A question that faces a lot of drummers at one point or another is whether or not to invest in an electronic drum kit. Some purists out there would never consider such heresy, preferring to stick with their tried and true acoustic drum kit. If you're among this camp of drummers and your decision is an informed one well then, so be it. However if you're dismissing the idea of electronic drums based on the principle that they're not acoustic and therefore 'I'm not interested', you could be making a big mistake!
My own preference is not to stick with an entirely acoustic or electronic kit but to explore the possibilities offered by mixing components from both! Before looking at the benefits this offers, just a quick word on electronic drum kits in their own right.
The electronic drum kit has come a long way in the past 15 years, with today's models doing an amazing job, not just at imitating acoustic kits but standing out as a fantastic option on their own merits! Multi-zone pads and force sensitive triggers allow the drummer the freedom to play as if they really were playing on an acoustic kit. But where the electronic kit really steps out of the acoustic drum's shadow is with its digital wonders. One electronic kit can produce hundreds of different drum samples, allowing the drummer to experiment with different kit arrangements without spending another penny!
The ace up the sleeve of the electronic drum kit however is its versatility in terms of the range of locations it can be played without causing a disturbance to family and neighbours! Gone are the days when you were prohibited from playing the drums for fear of upsetting flatmates or neighbours with the noise, the digital nature of electronic drum kits means they can be played with headphones on - problem solved!!
So after reading all of the above, you're still not convinced that electronic drum kits are a viable option in their own right, consider incorporating electronic drum pads into your acoustic kit setup! This is actually my preferred option, as you can maintain the presence of an acoustic drum kit but also get the added benefits of the versatility of samples offered by the electronic drum brain!
This option has some more practical advantages though, the first obvious one is cost, although electronic drum elements can be a little pricey, and you will need to purchase an amplifier to transmit the sound at the same volume as your acoustic drums, they are cost effective when you consider the variety of drum sounds they can produce.
Now I don't play gigs myself, but I have seen enough drummers packed into tiny venues and really struggle with space, especially if they have an elaborate kit! Swapping out some of your acoustic drums for a condensed electronic version will reduce your space requirement by 20-40%, depending on how far you take it!
If you've been convinced, and are wondering who's who in the electronic drum market, there are four players, Yamaha, Hart Dynamics, Roland and Pintech, but in all truth I have to say I think Yamaha are streets ahead of the competition, be sure to check out their mid range DTXpress kit!
So, when all is said and done, I recommend embracing the digital revolution!! Make use of the innovations and leaps that have been made in electronic drum kit technology, it could be a great addition to your performances.
Jon Farrell has been playing the drums for about five years and also plays a little piano and guitar. He is also the webmaster of http://www.yamahadrumkits.com where he offers advice and opinions on Yamaha Drum Kits and in particular Yamaha Electronic Drums
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