And the Beat Goes on...

When all that beating on things with a wooden spoon or just your hands gives way to a true interest in drums as the musical instrument of choice, why not take a look at the latest offerings in electronic drum kits.

Electric drums are an electronic musical instrument designed to serve as an alternative to an acoustic drum kit or other percussion instruments, and is played by a musician to create the sounds. 

Components inside an electric drum consist of a digital or electronic sound module which produces the synthesized or sampled percussion sounds along with one or more electric sensors to trigger the created sounds. Played just like a regular acoustic drum kit, the sensors are struck by drum sticks or even by the hands, depending on the type of drum pad selected. Electronic drum sets tend to be more compact, making them lighter and easier to move around.

The electric signal created by the musician is transmitted through cables into an electronic or digital drum module (call it the ‘brain), synthesizer or other device, which then produces the sound triggered by the struck pad.

A Portable Electronic Drum Set consists of a set of drum pads mounted on a stand or rack in a configuration similar to an acoustic drum kit layout, with specialized acoustic/electronic cymbals. The drum pads themselves are either discs or shallow drum shells made of various materials, often with a rubber/silicone or cloth-like coated playing surface. 

An electronic drum kit configuration should have a sound module, rack, various pads including snare, cymbals and toms, bass, hi-hat controller and cables to connect the pads to the module. In the additional options category, the list includes some essential items like a kick pedal, drum throne, hi-hat stand, top-quality professional headphones and different sticks.

While no instrument you strike will ever be totally silent, electronic drums will usually produce considerably less acoustic noise than a traditional drum kit. An acoustic set would generate around the 100 decibel level, a bit higher than the 60 decibel level of the electric drums.

Played at a significantly lower volume level, electronic drums are able to combine their sound with that of other quieter musicians for serious practice sessions or in small venues, preventing everyone involved from needing to increase their volume, whether acoustic or electronic, to match the percussive volume level of the drums.

Also, the drummer can elect to use good-quality, professional headphones and have an essentially silent and private practice, great for locations where it is impossible to have a sound proof studio or create loud noise levels. 

Whether you are a beginning drummer, or in the intermediate to professional category already, take time to investigate the different electronic drum sets available. The latest models configure just like an acoustic kit, making the change an easy one.