Sick and tired of your kids driving you crazy running around the house with all that pent up excitable energy?
Or maybe your little one has taken an interest in drumming but there’s only so much banging of pots and pans you can take?
If that’s the case then an electronic drum solution might be the answer to all your problems!
In this insider's guide, you’ll learn the following:
- What Are Electronic Drums For Kids?
- What Are The Different Types of Electronic Drums For Kids?
- What Should I Look For In The Best Electronic Drums For Kids?
- And much more!
Below is a quick list of all my top electronic drum options that will keep your kid occupied for hours. Keep scrolling to learn more about my best buying tips and tricks for electronic drums for kids.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
My Top Pick  | My Top Pick | Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit
|
| View on Amazon |
Best High-End  | Best High-End | Roland TD-1DMK V-Drums Electronic Drum Set
|
| View on Amazon |
Best Budget  | Best Budget | Pyle 7 Pad PTED06 Tabletop Drum Kit
|
| View on Amazon |
 | Roland TD-1K Entry-level Electronic V-Drum Set
|
| View on Amazon | |
 | PAXCESS Electronic Roll-up Drum Set
|
| View on Amazon |
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated 4/10/2020
If you’re looking for an affordable, well made and feature-packed kit that will get your kid started on their drumming journey, then you’d be hard-pressed to find anything better than the Alesis Nitro Mesh drum set.
With full mesh heads, 50 drum kits, 350+ individual drum and percussion sounds, play-along tracks, PC/USB midi compatibility, and a bass drum pedal included...your little prodigy will have everything they need to take on the awesome world of drumming!
Top 5 Best Electronic Drums For Kids
In a hurry? Check out my top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these best electronic drums for kids.
What Are Electronic Drums For Kids?
Unlike traditional acoustic drum sets, electronic drums usually consist of rubber or mesh pads that, when hit with drum sticks, play recorded samples of acoustic drums or other electronic-based sounds.
The main benefit of choosing electronic drums over acoustic ones is that they are much quieter.
Usually, the drummer will listen to the ‘triggered’ sounds through headphones, meaning that everyone else will only hear the tapping of the rubber/mesh pads (which is infinitely quieter than an acoustic drum kit)
...your neighbors will thank you.
Electronic drums also allow your kids to practice much more often without driving everyone else crazy!
When I started drumming I had a big loud acoustic kit in my garage that I would bash for hours (very badly)...until the neighbors eventually had enough. I was then limited to 30 mins a day after school.
As someone that had caught the drumming bug badly, that just wasn’t enough!
Also Read: Top 5 Best Headphones For Electronic Drums
I saved my pocket money and worked odd jobs for months, and eventually (with the help of my parents) I bought a used Roland electronic drum kit.
Suddenly I could jam for HOURS, practicing and smashing away to my favorite tunes without annoying anyone...amazing. (and my drumming improved massively because of it)
When buying electronic drums for kids there are a few considerations that have to be made that are different from adult drummers. Some main things to keep in mind are kids' small height/size, their attention span as well as the overall accessibility and ease of use of the electronic drums.
Let’s have a look at some of the different electronic drum sets available, to help you decide which will be right for your little drummer...
What Are The Different Types of Electronic For Drums For Kids?
There are three main types of electronic drum solutions for kids. Depending on your budget and your intended use, there’s something for everyone…
Full Electronic Drum Kits
A full electronic drum kit is a drum kit that is designed to emulate the setup and feel of a real acoustic drum set (as accurately as possible).
Often this will include a multitude of rubber or mesh pads for the drums and cymbals, that are attached to a rack system and wired into an electronic ‘brain’, which houses all of the sounds.
The benefit of this type of drum kit for a child is that it gives them the feel of playing on a real drum kit...without the excessive volume.
If your kid seems genuinely interested in learning how to play the drums properly, or they’re already taking lessons then this would be a perfect choice.
The drawbacks of this style of e-drums are that they tend to be more expensive and often take up more space than desktop or portable options.
Desktop Electronic Drums
A desktop electronic drum kit is essentially a full kit, condensed into a single portable unit that can be placed on a desk. The hi-hat and bass drum pedals are usually simple on/off buttons that sit on the floor, attaching to the main unit via cables.
