Beginner's Gear Guides: Electronic Drums

Electronic drum sets are designed to mimic the sound, feel and setup of their acoustic counterparts, offering as realistic a drumming experience as possible. Well-known as fantastic practice tools, electronic kits are often overlooked for their use in live settings. Showing up to a gig with a complete electronic drum set is like showing up with a stadium-filling rock kit, a jazz combo set, a hand percussion rig and more, all in one package.

One-piece electronic drums are ideal learning tools because of their low cost and space-saving designs. They're also great for drummers and percussionists who want to add an electronic element to their acoustic setup or have an alternative for gigs that can't accommodate a full kit.

Most electronic drum sets don't have built-in speakers because they couldn't hope to compete with other instruments in a band setting. If you plan on playing your kit with other musicians, you'll want a drum amplifier (or a powered PA speaker or two) to make sure you're heard. If you don't plan on having the kit leave your practice space or bedroom, invest in a solid pair of headphones.