There was a common belief in the music world that we would have a boatload of more great drummers around if only the people who wanted to play actually could; they chose a quieter instrument that didn't bother the household instead. Luckily, bashing around on the pots and pans has become much easier thanks to the invention of electric drum kits, which allow you to play in near silence using headphones.
But even for the most experienced drummers, finding the right set can be tough. To help out, we’ve created a straightforward buying guide that focuses on vital considerations. We’ll then reveal the ten best kits on Amazon and Gear4Music, including cheap beginner sets under £500 like the Alesis Nitro Mesh as well as investment kits for budgets under £1000 from Yamaha and Pearl.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
Image | 1 ![]() Alesis | 2 ![]() Roland | 3 ![]() Alesis | 4 ![]() Roland | 5 ![]() WHD | 6 ![]() Yamaha | 7 ![]() Roland | 8 ![]() Gear4music | 9 ![]() Yamaha | 10 ![]() Pearl |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Surge Mesh Bundle | V-Drums Kit | Nitro Mesh Electronic Drum Kit | V-Drums Double Kick Bundle | 650-DX Electronic Drum Kit & 60 W Amp | Electronic Drum Kit | V-Drums Electronic Drum Kit | Digital Drums 480x | Electronic Drum Kit | e/MERGE Hybrid Electric Drum Kit |
Features | A Fantastic Piece of Equipment That Has Something for Every Drummer | An Endless Sea of Drum Sounds | A World Renowned Kit That Offers Great Value for Money | An Entry-Level Kit That You Won't Grow Out of Anytime Soon | Have the Option of Playing Loud(ish) | Get a Nudge in the Right Direction With Voice Guidance | Become a Better Drummer, Faster | A Great Kit for Beginners or Those Wanting a Little More Practice | Perfect for the Entry-Level Drummer | Get a Truly Authentic Feel With This Hybrid Kit |
Price | £539.00 | £2,749.00 | £323.00 | £679.00 | £729.99 | £495.00 | £1,759.00 | £699.99 | £379.00 | £4,299.00 |
Pads | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Rubber | Mesh |
Module Sounds and Kits | 385 sounds, 40 kits | Endless | 350 sounds, 45 kits | Unknown sounds, 15 kits | 580 sounds, 40 kits | 287 sounds, 10 kits | Unknown sounds, 50 kits | 470 sounds, 30 kits | 287 sounds, 10 kits | 700 sounds, 35 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate | Professional | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate | Professional | Basic/intermediate | Basic | Professional |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI, SD | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI | Aux, headphones, USB | Aux, headphones, MIDI | Aux, headphones, USB, Aux, headphones, USB | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI, SD, Bluetooth | Aux, headphone, MIDI | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, headphones | Sticks, stool, stands, headphones | Sticks | Sticks, stool, headphones | Sticks, stool, headphones, amp | Sticks, stool, headphones | Sticks, stands, stools, headphones | - | Headphones, stool, sticks | Stands, pedal, headphones, drumsticks, stool |
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The first factor to consider is the drum heads, or pads. These are the part that you’re going to be hitting so it’s important that they feel as close as they can to an acoustic kit, otherwise, there could be some disorientation come showtime.
The first electric kits tended to use plastic, but players found this gave them an unnatural rebound. Consequently, companies then began to use rubber, which can still be found now and then on beginner kits.
The big breakthrough came when mesh heads were introduced, as these can be tightened or loosened with a drum key, allowing the player to customise the rebound just like a real kit. Though initially only on top-end models, mesh is now a pretty standard material across the board and certainly the way we would advise you to go if you have the option.
The module is essentially the electronic drum kit's computer, so it’s where all the electronic action takes place. Depending on what you need from your kit, you should look out for specific features in your chosen module.
Fortunately, nowadays we are no longer limited to synthesized digital drum sounds thanks to the progress of computer advancements. Instead, they’re now rich libraries full of pre-recorded drum kits and, generally, hundreds of different drum sounds that can sometimes even be customised.
