When buying an electronic drum set for a beginner, there are a few things to take into consideration…

Firstly, is that you don’t need to get a high-end kit right away.

There’s no point investing in an extremely expensive drum kit if you’re only going to play it a few times each week.

However, you also want to avoid buying an extremely cheap drum kit.

These kits often break very quickly, have poor quality sound, and can feel like toys rather than instruments.

If you’re on a very tight budget, you could consider the Alesis Nitro Mesh, but for most beginners, I’d recommend the Yamaha DTX432K.

The Yamaha DTX432K is a highly affordable electronic drum set that I recommend for any beginner drummer looking to become an awesome player.

Why the Yamaha DTX432K

• The drum sounds are excellent (and much improved against cheaper competitors), making playing far more enjoyable and realistic.

• It has all the features you need to develop and hone your skills effectively.

• The kit uses a real bass drum pedal, allowing you to develop the necessary technique to play with one.

• As it’s far more durable than a lot of cheaper competitors, it’s much less likely to break when you’re rocking out.

Check out the video below to see what the DTX series of drum kits sounds like.

The DTX432K has the features and quality to keep a drummer playing (and learning) for years to come.

What’s more, it’s upgradeable, meaning if at any point you did want to add features better suited to a more advanced drummer, you’d have the option, at a fraction of the price of buying a new drum kit.

What you get with the Yamaha DTX432K

A standard five-piece drum kit setup, with everything you’d find on a standard acoustic drum set – Kick/bass drum, snare drum, 3 tom-toms, hi-hat, crash cymbal and ride cymbal.

You also get a kick/bass drum pedal and a hi-hat pedal included.

287 drum voices and 10 drum kits – A wide range of quality sounds allows you to adapt your drum set to different musical situations.

Rocking out to AC/DC, Led Zeppelin or the Foo Fighters? Choose a heavy-hitting rock sound. Playing your favourite hits of the moment? There’s a kit for that too.

In fact, there’s a kit to suit most musical situations and the genres you’re most passionate about.

A drum module that controls the electronic drum sounds, with a range of valuable training functions – A drum module (also known as a brain) is what brings electric drums to life, but Yamaha’s module also contains a number of tools that actively help you improve your drumming.

Rhythm Gate, for example, is a challenge mode that helps you improve your timing.

The drums only sound when you’re playing in time, helping you develop your rhythm more quickly.

Check out some of the other training features in the video below (demonstrating tools to help you develop speed, practice songs and record your playing).

If I had to pick an overall winner from this entire guide, I’d go for this drum set.

It represents the best of what affordable drum sets have to offer and provides a great foundation for any drummer getting started on the kit.

My personal experience of using Yamaha drums: I had a similar model of Yamaha electronic drum kit more than a decade ago when I first started playing the drums.

It captured my passion for the instrument so completely that it led me to become a professional drummer. These kits are the real deal!

What you’ll need for the Yamaha DTX432K

It can be a bit confusing as a beginner drummer to figure out exactly what you need to start playing the drums, and which brands you should trust.

There are a few essentials that you absolutely can’t do without – a drum stool (also known as a drum throne), headphones (so you can hear the sound of the drums – also good for quiet practice) and a pair of drumsticks.

To help simplify for things for new drummers, I created an Amazon list where they can find everything they need – the exact drum set, headphones, drum stool and drumsticks that I recommend to my beginner drum students.

The headphones also have a special jack that you can unscrew so they will work with both your electronic drum set and computer (people sometimes run into trouble if they buy headphones with the wrong sized jack/connector).

I normally recommend my students get hold of their drum set and the essentials they need through Amazon – it’s typically the most affordable way to get everything you need and you don’t have to pay for expensive delivery for a large item.

You can have a browse of my recommendations and get hold of anything you need using the Amazon link below

While it’s not quite as serious as kits like the Yamaha DTX432K, it’s one of the most popular drum sets out there, and for good reason.

It’s super fun to play, with a compact enough drum rack for smaller spaces, and feels as realistic to play as any electronic drum kit you’ll find under $500.

The mesh head design of the Alesis Nitro Mesh also produces less noise and vibration than other similar drum sets.

It’s a smaller sized kit and is a great fit for adults, teenagers and kids aged 6 and over. The kit is highly adjustable, so works well for most shapes and sizes.

You can totally reinvent how the drums sound every time you sit down at the kit, keeping things fresh and interesting in every practice session.

What’s more, each drum can be tightened or loosened using a drum key to provide a different feel when striking the drum.

This is a really cool feature that you’d normally find on an acoustic drum kit and helps you adjust your kit to feel the way you want it to.

Play along to the latest, greatest songs – The drum module has an aux input, allowing you to plug in your phone, PC/Mac or Tablet and play music directly into the drum set headphones.