Also Read: What are my favorite kick pedals for an electronic drum set?
These types of e-drums are great for those with very limited space or with a smaller budget, as they tend to be much lower in price than the full-sized kits.
These kids don't have the same realistic cymbal pads found on full-sized e-kits, but the rubber pads do an OK job of triggering the cymbal sounds.
This option would also be great as a starter kit, especially if you were unsure if your kid will take to drumming fully...you can always upgrade to a full kit later on.
Portable/roll-up drum kits
Roll-up drum kits are essentially the same as desktop drum sets, except they are housed in a mat that can be rolled up for easy storage or travel.
This means they are ideal for keeping your kids entertained and practicing when you’re away on trips, or if you have very limited space at home and want something compact you can pack away easily.
Music Computer Games
The last type of drum kit I'd like to discuss are those that come with music orientated computer games such as ‘Rock Band’.
These types of computer games allow you to play along with real licensed songs.
The aim is to hit the color-coded drum pads in the right order when the corresponding color flashes up on the screen. The more accurate you are, the more points you get.
Now I’m not completely against the use of these games to introduce younger kids to rhythm and music in general.
However they don’t represent the correct way to play drum kits at all, the patterns that you play feel as though they weren’t created by a drummer (which is likely), meaning that as a tool for learning the drum kit they’re not great.
Also Read: What are the best drumsticks for your electric drum set?
I’ve played songs I know inside out on Rock Band and scored zero!... because according to the game the patterns were wrong.
These games are great as a fun musical coordination challenge...not so great as a trainer for real drum kit playing.
What Should I Look For In The Best Electronic Drums For Kids?
The best electronic drums for your kid will depend on a few important factors.
Age
The age of your child will have a big impact on the type/size of kit you should consider.
If they are under 5 years old then a full electronic drum kit probably won’t be suitable, as they will have trouble reaching the pads and pedals (even if they are adjustable).
In this case, I would recommend a compact and simple roll-up or desktop drum kit that they can play with their hands. At this age, I would only be teaching kids basic rhythm and listening games, so a full kit probably isn’t suitable anyway.
If your child is 6 years or over then a full electronic drum kit might be the way to go. They’ll be big enough to reach all the pads (adjust accordingly for the younger ones) and it’ll give them the feeling of playing on a real full-sized kit!
Ability/Interest
Another massive factor on which electronic drums you should choose is your kid's current drumming ability, or how much interest in drumming they have shown.
Also Read: Top 5 Best Amps For Your Electronic Drums
If your kid is already having drum lessons and needs something to improve those grooves without annoying the neighbors, then a full-sized electric drum kit is ideal.
If you feel unsure if your kid will take to drumming, or want to ‘test the waters’ then going for a relatively inexpensive table-top or roll out drum kit might be a better fit.
That way, if your kid really gets into drumming (yay!), you can upgrade to a full-sized kit, without the risk of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a kit that’s just going to sit gathering dust!
Available space
The amount of space you have available will also be a big determining factor in the types of electronic drums for your kids.
Full electronic drum kits take up the most amount of space (think large desk area)...however, there are some compact options available (such as the Roland TD1K).
The most space-saving options are the desktop and roll-up kits, but there’s a trade-off... in general, they aren’t as enjoyable or realistic to play.
Whatever type of kit you decide to choose, here’s a list of the best options to suit any budget...
My Reviews Of The Best Electronic Drums For Kids
Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit (My Top Pick)
In the last few years, Alesis has established a strong reputation in the electronic drumming world. They boast a wide range of electronic drum sets that combine great features at a competitive price.
The Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit is aimed at entry-level drummers looking for a robust, feature-packed full-size electronic kit that’s a pleasure to play.
I’ll be honest, whenever one of my drum students that’s on a tight budget asks what electric kit they should buy, I always recommend the Nitro Mesh kit. There’s nothing out there that can compare with the insane amount of features and sound quality at such a great price.
