Best Cheap Electronic Drum Set For Beginners

electronic drum sets beginner
Electronic drum sets beginner

When it comes to buying a budget electric drum set, not all are created equally. Even though cheap electronic drum set packages have come a long way, no one wants to make the wrong purchase.

Best Cheap Electronic Drum Set For Beginners
Best Cheap Electronic Drum Set For Beginners
Product Image
Product Title
*GEARANK
**Sources
Check Prices
AODSK AED-400 Electronic Drum Set
92
500+
Alesis Debut Electronic Drum Set
90
1075+
Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit - Electronic Drum Set
91
11625+
Donner DED-200 Mesh Head Electronic Drum Set
90
3050+

This is why we did extensive research and vetted cheap electronic drums under $500 using the Gearank Algorithm. So we can feature the most responsive, most playable, and absolute bargains among the current electric drum kit packages.

Having a quiet drum set for beginners is essential for those who want to hone their talents. However, if youโ€™re living with a family or in a small neighborhood, your practice hours can be limited. This is the main reason why electric drums are the ideal children’s drum set.

Aided by my 18 years of drum-playing experience, weโ€™ll find you the proper beginner electric drum set for your specific needs. Letโ€™s get into it.

Best Cheap Electronic Drum Set
AODSK Electronic Drum Set - best cheap electronic drum set

AODSK AED-400 Electronic Drum Set

Street Price:
$219.99
Manufacturer:
Product Links:
Gearank Opinion

The AODSK AED-400 offers beginners a budget-friendly, foldable e-drum set with essential accessories included. While basic in sound and feel, itโ€™s a convenient, space-saving option for casual practice at home.

GEARANK
Incorporating 450+ ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Affordable and playable
  • Comes with everything you need to start playing
  • Foldable and portable
  • Great option for kids and beginners
Cons:
  • Drum pads can get loud
  • Headphones aren’t the best, but usable
  • Has decent sounds, but still a bit digital sounding

Weโ€™re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Even with the new arrival of e-drums, you’ll rarely find electronic drums cheap enough that are of good quality. However, the AODSK AED-400 is an affordable electronic drum set that exceeds expectations. It is the cheapest electric drum set in this list, with good enough quality to be rated highly in the market.

This quiet drum set isn’t here to give a groundbreaking spin on form factor or features. Instead, you get access to everything you need to just start practicing. Fresh from the box, you get 4 x 6.5-inch drum pads and 3x 8-inch cymbal pads. The snare drum is the only all-mesh pad.

They’ve included the drum module, metal frame, headphones, drumsticks, the drum throne, and the cables you need as well. No need for a separate purchase. It’s worth noting, however, that the headphones aren’t at par with known brands, but they are usable.

The assembly is also easy to set up, and one thing that differentiates this beginner electronic drum set is that it’s foldable. This makes it convenient if you have limited space,e and you can adjust it and put it away if needed.

For practice, this comes with 150 drum percussion sounds, 15 drum kits, and 10 demo songs in different genres. The drum sounds are good but are still in the realm of that digital sound you hear in cheaper e-drums.

As for the quality of the pads and the pedals, I’d say that they are responsive but clearly in the entry-level territory. It feels similar to a practice pad, but its bounciness is, I’d say, roughly 60-70% close to a real drum kit.

Since toms are made of silicone, it can get loud if you hit it hard enough. It’s still best to use it in a bedroom or a separate rather than in a living room. Despite this, it’s still a good alternative to an acoustic drum set.

Overall, the AODSK AED-400 is a great option meant for kids and beginners alike. It could also work for adults as well but just keep in mind that it’s a bit small. Its strongest suit is the fact that you can just pick it up on Amazon, and it works right off the bat.

Features:
  • L1 x 8″ Dual-zone Mesh Snare Pad
  • 3 x 8″ Mesh Tom Pads
  • 8″ Hi-Hat Pad
  • 8″ Crash Pad
  • Hi-Hat Pedal and Kick Pedal
  • Foldable Rack
  • 150 Drum Sounds
  • 15 Preset kits
  • 10 built-in play-along tracks
  • USB/MIDI connection for using it as a MIDI controller with your computer
  • 1 x 1/8″ Headphone/Speaker output, 1 x 1/8″ Aux Input
  • Type B MIDI I//O
  • 9V DC adaptor
YouTube video
Best Beginner Electric Drum Set Overall
Alesis Debut Electronic Drum Set

Alesis Debut Kit

Street Price:
$269.00
Manufacturer:
Gearank Opinion

This best beginner electric drum set is a budget-friendly option for both kids and adults. It’s suitable for small and medium drums and features mesh heads, 10 preset kits, 60 Melodics lessons, and a compact design.

