Electronic drum kits - discussion

[junglevip]

Dear all,

I am having one of those midlife crisis things again ans have been lusting after an electronic drum set. I thought go electronic as they are quieter. I was just wondering what peoples views were.

I can read music and I play to a metronome but I am hoping that this will sharpen me up even more? Get me fitter? Give me a better understanding of percussion in music and be good for the soul?

I am really a guitar/bass/uke player but I have played alto too. What about lessons to hold the sticks correctly etc?

Your pal,

JV

 

[editor]

Do you have any hopes of ever playing live somewhere or is this strictly for the bedroom?

 

[junglevip]

Probably bedroom only. Might have a jam with someone at some point but I am more likely to play bass or guitar in a live situation

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

If you're only ever likely to play on your own e-kit and not bother with a real kit then the cheap ones are fine and are ideal for learning the basics of timing and control without pissing off everyone within a half mile radius. The trouble comes if you then want to go onto a real kit as the feel of the pads is totally different.

There are kits available where the pads feel almost identical to real drums. Trouble is they cost over £5k.

The other (better imho) alternative is getting a real kit and investing in mesh skins or the heavy rubberised skins and cymbals they use for mimed TV shows.

 

[editor]

I can't recommend this kit enough: it's small, light and comes with mesh heads meaning it's probably quieter than an electronic kit. Then when you fancy doing a gig, you just swap over the skins and you've got a decent sounding kit.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/pearl_traveler_kit_rt705hcc33.htm?gclid=CJ_Mo8j67rMCFefMtAodJDcA3A

I've been using one for some time now and it's perfect for home practice - and it's served me well for live shows too.

More: http://www.urban75.org/blog/buildin...super-portable-drum-kit-for-gigging-drummers/

 

[Yetman]

I had a go on some drums on saturday and I'm actually a brilliant drummer. I just need a kit to unleash the brilliance on, however, I have neighbours, and family, so might look into an electric kit. Its the room as well though....don't think the mrs would appreciate a big fuck off drum kit in the bedroom

 

[junglevip]

I had a go on some drums on saturday and I'm actually a brilliant drummer. I just need a kit to unleash the brilliance on, however, I have neighbours, and family, so might look into an electric kit. Its the room as well though....don't think the mrs would appreciate a big fuck off drum kit in the bedroom

I knows where your coming from bra

 

[junglevip]

Nice one ed!

 

[junglevip]

Your a bit rough with the cowbell by the looks of things

 

[junglevip]

The cymbals are bound to be louder than the electronic ones though

 

[junglevip]

Actually, how would you keep the cymbals silent?

 

[ska invita]

T

I can't recommend this kit enough: it's small, light and comes with mesh heads meaning it's probably quieter than an electronic kit. Then when you fancy doing a gig, you just swap over the skins and you've got a decent sounding kit.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/pearl_traveler_kit_rt705hcc33.htm?gclid=CJ_Mo8j67rMCFefMtAodJDcA3A

I've been using one for some time now and it's perfect for home practice - and it's served me well for live shows too.

More: http://www.urban75.org/blog/buildin...super-portable-drum-kit-for-gigging-drummers/

Thats a really good price...when i was looking at a USB plastic kit the one that seemed good quality but cheap was the same price (£330).
Is it really that quiet? Im going to look on youtube in a min, maybe theres a demo

 

[editor]

Is it really that quiet? Im going to look on youtube in a min, maybe theres a demo

I imagine it'll be quieter than hitting the hard rubber of an electronic kit.

 

[editor]

Actually, how would you keep the cymbals silent?

The kit comes with rubber overlays for the hi-hats/cymbal so they're probably the same volume as the electronic ones.

 

[editor]

Your a bit rough with the cowbell by the looks of things

It was asking for it.

 

[ska invita]

 

[junglevip]

The kit comes with rubber overlays for the hi-hats/cymbal so they're probably the same volume as the electronic ones.

What about the 'coaching' features in the brains of the electronic kits? Do they make much difference/worth the extra money? Part of my reasoning is that playing drums will improve my rhythm in other areas of playing

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Actually, how would you keep the cymbals silent?

I stick cloth clothes and all sorts on mine. I have a child's kit for my daughter (a proper kit, but child size). I have dampened down the snare and the toms but this is still too much if you play them really loud.

I bought a pad kit many years ago for about a grand, I believe they are a lot cheaper now. Mine only had one mesh head and the neighbors could still here me bang away in my attic (in my old house, all is good where I am now). I kind of knew the (very) basics but thought I would learn on this.
Here it is in the corner as I type.

I found out though that it feels very different drumming on real drums and the spacing and size also makes a lot of difference .

The kit Ed has looks very interesting, especially for the price.

 

[editor]

What about the 'coaching' features in the brains of the electronic kits? Do they make much difference/worth the extra money? Part of my reasoning is that playing drums will improve my rhythm in other areas of playing

I just play along to songs I like. That does it for me!

