| A debate rages on in the drumming world! You might | | | | Electronic drum sets can be programmed with a wide |
| think that the debate centers on brands of drums, or | | | | variety of sounds and can be made to sound very |
| different styles of drums. However, you would be | | | | similar to an acoustic drum set. Often, one or two |
| wrong. This debate centers on the use of electronic | | | | electronic drums are used alongside acoustic drums to |
| drums in the music industry. | | | | simulate the sound of a missing drum. For example, if |
| There are two very strong opinions regarding the use | | | | you do not want to lug around a large bass drum, an |
| of electronic drums or drum machines. Some | | | | electric drum can be used in its place. |
| musicians and music producers love the use of these | | | | Controlling the volume on these sets is as easy as |
| kits. Others, hate them, and strongly disagree with the | | | | turning a knob to turn down the volume, which makes |
| use of electric drum sets in the mainstream music | | | | them the perfect drum set for apartment dwellers, or |
| industry. | | | | those musicians with roommates or cranky parents. |
| Types Of Electric Drums | | | | Quiet practice is a big benefit of the electric drum. |
| The main types of commonly used electric drums are: | | | | Many argue that electric drum sets are tacky. |
| | | | Because they were first introduced in the 1980's, |
| 1. Drum machines | | | | electric drums quickly got a reputation of being cheesy. |
| 2. Electric drum sets | | | | In addition, many believe that the only thing that |
| Drum machines are a widely used type of electric | | | | electronic drums are good for is for play, but not for |
| machine that have become very popular in almost all | | | | real musicians. |
| types of music. A drum machine is a small box with | | | | The Argument Against Electric Drums |
| buttons on it that can be programmed for a variety of | | | | The biggest argument against electronic drum sets or |
| different sounds, and beats. A drum machine can be | | | | drum machines is that they lack feeling. For many |
| programmed to play a continuous loop or simply a | | | | musicians, playing music is all about the feeling and |
| short set. | | | | emotion that they can project through their sounds. |
| Advantages of Drum Machines: | | | | They argue that when you take a live drummer and |
| | | | replace them with a machine, you lack the feeling and |
| 1. Convenient and portable | | | | the quality of emotion. |
| 2. Easily programmable | | | | For some types of music such as jazz and soul, |
| 3. Simulate a variety of sounds | | | | machines are not appropriate at all because these are |
| 4. Excellent for faster beats | | | | genres that exude feeling and emotional meaning in the |
| Because drum machines are so small, they are | | | | sounds created. Therefore, many musicians feel that it |
| extremely convenient and portable which makes them | | | | is extremely tacky to use a machine in these genres. |
| a popular choice for many musicians. For some bands, | | | | Although a drum machine is small and portable, you |
| if they have to hire a drummer for live shows, it can | | | | cannot improvise with a machine. It is programmed to |
| simply be much more cost effective to use a drum | | | | play a loop and that is it. There is not room for any |
| machine in place of a live drummer. | | | | impromptu changes and the rest of the musicians |
| In fact, in some cases when a drummer has quit the | | | | must be on beat, or it will be very noticeable. A |
| band, the band will simply use a drum machine in place | | | | machine cannot accompany a soloist either. Moreover, |
| of the person. This strategy is more cost effective, | | | | one of the biggest arguments with a machine is that it |
| and often easier than dealing with different | | | | is not very nice to look at! |
| personalities. | | | | Can authentic sounds truly be replicated by a |
| Drum machines can be programmed for almost any | | | | machine? That question is the basis for another |
| sound imaginable, and with a little practice, they are | | | | argument against electronic drums. Many believe that |
| easily programmable. Today's drum machines can | | | | as good as they are, computers cannot recreate an |
| store a wide variety of beats, songs and programs. | | | | authentic acoustic drum set. Critics claim that machines |
| Therefore, an entire set can be programmed into | | | | sound hollow and tinny and not at all like drums should |
| these machines. | | | | sound. |
| While electronic machines are not perfect for every | | | | What Is The Solution? |
| type of music, they are often thought of as more | | | | As with any argument, there will not be a one size fits |
| effective than acoustic drums for dance music. The | | | | all solution. The best solution for each individual and |
| beats that are required for dance music are very fast | | | | each band is to do what they like best, and what suits |
| and often a live drummer cannot keep up with them. In | | | | their sound. Many bands and musicians have created a |
| these situations, electronic machines are perfect. | | | | compromise by using acoustic drums with a mixture of |
| Electronic Drum Sets | | | | electronic drum pads and drum machines. By |
| An electronic drum kit is another very popular form of | | | | intermingling the two types of drums, you have the |
| technology that is used in drumming. These kits consist | | | | technology to create some new and interesting beats, |
| of one or more electric pads that are grouped | | | | as well as the authentic sound and emotional feel of |
| together and create sounds when they are struck. | | | | acoustics. Perhaps a compromise is the best solution |
| Most of the time, traditional drumsticks are used for | | | | to this debate. |
| these kits. | | | | |