GEARANK
Incorporating 1050+ ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Compact drum kit for beginners and small spaces
  • Student-friendly features
  • USB MIDI out for drum education software
  • Great feeling mesh heads
Cons:
  • Button style pedals are a bit finicky
  • Can be outgrown quickly because of its small size

Weโ€™re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

First up is the Alesis Debut Kit. Aimed squarely at younger beginners and smaller players, this electronic kit is designed to be the ultimate learning tool with a tiny footprint for small budgets. It is the cheapest drum set, and it is rated high enough to secure a top spot.

It sports mesh heads, a plethora of electronic drum kit sounds, and 60 free lessons from Melodics. The module comes with 10 preset kits, a built-in metronome, and an integrated drum coach feature to help build your timing. It also comes with everything you need to start drumming, including the sticks, headphones, and the drum throne.

For an electronic drum set, the drum pads have a great feel. This is a good alternative to a big and noisy acoustic drum set for kids. The USB midi out is useful for triggering electric drum kits and drum education software on their PC and tablets.

The button-style pedals and kick drum pedal jack can be a bit finicky. They also could have done more with the Melodics partnership. Some report that only 5 minutes a day of free lessons are provided even with the promo code. I feel this is a missed opportunity to provide value beyond just promoting another product.

The Debut would be a great choice for all budding musical families, if not for its small size, which makes it slightly unergonomic for larger players. Still, this is a good pick if you have drastic space limitations.

However, due to the limitations in size, you might outgrow this kit fairly quickly. If you want that Alesi’s goodness with better ergonomics for adult-sized beginners, I’d recommend the Nitro Mesh.

Features:
  • 4 x 6-inch Adjustable Mesh Head Drums
  • 3 x 10-inch Cymbals
  • Bass Drum Pedal and Hi-Hat Floor Pedal
  • Sturdy metal mounting rack
  • DM-Lite drum module with 10 kits and 120 sounds
  • Connect to a computer or music player for play-along via USB-MIDI Output
  • 2 x 1/4″ Output, 1 x 1/8″ Headphones Output, 1 x 1/8″ Aux Input
  • Drum throne, sticks, headphones, and cabling included
  • Melodics learning software included
YouTube video
Dual Mesh Electric Drum Set for Beginners
Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit - Electronic Drum Set

Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit

Street Price:
$448.99
Manufacturer:
Gearank Opinion

This cheap electronic drum set offers exceptional value with tunable mesh pads, dual-zone mesh, a sturdy four-post rack, and 40 drum kits. Its versatile module and connectivity options make it beginner-friendly and expandable.

GEARANK
Incorporating 11350+ ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • Good value for money
  • Tunable mesh heads
  • Versatile sound options and easy to use
  • With USB and MIDI connectivity
Cons:
  • Mesh heads can be springy if not tuned properly
  • Cables are a bit thin
  • Needs headphone amp for high impedance headphones

Weโ€™re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit gives you quite a lot for the money. As the name implies, it features all-mesh pads along with a hi-hat, crash cymbal, and ride.

The 8″ dual-zone snare features mesh material that gives it a feel closer to an acoustic set than regular rubber pads. The same material is also used on the kit’s three 8″ mesh toms. Completing the set are three 10″ rubber cymbal pads, a hi-hat pedal, and a kick pedal with a bass drum tower.

All of these are mounted on its four-post rack, which is a definite plus if you like to strike your drumset hard. While the posts are tough, the cables are a bit thin, so proper handling and cable setup are needed.

The mesh heads have a springy trampoline feel to them that might not be for everyone, but they’re tunable, so you can mitigate this somewhat by dialing in the tension to taste.

All of these connect to the Alesis Nitro drum module, which offers 40 drum kit sounds, 385 individual sounds, and 60 play-along tracks right out of the box. More importantly, all these features are easy to access, making this kit viable even for those with zero e-drum experience.

Other features include built-in metronome, headphones out, Aux input, USB, and MIDI connectivity. It included MIDI input/output separate from the USB-MIDI output, and 2 inputs for pad expansion provide unrivaled connectivity in its price points.

Note that the headphones are meant for low-impedance earphones. Volume will be noticeably lower when using high-impedance headphones, or when you use headphones with built-in mics and a non-TRS plug. You’ll need a dedicated headphone amplifier to achieve proper volume levels. I personally use an Audio-Technica ATH-M50x for quiet practice.

All things considered, the Nitro Mesh is what I personally recommend. It is the best beginner electric drum set for under $500 you can get barring the second-hand market.