This means the drummer can hear their favourite tunes and their own drumming, without disturbing everyone else!

The drum module also comes with a set of 60 play-along tracks, ideal for developing your timing and confidence as a drummer.

There’s also a metronome for dedicated rhythm practice and a performance recorder, for hearing your own playing back.

Exceptional value for money – In my experience, the Alesis Nitro Mesh delivers more value for money than any other drum kit in this price range.

Not only do you get everything you need to rock out to your favourite music, you’ll also find features on the Nitro Mesh normally reserved for more expensive drum kits (such as mesh pads).

And there’s no need to book yourself an expensive music studio when you’re ready to record your playing for the first time – with USB midi connectivity, the drum set plugs straight into your laptop and you can record yourself with any popular DAW recording software.

What you’ll need for the Alesis Nitro Mesh

If you’re ready to get started, there are just a few things you’ll need to make playing this drum kit a breeze.

You’ll need a handful of accessories with your drum set to get started: drumsticks, a drum stool, an aux cable to listen to music while you play and a pair of headphones to hear the drums (headphones should have an adapter so that you have the correct sized headphone jack for all situations).

To help you find everything you need – I’ve made a handy list on Amazon so that you can be sure you’ll have all the necessary parts and pieces to start rocking out.

Once you have everything on this list – you’ll be ready to start making music!

Simply follow the link to Amazon below to find out more information about what you need and how to order your drums.

The Yamaha DTX582K is the perfect e-drum kit for an intermediate player, and it even comes equipped with some very impressive pro-level features.

And while it’s not the cheapest kit out there, the design and functionality of this set clearly justify its price.

Why the Yamaha DTX582K

Let’s take a look at exactly why the Yamaha DTX582K is the go-to electronic drum set for an intermediate player…

Authentic hi-hat stand – The authentic hi-hat stand gives you the feel and response of a true hi-hat cymbal with a reactive pedal that feels like the real thing.

You can practice advanced techniques such as hi-hat splashes and choking in a far more realistic fashion. Perfect for an intermediate drummer stepping up their playing to a new level.

Acoustic-like cellular silicone drums – The toms on this kit feature cellular silicone material which gives you a response and stick bounce similar to a traditional acoustic kit.

The silicone drums are a real treat to play on and allow you to experience a more authentic feel with the portability and convenience of an e-drum kit.

Pro-level snare functionality – The snare pad on the DTX582K boasts three trigger-zones, unlike many similar drum kits that only use single or dual-zone pads.

This means you can really make use of your abilities and incorporate dynamic sounds from the snare, different rhythms with cross-sticking, and even add in rimshots.

Those little added elements can turn your already solid drumming into main-stage material.

Effective coaching programs – Built into the DTX502 module are 8 different coaching programs that can accelerate your progress and help you reach your drumming goals in less time.

From groove coaching to fill training and play-along programs, you can quickly improve your drumming with real-time correction and assessments straight from the module itself.

Multi-zoned chokable cymbals – A feature that allows a greater range of creativity, opening up a new world of grooves, fills, and dynamics.

Not only are there three trigger zones and choke triggers, but the unique pre-choke function lets you add yet another level of depth to your patterns that you simply can’t do on a kit designed for beginners.

What you get with the Yamaha DTX582K

Five-piece drum kit – Bass drum, snare drum, 2x rack toms, floor tom, hi-hat, crash, and ride cymbals.

DTX502 drum module – Over 600 Yamaha sounds come together to create beautiful, rich and dynamic sounding drum sets. Use the built-in kits or create your own with the customisations that you desire.

Plus there’s all the usual great Yamaha features: Aux-in capability, programmable metronome, tempo and volume controls and built-in songs.

In conclusion, I was pretty blown away by this kit.

The over-all acoustic-like drum heads and exceptional module plus the multi-zoned snare, cymbals, and hi-hat stand make this a real stand-out kit for an intermediate drummer.

For someone that wants to be able to play expressively, and level up their skills at the same time – look no further than the Yamaha DTX582K.

What you’ll need for the Yamaha DTX582K

To start playing on the DTX582K drum kit, you’ll also need a pair of headphones, a pair of drumsticks, a bass pedal and a drum stool or throne.

You can often save some money on these accessories by buying your drum kit as part of a bundle.

With features you would only otherwise find on high-end drum kits, all packed together at an affordable price.

When I think about an all-round “fun” drum kit to play on, I’m looking for a kit that’s comfortable and effortless to play, highly responsive, is built to last and has the kind of features that get me excited to sit down and practice.

Simply put, the Roland TD-1DMK ticks all the boxes…

Why the Roland TD-1DMK

There are a few features that make this kit such a thrill to play on, but here are the stand-outs…

Double mesh heads – Not only do they look great, but the mesh drum heads feel effortless to play – each drum head is a highly responsive surface which makes practice even more enjoyable.