Of course, cheaper beginner kits tend to have fewer sounds and more expensive kits will have the most, but there will still be so much to choose from that even the entry-level kits will have enough to keep most players amused for years. If there's something specific you're after, you might want to check to see what's included.
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The triggers are the piece of electronics in an electric drum kit that pick up the blow between stick and pad, so it is these that are going to allow for nuance and subtle distinction in your playing. After all, the way you hit the drums is just as important as when you hit them.
Companies don’t usually tell you how many triggers are in each pad; thus, it can make it hard to distinguish how much distinction each kit will have. Luckily, there are ways to get an idea, and this can be looking for keywords such as ‘choking’ the symbols or providing a ‘rim’ trigger that determines the limitations of the drum set.
Now we don’t expect you to trawl through the information finding these keywords. In each product's table, we will indicate whether the triggers are basic, intermediate or professional. We would recommend intermediate for anyone other than absolute beginners. Happily, the cost jump between the two isn’t too significant.
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It has to be said that very few people pick up the drums to play them on their own. Drums are the backbone of any band, so the best way to practice is to play along with other musicians or other music. This leads us to the inputs and outputs of the electronic drum kit.
These are the inputs we feel are the most important. Firstly, you’ll want an aux input, as this will allow you to play along with your own tracks instead of just those on the module. Secondly, a headphones input. This feature will allow you to hear whatever track you’re playing along to, as well as the drums that you’re playing – all without the neighbours hearing a thing.
And finally, for those looking to take their playing a little more seriously, either a USB or MIDI connection. This will allow you to link up with DAW’s (digital audio workstations) and record your drums straight into the computer, which is perfect if you're planning on taking your hobby further and producing some demos.
Branch out your sound with our Best Acoustic Guitars for Beginners!
Finally, you’ll want to check whether the kit comes with all the trimmings, so that when it arrives all you’re left to do is set up, plug in and jam out. This will be ideal if you're just starting out, but might not be wholly necessary if you've already got all the accessories lying around.
The most useful accessories depend on what you already do or don't have. The essentials are a stool (sometimes called a throne), sticks and headphones, as these are going to be necessary for you to play. Amps are also useful, particularly if you have dreams of playing the kit elsewhere at band practice or small venues.
And finally, suss out whether the kit comes with stands. This is not too common as usually all the pads are attached to a frame. That said, now and then you’ll come across a kit where the hi-hats or snare require a stand, so it’s worth looking for a kit that comes with them otherwise you’ll be forced to shell out separately.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£539.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 385 sounds, 40 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, headphones |
TD-27KV
£2,749.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | Endless |
Triggers | Professional |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI, SD |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, stands, headphones |
£323.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 350 sounds, 45 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI |
Accessories | Sticks |
TD-1DMK
£679.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | Unknown sounds, 15 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, headphones |
£729.99
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 580 sounds, 40 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, MIDI |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, headphones, amp |
DTX452X
£495.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 287 sounds, 10 kits |
Triggers | Intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, Aux, headphones, USB |
Accessories | Sticks, stool, headphones |
TD-17KVX
£1,759.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | Unknown sounds, 50 kits |
Triggers | Professional |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI, SD, Bluetooth |
Accessories | Sticks, stands, stools, headphones |
£699.99
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 470 sounds, 30 kits |
Triggers | Basic/intermediate |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphone, MIDI |
Accessories | - |
DTX420K
£379.00
Pads | Rubber |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 287 sounds, 10 kits |
Triggers | Basic |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI |
Accessories | Headphones, stool, sticks |
£4,299.00
Pads | Mesh |
---|---|
Module Sounds and Kits | 700 sounds, 35 kits |
Triggers | Professional |
Inputs/Outputs | Aux, headphones, USB, MIDI |
Accessories | Stands, pedal, headphones, drumsticks, stool |
Whether you want to make a one-person GarageBand record or just have some fun jamming with a few mates, you're going to need to know how to set up your gear! For a simple step-by-step guide, take a look at this instructional video:
Written and researched by Lewis Clark
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