Good job, Alesis! I’ve gigged with this, and it’s very usable for an entry-level kit. The sounds are limited, and I wouldn’t go as far as to say that they are “real” sounding,g but I would use it in a pinch for live performance as I did in this video:

Demo:

Me playing the Alesis Nitro Mesh in a live recorded performance:

YouTube video
Features:
  • 1 x 8″ Dual-zone Mesh Snare Pad
  • 3 x 8″ Mesh Tom Pads
  • Kick Pad Tower
  • Hi-Hat Pad – 10″
  • Crash Pad – 10″
  • Ride Pad – 10″
  • Hi-Hat Pedal and Kick Pedal
  • Alesis Nitro Drum Module with 385 sounds
  • 40 Preset kits
  • 60 built-in play-along tracks
  • USB/MIDI connection for using it as a MIDI controller with your computer
  • 2 x 1/4″ Output, 1 x 1/8″ Headphone output, 1 x 1/8″ Aux Input, 1 x MIDI Input, 1 x MIDI Output, 2 x 1/4″ Pad Expansion Input
Mesh Head Electronic Drum Set
Donner DED-200 8-pc Mesh Head Electronic Drum Set

Donner DED-200

Street Price:
$339.99
Manufacturer:
Gearank Opinion

The Donner DED-200 impresses with 450+ sounds, dual-zone mesh pads, and chokeable cymbals at an affordable price. While less nuanced for advanced players, itโ€™s a solid option for beginners.

GEARANK
Incorporating 2950+ ratings and reviews.

Pros:

  • All-mesh heads are great for its price point
  • 450 sounds, 31 kits to choose from
  • Great option for beginners
Cons:
  • Not too sensitive to nuanced playing styles

Weโ€™re reader-supported. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The Donner brand is known for affordability, but it can be a hit or miss when it comes to quality.

The DED-200 5-pc set is a good example of what the company can do when they do things right, which is to keep the quality and features up while keeping the price low. We’ve reviewed this around 2020 to 2022 due to its price increase.

This year, it has come back with more sounds to choose from. At the heart of this set is a drum module with over 450 sounds (previously 225) with 31 kits.

It comes with features that youโ€™d normally only find on more expensive kits. Notable features include all-mesh heads and chokeable cymbals.

For the money, it gives you three toms and a snare pad, all of which are dual zone, something thatโ€™ll be hard to beat in its price range.

It also comes with a full complement of essential cymbals, which include hi-hat, ride, and crash pads.

There is even a small bass pad that you can trigger, much like acoustic drums, via the included kick pedal, and it has a dedicated foot controller for the hi-hat.

Some experienced drummers report that the set is not as sensitive to nuances in playing style as they had hoped, but they do commend it for being a basic practice kit for students.

Specifications:
  • 8โ€ณ Snare (Dual Zone)
  • 3 x 8โ€™โ€™ Toms (Dual Zone)
  • 2 x 12โ€™โ€™ Ride & Crash Pads (Dual Zone)
  • 10โ€™โ€™ Hi-Hat Pad (Dual Zone)
  • 8โ€ณ Kick Pad with Kick Pedal
  • Foldable Rack
  • DED-200 Module with
  • 450 Drum Sounds, 31 kits
  • Dual Zone Pads, 50 demo Songs
  • 1/8โ€ณ Audio Input
  • 1/4โ€ณ Audio Output, 1/8โ€ณ Headphones Out
  • Type B MIDI I//O
  • 9V DC adaptor

Electronic Drum Set Still Not Quiet Enough?

The rubber drum pads found on electronic drum sets are much quieter than acoustic drums, mesh pads even more so, but sometimes the sound transmitted through the floor from the pedals and rack can still be troublesome.

To prevent as much noise as possible from being transmitted to the floor, it’s best to have a mini drum riser with some isolation padding between your drumset and the floor. This is often done by sandwiching tennis balls between two sheets of plywood or MDF.

Here’s a video showing a basic home-made sound isolation drum riser that didn’t require tools other than a drill:

YouTube video

Here’s a more complicated option, but more stable:

YouTube video

Things To Consider When Buying An Entry-Level Electronic Drum Set

What’s the Difference Between a Premium and Cheap Electric Drum Set

When looking at the various Types of Drums and electronic drum sets available, it is important to note that there is a range of quality between more affordable and pricier models. Don’t expect cheap e-drums to have the same specs as premium models like the Roland TD-50Kv2. Although they can all provide an enjoyable experience, there are a few key differences to consider.

Build Quality

The construction quality of the best electronic drum kits is one of the most notable contrasts between budget-friendly and pricier models.

