If you're new to drumming, investing in one of the best beginner electronic drum sets will help you develop the fundamental skills that will form the bedrock of your future behind the kit. Technique and timing are vital for any drummer to learn, whatever their level - and beginner e-kits come loaded with training features geared towards building these skills. It’s unlikely you’ll use an entry-level e-kit in a live environment, but for home practice there’s no better - or quieter - alternative to noisy acoustic drums
When researching the right beginner e-kit for you, it's important that it feels realistic to play via mesh or rubber pads, sounds good in your headphones and is compact enough to fit into whatever space you've designated for the kit, whether that's a bedroom or the garage. You’ll most likely want phone/laptop compatibility in order to play along to music, too, ideally via Bluetooth connection. Thankfully, all the major e-kit brands like Roland, Yamaha, Alesis and NUX have you covered here.
Right now, the kit that ticks all these boxes is the Alesis Nitro Max, which is the best entry-level kit we've played in some time and, crucially, the on-board sounds are the best we've tested at this level.
We personally research and test the latest e-kits to provide unbiased recommendations for our guides. When evaluating each kit we focus on ease of use, sounds, build quality and durability, connectivity, amongst other relevant features.
If you'd like more guidance - perhaps you're a parent picking up a first kit for your child - our team of experts have pooled their years of experience testing and playing electronic drum sets to create this handy FAQ section.
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Our top picks
The Alesis Nitro Max has shot straight to the top of the throne as the perfect introductory kit. With realistic mesh heads, Bluetooth connectivity and a sleek module loaded with sounds from the BFD sample library, this kit is streets ahead of most other beginner kits for the money.
The NUX DM-210 is an entry-level, beginner electronic drum set that punches well above its weight when it comes to playability and features. This lightweight, small-framed kit is equipped with all mesh drum pads, an independent kick-drum, as well as a few welcome extras such as Bluetooth audio, an aux-in and coaching mode.
Roland's latest addition to the V-Drums family is a hugely compelling offering if you're just getting started. It features a Roland dual-ply mesh head on the snare, neat and responsive bass drum and hi-hat controller pedals, and studio-quality sounds that are amongst some of the best we’ve heard at this price point.
The best beginner e-kit overall
✅ Buy if you're a beginner with a small budget: For just $/£400 you get so much more than any other kit at this price point, from mesh heads to the excellent BFD sounds and Bluetooth connectivity.
❌ Avoid if sturdy hardware is a deal breaker: The Nitro Max is great value for money, but that doesn't mean it's the most robust kit on test here. There are pricier kits here that deliver more stability and a tougher build.
The Alesis Nitro Max might be a new kit, but it's shot straight to the top of the throne as the perfect introductory kit. It takes everything that we loved about predecessor the Alesis Nitro Mesh, and soars to a new level. The mesh heads offered us a wholly realistic playing experience, and we found they're also quieter to the touch than other kits at this level. This alone makes it worth a look.
But it's the module that is the most innovative and headline-grabbing feature here. It houses 32 drum kits and 440 sounds, all taken from the awesome BFD sound library, which is a first in the electronic drum set world. We really could tell the difference in sound quality compared to other kits at this level.
There are 16 slots for customised, user-created kits too, meaning you can piece together a kit of your preference from the existing sounds. What's more, the Nitro Max comes complete with BFD Player for your computer so you can delve deeper into the sounds and access an even greater library. Sounds have often been an oversight on beginner kits, but the Nitro Max has set a new bar.
With USB connectivity, any budding drummer who is interested in producing hip-hop, lo-fi or electronic music can record into a laptop and get creative.
The Alesis Nitro Max also comes with some excellent in-built software to help beginners learn the discipline of drumming, while the educational icing on the cake is the inclusion of a 3 month free trial to excellent online drum lessons platform Drumeo.
There are 60 play-along backing tracks, a metronome, a sequencer and a performance recorder. If you want to play along to your own music or tracks from a streaming site like Spotify, the Nitro Max is one of the first at this level to offer Bluetooth connectivity, doing away with the need for an additional cable. In our tests we found it easy to connect our device and start jamming.
With a drum key thrown in, a high build quality and a very fair price, there’s nothing to complain about here. In fact, it difficult to fathom how the Nitro Max has evolved so far from the Nitro Mesh whilst staying the same price.