 

[Mapped]

I can't recommend this kit enough: it's small, light and comes with mesh heads meaning it's probably quieter than an electronic kit. Then when you fancy doing a gig, you just swap over the skins and you've got a decent sounding kit.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/pearl_traveler_kit_rt705hcc33.htm?gclid=CJ_Mo8j67rMCFefMtAodJDcA3A

I've been using one for some time now and it's perfect for home practice - and it's served me well for live shows too.

More: http://www.urban75.org/blog/buildin...super-portable-drum-kit-for-gigging-drummers/

This is tempting me. I'm supposed to be picking up the sticks again very soon and I'm very out of practice, I've still got all my cymbals and a decent snare, but donated my battered old pearl export before I moved house. I like the mesh heads idea as I always hated playing electronic pad. I assume that these have a bit more 'bounce' to them?

 

[editor]

You can do the mesh heads up as tight or as loose as you like, so you can get quite a drum like experience. The thing that's always put me off electronics kits is the thought that if I did get a gig, I'd feel an utter twat playing one on stage. And then there'd the problem of getting a decent enough amp.

 

[ska invita]

.

 

[Mapped]

You can do the mesh heads up as tight or as loose as you like, so you can get quite a drum like experience. The thing that's always put me off electronics kits is the thought that if I did get a gig, I'd feel an utter twat playing one on stage. And then there'd the problem of getting a decent enough amp.

Nice. I don't suppose you've seen one in any London drum shops? I wouldn't mind having a look at one in the flesh.

This may all be premature, I'm supposed to be booking a practice room in the next couple of weeks to make sure I can still play. It's been about 3 years

 

[miniGMgoit]

I can't comment on electric kits but the single best way I can recommend to learn the drums is stick music on your headphones and play along. Try and copy fills. Playing along with music will get you up to speed quickly. After you've done that for a bit you'll come to a point where playing by yourself is actually fun.

 

[editor]

Nice. I don't suppose you've seen one in any London drum shops? I wouldn't mind having a look at one in the flesh.

This may all be premature, I'm supposed to be booking a practice room in the next couple of weeks to make sure I can still play. It's been about 3 years

I hadn't played for about a decade and it wasn't long before I was giving it large on the BBC

You'll pick it right back up.

 

[Mapped]

I can't comment on electric kits but the single best way I can recommend to learn the drums is stick music on your headphones and play along. Try and copy fills. Playing along with music will get you up to speed quickly. After you've done that for a bit you'll come to a point where playing by yourself is actually fun.

This is my method. When I was a teen I had about 6 months of 'lessons' a lot of which consisted of learning to read drum sheet music. I quit that when I found that I came on a lot quicker playing with others and with my headphones

I hadn't played for about a decade and it wasn't long before I was giving it large on the BBC

You'll pick it right back up.

I was never that great to begin with I think we'll choose some simple covers to get going and take it from there

 

[miniGMgoit]

This is my method. When I was a teen I had about 6 months of 'lessons' a lot of which consisted of learning to read drum sheet music. I quit that when I found that I came on a lot quicker playing with others and with my headphones

Yes, I had a year of lessons and learned to read drum music, learned loads of funk beats that made absolutely no sense to me what so ever and felt utterly disheartened with it all. Gave up for a bit then a wise friend pointed out that I was always drumming on my lap to music we listened to and I should just do that. It's great fun. I started with stuff like Add N to X, Ninja Tunes, Unkle and so forth and moved on to James Brown, JSBX and more "lively" stuff as time went on. I didn't dwell on anything either, just play for as long as I could be bothered too every day. I don't play much at the moment but I think it might help me give up smoking (again) so will set up my kit in the new year.

 

[creak]

Resurrecting this thread a bit, but I hope someone could offer me some advice too. We had an old acoustic kit at home when I lived with my parents a few years back and I used to love playing around on that, but since moving out I've not really had the chance to play and I really miss it. I'm looking to start pretty much anew as I'm sure my technique/understanding etc. was pretty poor having never had proper lessons, but I need a new kit to practice on that has a relatively small footprint and will be acceptably quiet due to housemates/neighbours.

Having dug around a little I was looking at something like this: http://www.andertons.co.uk/electronic-drum-kits/pid23794/cid642/roland-td11k-electronic-drum-kit.asp

Having seen the Pearl Traveler with mesh heads that editor posted though, I wonder if I'm going down the wrong route? I would mainly be using the kit to practice on at home, no real plans to take it elsewhere but if playing with other people, would probably do so on an acoustic kit in a practice room- so a kit that maintains that kind of feel would be useful. The 'brain' on the electric kit does look handy though, and it'd be nice to be able to plug in and hear the actual drum sounds rather than the muffled versions on a silenced acoustic set. Any thoughts?

 

[junglevip]

The thing I liked about the electronic kits is the training software. I dont know how good it is though so I am not sure if it's a gimmick

 

[editor]

My 'training' for drumming was always playing along with tracks on headphones. Works for me!