-to-ultimate, L 400, and she had that a little while, but soon we all broke down and got her the Supersensitive. Then of course, as soon as we hit it big it was like a dream come true in a number of ways. Wurlitzer was sending me every new model of electric piano for free, and coming out to California from Illinois bringing the fellow who actually invented the electric piano, Cliff Anderson, who would do special modifications. Ludwig was sending Karen every drum set she wanted. It was really something. So that's what we played!"

Karen's Drum set Now!

These are displayed at
The Carpenter's Performing Arts Center...

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