Cheaper models are usually constructed with inferior materials like plastic and rubber. More costly electronic drum kits usually have components crafted from higher-grade materials like metal and mesh, providing a more realistic and resilient playing experience. Some even utilize traditional-looking wooden shells.

Still, even with plastic construction, cheap electronic drum sets are viable training tools and are often simple to use, which means an easier learning curve.

Sound Quality

The sound quality between expensive and cheap electronic drum kits can be dramatically different.

Budget models typically have lower-grade sound modules, resulting in drum sounds that lack realism and depth.

In contrast, more expensive kits come with high-end sound modules that can produce incredibly lifelike, detailed drum sounds. Also, note that these lower-grade sound modules often come with fewer drum sounds and connectivity options.

Triggering Technology

The technological methods used to trigger sound in cheaper and pricier electronic drum kits can vary significantly. Inferior drum kits normally make use of simple stimulus methods, like force sensors or plain piezo-electric sensors. These lack accuracy and responsiveness in comparison to more complex triggering mechanisms employed in higher-end models.

High-end electronic drum kits often utilize more highly developed stimulus systems, like sophisticated piezo-electric sensors and positional sensing technology, which enable a much more precise and responsive playing experience.

Size and Portability

For those who need a convenient and portable setup for drum practice, cheap electronic drums are a great choice due to their size and portability.

Conversely, pricier models tend to be bulkier and less mobile, making them a better choice for those who require a more long-term and professional setup.

Additional Features

Advanced electronic drum kits often come with additional features that can enhance the playing experience. These features can include things like built-in effects, advanced connectivity options like Bluetooth, and programmable drum kits which include drum machine samples.

Cheap electronic drum kits, on the other hand, often come with fewer extras, which can limit the versatility and functionality of the kit. This limited feature set can still be enough for casual or beginner drummers. But if you are looking for a more immersive and diverse playing experience, investing in pricier products may be a better option.

What to Look For in a Beginner Electric Drum Set

There are several key features to consider, the most important of which is your budget. Investing too much in a kit is not a good idea for newbies. This is why the best electronic drum set for beginners are usually the cheaper ones. Still, this does not mean you should skimp on quality.

You should look for a set that fits your budget but still offers good quality and features.

Speaking of features, it is recommended to have at least four pads that function as snare, tom, hi-hat, and cymbal. And the more responsive they are, the better they are for learning.

It’s unreasonable to expect an ultra realistic feel from beginner electric drum kits. But there are good ones, as featured above. Also, pay attention to the quality of the pedal or kick drum tower that’s included in the set.

Roland TD-1DMK sound module
Roland TD-1DMK’s Sound Module

Another important consideration is the sound module. It’s a no brainer to go for one that sounds good to your ears. And even better if they have a good variety of percussion and drum sounds, that can be customized.

Connectivity is an important feature that is often neglected by first time buyers. Those with USB and MIDI connections can allow for easier integration into computer setups with studio monitors. Be wary of severely limited output options, especially if you’re planning on playing your electric drum kit on stage.

If you have limited space, or if you need to move your kit often, then go for smaller and compact e drum kits. Saving space is often the priority of a cheap drum set anyway. If you’re looking for a full-size electric drum kit, you’ll definitely have to extend your budget.

Lastly, you’ll need to consider essential accessories such as drumsticks, drum thrones, and headphones. These seemingly minor items can impact your drumming experience in big ways.

Complete List of Gear You Need to Start Drumming

Most electronic kits don’t include a few of the essentials you need, so make sure to leave room in your budget for any of the following items that you don’t already have:

  1. Drum Sticks These come in different weights, with 5A being the most popular – check out our Drum Stick Guide.
  2. Drum Throne This is what a drummer’s stool is called – they are much better than regular chairs, and you can find the highest-rated ones in our Drum Throne Guide.
  3. Headphones or Amplifier Most electronic drum kits don’t provide sound on their own. You have to plug your drum’s brain or sound module into headphones or an amplifier. To practice quietly (and not annoy the neighbors) get yourself a set of closed-back headphones – I personally use the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. If you’re going to play with other musicians or just want to enjoy the sound of your drums in the room, you’ll need an amplifier. There is a range of different amps that are good for drums – see our guide to Drum Amps, and for further information, read Things To Consider When Buying An Amplifier For Electronic Drums.

MIDI

If you want to use it as a MIDI controller or to record drums directly on your computer, then you’ll need one that sends out MIDI, which in this price range will usually be MIDI over USB. All of the kits on this list have this feature. This is the best way to break free from the built-in sounds of your e-drum kit and start getting into the world of music production.

