What exactly is an electric drum set? Well, when they first came out in the early 1970's, they were a great innovation, because they produced drum sounds electronically, as opposed to the traditional drum set which produces the sound acoustically from the impact of the stick on the drum head. In an electric drum set, the sound comes from striking a trigger pad, which converts the impact into a digital waveform, thus producing the sounds. Electric drums didn't see wide use at first, however, as many found the sounds to be too 'synthetic' for their tastes.
But in the 80's, as the technology improved, more and more musical groups began incorporating the electronic drum set, usually in combination with traditional acoustic drum kits, as the electronic drums were not yet totally reliable. However, some drummers, mostly in the rock genre, did switch completely to electric drum kits. Bill Bruford of King Crimson was one. Neal Peart of Rush also made heavy use of electronic drums.
One oft-told story involving an electronic drum set is that of Def Leppard's drummer, Rick Allen. After tragically losing his left arm in a car accident, he and a few close friends came up with the idea of a special electronic drum kit that would still allow him to play. He also had a second electronic drum set made that would play pre-recorded samples of his pre-accident drum riffs whenever he struck a certain pad. Thus, while being digital and electronic, the sound produced by Allen’s electronic drum kits managed to maintain its original acoustic sound.
As the latter part of the 1980's rolled around, the electric drum set had been pretty much technically perfected, and they began to see much wider use. For example, Akiro Kimbo sticks exclusively to electronic drums, and has come up with some very innovative and interesting ways to use the instrument, thus building a very loyal fan base. Also, some companies began making electronic drum pads attached to traditional drum kits to produce a sound that was very close to that of an acoustic drum, albeit with a slight techno-electronic edge.
Of course, not everyone has switched to the electric drum set. Many drummers, be they rockers or in more mellow genres, prefer the traditional acoustic sounds. But the electric drum kit has become a popular option and allows those who choose to use it another option for applying some creativity and ingenuity to their music.
And now electric drum sets are no longer only for wealthy rockers, but are available in many different price ranges. So, with all the advances in technology that have occured since the first electric drum was produced, there is a kit that will suit your musical and financial situation.
