I’m thinking about learning to play drums for some time now and I have a question. If I’m a complete beginner should I still get a full drum set? I know you can buy a cheap electric set for like $300 but can I start with something smaller and simpler? Are there some kind of electric pads that would work for taking first steps and that would later let me progress to full drum set? It’s not that I don’t have space, I’m just not sure I will stick with it and I don’t want to be stack a big set I don’t use later. Or full set is actually the best way to start?
I love my electric drum set. Playing acoustic drums are LOUD. Like so loud that if anyone is in the house, they can’t watch TV or even have a conversation. And if you live in an apartment, forget about it. Electric drums get really expensive, but just being able to plug headphones in is invaluable.
How I learned to play drums was actually by playing Rock Band and Guitar hero (the later ones had drums, too). It sounds silly, but it teaches you to move your limbs independently and some basic patterns that lots of drummers use. I haven’t tried this, but you might be able to connect a Rock Band drum set to your computer, and get a program to make it act like an electric drum set. It might be a decent starter kit. I think the Guitar Hero drums might be a little better for this, as they have dedicated cymbals and 6 total pads, compared to Rock Band’s 5 pads (including the bass pedal in both). Neither one has a hi-hat pedal, which is a shame. But it might be good enough for a beginner.
If Guitar hero set worked for you than for example this:
https://www.thomann.de/es/millenium_md_90_mobile_drum.htm
should also be fine, right? It even has two pedals. Would that be a reasonable starting point what would later let me move to full drums?
You’ll need a kit like the following link, where the drums are placed more realistically. It’s only slightly more expensive, but you can better transfer from this to a real kit. If you need it even cheaper look up something used. Plenty of people buy stuff like this and resell when they quit or upgrade. I myself got mine used for less than €70 and while admittedly it’s not something I’d use professionally it’s good enough for practice.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_rookie_e_drum_set.htm
Thanks, I’ll see what can I find second hand but yes, if it’s significantly easier to transfer I will just get a full set.
I agree with the other commenter. Having them placed in a more realistic configuration would be much better. The one they posted looks a lot more playable.