Drums are a notoriously loud instrument, and if you live with others or have neighbors very close by, this factor alone may put you off learning how to play them. But if you want to learn a new musical instrument or are an avid drum player who doesn’t want to disrupt everyone around you, you might be interested in purchasing a quiet drum set.
The best quiet drum sets completely mimic a real drum set, but are much quieter to play! There are many out there on the market that will feel like a proper set, even giving you an authentic sound to match so you can really practice your skills.
However, with so many different types of quiet drum sets available, it can be tricky trying to pick the right one. Do you really need a quiet drum set? Are there certain things you should be looking for? Luckily for you, we have complied a buying guide below laying out everything there is to know about the quietest drum sets and have even included some of our top picks to buy. Keep reading on to find out more.
Quietest Drum Sets – Comparison Table
Product Image | Product name | Features | Star Rating |
---|---|---|---|
1) Alesis Nitro Kit Electronic Drum Set | Dynamic, comfortable pads 8 inches high quality Kick pad tower | 4.5 out of 5 | |
2) Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit | Mesh heads ensure quieter playing Options for plugging in headphones and a speaker Large kit acts as a great starter kit, Easy to setup | 4.6 out of 5 | |
3) Carlsbro CSD130 Electronic Drum Set | Pads provide an authentic yet quiet experience, 8 piece drum set 250 high-quality percussion voices and 20 preset drum kits Options for plugging in headphones or amplifier | 4 out of 5 | |
4) Alesis CompactKit 4 Tabletop Electronic Drum Kit | Tabletop kit with four drum pads Smaller and more compact than other sets A quiet set with a headphone output for quiet playing | 4.3 out of 5 | |
5) PAXCESS Electronic Drum Set | Tabletop drum kit with 6 pads and 2 foot pedals Great for conserving space Super quiet | 4.5 out of 5 | |
6) Pyle Portable Tabletop Drum Set | Versatile Digital Drum Kit Connect To Mac & Pc Play The Drums Anywhere | 4.4 out of 5 | |
7) Alesis Surge Mesh Kit | Natural feel, premium response Crash w/choke Connectivity covered | 4.6 out of 5 | |
8) Pyle 7 Pad All-in-One Electronic Drum Kit | Tabletop drum kit with 7 drum pads Powered either by mains or by battery Compact and portable | 4.5 out of 5 | |
9) Drum Workshop Go Anywhere 5-Piece Set Practice Pad | 5 piece non-electronic drum set, Easy to transport Heavy duty construction Still provides a quieter sound than a regular acoustic set | 4.5 out of 5 |
Do I Need A Quiet Drum Set?
If you live in the middle of nowhere, with no roommates, family, neighbors or other people around, you may not need a quiet drum set! A quiet drum set is only needed if you’re worried about disrupting others while playing — something that may come across most drum players minds!
Drums are one of the loudest instruments and if you (or your friend, neighbor, spouse or child) decides to take up playing drums as a hobby, you may find it annoys everyone. This is where a quiet drum set can be very useful. They are an easy alternative to soundproofing a room, if you have no other reason to do so. You get the same experience as playing the real drums, but you won’t be making as much noise, which is great for everyone involved!
Factors To Look For In A Quiet Drum Set
The best quiet drum sets are often known as electronic drum sets. Electronic drums are known for being a lot quieter and a lot more versatile than acoustic drum sets. That being said, there are still a few things you should look for in a quiet drum set to make sure you are getting the best electronic drum for your home and practice.
Noise Level
Of course, if you’re looking for a quiet drum set, the first thing you are going to consider when buying is the noise that these drums make! If you’ve got people around, you’ll need your kit to be as quiet as possible when you hit it so it isn’t too disruptive.
Not only do electronic drums make less sound when you hit them, but you can also electronically adjust the sound to be louder or quieter depending on what you are playing. There are also options for you to plug-in headphones, so no one else can hear what you are playing and all they will hear is the light tapping of sticks on the drums.
Size
You may be living in a small apartment or home and not only be worried about the neighbors hearing you play the drums, but also about the amount of space a drum kit can take up. An electronic drum kit is usually much smaller than an acoustic, which is perfect if you’re new to the drums or just giving them a go. Electronic kits can also pack down smaller and be stored in a cupboard or under your bed.
