Whether you have just started lessons at our Manchester studio or you’ve been drumming for years, plenty of drummers have questions about how to get in practice at home without upsetting the neighbours. Electronic kits are a great choice as they can be played through headphones or a small amplifier, making a low-volume alternative for practicing outside of your lessons.
In our first blog on practicing at home we looked at ways to reduce the volume of an acoustic drum kit, if you have an acoustic kit you can read that blog post here for some ideas. In this post we’re going to look at how we can choose an electronic kit to practice at home so you can see if this solution is best for you.
First things first, it’s important to set a budget. Electronic kits can cover a range of pricing, with some of the lower cost beginner sets starting from around £200, all the way to top-end pro kits costing thousands of pounds! Beginner kits have plenty of features built in, so it’s worth thinking about how much you are happy to spend before window shopping for your dream kit.
Which brands make electronic kits?
There are 3 major brands which sell electronic drum kits, these are:
Roland
Yamaha
Alesis
However, there are also several smaller brands which sell kits, such as:
Millenium
TourTech
Carlsbro
Now you know some of the brands to look out for, let’s chat about the drums…
Rubber pads or mesh pads?
Electronic kits generally have either rubber pads or mesh pads. Kits with rubber pads are usually lower-cost, so make a great practice solution without breaking the bank. It’s worth noting that rubber pads are a bit noisier than mesh pads but they’ll still be much, much quieter than acoustic drums!
On the other hands, electronic kits with mesh pads are quieter and usually feel more like playing an acoustic drum kit.
Both types of pads can be great practice solutions and it’s likely your budget level will determine which surface type is going to work best for your next drum kit.
What accessories will I need?
As well as the kit itself, you may need some accessories to get the full experience. Check that you have:
Drum throne - we definitely need something to sit on when we’re at the kit!
Headphones or Amplifier - you’ll need something to hear the kit through, this could be an amplifier, or a pair of headphones if you don’t want your drumming to disturb anyone else in the home.
Bass drum pedal - most kits will need a bass drum pedal, always check whether yours will need one so you don’t end up missing an essential component.
Drum sticks - if you’ve been having drum tuition for a while you might already own a pair of sticks, but don’t forget to pick some up if you don’t have your own yet!
Top tip: Some kits come in a package with all the accessories you need to get started, so don’t be afraid to shop around! If you need any help looking for a kit package get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help you find your new kit.
Which electronic kit should I buy?
This is the million dollar question! There are so many options on the market that the answer is going to be different for every single student. The golden rule is to set your budget and then you can spend some time looking at options within your budget range. We know it can be difficult looking at so many drum kit options in the shops, if you need any help or recommendations on affordable kits get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.
Hopefully this article gives you some ideas of what to look for if you’d like to buy an electronic drum kit for quieter practice at home. If you have any questions about specific drum kits, do get in touch with us and we can help find the best solution for you.
If you’re looking to start your drumming journey or want to give our lessons a try, contact us at contact@thegroovehub.co.uk to find out more about our tuition!