7 Best Electronic Drum Sets For Beginners

Getting into electronic drum sets can be quite intimidating. In some ways, it's more intimidating than trying to find a good acoustic set. Today we are going to try and arm you with all the information you could need in order to get yourself a good electronic drum set.

We have chose some models which we feel are perfect for this occasion. After we go over our picks for the best electronic drum sets for beginners, we'll talk about what makes a good model and why some of these are among the best electronic drum kits out there.

Top 7 Best Electronic Drum Kit For Beginners

Image	Electronic Drum Set / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Roland TD-1K s Total of 4.60/5	Roland's flagship reduced to its very core components and fitted for masses.	Amazon
+ -	Yamaha DTX400K Compact Electronic Drum Set Total of 4.50/5	A light build from Yamaha which packs great hardware and awesome software.	Amazon
+ -	Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit Total of 4.48/5	A more traditional and more mechanical value set that's perfect for beginners.	Amazon
+ -	BEHRINGER Black and Grey XD8USB Total of 4.38/5	A very straightforward and robust piece of kit that offers numerous features.	Amazon
+ -	RockJam Mesh Head Kit Total of 4.22/5	A budget friendly solution that gets you a good amount of performance	Amazon
+ -	Carlsbro Electronic Drum Set Total of 4.12/5	A budget friendly portable right for those who practice at multiple locations	Amazon
+ -	Pyle Inch PED021M Total of 3.98/5	Designed for true budget users, this kit has a lot to offer.	Amazon

How To Find a Solid Beginner Electronic Drum Kit?

For a long time electronic drum kits were seen as something an experienced drummer might want to use at some point. It took quite some effort to bring electronic drum kits into the mainstream. These days, there are all kinds of models out there, including ones designed for beginners. Finding a good one is nowhere near as hard as it used to be, but it isn't quite simple either. There is a number of factors that come into play which you definitely need to consider when shopping for one.

One thing to keep in mind is that a good majority of these models are going to be from the affordable range. We are talking electronic drum kits under $500. For the most part. You could go for a more expensive model and we encourage you to do so, however that kind of decision is reserved for those who know they want to play drums long term.

For everyone else, it is much more efficient to go for one of the models you can see on our list above. At this point we need to figure out what makes a good beginner kit. To make this task a bit easier, lets divide all of the components into three distinct sections. We have the rack, pads and the module.

Rack – The Foundation Of The Entire System

The rack of an electronic drum set refers to the hardware which holds the entire rig together. This is what you use to mount your pads and cymbals. Much like the hardware on acoustic drums, you want your rack to be able to keep up with your playing style, be robust enough to withstand your intended frequency of use, and offer a decent amount of flexibility.

Beginner electronic drum kits might be a bit limited when it comes to racks as this component is often seen as a good opportunity for cost reduction. That doesn't necessarily mean that you will have to deal with bad materials or reliability issues. The limitations we are talking about will usually have a lot more to do with the flexibility of that specific rack.

One of the first things you will want to do when you receive your kit is to set it up. As any drummer knows, no two drummers will have the exact same setup. Each of our bodies is different in some way. One person may find your setup to be too close, too far away or just at the wrong height.

Being able to fine tune the way a drum kit sits in front of you is essential to achieving good technique, comfort and ultimately fatigue-free playing. With all that in mind, we highly recommend that you look for racks that offer plenty of adjustment.

Pads and Cymbals

The importance of pads and cymbals can't be emphasized enough when it comes to electronic drum kits. These components represent your interferemce with the module and can easily make or break the entire experience. When you are looking at beginner kits, you will run into limitations.

Some think that more affordable pads or cymbals won't work as good or be reliable enough. That's rarely ever the case. When you get a $1000 electronic drum kit, you aren't paying so much for a more reliable set of pads and cymbals. Instead, you are paying for a more complex system.

Your average beginner set will feature a simple set of pads which will either be made out of rubber or plastics depending o the model you go with. Same goes for cymbals. One of the main things a solid electronic drum pad should provide is proper feedback. In other words, you are looking for close emulation of an acoustic drum. That is something you will be missing with these affordable kits.

Does that mean that they won't get you started with learning good technique? Definitely not. It's just that you won't develop much of a feeling for the more subtle techniques. That is quite alright, though. Everyone has to start somewhere and a beginner kit is as good place as any.

Module

The module is the heart and the brain of the entire electronic drum kit. Every single pad leads into the module where your input is being transformed into a sound. A good drum module is one that is fast, reliable and packed with good samples. This is another area where affordable kits tend to differ a lot from their more expensive brethren.

One quick glance at our top list reveals that most of these kits run a very simple and straight forward module.