Chokable cymbals – Just like the real thing, you can choke your cymbals using your hand. This lets you play around with more expressive fills and varied patterns to keep things fresh and entertaining and add another dimension to your drumming.

Coaching functions – The Roland TD-1DMK trains you to become a better drummer, with tools including play-along music (that tracks your progress) and recording functions that let you listen back to yourself playing.

The game-like quality of these practice tools makes them great fun to use and integrate into your practice.

‘Melodics’ interactive app – By simply plugging in a device via the USB port, you can use the Melodics app, giving you access to new drum fills, patterns, and classic drum break samples from popular songs.

As you progress and level up through the app, you unlock more and more features, including 40 new drum kits with their own unique sounds.

This expands the possibilities with the Roland TD-1DMK tremendously and will add a new level of creativity to your playing.

High-quality sounds – Even at a cheaper price point, the Roland TD-1DMK packs a punch with 15 drum kits that sound fantastic compared to other kits in the same price range, meaning you’ll enjoy listening to yourself play even more.

What you get with the Roland TD-1DMK

If you were to get your hands on the Roland TD-1DMK today, here’s what you’d find ready-to-go in the box…

Five-piece drum kit – Kick/bass drum, mesh snare drum, 3 mesh tom-toms, hi-hat, crash cymbal, and a ride cymbal.

The hi-hat pedal is included, but you’ll need to buy your own kick pedal to use the kick pad (read on for our advice on what you’ll need for this kit).

Drum-module – Your all-in-one control center with coaching functions. A metronome, play-along music, recording function, timing and tempo tests, MIDI/USB connectivity, and a stereo-in to play along to your own favourite music through an audio device.

15 high-quality drum kits – Whatever genres of music you love, the drums are rich and authentic-sounding, true to the Roland reputation.

Put simply, there are so many opportunities to enjoy yourself with the mix of high-quality sounds, natural feeling drums, interactive Melodics app, coaching functions, and upgradable drums, that this really had to be my choice for the most fun drum kit to play on.

What you’ll need for the Roland TD-1DMK

While you probably can’t wait to get started playing the drums, there are a few extra essentials you’ll need to complete your drumset.

You’ll need a pair of sticks, a bass drum pedal, and a drum stool/throne to sit on, plus a pair of headphones to hear yourself play and an aux cable if you want to play along to music.

It can be very confusing to work out exactly what you need – so I’ve created a handy list on Amazon where you can find the drum set and my recommended choices for everything else you’ll need to start playing and having fun.

Let’s break down the real stand-out features and see why this kit is the best choice for pro features at a mid-level price…

Acoustic-like drum heads – The dual-mesh pads this kit features lifts it above other brands, but that’s not all…

The real winner among the bunch is the PDX-12 snare drum with its true-to-size 12” diameter and incredibly realistic response that makes even the most novice player have a better drumming experience from the get-go.

Pro-level drum module – The TD-17KV comes with an impressive drum module with functions you’d usually only find in top-tier kits.

A prominent example is the ability to import your own drum sounds and customise and tune your sounds extensively to take even the most simple rhythms and fills to the next sonic level.

Practice and coaching functions – Every pro needs to keep their chops up. This kit lets drummers of any level keep their drumming tight, and make the most of their practice sessions with a built-in coaching mode.

Warm-up, practice to the included exercises or see what level you’re at with instant feedback and analysis.

High-end drum sounds – The Roland TD-17KV benefits from a wealth of top-quality drum libraries straight from the much higher-end TD-50 drum line, with all their rich sounds and great dynamic range that help you play expressively like a pro.

What you get with the Roland TD-17KV

Five-piece drum kit – Bass drum pad, 12” snare drum, 3x 8” toms, 10” tom, hi-hat, 2x 12” cymbal pads for the crash or ride.

The kit also comes with a foot pedal for the hi-hat, but you’ll need your own bass drum pedal.

TD-17 drum module – An intelligent ‘brain’ that allows extensive control and customisation of your drum kit.

It also features a USB port for easy computer connectivity, AUX input and even Bluetooth to play along to your favourite tracks from your phone, and an SD card slot to import new sounds for your drum kit.

50 drum kits – Over 300 sounds from the top-tier Roland TD-50 drum line make up the 50 preset drum kits included in the drum module.

And if you ever want to make your own, there are 50 additional slots to design your own personal kits.

With all that in mind, there really isn’t a better kit out there with a set of pro-level features for a mid-level price.

The Roland TD-17KV easily takes the cake… and eats it too.

And the customisation options mean you can upgrade your drums when you feel the need to without breaking the bank too much.

Serious value for the financially-minded drummer that still wants to get the best sound possible from their kit.