Are Electronic Drum Kits Good for Children?

Electronic drum sets have come a long way, and it is not uncommon now to see pro-drummers have at least one pad as part of their hybrid stage setup. This is for good reason, as drummers love to experiment with sound and electronic drum pads are infinitely customisable.

For the serious drummer, the feel and dynamic range of an acoustic drum kit is still unmatched. Our son very quickly progressed beyond what was possible with his electronic kit (from a technique standpoint), and really needed to move onto a mid range acoustic. Due to the rapid devaluing of his electronic kit, instead of trading in we actually decided to keep both - and now he has a hybrid setup.

When we bought our first electric kit for John, only two companies really existed, Yamaha and Roland. This was likely due to high development, manufacturing and distribution costs, and at that time it was more expensive to go electronic, than to buy an entry level acoustic kit. Like many of you reading this post though, we lived in a small town house, surrounded by neighbors who were less musically open minded. So we had really no choice.

ELECTRONIC DRUM SETS: The Pros

Volume Control

Without a doubt, volume is the main concern for most parents with aspiring drummers. Acoustic drums are loud, and if I had a choice between an electronic kit, or an acoustic that has been muffled with pads, I’d choose the electronic drums every time. So if you are in an environment that is not suitable to loud bangs and crashes, then electronic drums might be the best way to go. I’d recommend getting a good pair of headphones as this will greatly increase your available practice hours. Note though, that electronic drums are NOT silent. With thin enough walls, the tap tap on hard plastic can travel too.

It’s easy to add-in music and play along!

One of the greatest feelings for a young drummer, is the ability to play along to their favorite music. It is just like a real version of Rock Band! And an incredible amount of fun. This can be enough to keep young learners motivated through the more challenging/boring times in their learning journey.

While this is possible to do with acoustic drums, to get the balance right requires a mixer, a lot of microphones, and a really good set of headphones. We will write a post on how to do this soon, but this functionality comes out of the box with almost every electronic drum set. Simply plug in your phone, press play on Spotify, and you’re drumming.

On-board metronome

Now for young learners new to drumming, I am not the biggest fan of metronomes. However, for a child who has been playing for a year or two, practicing with a metronome (or click track), is an important skill to learn. Again, due to volume, it's very difficult to play along with a metronome on an acoustic drum set unless you are set up properly.

Multiple drum sounds

Depending on the model of electronic drum set that you choose, your child may have a number of different pre-set drum kits. In the DTX range that my son uses, there are literally hundreds of sounds, and all are customisable. This can be overwhelming at first, but your child will soon learn how to toggle between sounds, and find their favorites. For older kids, and teenagers, you might also like to plug your electronic drums into your computer. Here you can record, customise sounds, or lay down electronic tracks using a Midi interface. Again this is all doable with an acoustic kit, but requires a significant investment.

Space saving?

Now I was torn about adding this next point. While it is true that some electronic drum sets are smaller than their acoustic equivalents, we didn’t personally find them easy to put away, or any more space saving. In fact, the complex cabling and need to be close to a powerpoint, almost always meant that we left the kit up in a more awkward location than what we now have with the acoustic kit.

That being said, electronic drum heads and cymbals are typically undersized and mounted on a collapsible rack system so there is a certain degree of space saved when comparing directly with a full sized acoustic drum set. Acoustic drums have MANY components, stands, and adjustments. You don’t want to move them often, unless you really know what you are doing. This becomes even more complicated when you add microphones and the respective cabling.

ELECTRONIC DRUM SETS: The Cons

Feel

No matter how good electronic drums have become, they simply do not feel the same, or have the same response as a real drum or cymbal. My son recently reviewed an admittedly cheap electronic drum kit from Aldi, and his very first comment was how the drum heads felt hard and bouncy. This bounciness can also hurt small wrists over time. If you do decide to buy an electronic drum kit, also make sure to use the correct drum sticks. These anti-vibration sticks make a real difference, and are worth the extra money.

The feel of an electronic drum kit may or may not be an issue for a young child, but those beginners who rarely play acoustic drums can find it a tough and long transition. It took my son at least a few weeks to be comfortable behind an acoustic kit, after two years using an electronic one.

By comparison, acoustic drums are extremely responsive and dynamic, and learning to control these nuances is all part of being a well rounded musical drummer. If your child only ever plays on electronic drums, they may be missing out on the authentic experience of playing the instrument.

The same “bounciness” also allows you to get away with certain things that acoustic drums make you work harder for - such as drum rolls and dynamics. It is much easier to hide mistakes, and sound “good” on an electronic kit, than it is with an acoustic.

Positioning and ergonomics

Given as most of the pads and cymbals on electronic drums are undersized and rack mounted, they can often be difficult to position. The positioning of your child’s drums is very important, as developing good technique and control depends at least in part on an efficient and ergonomic setup. Our son’s teacher spent HOURS setting up John’s kit, making sure every drum, cymbal, and pedal was in the most ergonomic position for him. This is why drummers are so OCD with the layout of their kits, and why professional drummers have specialist drum techs to make sure everything is perfect for them. As such, having drums and cymbals placed at awkward heights or angles can be difficult to play, and force your child into bad habits. When your child eventually moves to an acoustic kit (which they will), then getting out of these bad habits can be very difficult.

Portability

If you are looking for a low maintenance instrument to carry around to rehearsals and shows, then the drums are a bad idea! Drums, and all of the hardware, pedals, cymbals, and stands that we have to hike around for our children can be quite cumbersome. I currently drive a VW Golf, and that will need to change when my son starts high school next year!

With electronic drums, you have to throw a rack, wires (lots of wires), and a monitor/speaker system into the van, and then make sure everything is connected and working. Also note, for older children who want to perform, many stages won’t have the facilities, mixers etc to plug an electronic kit in! As such you will need BYO amp, speakers in the back of the van. Yes, all drummers will need a van at some point.

They are just not the same

This seems like an obvious point, but as my son always says, nothing beats (deliberate pun) playing a "real" acoustic drum set. The reality, however, is that acoustic drums can be far from practical in many situations, and you must decide what is right for you and your child, based on your own circumstances. Although it's tempting to shop online and hope for the best, always visit a specialist music store. Get to know the sales professionals, as they will become lifelong friends, and most of all make sure your child tries both options. Also bring a measuring tape.