Zones

The best electronic drum pads with multiple zones are ones that you can hit in different areas to trigger different sounds. Zones are usually concentric circles.

For example, a snare pad with multiple zones allows you to play regular snare sounds and rim-shot sounds by hitting the outer circle. The more zones you can get the wider the sound pallet is that you can work with in a single preset or custom kit saved in your sound module.

Choking Cymbals

Some electronic kits come with cymbals you can choke – this means that after you strike them, you can grab them with your hand, and the cymbal sound will immediately stop, just like with an acoustic kit.

Some electric drum sets for beginners don’t have this option, so read the details carefully if this is something you want.

Roland TD-1DMK Kick Tower
Roland TD-1DMK’s Kick Tower

Kick Tower or Kick Button Pedal

Some electronic drum sets come with a kick drum pedal that is triggered by a button on the bottom of the pedal. While some act more like a conventional kick drum pedal with a bass drum pad tower trigger that is struck with a beater.

There are some pros and cons to each variation. The conventional kind (kick tower) is closer to the feel of acoustic drums but can produce a louder sound than the kick button type, so be sure to consider this when making your selection. Also, note the more traditional bass drum pad tower is compatible with a double bass drum pedal.

Beginner Electronic Drum Set Selection Methodology

The first Edition was published in 2016. The current edition was published in 2025.

We looked at all electronic drum sets currently selling at major American online music gear retailers for less than $500 and placed the 22 most promising on our short-list for closer analysis – see the list in the Music Gear Database. We then looked at ratings, reviews, videos, and forum discussions about them, which tallied to over 22,500 sources from regular users and experts. All these data were then processed by the Gearank Algorithm to produce the rating scores out of 100 you see above. Finally we selected the highest rated options to recommend above. For more information about our unique methods, please read How Gearank Works.

About the Author and Contributors

Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide’s production – click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.

Lead Author & Researcher

The drumming gear I use includes Zildjian Cymbals, Gretsch Drums (acoustic), Yamaha electronic drum set, Evans Heads, Pearl Hardware and Vic Firth Sticks and Earplugs.

Contributors

Allen Articulo: Co-Writer and Product Research.
Alexander Briones: Supplemental Writing and Editing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.

Media / Image Credit

Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit.

The videos have been embedded in accordance with YouTube’s Terms of Service.

The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials, or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.

Comments:

35 responses

  1. Jason Horton

    We have removed the Donner DED-200 due to a price increase that made it ineligible for the main list above.

  2. Jason Horton

    The Donner DED-100 has been removed from the recommended list above due to being discontinued.

  3. Jason Horton

    When we published the April 2022 Edition, the following sets came off the recommended list above:

  4. Jason Horton

    Publication of our July 2021 Edition has resulted in the following kits coming off the recommended list above, but you can still see our analysis of them:

  5. JT

    I appreciate your in-depth reviews! What are your thoughts on the Alesis E-Drum Total for a beginner/child (age 7)?

    1. Jason Horton

      It’s not currently on our recommended list due to low ratings – I’ve published our rating here for you to compare to the ones we recommend.

  6. Jason Horton

    Due to a price increase we’ve moved our recommendation for the Roland TD-1K to the guide for The Best Electronic Drum Sets Under $1000.

  7. Jason Horton

    As a result of our October 2019 update the following kits came off our recommended list above, but you can still read our analysis of them:

  8. Julian

    thank you for your insightful post! I was wondering if there was any specific reason you hadn’t mentioned Drum from OWOW?
    It does seem like an interesting concept, what are your thoughts?

    1. Jason Horton

      Although it looks like it might be fun to play with, it’s a MIDI controller for playing ‘air drums’ which doesn’t meet the definition of an electronic drum set so it’s not eligible to be considered for this guide.

  9. Nic

    Any good for a kid learning? Table-top Electronic Drum Foldable Rubber-coated Water-resistant Pedals Sticks for $110.10.

    1. Jason Horton

      Table top electronic drum pads can be a lot of fun to play with but they don’t do much to help in terms of learning how to play a drum kit. In particular they don’t teach you how to use your feet on the hi-hats or kick drum.

      If the kid is receiving instruction then they can use a table top set to practice basic stick control with actual drum sounds which you don’t get with practice pads.

      The bottom line is that they’re more fun than practice pads but you can’t learn important drum kit techniques using them.

      1. Nic

        Great that answers addresses my concerns. My son will be starting drum lessons of sorts next year at school. I believe it’s many different forms of percussion i.e. bongos etc and it’s only for one term unless he really takes to it and I’ll look at investing further. The table top will as you say will assist him with grasping the basics and I’m hoping they take head phone so that he can play as much as he wants without driving me nuts. My daughter want to play piano so I’ll grab her a keyboard. She’s 5 so between the two of them it’ll be full noise. Which I am 100% behind and I play guitar and a bit of drums but there are limits.. haha! Thanks a lot.