Check out more Alesis top picks in our guide to the best Alesis electronic drum sets for all budgets.
Read the full Alesis Nitro Max review
Best budget option
✅ Buy if you want everything in the box to get started: NUX are relative newcomers to the e-kit world, but they absolutely nail it when it comes to value. You won't need anything but a drum throne to start playing here.
❌ Avoid if you want to jam: While you can connect a smart device and play to whatever music you want, if you did want to use the built-in backing tracks you'd be pretty disappointed.
Perhaps better known for their affordable guitar pedals, digital pianos, guitar amplifiers and wireless systems, NUX actually makes pretty great electronic drum kits.
The NUX DM-210 is an entry-level, beginner electronic drum set that punches well above its weight when it comes to playability and features. This lightweight, small-framed kit is equipped with all mesh drum pads, an independent kick-drum - which was specially designed for DM-210 - as well as a few welcome extras such as Bluetooth audio, an aux-in and coaching mode.
We found that the "tuneable" heads deliver a responsive, natural feel, while the multi-zone cymbals add an extra sense of realism to the kit. Couple this with USB MIDI and you have a fantastic kit for the drum novice, home producers looking for a more fun way to input their MIDI drums, or established players looking for a low-cost alternative to Roland and Yamaha.
Read our full NUX DM-210 review
Best beginner Roland V-Drums
✅ Buy if you want quality over features: Roland products are built to last and this kit is one of the sturdiest beginner kits we've tested, while the pads feel like they will go the distance through your early drumming years.
❌ Avoid if you want Bluetooth built-in: Want that sweet sweet wireless connectivity with your smartphone or tablet? That's going to cost you extra.
Roland's latest addition to the V-Drums family is a hugely appealing package if you're just getting started. It features a Roland dual-ply mesh head on the snare, neat and responsive bass drum and hi-hat controller pedals, and studio-quality sounds that are some of the best we’ve heard at this price point.
The TD-02 module also has Bluetooth capability for jamming to your music collection, although you will need an adapter which comes at an additional cost.
There are more affordable options out there, just as there are kits with more sounds and features, however in our tests we found that the TD-02KV represents a cohesive package that you’ll want to sit down at months (and hopefully years) after you’ve bought it. Add to this some comprehensive coaching functions for developing players and it’s clear that Roland has considered who, how and where this kit is designed for.
If you like the look of this kit but want to save a bit of cash, the TD-02K centres around the same module, but comes with a rubber snare rather than mesh and a slightly different rack design, for a pretty chunky saving on the KV model.
Read the full Roland TD-02KV review
Best for children
✅ Buy if you're on a really tight budget: Getting into drumming isn't cheap, but if you're willing to cut a few corners, the Alesis Debut acts as a very affordable entry point.
❌ Avoid if you're planning on sticking with the drums: With the best will in the world, if you really take to drumming, you're likely to want better sounds, more adjustable hardware and better learning tools pretty quickly, so this could prove to be a false economy.
Alesis have always been excellent when it comes to value for money and the Debut only reinforces this. For less than $300/$200, you have absolutely everything you need to start your drumming journey, making it a great electronic drum set for kids; thoughtfully, it includes a stool, sticks and headphones, as well as a comprehensive metronome and Melodics learning software bundled in.
The drum heads are mesh instead of rubber, which we found to be the far better and more realistic option. The module has 120 sounds on board, divided up into 10 kits, as well as 30 songs to play along to, which can be customised to keep/omit certain instruments in order to better understand how each song works. The Alesis Debut also features smartphone compatibility, meaning that we were able to play along easily to our favourite music from any streaming service or video streaming platform. There is also a MIDI output for plugging in and recording into your laptop or audio interface.
With a generous amount of features at a very low price, this kit feels like an open-arms invitation for children and beginners to enter the world of drumming. Solid build quality, Melodics software and the succinct learning tools on board the module will provide brand new drummers a jumping off point to help build vital rhythmic foundations.
Read our full Alesis Debut review
Best for sounds
✅ Buy if you want the best module: We love the DTX-PRO module for ease of use and the ability to edit and enhance your sounds.