With 40 built-in drum kits, 60 play-along tracks, aux input for smartphones/mp3 players, mesh heads (insane at this price point!), dual-zone snare drum pad AND choke-able cymbals...it really doesn’t get much better than this for the young aspiring drummer (and practicing adult alike!).
(it even comes with a drum key and pair of sticks!)
Pros
- Affordable
- All mesh-heads
- Everything you need to get started
Cons
- Not much at this price point!
Roland TD-1DMK V-Drums Electronic Drum Set (Best High-End)
Roland has been one of the leading electronic musical instrument manufacturers since the ’70s, so if you see the Roland name on something you’re pretty much guaranteed it’s going to be a quality piece of kit.
I have used (and still use!) a whole heap of Roland equipment and they’re my ‘go-to’ for electronic drums.
With this TD-1DMK you’re getting a stripped-down, compact kit that retains many of the features found on higher-end V-Drums.
The built-in drum sounds are fantastic, whilst the all-mesh pads feel very expressive, meaning you’ll get accurate triggering with the lightest of touches.
It also includes a built-in metronome, with adjustable tempo and timing options to help keep those grooves in check.
This kit is at the higher end of my price range, therefore it will suit a child that is already serious about playing the instrument and wants something robust, effective and fun to practice at home.
Pros
- Compact
- High-quality drum sounds
- All mesh pads
- Responsive
- Well-made
Cons
- Higher price point
- Basic drum module
Pyle 7 Pad PTED06 Tabletop Drum Kit (Best Budget)
If you’re looking for something to get your kid up and playing the drums with minimal fuss, then this offering from Pyle is definitely worth checking out.
At an incredibly affordable price point, you’re getting a tabletop drum kit that has over 55 preset kits, 300+ sounds, dedicated kick and hi pedals and the ability to connect to a PC to record your jams!
It also has a headphone jack input, allowing for quieter practice sessions.
As an initial starting point for a younger kid wanting to bash along to some tunes or get their head around some drum kit fundamentals, this kit would be a great choice.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Compact and portable
- Lots of sounds
Cons
- Limited functionality
- Plastic feeling
Roland TD-1K Entry-level Electronic V-Drum Set
Unlike its big brother, this kit only has rubber pads for the tom-toms and the bass drum pedal uses a spring-loaded design (like the hi-hat pedal) rather than a ‘real’ kick pedal attached to a pad.
This pedal design is fine for kids just starting out on the drums, but getting used to the feel of a real bass drum pedal will eventually be essential when learning the drums.
This kit is an excellent choice for those looking for a more traditional kids drum kit that’s compact and won’t break the bank.
Pros
- Affordable
- High-quality sounds
- Well made
Cons
- Rubber pads
- Spring-loaded kick pedal
If you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful to let your younger kids have a go at tapping along to music then this option is perfect.
It features 7 rubber electronic drum pads, 5 different kits with 8 different songs to jam along to.
It all also rolls up into a neat portable package, allowing to take it with you on trips to keep the little one occupied.
There’s also a jack to plug in headphones...which is a great feature.
It does have separate foot pedals for the hi-hat and kick drum but in general, I wouldn’t recommend this drum kit as a serious tool for practicing the drums.
However, for younger children to get the feel of different rhythms and holding the sticks it’s not bad at all.
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Portable
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Poor quality sounds
- Some issues with reliability
My Extra Pick: Aerodrums Air Drumming Percussion Instrument
Air drumming anyone?
As an alternative to sitting down at an actual electronic set, Aerodrums have created an air-drumming solution.
Using a camera connected to a PC or Mac, the software captures the movements of the specially designed sticks, which then creates an invisible ‘virtual’ drum kit around you.
This is a great, super portable and fun way to play along to your favorite tunes or practice grooves if you are extremely short on space.
The only downside is that you’ll need a computer to run it.
Here’s a video of top drummer Gergo Borlai putting them through their paces, I think you’ll agree when I say they don’t sound half bad!
Final Thoughts On Electronic Drums For Kids
So there you have it! My roundup of some of the best options for your kids to get into the insanely fun world of drumming.
Whether you need a full-sized drum kit for the avid drum enthusiast or a fun compact option for the kid that wants to bash along to the radio now and then...I’ve got you covered!
