Beginner Electronic Drum Kits
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Beginner Electronic Drums
Choosing a beginner electronic drum kit
A beginner electronic drum kit, or electric drum kit as most people call it, lets a new drummer practise with headphones on, in a fraction of the floor space of an acoustic kit. Each one comes as a starter electronic drum set: pads, cymbals, a sound module and a rack, with only a few extras to add.
This category brings together the entry-level kits from Yamaha and Roland, from the most compact first kits up to the models that will carry a drummer well past their first year. Whether you want a quiet drum kit for a flat, an electronic drum kit for a child or a first e-drum kit for yourself, the differences that matter come down to four things, set out below. Still weighing up acoustic? See our beginner drum kits, or browse every electronic drum kit we stock.
The Quick Answer
Tightest space or budget? The Roland TD-02K and Yamaha DTX402K are the smallest and simplest ways in.
Can you stretch a little? Go for a kit with a kick pad and a real bass drum pedal, such as the Yamaha DTX452K. Learning the right foot on a proper pedal makes every kit after it easier.
Want mesh heads? The Roland TD-07DMK has mesh on the snare and all three toms, the closest feel to a real drum at this level.
Finance and the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme are both available, and you can ring us on 01329 834012 to talk it through.
What to look for in a beginner electronic drum kit
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The kick
The most affordable kits use a silent kick unit or a beaterless pedal, which keeps thuds out of the room below. Kits with a kick pad and a real bass drum pedal teach the right foot the same technique it will use on an acoustic kit, so we always recommend stretching to one if you can. A few kits have a kick pad but no pedal in the box, so check the listing and add one of our single bass drum pedals if needed.
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Rubber pads or mesh heads
Rubber is perfectly acceptable for learning technique and coordination. It is just a touch bouncier than a real drum head. Mesh is a woven fabric that gives under the stick, so it feels closer to a real drum and is quieter in the room. Plenty of kits mix the two, putting mesh or Yamaha’s textured silicone on the snare, where it matters most.
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The module
The module is the brain of the kit, where the sounds live. At this level both brands build in coaching and training modes that help anyone learning without a teacher, and many connect to an app for playing along. Roland’s TD-07 kits have Bluetooth built in.
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Space and noise
An electronic kit needs about 1 metre by 1 metre, including the drummer, with plenty of freedom in how you arrange it. With headphones on, the room only hears the tap of sticks on pads and the kick, and a drum mat helps keep that off the floor.
Yamaha or Roland?
Both make excellent beginner kits, and there is no wrong answer. The easiest way to choose is to look at how each range steps up.
Yamaha
The Yamaha DTX range
The DTX402K starts the range with a KU100 silent kick unit and no pedal, the quietest way to begin. Further up, kits such as the DTX452K add a KP65 kick pad with a real bass drum pedal, and the DTX482K brings Yamaha’s textured silicone snare.
The DTX6K-X moves up to the DTX-PRO module with a three-zone ride, for a drummer who wants room to grow. It needs a bass drum pedal adding.
Roland
Roland V-Drums
The TD-02K is the most compact kit in Roland’s range, and the TD-02KV adds a mesh snare and a four-post stand. Both come with a quiet beaterless kick pedal.
The TD-07 kits put mesh on every drum, with Bluetooth built in. The TD-07DMK is the most affordable, and the TD-07KV steps up to a larger kick pad and a 12″ crash and ride. Neither includes a bass drum pedal.
What else you need
Electronic drum kits do not come with headphones, a stool or sticks, so allow for these on top. Tell us when you order and we will pack the lot with the kit.
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Headphones, so only the drummer hears the kit.
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A height-adjustable drum stool, so the player sits at the right height rather than on a dining chair.
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A pair of 5A drum sticks, the standard size almost every drummer starts on.
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A bass drum pedal for the Roland TD-07DMK, Roland TD-07KV and Yamaha DTX6K-X.
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Optional extras: a practice pad for quiet stick work anywhere, and an electronic drum amp if you want the kit heard out loud.
Once you have chosen, you can spread the cost with finance, trade in an old kit through part exchange, and check delivery, returns and warranty before you order.
Read next
Written by the drummers who sell and set up these kits every day.
Beginner electronic drum kit questions
Are electronic drums good for beginners?
Yes. Rubber pads are perfectly acceptable for learning technique and coordination, and the coaching modes built into these kits are a real help when learning without a teacher.
The one thing we always recommend is stretching to a kit with a mechanical bass drum pedal if you possibly can, so the right foot learns the technique it will use on any kit.
How much does a beginner electronic drum kit cost?
The kits in this category start at around £325 and run up to just under £1,000. The price on each kit above is always the current one.
Finance lets you pay monthly, and learners at school may be able to buy through the Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme, which can make a first kit significantly cheaper.
How loud is an electronic drum kit?
With headphones on, nobody else hears the sounds. What the room still hears is the tap of sticks on the pads and the thud of the kick, and that thud travels through floors more than people expect.
Mesh heads and a drum mat both help. For an upstairs flat, a silent kick unit like the one on the Yamaha DTX402K is the quietest option.
How much space does an electronic drum kit need?
About 1 metre by 1 metre, including the drummer sat behind it, and there is more freedom in how you arrange it to fit a room than with an acoustic kit, which needs about 150cm by 150cm.
What is the best electronic drum kit for a child?
If they can reach the pedals, any kit here will suit them, so there is no need for a junior kit. For a small room, the Roland TD-02K and Yamaha DTX402K are the smallest and simplest ways in.
If they have lessons on an acoustic kit, a model with a real bass drum pedal, such as the Yamaha DTX452K, makes moving between the two much easier.
Do electronic drum kits come with headphones and a stool?
No. None of the kits here include headphones, a stool or sticks, and the Roland TD-07DMK, Roland TD-07KV and Yamaha DTX6K-X also need a bass drum pedal. Tell us when you order and we will pack everything with the kit.
Can I try an electronic drum kit before I buy?
Yes, and it is the best way to choose. We are at Unit 5 Axis Park, Newgate Lane, Fareham PO14 1FD, between Southampton and Portsmouth, open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Come and play the Yamaha and Roland kits side by side.
Still Not Sure?
Ask a drummer
Tell us the room, the budget and who is playing, and one of the team will point you at the right kit.