❌ Avoid if you have a limited budget: While this kit is 100% beginner-friendly, it sits at the higher end of the price spectrum, so you need to decide if the extra features and build quality are worth the stretch.
Yamaha’s DTX6 series really demonstrates what a mid-range kit can be capable of. The 3-zone snare and ride cymbal pads offered us a superb playing feel that most drummers yearn for from acoustic kits. We even felt that the rubber padded toms on the lowest priced option in the DTX6 series could be forgiven - because there’s just so much this kit gets right, particularly where the module is concerned.
Take, for example, the new kit modifier knobs, divided up into ‘Ambience’, ‘Compression’ and ‘Effect’. These tweak-able settings made it so simple for us to easily get in touch with the nuances of kit sounds in a way that is normally incredibly hard to replicate on an electronic kit - and would be a valuable feature for beginner drummers especially. A very classy inclusion indeed.
Moreover, Cubase A1 is included, meaning budding session drummers and beat makers can start creating immediately. Bundle this all together with the classic Yamaha build quality and you’ve got a solid option, worth its slightly higher price tag.
Read our Yamaha DTX6K3-X review
Best learning tools
✅ Buy if you want all the training tools: This kit comes fully loaded with coaching tools and training modes, plus the Yamaha DTX402 Touch app for bonus educational features.
❌ Avoid if you want the latest e-kit tech: The DTX402K was released 6 years ago now, and plenty of the latest features are missing.
Yamaha’s DTX402 series is perfect for beginners. Building on years of drum-building expertise, they have packaged together everything a drummer needs to get started. The rubber pads feel high quality and responsive, albeit a little stiff in comparison to mesh alternatives. This model is getting pretty long in the tooth now, but it still represents decent value for money and sits pretty in our best Yamaha electronic drum sets guide.
The DTX402 module features 10 customisable kits, with 287 expressive drum and percussion sounds. Alongside this are 10 training tools including Fast Blast, Pad Gate, Rhythm Gate and recording functions.
What really brings this kit to life is the free ‘Yamaha Touch’ App (iOS/Android), which offers deeper kit customisation and some excellent training functions. Our favourite is a neat little thing called the ‘DTX Drum Lesson Program’, which scores you on your performance for each song and rewards you with a certificate at the end of it. If you’re looking for a kit with a focus on education and development, this is the one.
Read the full Yamaha DTX402K review
Best for mesh pads
✅ Buy if you want a kit that will take you to intermediate level: We don't just recommend this kit to beginners. It's a quality setup that would make an ideal home practice kit for drummers of any level.
❌ Avoid if you want a separate bass drum tower: The fixed bass drum pad limits your set-up options which might have a negative impact when you move to an acoustic kit.
Roland's most recent addition to the TD-07 range - and the 'DMK' version of one of the best Roland electronic drum sets - is a hugely compelling offering if you're getting started or progressing with your playing. It features Roland's dual-ply mesh heads on the snare and tom pads, a clever bass drum pad built into the rack system and pristine, studio-quality sounds that are customisable.
Add-in the TD-07's Bluetooth connection for jamming to your music collection, plus the on-board USB MIDI/audio interface and we found this to be a serious mid-priced kit that will serve you for years. Roland also includes 40 free interactive lessons via Melodics to keep you progressing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the TD-07's feel and specs, but for those who want a more 'real' feel - a full bass drum tower and pad - then the higher spec models may be more suitable.
Read the full Roland TD-07DMK review
Best full-size kit
✅ Buy if you want a kit that looks and feels the part: It's becoming more common to see e-kits with full acoustic shells. This is one of the most affordable entry points to that type of setup.
❌ Avoid if you want the best sounds: The majority of your budget covers the cost of the hardware, so inevitably corners have to be cut elsewhere; in this case the sounds. That said, you could just use the kit as a controller for sounds on your laptop.
With full-size, real wood shells and mesh heads all round, the Millenium MPS-1000 offers beginners a more affordable entry point into the latest trend of acoustic looks/electronic versatility.
It comes with all of the shells and hardware you need to start playing out of the box (you will need your own stool, however), and with an 18” ride cymbal, 13” hi-hats and a pair of crashes, you have a well-stocked kit that shouldn't need upgrading or adding to for a very long time.
