E-drums, or electronic drum kits, are growing in popularity with beginner and established drummers for numerous reasons. Some of the best benefits of e-drums are that they can be fully customized and manipulated to produce original sounds; they can be dismantled and transported much easier than acoustic drum kits; and the volume can be adjusted, making it easier for musicians to practice where ever they wish without fear of noise complaints. 

For new drummers, e-drums are the best option of kit. Find reviews of popular branded sets including Yamaha at https://bestedrums.com/, helping you identify the kit that sounds best for you. With e-drums you still get a feel for traditional drum sounds and set-up, but in a more compact set which you can plug headphones into, and even sync with your computer to record sound directly into digital format. 

Below are the techniques that new e-drummers should focus on at first to master the craft.

One of the most essential basics to master when first learning to play drum beats is to learn to play in time with the music (and eventually the rest of your band). Using a metronome, or a ‘clicker’, is the best way to do this. 

E-drums are especially great for this purpose because most come with a metronome incorporated into their control systems. This makes learning to play in time much easier, along with the fact that the clicker can actually be heard over the adjustable volume of your e-drum, as opposed to a very loud traditional drum kit. 

Simple, beginners drum beats can be found easily online, or a drum teacher can recommend some if you decide to go down the tutoring route. Depending on your e-drum set, some come with in-built beats and guides, as well as a metronome. E-drums can be your one-stop-shop for beginners if you choose a set with all the right features and specs. 

One of the best things about using e-drums over regular drums is that you can easily change up the location of each drum component to suit you – take advantage of this! Especially when you’re learning, having everything set out in a way that’s easy for you to reach can help you learn quicker. Don’t just go for the default settings or how someone else tells you to do it, if you think you’d find another set-up better. 

Starting out with drumming involves patience in learning where the placement of cymbals and pedals best suits you, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Finding positions that are convenient and comfortable for you will really enhance your playing experience rather than forcing ones that are difficult for you. 

This one seems obvious – but it’s important to remind ourselves that learning a new skill is time-consuming work that requires great dedication. After you’ve bought your kit and started practicing, the next step is to work out a training schedule that you’ll stick to. Whether you prefer doing 3-hour long studies or twenty-minute intense practicing, knowing how you work is key to sticking at your new project. 

If learning from a drum book or getting lessons doesn’t work out for you, all is not lost. There are plenty of different ways in the modern world to explore. You could try learning from YouTube videos – a free way of finding an instructor you like, with short videos you can dip in and out of whenever you want – or by adjusting to a new method of learning. A professional drummer online recommended the book ‘The 4-Hour Chef’ by Timothy Ferriss, which explains a new method of ‘meta-learning’ that is adapted to modern life and claims to teach people the tools to learn any new skill much faster.

Try to set yourself the task of learning a few new songs per week, and soon you’ll be good enough to join a band.