Acoustic vs Electronic Drums (The Good, The Bad & The Ugly)

• Learn the main differences between electronic vs acoustic kits
• Figure out which of these kits are actually worth buying
• Understand how the feel of the instrument changes between acoustic to electronic? 

When starting out, choosing between acoustic and electronic drums can be a difficult decision to make. And with how accessible learning to play the drums is, you probably feel more inspired to learn percussion than ever. At least, that’s how I felt when I first started in 2017…

Let’s start with the pros and cons of each type of drum kit and go from there. 

Pros and Cons

When I was home from college one night, I decided to play a few tunes on my electronic drums. I was plugged in, so I thought no one else could hear me…But I was wrong.

My mother informed me in the morning (while laughing and sipping her coffee!) that it sounded like someone was restless last night. Turns out that my parents, who were sleeping below me, could hear every (bass) drum beat I laid down…oops? 

So with that oddly specific con in mind, here are some more pros and cons to consider for each type of kit. 

Acoustic Kits

Electronic Kits

Practicality 

It’s no secret that electronic drums are more practical in most cases. It’s easier to use electronic drums in apartments, easier to move them, and much simpler to record with.  The amount of control you have over how much sound comes out of your instrument is unmatched.

 But one could also argue that a small cocktail kit could offer a similar level of practicality/portability (minus the recording and volume adjustability parts) with the perk of having you develop a more nuanced technique and dynamic range.

Differences in Feel/ Materials 

It is worth noting that electronic drums often have mesh heads, which feel vastly different from drum heads. Luckily, higher-quality electronic drums have adjustable sensitivity/ tension, but just like a hybrid digital piano vs. a grand piano, they’ll never be exactly the same.

Acoustic drumheads are typically made of plastic with some give to it, like polyester or mylar. Electronic drum heads are commonly either bouncy meshes or rubber pads. And because the common ‘meshes’ are woven nylon, they will quiet your kit but have loads of rebound (aka…bounce!). 

Sometimes it seems like the low-volume meshes have even more boing than the regular meshes. Isolation pads help but will never eliminate all sound; and because of that cursed bass drum pedal on the floor, anyone you cohabitate with will still know you’re playing.

Comparing Dynamics 

If you ask me, learning techniques like rolls and honing your dynamic range on acoustic drums is always better. If you’ve ever played on a rubber practice pad and then switched to a regular kit, you’ve probably learned quickly that playing acoustic drums is far more nuanced than the alternatives.

I first learned how to do rolls and rudiments on acoustic drums during a percussion methods class, and I am forever grateful for this as it helped solidify my drumming chops. Then on my 20th birthday, I received an electronic drumkit that fits conveniently in the spare room across from my bedroom!

It was easier to play after learning on acoustic instruments like snares and toms, but I did notice a big difference in the dynamics. I do miss being able to produce pianissimos when jamming on my Simmons. I usually get a range from medium-quiet to loud on it. And honestly, a lot of electronic kits feel/sound like this, even in the top of the range Roland kits like the VAD507.

The Recording Process

My favorite thing about my Simmons (electronic) drum set is how easy it is to record with, given the USB/MIDI out. I’ve played on acoustic drums with mics on hand, but placing them just so is no walk in the park. When I record my Simmons, everything comes out so clean and editable, too. You don’t even necessarily need an interface to record your drums with acoustics. 

As a side note, Even if I did have the proper drum mics, it takes a real pro to make everything sound like it does in the top 40 songs you hear cycling through a radio. 

If you aren’t a pro drum player (maybe you’re a classically trained flute player like myself just looking to record a quick pop tune), then honestly, it’s much easier to ‘cheat’ recordings. You can add those dynamics you lost back in with your favorite DAW software after the fact while still keeping the note emphasis/ velocity you got from playing on a kit rather than inputting everything with your computer keyboard. 

Tuning

It goes without saying that electronic instruments don’t need to be tuned. Hence the draw of both electronic drums and pianos. But if you’ve never laid hands on a drum kit, you might not know how much tuning is a factor with acoustic drums. 

Poorly tuned acoustic drums can be catastrophic to your group gig or recording session. And if you’ve never done it before, putting drum heads on a kit can take 2-3 hours and requires knowledge of which screws to tighten when, you’ll need a drum key, etc.

Tones/Timbres on the Kits

While changing up your drum heads, cymbals, and aux percussion in an acoustic kit will give you a fair few different kits and timbres, no acoustic kit is as versatile timbre-wise as an electronic one.

At the flick of a switch, you can go from a kit with an Indian tabla to a standard rock kit. Sound modules and tablet/app compatibility often broaden the number of available kits even further. This is another reason electronic kits are so popular. They’re convenient. 

Playing the devil’s advocate here for a second, though. With electronic or hybrid kits your sounds are still always going to come from a prerecorded sample. 

But this brings me to another point…Since the kits are so new,  don’t they still have some ‘growing up’ to do? 

Electronic Drums: Are They Still a Work In Progress?

A little backstory: Electronic drums have only been around since the 1970s when The Moody Blues drummer got together with a professor to create a new instrument. But with only having been around for 50 years (and much less time being accessible to the general public, which happened in the 1990s…), it leads us to ask: Are the electronic drums still a work in progress? 