During our tests we found that the noise in the room is similar to that of a regular electronic kit, but the size and spacing of the setup makes transferring techniques and feel between electronic and acoustic kits a breeze. While the preset module sounds are reflected in the price, there’s EQ and effects as well as basic editing on board to help you tailor them.
Likewise, we’d recommend experimenting with the pad settings to get the response right. Throw in Bluetooth and user sample capabilities and it’s got a lot to offer, particularly at this price.
Read the full Millenium MPS-1000 review
FAQs
Is an electronic drum kit a good option for beginners?
In many ways, an electronic kit is actually the best place for beginners to start learning, since they offer an ergonomically realistic simulation of playing a full drum kit without the worry - and natural tentativeness - that comes with having your mistakes heard out loud. Of course, the reduced noise factor should also make people in your household more likely to be open to the idea of a drum kit in the first place.
Moreover electronic kits can be cheaper than acoustic alternatives and take up significantly less room.
Manufacturers will also usually include learning programmes within the drum module. Features include play-along tracks, precision tests (where a score is given, based on how accurate your performance and timing is), the ability to record yourself and assess your performance and, of course, the all important metronome for working on your ability to play in time.
Still not convinced? We go deeper into the acoustic vs electronic drums debate in this article.
What do you get with a beginner electronic drum set?
The best beginner electronic drum sets comprise a set of drum and cymbal trigger pads connected by cables to a drum module (a small computer which holds the data, sometimes referred to as a brain), affixed to a hardware frame (or drum rack).
Typically, beginner kits come with eight drums altogether - one snare, three toms, three cymbals (hi-hats, a crash and a ride) and a kick drum - as standard.
Kick drums (also known as bass drums) will either be in the form of a standalone pad with a separate bass drum pedal, or a 'controller' style pedal which plugs directly into the module.
Some sets may offer an additional tom or cymbal pad and some at this end of the price spectrum will also bundle extras like a drum throne, headphones and sticks. More on that below...
Will I get drumsticks with my beginner e-kit?
Most beginner e-kits come in a single box containing almost everything you need to get started, including drumsticks. You’ll get all the parts mentioned above, plus all relevant cabling, a power supply and a drum key for tightening parts and tensioning drum heads, if your kit offers that facility. You should also get drumsticks and maybe even a pair of headphones for drummers in the box.
What you will need to check is whether your kit comes with pedals. Many of the best beginner electronic drum sets feature standalone hi-hat and bass drum controller pedals. Or, your kit may have a bass drum tower and separate bass drum pedal. If it’s the latter, check that the pedal is part of the bundle.
The final piece of the puzzle is a drum throne - a dedicated stool designed for drumming. You can get away with a standard stool or chair to begin with, but unless these are adjustable you’ll quickly be looking for something that is in order to dial in the optimal height for comfortable playing.
Are beginner e-kits easy to set up?
On the whole, yes. E-kits are relatively painless to set up and it’s possible to get everything connected and ready to play reasonably quickly. We’ve compiled a guide covering how to set up an electronic drum set so, whether you’re wondering whether this will be a convenient purchase, or you have your kit home and are scratching your head, we can help.
Is it easy to learn to drum on an electronic drum set?
In a word, yes. Whilst they are not quite as intuitive to the touch as acoustic kits and oftentimes the pads have smaller surface areas, these minor issues aren’t deal breakers when you’re at the start of your playing journey.
Electronic drum kits provide easy access to many different sounds; allowing you to explore various genres at the press of a button. Without exception they come with a metronome feature to ensure that any learner can work on timing - the most essential skill a drummer needs.
On top of this, when learning any new instrument there is always going to be an initial period of getting to grips with things which, in drum terms, results in a lot of bashing away. It’s much easier for a beginner to do this on an electronic drum kit because headphones allow for privacy and peace of mind (for both the player and others in the house). Not to mention the on-board programmes that are aimed squarely at teaching beginners how to play.
Do I need to buy an amp for my electronic drum set?
Not necessarily. Beginner electronic drum kits are best used with headphones for private practice (check out our round-up of the best headphones for drummers here). If you are going to use an electronic kit for live purposes, or would just like to be able to play out loud, perhaps to jam with friends, then it would be worthwhile investing in an electronic drum amp.
