Electronic drum sets are fantastic alternatives to acoustic kits. They allow drummers to continue practicing without making as much noise as standard drums and cymbals do. They also offer an incredible number of useful electronic features.
If you’re thinking of getting an electronic kit, you may be wondering how small they are and if they fit in the space you have available.
There are a few answers to this question as there are a few different kinds of electronic drum sets. So, read on to find out just how compact they all are.
Most electronic drum sets are smaller than acoustic drum sets. This makes it easier to place a full electronic drum set in your practice space than it is to set up an acoustic kit.
Typically, electronic kits have smaller cymbals and pads. The pads also have much shorter depths, reducing the overall weight as well.
You’ll find different sizes with the different types of e-kits, and those types include entry-level kits, intermediate kits, professional kits, and acoustic shell hybrid kits. Let’s take a closer look at each of those.
Different Types of Sets for Different Purposes
Entry-level electronic kits are the smallest kind of electronic set. They have the smallest pads and cymbals, and they’re often the best options for young kids to play.
It’s typical for an entry-level electronic kit to have drum pads that are 8” and cymbal pads that are 10”. Every beginner kit has a very small footprint, so you can fit it easily into tight spaces.
The downside of beginner kits is that they don’t have amazing sound quality. So, they’re only good for new drummers who are learning the basics.
Intermediate kits have slightly larger drum and cymbal pad sizes. The snare drums are always the biggest pads, while the toms are a bit smaller. Some kits have various tom sizes, while others have the same size for every tom.
In terms of the overall footprints, intermediate kits take up a bit more space than entry-level ones. However, they’re still very small compared to full acoustic drum kits, so you still get the benefit of having an electronic drum set that is compact.
Intermediate e-kits have better sound quality and more drum module features.
Professional Compact Electronic Sets
Professional electronic drum sets take up a lot more space than intermediate ones, as they have larger drum and cymbal pad sizes. Pro electronic kits also have a large snare pad that rests on a proper snare stand, increasing their footprint.
It’s the same with the hi-hat pad. All pro kits use a regular hi-hat stand to mount the hi-hat pad, and that takes up more space than hi-hat pads that are mounted to racks.
A lot of pro electronic kits are still more compact than acoustic kits, though. The drum and cymbal pads are still smaller, leading the kits to take up less space.
Acoustic hybrid electronic kits have acoustic shells with electronic drum pads attached to the top of them. These kits are designed to have the appearance of an acoustic kit, but they give you all the benefits of electronic kits.
Since they have acoustic shells, they’re the least compact kind of electronic drum set. Many of them have the shell sizes as acoustic kits, so they essentially take up the same amount of space.
Some hybrid kits have shallow shells, so they take up the same amount of space as compact acoustic drum sets.
It depends on what kind of electronic drum set you have. Entry-level kits take up the least space, as they have the smallest drum and cymbal pads. Intermediate electronic sets take up a bit more space, as their pads are slightly larger. Professional kits take up even more space as they use regular snare drums and hi-hat stands.
Acoustic hybrid electronic kits take up the most space, as they have full acoustic shells that are just as larger as the ones from acoustic kits.
Electronic drum sets are very good these days. Even the most affordable ones have decent sound quality and intuitive features. They’re a fantastic option to consider if you can’t play an acoustic kit because of noise levels.
The downside of electronic drum sets is that they sound good, no matter how you play them. That can be very detrimental for drummers who are learning new techniques and playing styles.
When you move over to an acoustic kit, you have to hit the drums in certain ways to get good sounds, and an electronic kit won’t train you for that.
It’s preferable to get an acoustic kit if you can. However, buying an electronic kit will add plenty of value to you. You can practice at the late hours of the night without bothering your neighbors, you can easily play along with songs, and you can utilize all the cool electronic features that come with drum modules.
It’s highly worth buying an electronic drum set if you use it to its full potential. If you want to play gigs with it, then we suggest buying a pro-quality one.
Electronic drum sets are fairly portable. Just remember that you need to carry cables around as well as the pads. So, setting up an electronic kit in different areas is a lot more involved than setting up an acoustic kit.
Electronic kits are a lot more compact than acoustic kits on most occasions. If you have a small area to set a kit up in, an electronic kit may be a better option.
However, some electronic kits are quite big, especially the ones that have acoustic shells.
So, keep that in mind when looking at the different footprints that kits have.
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook, “9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
Enter your name and email below to get instant access to our FREE eBook,
“9 Powerful Tips To Get Faster On The Drums (And The Mistakes To Avoid!)”
