Drums are complicated instruments that take years to master and gain proficiency. If you plan to start playing the drums or want an upgrade from your previous ones, it’s time to start looking for the trendiest sets on the market. Electric drums are a hot commodity among emerging musicians because they can help you practice with precision and add unique sounds. After hours of research, we have gathered a list of the best electric drum sets in 2021 to boost your performance and help you improve your skills as a musician.
Simply having an instrument is not enough. You’ll want to find the right set of electric drums for your performance and creativity.
What Are the Best Electric Drum Sets?
Best Overall: Alesis Electric Drum Set
Alesis has released a fantastic electric drum kit intended for next-generation mesh performance. The drum heads provide an authentic, dynamic, and engaging drumming experience, allowing you to add flair and creativity to your practice. It includes ready-to-play classics and current kits with tracks and melodies, letting you assess your skill level as you play.
Additionally, it emphasizes significant teaching aspects that are perfect for beginners while assisting expert drummers in evaluating and improving their presentation abilities.
Key Features
- Measures 24" x 38" x 43" with a 13.4 kilogram weight
- Consists of an 8" dual-zone snare pad, three 8" tom pads, and three 10" cymbals
- 60 built-in play-along tracks, sequencer, metronome, aux input, and performance recorder
- The complete kit contains a four-post aluminum rack, connection cables, drum sticks, drum key, and power supply
Runner Up: Paxcess Electric Drum Set
Add a touch of innovation in your music room with the Paxcess Pad MIDI Drum Kit. It is a portable and professional setting with all the features to play quality music, so you have a worthwhile experience. Featuring a rechargeable battery, it offers up to 10 hours of playtime, ensuring no distractions.
It also has an earphone jack which allows you to play without disturbing people around you. Furthermore, you get a built-in speaker that ensures that every sound you produce hits the right notes.
Key Features
- Includes one snare, three toms, one crash, one ride, one hi-hat, and two foot pedals
- Built-in 2400mAh for up to 10-hour playing time
- Sound can be adjusted up to 10 levels
- 3.5mm headphone jack and USB MIDI jack for computer connection
- Five timbres, eight demo songs, and three rhythms for practice
Honorable Mention: Donner Electric Drum Set
The Donner DED-300 electric drum set is ideal for beginners and experienced drummers with DSP technology and record storage. It has an upgraded all-mesh drum pad which ensures constant tension adjustment of the drum pad to have a complete drumming experience.
Additionally, this drum set has a stable body that allows you to efficiently take it from one place to another.
Key Features
- Built-in 25 classic preset kits and 329 sounds which cover all music styles
- Eight-layer full mesh drum pad
- Stable steel body which is foldable and easy to move
- Can be linked with DAW software through USB MIDI or audio output interference
Contender: Roland Electric Drum Set
The Roland Electric Drum Set highlights natural drum sounds from the flagship engine so you can learn and improve your skills. With an expressive foot control and added pedal technique, you can gain more control over the instrument, which allows you to add more precision and style to the routine.
Furthermore, this drum set can be customized to match your preferred drum sound, ensuring compatibility with different genres. It helps you time each beat so you can improve your overall skill set. Besides this, the kit comes with three pairs of sticks and a polishing cloth which allows you to keep your collection up to date.
Key Features
- Measures 33" x 17" x 31"
- Has a TD-50 sound engine and KD-10 kick pad
- Features three drumsticks and a polishing cloth
- Comes with Melodics for V-Drums software, which is compatible with PC and Mac
Also Consider: Orasant Electric Drum Set
This Orasant electric drum set is a perfect choice for those looking for a Christmas gift. It is a portable and professional set that can be used for different genres. Featuring a built-in speaker and headphone jack, they have a deep bass that highlights your music’s strength.
This drum set has a sound jack that allows you to connect the device to any speakers and headphones, ensuring control over sound when needed. Moreover, the 10-hour battery time enables you to play music without any interruptions, so you can follow your passion without any distractions.
Key Features
- Comes with one snare, three toms, one crash, one ride, one hi-hat, 2-foot pedals, two drum sticks, five timbres
- Kit contains eight demo songs and three rhythms for practice
- Headphone and a speaker jack for controlled sound
- 2,400mAh, long-lasting battery
- Standard USB MIDI-out jack for connection with other devices
Best Electric Drum Sets Buying Guide
We’ve compiled a comprehensive buying guide to help you buy a superior and long-lasting product.
What to Consider When Buying the Best Electric Drum Sets?
Components of the Kit
One of the most important things is knowing the different components that come with any given kit. Some buyers only sell a drum set with no added components, not even a stool. On the other hand, you can find complete kits with gadgets like headphones, extra drum sticks, chairs, and even fabric to polish the equipment.