However if your reasons for purchasing a beginner e-kit are primarily for practice, learning and potentially recording into a DAW, there is no real need for an amp.
E-kits jargon buster
We’ve rounded up some of the most common terms you might hear below. For a full A-Z, check out our electronic drums jargon buster.
Trigger pads
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Trigger pads emulate various drum and percussion sounds when hit. They are made from either rubber or mesh and are designed to sound and feel like acoustic drums. Mesh heads are more expensive but feel more like an acoustic drum and deliver less ambient noise. Rubber pads are cheaper but feel a little less realistic and produce more ambient noise. We've compiled this guide to help you make your electronic drum set quieter.
Pedals
Most beginner e-kits will use a pad for the kick drum, along with an actual bass drum pedal - meaning there is a ‘kick’ motion happening. On cheaper kits, manufacturers will swap this out for an entirely electronic pedal, which will simulate sounds entirely. This offers less dynamic range and is not entirely representative of how an acoustic kit plays, so bear this in mind when making your decision.
The drum module
The module is the computer that holds all of the information. They are generally user-friendly, with buttons to toggle between kits and activate programmes, songs and the metronome. This is also where you adjust the volume and plug in the most important drum accessory of a beginner’s electronic drum kit: headphones!
Plugging in a pair of quality headphone and listening to yourself, knowing only you can hear what you’re doing, is very liberating. Shy beginners need not worry about being overheard and - providing housemates don’t mind the ambient noise - it’s much easier to practice late into the night.
Hardware and cables
The pads and module will fit onto a small metal frame and there will be a cable for each pad, connecting it back to the module. Most electronic drum sets for beginners will be easy to set up and take up a relatively small footprint.
Drumeo free trial
How we test beginner e-kits
Our process for testing beginner electronic drum sets is editorially independent and not influenced by any third parties. Our review samples are almost always sourced directly from the manufacturer or via a local distributor. Sometimes review samples will be supplied by retailers. In rare cases where we can't get hold of a kit in this way, we will pay for a set with out own money.
Our expert e-kit testers use each featured kit for a number of weeks, evaluating the instrument in the following categories and comparing the review kit with other kits in the same field and price bracket. These categories are considered with a particular focus on the beginner drummer:
- Ease of use/setup
- Sounds
- Build quality and durability
- Connectivity
- Other features
This enables us to produce accurate, well-balanced and real-life electronic drum set reviews to help you easily figure out whether the kit you’re interested in really is the best choice for you.
Our testing criteria in detail:
- Ease of use/setup: How easy is the kit to construct out of the box? Are the instructions useful? Once built, how easily can the kit be adjusted to fit the setup needs of the average beginner drummer? Is the module user-friendly? Are the instruction provided by the manufacturer clear enough to navigate all the menus and features?
- Sounds: What level of quality are the supplied sounds? We’re not necessarily looking at quantity here. A large number of sounds is often an attempt to cover up a lack of quality. We’re also looking at the variety of sounds on offer, and the level of editing functionality for those sounds.
- Build quality and durability: Here, we assess the physical feel of the pads/cymbals and the response of the playing surfaces. Are the components - such as wing screws, cymbal arms, ball and socket joints, module mounts - of an adequate quality and designed to last?
- Connectivity: How easy is it to connect pads to the module? Is there an opportunity for expansion with more pads? Is there also USB/MIDI connectivity for recording?
- Features: What additional features come complete with the kit or module and how well do they work? For example, many e-kits now feature Bluetooth connectivity, but how reliable is it and how easy is the connection process? Is it possible to add your own sounds to the module? If so, how easy is this process? For beginners, learning tools are key to the playing development. As such we asses the options available their usability and whether they have a genuine benefit to new players.
Our testing team includes:
- Expert reviewers with years of hands-on experience testing and owning a wide range of electronic drum sets and with a deep understanding of e-kit technology as it has evolved.
- Industry professionals who have worked in the drum/music industry for decades, including Editor positions for leading drumming magazines and websites. Some of our reviewers are also drum teachers and have worked in drum shops.
Read more about how we test music making gear and services at MusicRadar.
Related buyer's guides
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- Check out the best compact drum kits for all levels
- The best electronic drum sets under $500/£500
- These are the best gifts for drummers at every budget
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- Easy drum songs every beginner should learn