Modes
As we have mentioned above, electronic drum sets are usually a lot more versatile than acoustic drums. They can come with many different features such as training modes and play-along-songs, perfect if you are new to the drums and want to get better quicker. You also get a variety of digital sounds in e-kits, so you can customize the sound you produce for different music genres. Electronic drums also allow you to record your own music and play it back, or plug in an mp3 or CD player to play along to.
Portability
If you’re a drummer that does a lot of travelling, you’ll want to look for a portable drum set. Electronic drum sets are usually lighter than other drum kits and will pack down a lot more easily for you to move around with.
If you’re ready to find the best quietest drum set to hone your drumming skills, take a look at the best drum kits we recommend below. These are all available to you on Amazon.
Top 9 Quietest Drum Sets — Reviewed
1) Alesis Nitro Kit Electronic Drum Set
Drums are one of the loudest instruments that you can play, but this drum kit lets you play the drums in a quieter way. You get four drums along with two pedals and three cymbals that help you play your favorite songs. The included kick pad tower helps you change the sounds and settings and works with the pedal for the bass drum. Thanks to the rubber pads added to the top of each drum, you produce only as much noise as you want. This drum kit is great for days when you want to practice a new song or play music without disrupting others.
Key Features:
– Dynamic, comfortable pads
– 8 inches high quality
– Kick pad tower
2) Alesis Drums Nitro Mesh Kit
The Alesis drums provide an immersive, expressive drumming experience. With an 8 inch dual-zone mesh snare drum, 3 x 8 inch mesh toms, 3 x 10 inch cymbals, custom-designed Alesis hi-hat and kick pedals, and a durable four post aluminum rack, this kit gives you everything you need to start playing right out of the box. The mesh heads ensure that the sound of the sticks hitting the drums is very quiet, and there is also the option to plug in headphones as well as a speaker for louder playing.
There are 385 drum and cymbal sounds and 40 ready-to play sets so you can explore different genres and styles of music, and there are also 60 built-in play-along tracks, so you can learn quicker. What’s more, this kit comes with drumsticks included.
Key Features:
– Mesh heads ensure quieter playing
– Options for plugging in headphones and a speaker
– 385 drum and cymbal sounds, 60 built-in play-along tracks and 40 ready-to play sets
– Large kit acts as a great starter kit
– Easy to setup
3) Carlsbro CSD130 Electronic Drum Set
The Carlsbro electronic drum set is a complete 8-piece drum set that is ready in minutes. With a 7.5” dual-zone snare pad, 3 x 7.5” single-zone tom pads, a 10” crash cymbal pad with choke, a 10” ride cymbal pad with choke, a 10” hi-hat cymbal pad and controller pedal, and a 2” bass drum pad with professional kick pedal, you have everything you need to start your drumming journey. There are 250 high-quality percussion voices and 20 preset drum kits included so you can explore your musical abilities and sounds.
The pads have been designed to give you an authentic feel while playing, while also keeping the noise down without affecting the sound quality. There is an option for you to plug in headphones or amplifier, too. Even better, this kit folds down small for easy portability.
Key Features:
– 8 piece drum set
– Pads provide an authentic yet quiet experience
– 250 high-quality percussion voices and 20 preset drum kits
– Options for plugging in headphones or amplifier
– Easy to set-up and pack down and easy to transport
4) Alesis CompactKit 4 Tabletop Electronic Drum Kit
The Alesis CompactKit 4 drum kit is a tabletop drum kit with four drum heads and a built in powerful speaker. Great for those who need to save on space or those who aren’t sure they’re ready for a full drum set quite yet, this tabletop kit provides you with a smaller space to play while still getting an authentic feeling. There are 70 electronic/acoustic drum kit voices, 10 effect voices built in and 50 play along songs to develop your drum skills.
While there is a built-in speaker so you can play your music out loud, there is also a headphone output so you can have a quiet practice without annoying the neighbors. There is an AC power adapter included, but this kit can also be battery powered — great for portability.
Key Features:
– Tabletop kit with four drum pads
– Smaller and more compact than other sets
– A quiet set with a headphone output for quiet playing
– Loud built-in speaker when needed
– 70 electronic/acoustic drum kit voices, 10 effect voices built in and 50 play along songs
– Can be both AC powered and battery powered for great portability
5) PAXCESS Electronic Drum Set
The PAXCESS electronic drum set is another tabletop drum set that comes without a stand. Perfect for those who are new to the drums or need to conserve on space, this kit is easy to move around and can be used by anyone in the house. It comes with 1 snare, 3 toms, 1 crash, 1 hi-hat and two foot pedals that play the sound of bass drums. There are also 8 demo songs and 3 rhythms for you to play around with. Because this set is small and tabletop, it is one of the quieter kits on our list, yet you can plug in your headphones so you can listen as loud as you want.
