Electronic Drums
Why wouldn’t you go electric now?
Electric drums were first created in the 1970’s and the first use that I know of their use is on the Moody Blues ‘Procession’ from 1971’s release Every Good Boy Deserves Favor and it featured Graeme Edge’s electronic drum kit. Apparently, Graeme worked with Professor Brian Groves to create an electronic drum kit. Later in the 70’s, Yamaha, Simmons, and Pollard made some of the first electronic kits. Most of the drummers thought that these early electric drums were inadequate and only gave an approximation of the sound of acoustic drums. They had decreased range of tone and dynamics. They were often only used when a specific pattern or beat was needed repeatedly, such as in Disco, Techno, and some Rock. As the years went on, it becomes obvious that the technology has been perfected and but that the attitudes of drummers hasn’t really changed as fast as the technology.
Even when modern drummers are convinced of the sonic quality of the electric drums, there is still a reluctance to use them live. Most of the established arena concerts still use the acoustic drums instead of digital drum sets even if they have used them in the recording studio. Why? Is it that digital drums are still associated with disco, etc.? Are they less musical? Are they wimpy? Do real drummers only play acoustic drums? Is there a “code of drummers” that makes them pick acoustic over electric drums? Is there some kind of psychological pain associated with drumming on an electric drum set?
It is time for the parents of young drummers to make the change. You can find inexpensive digital drum sets that sound very realistic, allow for practice without the volume, allow for expansion, and are easier to transport. It is apparently the young who will finally break the barrier into electric drum sets. Not only the sound and quality of the sound but the drumming
experience has been improved dramatically since the 1970’s. Anyone considering their first set of drums should really be looking at an electric drum set.
This site is dedicated to the promotion of digital drums and we hope that this and future articles are helpful to you.