Although every component is available separately, you may go overboard with the expenses. Therefore, buying a complete kit is ideal as it offers better value for money.
Fit
Before you go on to buy the best kit in the market, stop and think for a second whether it is a convenient fit for your home or not. Check the item dimensions and weight before purchasing your drum set, along with the dimensions of the room. The size of your drum set doesn’t matter, but it has to be of optimal performance that meets your overall music requirements.
Sound
Being a drummer doesn’t mean that you will be allowed to blast music from your home all the time. This is why checking the sound quality of your drum set along with attachments is essential. Most e-drums come with a headphone/speaker jack with volume adjustment, so you can adapt to any situation, like at home or at parties.
Pads
There are no right or wrong pads. The pads you pick must suit your overall needs. Most people like hard pads with a super thin layer of covering to produce high-bass sound. On the other hand, some people like a softer layering for more controlled sound. Rubber pads give a more practice vibe but have better timing, response, and sound quality than acoustic ones.
Customization
One of the best features of an e-drum kit is its customization capabilities. Most e-drums can add melodies, rhythms, pre-recorded sessions, and practice music for your convenience. E-drums also have features to store and record sessions for future reference.
What Makes Electric Drum Sets a Better Option?
While keyboard players and guitarists are often praised and hyped for their skill, it is time that e-drummers recognize their true potential along with the following benefits.
Versatility
Playing the right sounds that hit all the notes is mandatory for a worthwhile musical instrument. Being a drummer means that you need to cover different genres and styles of music that make you a versatile musician. It might sound surprising, but most drummers have a lot of talent and a diverse portfolio of experience with different music genres.
Better Live Music
Whether you are playing an unpaid gig in the bar next door or going for a mega concert in the country, an electric drum can solve multiple problems associated with live shows. You can adjust different sounds according to the requirements of the external environment and get a clear, non-interrupted quality every time.
Recording
One of the best facilities you get with an electric drum set is that they allow you to record the sound for future notes and reference. This feature gives you the ability to record, listen and edit every recording according to your liking. Additionally, it is an excellent practice feature that allows people to practice and learn from their mistakes.
Portability
An electronic kit beats everything when it comes to portability. Whether you are on the road with your friends or you want to practice in your apartment, nothing beats the portability of an electric drum set that can be transported from one place to another. These sets come with a soft case compatible with all sizes and types of e-drums, making them portable and space-saving instruments to carry around.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about storing them because an electric drum can be deconstructed and stored in a cupboard.
What Are the Different Types of Electric Drum Sets?
When looking for an electric drum set, you need to opt for a piece that suits your specific requirements.
Roll Up Electric Drums
These might not be considered authentic musical instruments, but they definitely pack a punch when it comes to rolling beats out. Preferred mainly by children and novice drummers, they can be a good option if you’re at the start of your musical journey. However, the sound quality of these drums is just mediocre, and most models come with short cables, which can disrupt your session.
Tabletop Electric Drum Sets
A tabletop electric drum set is a cross between practice pads and a real e-drum. They are ideal for drummers who want to practice their timing and speed. These sets come with built-in songs and already installed melodies to help you improve your skills. Moreover, the output from this drum set can be sent to DAWs, and you can listen to yourself because of its recording features. Other than this, the quality of sound and foot pedals are pretty average, which makes it unsuitable for professional use.
Percussion Pads Electric Drum Sets
Percussion pads are an ideal choice for people who want to extend their e-drum set and add an acoustic member to your kit. Befitting for live performances, they can layer and add a modified sound to your system. Although they have a high-quality sound with MIDI triggering, a percussion pad might not be a top choice for people for beginners.
Why Should You Consider Investing in a Full Electric Drum Kit?
Most people, especially beginners, opt for drum kits because of their improved and upgraded quality. Drum kits are suitable for all kinds of things, whether you want to practice at home or record a session with your group. Additionally, kits come with various features that can be customized according to your current skill set.
You can also interface a drum kit with equipment like percussion pads and DAWs. However, the cost of buying a drum kit can be pretty high in comparison and can be heavier than separate drums.
Electric Drum Set FAQ
Q: What is the material used for electric drum sets?
A: The pads of drums are made from rubber or silicone, while the exterior is often steel.
Q: Is it possible to use brushes on an electric drum set?
A: Yes, you can use brushes on an electric drum set, but you need to ensure that the brushes are made of nylon instead of wires.
Q: Can you play an electric drum set during a concert?
A: An electric drum set can be played at a concert, but you need to hear what you are playing. Most professionals prefer carrying an amplifier to attach with their kit.