Instead of classic wooden drums, digital (or electronic) drum kits produce sound via sensors and chips combined with drum pads and triggers, making them a lot quieter than acoustic kits, and more accessible for musicians living in thin-walled apartments. Other than that, electronic drum kits are almost the same as acoustic kits, meaning they include cymbals, snares, toms and kick drums.
How Do Electronic Drum Kits Work?
Electronic drum kits are equipped with pads and a drum module instead of wooden drums. Essentially the brains of any digital kit, the drum module often comes loaded with hundreds of preprogrammed sounds that can be triggered by striking the pads. The sound can then be sent to a drum amplifier, a pair of drumming headphones or a PA system.
What Kind of Electronic Drum Kit Should I Buy?
One important thing to look at are the type of pads the kit comes with, which can be rubber pads or mesh-heads. Rubber pads are cheaper and generally come with more affordable e-drum kits, and higher-priced kits often feature mesh-heads, which get much closer to the feel of acoustic drums. Of course, as the price goes up, so does the playing feel and the quality of the sounds built into the drum module. What's also important to look at is the configuration - in other words: the kind of drums that come included. While a standard acoustic drum kit set-up consists of a hi-hat, a ride, a crash, a snare, a kick drum, two toms and floor tom, not every digital drum kit includes the whole nine yards. If you're not sure what you need, check out our Electronic Drum Kit Buyer's Guide or get in touch with one of our experts.
What Kind of Sound Do Electronic Drum Kits Make?
Most electronic drum kits feature hundreds of different built-in sounds called samples. Besides samples of acoustic drums, digital kits may come loaded with hip-hop, R&B and EDM-style samples that can be set to trigger when one of the drums is played. If you've got a pair of headphones plugged in, the only noise that anyone else around you hears will think you're hitting cardboard boxes. While an electric kit is never going to be completely silent, it's always going to be significantly quieter than an acoustic drum kit.
What Accessories Do I Need to Play a Digital Drum Kit?
In general, you'll need to pick up a few accessories on the side before you can get started, like a drum throne, a set of drumming sticks, and a pair of drumming headphones or a drum amplifier. Most drum modules lack a built-in speaker, which is why you'll need an amp or a pair of headphones to be able to hear any sound, while a drum throne is important because it supports healthy playing posture. And if you feel like it may come in handy, you can always grab one or two drum books to learn to read drum notation or level up your skills.
How Much Space Do Electronic Drum Kits Take Up?
One of the biggest advantages of electronic drum kits is that they're lighter and smaller than acoustic kits. More compact models even fit inside a one-by-one-by-one-metre area, while the biggest digital drum kits take up at least the same amount of space as any fully-fledged acoustic kit.
Which Electronic Drum Kit Brands Can I Choose From?
Yamaha, Roland and Alesis are some of the most famous names in the world of digital drums, but our broad range also includes brands such as Fazley, Behringer and Medeli who're focussed on affordable, good-quality kits for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Drum Kits
What's the best electronic drum kit for beginners?
It's a good idea to get a 5-piece set - preferably one that includes three cymbals (hi-hat, crash and ride) so you can play almost everything. Fazley, Roland, Yamaha and Alesis all serve up solid drum kits, offering everything you could possibly need.
How much does an electronic drum kit cost?
The price ranges from a couple of hundred quid for a fully-fledged entry-level model to several thousands of pounds for a professional kit.
Which digital drum kit should I get?
To find the best drum kit for you, it's important to think about the type of pads and drum configuration you want. Rubber pads are cheaper but offer a less realistic playing feel than more expensive mesh heads. Ideally, the configuration consists of two cymbals, a hi-hat, a snare, two toms, a floor tom, and a bass drum.
How are electronic drum kits hooked up?
Just like other electronic devices, electronic drum kits are hooked up to mains power, after which it's simply a matter of plugging a pair of headphones into the drum module.
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