There are built-in speakers too, for when you want to play out loud. Charged by a rechargeable battery, you can 10 hours of playtime with this kit before charging again and you can also connect the kit to the computer to produce music or play games.
Key Features:
– Tabletop drum kit with 6 pads and 2 foot pedals
– Great for conserving space
– 8 demo songs and 3 rhythms
– Super quiet
– Headphone port and built-in speakers
– Rechargeable battery gives 10 hours of playtime
6) Pyle Portable Tabletop Drum Set
Turn your living room into a nightclub with this portable drum set from Pyle. All you need is a flat surface to use the set such as a desk or table. You get seven drums along with two foot pedals that work together to play all of your favorite songs. Thanks to the included AC adapter, you can plug in the kit and use it anywhere. It also runs on six C batteries if you want to play when you don’t have access to an outlet. The kit also features a digital display on the top and a USB cord for using it with your computer. You can play for hours without anyone hearing you.
Key Features:
– Versatile Digital Drum Kit
– Connect To Mac & Pc
– Play The Drums Anywhere
7) Alesis Surge Mesh Kit
You can go wild with the Alesis Surge Mesh Kit and live out your rock star fantasies while ensuring that the people around you don’t hear a peep. This set features an eight-inch mesh kick drum tower that you control via the included foot pedal. The three cymbals and other parts recreate the feel of a full drum set but have soft pads that absorb the noises that you make when hitting the drums. Alesis gives you 60 tracks that you can play along with and 385 different sounds. You can also adjust the kit to make it fit 40 configurations. This kit is perfect for playing rock, jazz, funk and dance music.
Key Features:
– Natural feel, premium response
– Crash w/choke
– Connectivity covered
8) Pyle 7 Pad All-in-One Electronic Drum Kit
The Pyle 7 Pad All-in-One electronic drum set is a tabletop drum set that has 7 drum pads and two foot pedals, allowing you to recreate an authentic drum set sound in a much smaller, portable way. Great for both professionals and beginners, this kit remains quiet as you play but still gives you the full experience. It comes with 55 presets, 10 custom preloaded drum kits, 300+ cymbal/drum sounds, and a drum trainer learning mode for beginners, so you can explore different music and sounds as you play.
The drums digital top panel control center comes equipped with an LCD screen and a ton of audio configuration controls that will allow you to create, record and edit you music, and you can also connect this tabletop to your computer. Powered either by the mains power or a battery, this drum kit can be taken wherever.
Key Features:
– Tabletop drum kit with 7 drum pads
– Powered either by mains or by battery
– Compact and portable
– 55 presets, 10 custom preloaded drum kits 300+ cymbal/drum sounds
– Quiet noise
– LCD screen that allows you to create, record and edit you music
9) Drum Workshop Go Anywhere 5-Piece Set Practice Pad
This 5 piece drum set from Drum Workshop is great for those looking for a smaller setup, a practice kit or a kit that they can easily transport. With two 8″ pads for tom and cymbal, two 10″ pads for snare and floor tom and one bass drum pad, this kit has everything you need to get started and begin learning the drums.
The only non-electronic kit on our list, this drum set has a heavy duty construction, natural feel and rebound and, while it may be a little louder than some of the electronic kits mentioned here, it is still quieter than your regular acoustic kit. Easy to set up and pack down, this kit is portable and perfect for tight spaces, great as any starter kit.
Key Features:
– 5 piece non-electronic drum set
– Heavy duty construction
– Still provides a quieter sound than a regular acoustic set
– Perfect for small spaces
– Easy to transport
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Summary
If you like your tech and you’re thinking about taking up the drums or are a confident player already and want to be able to practice more without disturbing the neighbors, a quiet drum set might be for you. Also known as an electronic drum kit, these kits come with many benefits over acoustic drum sets, including their size, probability and extra features, such as modes and recording abilities. With so many different types of electronic drum sets out there, you’ll be sure to find one that fits into your home and is quiet enough to keep everyone happy.