  10. electronic guy

    Nice article.Thanks for sharing with us.

    1. Jason Horton

      Thank you for the compliment – don’t forget to tell your friends about Gearank!

  11. Jason Horton

    As a result of our September 2018 update of this guide the following sets were removed from our recommended list above but you can still read our analysis:

  12. Javier

    Thanx for the guide. I really like the Roland TD-1K, the chokable cymbals, the sound … Finally I went for the Yamaha, since I am a beginner and the fact that you have to pay almost 200$ for a kickpad in the Roland. The technique of the kick is missing otherwise. The Yamaha has surprised me in its integration with iphone. You can create your own kits, the training mode is amazing, can import midi songs as backingtracks. What I like most is to control garageband’s drum kits and recordit. No computer, no usb interface, just the camera kit adaptor!

    1. Subash

      HI Guys,
      appreciate to know from you guys as i am a beginner also from United Arab Emirates, may know which low priced edrums to buy. Here it is expensive to buy such things. can anybody help me getting a new one or second hand one for $200 and can ship to my address….Thank you guys…my email id – subashworld@gmail.com

  13. Jodi

    Hi, is the roland kits upgradeable?
    would like to have a multiple zone snare & toms pads on it as space is pretty much an issue in my apartment..

    1. Jason Horton

      Roland have a more advanced version for $100 more that has the features you want with multiple trigger snare and toms – check out the Roland TD-1KV.

  14. Ronald

    Hi, was wondering, what is the best value for absolute beginners but I’m thinking to use it for long term also, so maybe not the very basic ones (im thinking Forge kit, if I can find a good deal or even 2nd hand).

    Another thing, I live in a flat in Spain, and the wall is kinda thin, so I’d like to know how loud is the edrum?

    Last, (nippun already ask this but i just wanted to confirm), to start playing the edrum, I just need to buy the stick & the stool?

    Thanks a lot

    1. Jason Horton

      The Alesis Forge Kit does sound like the right choice for you – although they might be difficult to find second hand – plenty of people are selling old Alesis DM kits but I haven’t seen many Forge Kits second hand yet.

      The rubber heads on the snare and tom pads of the Forge basically have the volume equivalent to hitting a thick piece of rubber with a drum stick – so not very loud.

      The only extras you’ll need, other than the obvious drum sticks, are a set of headphones so you can hear your drums and backing tracks without annoying your neighbors, and a drum throne to sit on.

      1. Ronald

        Thanks for your reply

        Now, I’m more determined to buy and finally learn to play drums ๐Ÿ™‚

        Noisewise, at least now I know I cant play the drums at night, but lets see how noisy it is when I’ve bought it!

        Btw, 1 question, in terms of quality, which 1 better, Medeli or Fame, as I saw plenty of 2nd hand with good price in Europe.

        And I’m sure wont need amplifier & I have studio headphones already.

        1. Jason Horton

          We haven’t analyzed either Medeli or Fame electronic drum kits yet, not because we know of anything wrong with them, but because they haven’t had widespread availability in the USA when we’ve been doing detailed research on electronic drums.

          The European focused website audiofanzine does have some user reviews:
          Medeli
          Fame

          I hope this helps.

          1. Ronald

            Thanks for the links.
            I like what I see with fame, and with โ‚ฌ350 I can get brand new DD5500 pro (I think mid level), now im just browsing for good deals, or 2nd hand, and reviews on youtube.

  15. Anonymous

    Hey I was wondering if having multiple zones on drum pads makes it more difficult to learn.

    1. Jason Horton

      I personally don’t think so – at least not by much.

      The small amount of additional accuracy required when hitting the pads is relatively minor compared to learning to get your right arm and leg to work independently in order to play mildly syncopated hi-hat and kick patterns – at least that was my experience.

      For someone who’s just beginning to learn drums, I don’t think it matters too much if they get a single zone snare meaning they won’t be able to play rim shots – the same goes for single trigger cymbals that don’t allow you to strike the bell.

      If you start with a basic kit now and your proficiency later increases to the point where you want to use more advanced techniques, then you can always either upgrade your pads/triggers or move up to more advanced kits like these.

  16. Bale

    Hey, am buying a new kit as beginner..i would like your professional opinion on Alesis Forge Kit as it is also priced $500 same as the Roland TD1K.