My colleague recently talked about how one of his percussion students got a mid-to-upper-tier electronic Roland kit: And how the open-close hi-hat pedal doesn’t respond well.

It seems to be an electronics rather than a pedal issue, as they got a new pedal. They switched to a DW acoustic set because the student got so fed up with using the bum hi-hat. 

But this problem is far from unusual. Electronic/ sensitivity issues like triggering misfires, double triggering, re-triggering, and even something called ‘crosstalk’ (where a player hits one pad and gets a sound from another) can cause a lot of headaches.

That’s all to say that while fixing an acoustic drum is usually a relatively straightforward process, repairing an electronic kit will require a specialist. 

Accessories You Should Consider

When considering these two types of kits, remember that more accessories and replacement parts will be needed for an acoustic kit than an electronic one. You’ll go through sticks and wear out the instrument quicker.

With acoustic drums, you should consider getting: 

• Spare heads in case one gets damaged
• Extra mallets and things like brushes 
• Drum keys
• Ear protection* 
• Cymbal polish
• Cloths for dampening, cloths for cleaning
• A high-quality drum tuner

As far as electronic kits go, you’ll probably only need to purchase:

• Headphones (if you don’t already have them)
• Sticks (of course!) 
• A ¼ inch cable
• A kick pedal (if one isn’t already included) 

The cost issue is interesting when it comes to comparing these types of kits since entry-level acoustic kits are usually cheaper than those that are electronic…but you’ll also spend more cash on using sticks and heads in the long run.  

Kits Worth Buying

Here at Producer Hive, we typically recommend starting with mid-level kits to get the best bang for your buck (Yep! Even if you’re a complete percussion newbie). Here are some brands and models to check out. 

Electronic

You can expect to spend about $1,000 for a midrange electronic kit, but some for less might also suit your needs. Regarding electronic kits, some household names would be Roland, Alesis, Simmons Yamaha, and HXW.

For example, the Roland TD-1DMK is a decent kit, and the (Roland) VAD306 makes for a nice mid-tier set (I’m partial to these VADs). The Yamaha DTX-6K3 has lovely tri-zone pads and a good sound module, and Alesis makes a huge electronic kit called the Strike Pro, which may even satisfy the most seasoned and discerning acoustic players. 

Alesis also makes a nice budget kit called the Nitro, serving many folks well. I own an older Simmons, but the Titan 70 is their latest flagship, and I’ve heard many good things about it. 

Acoustic

If you are looking for a portable acoustic kit, it’s worth considering cocktail drum sets or smaller setups. Regarding normal trap kits, some household brands worth knowing about are Gretsch, Ludwig, Yamaha, Mapex, Tama, and Pearl.

Some mid-tier acoustic kits to test drive from these brands include the Pearl Decade, Ludwig Element Evolution, Tama’s Imperialstar, Gretch’s Catalina Club (jazz kit), and Mapex’s Armony line. Maple or birch shell kits are almost always a safe bet. 

FAQ

Is it hard to transition from electronic drums to acoustic drums? 

(In my personal opinion) it is much harder to transition from electronic to acoustic rather than the other way around. Often, electronic drums are much bouncier than acoustic drums, making it easier to get those rudiments and things like double-stroke rolls going. Going the other way from acoustic to electronic around is far easier.

Also, it’s not uncommon for players of electronic kits to struggle with overall dynamics when transitioning to an acoustic kit (at least, to begin with). This is often due to the way electronic kits have compression dialed into their libraries, which sort of acts as a dynamic controlling bandaid. With an acoustic kit, you don’t have automatic compression, which forces you to control the dynamics using nothing but your own limbs.

What kind of kit is best to start on? 

I have two (contrasting) thoughts here. 1. Get the one you intend to play on, and 2. Choose acoustic because it’s a bit harder, so you can (ultimately) play on either. 

Do electronic drums need an amp? 

Not always. You can use your ¼ inch headphone out, or play out loud with the help of a basic guitar amp if you have one lying around. 

Do these two kits use different drumsticks?

Many players prefer to use different types of kits depending on if they are playing acoustic or electronic. The sticks for electronic drumsets often have a different taper shape or a rubber core. You can read more about drumsticks folks use on different kits in this article by Jonathan. 

What are hybrid kits? 

Hybrid kits are electronic drums that aim to replicate the feel and sound of acoustic drums. They tend to cost more than the bare-bones electronic kits but might have shells that actually resonate so that they will feel and sound more realistic. 

Final Thoughts

As a whole, the choice between an acoustic and electronic drumset ultimately comes down to personal preference, playing style, and the specific needs of the drummer. Acoustic drumsets won’t cover up the weak spots in your technique, and maintain a dynamic range that is (in my opinion) never going to be matched by digital/electronic instruments. 

On the other hand, electronic drumsets are portable, easy to record, and more practical/convenient for many players. Electronic kits can offer you cutting-edge technology if you want the sounds of hundreds of kits and pieces of hand percussion. Offering limitless sonic possibilities and practical features for the modern drummer.