Some are equipped with more advanced features while others are generally oriented towards the core performance. Affordable modules are one component you can actually use to choose between different drum kits. Even the simple models tend to be different from one another, which makes them quite unique.

Truth be told, when you are just starting out, module specs may not be of much consequence. However, if you are planning on using that kit for a while or plan on upgrading, you might want to figure out exactly which features you need in your new setup.

The Recommended Electronic Drum Kit Configuration

The world of drumming is a very exciting one to say the least. Although most drum kits start the same way, they usually tend to morph into something unique for whomever is playing that specific kit. We have mentioned how just about every drummer has their preferred way of setting up the kit.

On a similar note, every drummer also has their own idea of which pads and cymbals should be present on their kit. You have absolute freedom to add pads and cymbals. However, there is a standardized bottom limit when it comes to this stuff. Especially when you are just getting started.

We strongly suggest that you pay attention to the number of pads and cymbals your kit features. Some brands can be a bit deceiving with their drum kits and take out an essential component.

An average kit should consist of four pads, two cymbals and a kick pad which simulates the kick drum. That is the bare minimum. Anything below that will leave you fairly restricted when it comes to learning proper technique. This is why we strongly suggest that you stay away from any such kits.

Covering The Accessories

As much as it is exciting to shop for your very first electronic drum kit, you should do your best to reduce the tunnel vision that can occur during this experience.

A good electronic drum kit won't do you much good unless you have all the right accessories at your disposal. In this context we are talking about a good throne, a good set of drum sticks and headphones.

Throne

Drum thrones are definitely a topic that deserves a lot of attention. However, find a good starter throne comes down to it being the right height, being stable and comfortable enough to keep the fatigue at bay.

That first criteria is the most important one bar none. If you don't get the sitting height right, you will find it very tedious to play for any extended period of time while you also run a risk of learning technique the wrong way.

Drum Sticks and Headphones

A good set of drum sticks goes a long way in the drumming world. You should probably start with 5A and work your way out from there.

These are the most neutral option out there and are a perfect starting point for a beginner. As long as you keep to a brand name manufacturer, you should be fine. Just remember to have more than one set because these break all the time.

Lastly, a good set of headphones is pretty much necessary for any serious drumming on an electronic kit. We suggest investing in a set that you find comfortable as fatigue prevention trumps sound quality by a long shot.

Drum samples are only so complex in this segment of the market. You really don't need an audiophile level set of cans to get the job done.

Getting a Beginner Kit Or Waiting To Invest In a Semi Pro Model?

This is one of the more frequently asked questions that is really hard to answer for a few reasons. There are definitely two schools of thought at work here. One states that you should start with something that is simple, affordable and lightweight.

The other says that you should get the absolute best your money can buy. Both are right in a way. Starting with a simple kit will allow you to get your foot in the door, get started with learning proper technique and getting familiar with drum kits in general.

On the other hand, if you get the best your money can buy, you will automatically be exposed to a much more flexible and capable system that will serve you well for years to come. Here's the thing, if the best you can get right now is a budget beginner model, so be it.

The important thing is to not over extend because you definitely don't need that pressure when you are starting out. Instead, get something you are comfortable with and begin learning in a healthy, encouraging environment.

How Good Are Modern Beginner Electronic Drum Kits?

Now that we know what you can realistically expect from budget kits these days, lets address one of the main issues that prevent people from looking into this segment of the market. There is widespread misconception that beginner kits simply aren't up to the task.

That they are providing mediocre, even fake sounding drums and that the whole thing is basically a waste of money. That isn't the case but this misconception is rooted in some reality.

Back when electronic drum kits were in their infancy, the technology was evolving at a very steady pace. That mean that an average electronic drum kit had nothing on an acoustic kit in the same price range.

In other words, the absolute most advanced electronic kits of the time were barely on the level of a mediocre acoustic model. Back then affordable drum kits weren't all that good. Especially if you wanted them to sound good. Fortunately for us, that is no longer the case.

Modern sound engines, samples, modules and pads have reached a point where you can get a decent performance at a reasonable price. Will any of these beginner kits get you award winning sound quality, stellar samples and layered sounds?

Probably not, but you will get something that is still very convincing and actually usable in a practical scenario. That alone should tell you whether or not beginner electronic drum kits are worth investing in.

Conclusion

Starting out with electronic drum kits is always exciting. You are entering a world of musical instruments which redefine the word convenient. These kits are the perfect tool to learn how to play drums in a hassle free environment with plenty of options and flexibility at your disposal.

We have done our best to find models which are befitting of being on this short list. Most of these are proven rigs that will get you your money's worth of performance and then some. Only thing you are left to do is find something that fits your needs and start.