    I noticed that the Alesis Forge kit is overall bigger sized compared to the Roland which in my personal opinion look like a toy..would the size of the electronic drum kit affect my ability to learn acoustic drum in the future?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Jason Horton

      You will always have slight adjustments changing between kits including changing between acoustic kits.

      The size of the kit won’t have much effect on learning acoustic drums later – the main thing is that your electronic kit has 5-pieces + hi-hats and at least 1 cymbal – 2 cymbals are better.

      The Alesis Forge kit is fairly well rated – you can see its Gearank score here.

  17. Nippun Sharma

    I am buying my first electric drum kit and I wanted to know that along the drum kit is anything else required for example an amplifier.
    Please answer.

    1. Jason Horton

      Good question Nippun.

      If your drum set doesn’t include one, you’ll need a Drum Throne to sit on while playing.

      To hear your drums you’ll either need a set of Headphones or an Amplifier. The main options chosen by electronic drummers are Drum Amps, Keyboard Amps or a Powered PA Speaker. If you’re not sure which would be best for you then read Things To Consider When Buying An Amplifier For Electronic Drums.

      Lastly, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of spare sets of Drum Sticks sitting around just in case.

  18. Maruel

    Hi,

    What about the Millenium budget kits sold by Thomann? They have a $300 one (MPS-150) that reviewers constantly praise on their website.

    Then there is the MPS-425 on the same price range as the Roland TD-1K but with a mesh snare and also excellent reviews.

    I would love to know how good these Millenium ones really are as I want to get a budget kit to learn drums that I won’t outgrow anytime soon, but I don’t want to risk spending $500 if I can spend $300 because I don’t know how good I am going to be.

    Thanks!

    1. Jason Horton

      We are currently focused on music gear that is sold by the major American retailers so we don’t have any data on Millenium kits at the moment.

  19. DC

    The behringrer XD80usb cymbals do choke. It takes a specific touch, but they do.

    Great guide!

    1. Jason Horton

      Thanks for the tip DC!

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Electronic drum sets beginner

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About the Author and Contributors

Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.

Lead Author & Researcher

The drumming gear I use includes Zildjian Cymbals, Gretsch Drums (acoustic), Yamaha electronic drum set, Evans Heads, Pearl Hardware and Vic Firth Sticks and Earplugs.

Contributors

Allen Articulo: Co-Writer and Product Research.
Alexander Briones: Supplemental Writing and Editing.
Jason Horton: Editing and Illustrating.

Media

Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of the Yamaha DTX402K and Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit.

The videos have been embedded in accordance with YouTube's Terms of Service.

The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.

35 thoughts on “Best Cheap Electronic Drum Set For Beginners”

  1. thank you for your insightful post! I was wondering if there was any specific reason you hadn’t mentioned Drum from OWOW?
    It does seem like an interesting concept, what are your thoughts?

    1. Although it looks like it might be fun to play with, it’s a MIDI controller for playing ‘air drums’ which doesn’t meet the definition of an electronic drum set so it’s not eligible to be considered for this guide.

    1. Table top electronic drum pads can be a lot of fun to play with but they don’t do much to help in terms of learning how to play a drum kit. In particular they don’t teach you how to use your feet on the hi-hats or kick drum.

      If the kid is receiving instruction then they can use a table top set to practice basic stick control with actual drum sounds which you don’t get with practice pads.

      The bottom line is that they’re more fun than practice pads but you can’t learn important drum kit techniques using them.

      1. Great that answers addresses my concerns. My son will be starting drum lessons of sorts next year at school. I believe it’s many different forms of percussion i.e. bongos etc and it’s only for one term unless he really takes to it and I’ll look at investing further. The table top will as you say will assist him with grasping the basics and I’m hoping they take head phone so that he can play as much as he wants without driving me nuts. My daughter want to play piano so I’ll grab her a keyboard. She’s 5 so between the two of them it’ll be full noise. Which I am 100% behind and I play guitar and a bit of drums but there are limits.. haha! Thanks a lot.

  2. Thanx for the guide. I really like the Roland TD-1K, the chokable cymbals, the sound … Finally I went for the Yamaha, since I am a beginner and the fact that you have to pay almost 200$ for a kickpad in the Roland. The technique of the kick is missing otherwise. The Yamaha has surprised me in its integration with iphone. You can create your own kits, the training mode is amazing, can import midi songs as backingtracks. What I like most is to control garageband’s drum kits and recordit. No computer, no usb interface, just the camera kit adaptor!

