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Electronic Drum Kits

Reviewed by on Dec 27, 2006
Rating: 1 Star Rating

So you tell your parents you want to get some drums and play, and they respond with a big No Way! You picked one of the noisiest instruments around. Beat the noise with electronic drums.

So you tell your parents you want to learn to play the drums and they respond with a big "No way!" They probably think it's great that you want to learn an instrument - but they're probably not thrilled you picked one of the noisiest ones around. No problem - beat the noise obstacle with an electronic drum kit.

Electronic Drums - The Sound of a Beating Drum

Electronic drums are a really cool instrument. One of the best features of an electronic drum kit is that you won't drive your parents or neighbors crazy with your late-night practicing because you can wear headphones. You can learn to drum just like you would on regular drums and an electronic kit makes almost the same noises as a regular drum set. Electronic drums can also do a lot of extra things a regular kit can't. Electronic drums can make some really strange sounds. When you strike the drum pad, it can produce virtually any percussion sound you want. It can mimic the sound of a keyboard, guitar, bass, horns, vocals and even burps. Maybe a dog bark or door slam is more your style. The ability to create multiple instrument sounds and control the volume are a few of the features that make electronic drum kits so popular. You can also alter the pitch and add reverb or echo effects.

Electronic Drums - What Are They Made Of?

Traditional drumheads are made of skins and plastics over a hollow body that helps magnify the sound of the drum beat. Electronic drum pads are usually made of rubber and thicker plastics that are only an inch or so thick and they're not hollow. Each drum pad has a complex electric circuit built in, which, when hit, sends a message to the electric drum module, which interprets the message and projects the desired sound. The electric drum module is like the brain of an electronic drum kit.

Electronic Drums - Their Drumming is Electric

Electronic drums are used a lot in rap music, but almost every style of music uses them. Several famous drummers have traded in their traditional kits for electronic drums at some point in time. Travis Barker, formerly of Blink-182, used an electronic drum kit for his latest project, Plus 44, Danny Carey of Tool uses electronic drums and so did Rick Allen, of heavy metal band Def Leppard. Allen switched to electronic drums after he lost an arm in a car accident, because it allowed him to specially customize his kit.

Electronic Drums - Did U Know?

  • Drumming of any kind is a great way to tone the muscles in your shoulders.
  • Electronic drum kits can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
  • Electronic drum kits have been around for more than 30 years!
  • Some famous brands that produce electronic drums are Ion, Roland and Yamaha.

1 I've been druming for about two years and I'd like to say thanks for writing an article about drums. Kids should always start playing an instrument at an early age.

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: canadian_banana
Age: 16

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