    1. HI Guys,
      appreciate to know from you guys as i am a beginner also from United Arab Emirates, may know which low priced edrums to buy. Here it is expensive to buy such things. can anybody help me getting a new one or second hand one for $200 and can ship to my address….Thank you guys…my email id – subashworld@gmail.com

  3. Hi, is the roland kits upgradeable?
    would like to have a multiple zone snare & toms pads on it as space is pretty much an issue in my apartment..

  4. Hi, was wondering, what is the best value for absolute beginners but I’m thinking to use it for long term also, so maybe not the very basic ones (im thinking Forge kit, if I can find a good deal or even 2nd hand).

    Another thing, I live in a flat in Spain, and the wall is kinda thin, so I’d like to know how loud is the edrum?

    Last, (nippun already ask this but i just wanted to confirm), to start playing the edrum, I just need to buy the stick & the stool?

    Thanks a lot

    1. The Alesis Forge Kit does sound like the right choice for you – although they might be difficult to find second hand – plenty of people are selling old Alesis DM kits but I haven’t seen many Forge Kits second hand yet.

      The rubber heads on the snare and tom pads of the Forge basically have the volume equivalent to hitting a thick piece of rubber with a drum stick – so not very loud.

      The only extras you’ll need, other than the obvious drum sticks, are a set of headphones so you can hear your drums and backing tracks without annoying your neighbors, and a drum throne to sit on.

      1. Thanks for your reply

        Now, I’m more determined to buy and finally learn to play drums ๐Ÿ™‚

        Noisewise, at least now I know I cant play the drums at night, but lets see how noisy it is when I’ve bought it!

        Btw, 1 question, in terms of quality, which 1 better, Medeli or Fame, as I saw plenty of 2nd hand with good price in Europe.

        And I’m sure wont need amplifier & I have studio headphones already.

        1. We haven’t analyzed either Medeli or Fame electronic drum kits yet, not because we know of anything wrong with them, but because they haven’t had widespread availability in the USA when we’ve been doing detailed research on electronic drums.

          The European focused website audiofanzine does have some user reviews:
          Medeli
          Fame

          I hope this helps.

          1. Thanks for the links.
            I like what I see with fame, and with โ‚ฌ350 I can get brand new DD5500 pro (I think mid level), now im just browsing for good deals, or 2nd hand, and reviews on youtube.

    1. I personally don’t think so – at least not by much.

      The small amount of additional accuracy required when hitting the pads is relatively minor compared to learning to get your right arm and leg to work independently in order to play mildly syncopated hi-hat and kick patterns – at least that was my experience.

      For someone who’s just beginning to learn drums, I don’t think it matters too much if they get a single zone snare meaning they won’t be able to play rim shots – the same goes for single trigger cymbals that don’t allow you to strike the bell.

      If you start with a basic kit now and your proficiency later increases to the point where you want to use more advanced techniques, then you can always either upgrade your pads/triggers or move up to more advanced kits like these.

  5. Hey, am buying a new kit as beginner..i would like your professional opinion on Alesis Forge Kit as it is also priced $500 same as the Roland TD1K.

    I noticed that the Alesis Forge kit is overall bigger sized compared to the Roland which in my personal opinion look like a toy..would the size of the electronic drum kit affect my ability to learn acoustic drum in the future?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. You will always have slight adjustments changing between kits including changing between acoustic kits.

      The size of the kit won’t have much effect on learning acoustic drums later – the main thing is that your electronic kit has 5-pieces + hi-hats and at least 1 cymbal – 2 cymbals are better.

      The Alesis Forge kit is fairly well rated – you can see its Gearank score here.

  6. I am buying my first electric drum kit and I wanted to know that along the drum kit is anything else required for example an amplifier.
    Please answer.

    1. Good question Nippun.

      If your drum set doesn’t include one, you’ll need a Drum Throne to sit on while playing.

      To hear your drums you’ll either need a set of Headphones or an Amplifier. The main options chosen by electronic drummers are Drum Amps, Keyboard Amps or a Powered PA Speaker. If you’re not sure which would be best for you then read Things To Consider When Buying An Amplifier For Electronic Drums.

      Lastly, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of spare sets of Drum Sticks sitting around just in case.

  7. Hi,

    What about the Millenium budget kits sold by Thomann? They have a $300 one (MPS-150) that reviewers constantly praise on their website.

    Then there is the MPS-425 on the same price range as the Roland TD-1K but with a mesh snare and also excellent reviews.

    I would love to know how good these Millenium ones really are as I want to get a budget kit to learn drums that I won’t outgrow anytime soon, but I don’t want to risk spending $500 if I can spend $300 because I don’t know how good I am going to be.

    Thanks!

    1. We are currently focused on music gear that is sold by the major American retailers so we don’t have any data on Millenium kits at the moment.

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