It doesn’t matter how old you are—it’s never too late to start playing the drums. Many adults pick it up later and enjoy it to relax or be creative. Drumming helps with stress, improves coordination, and is a fun way to channel energy.
You might think drumming requires a lot of space or makes too much noise, but drums can surprisingly be compact, quiet, and easy to store if you choose a suitable kit.
Acoustic or electric?
Acoustic drums, while considered the ‘real deal,’ can be challenging to practice in most homes unless you live in a soundproof environment. Acoustic drums are loud and can bother your family or neighbors, especially if you’re playing rock or metal. Electronic drum kits are a great option because you can use headphones to practice quietly and still get the feel of real drums.
For beginner adults, start with a quality electronic drum set that allows quieter practice on your terms. In the future, if your situation allows, buy a second drum kit, one that’s acoustic. Having both electric and acoustic kits gives you flexibility for practice time and develops your skill on both types of instruments because they play slightly differently.
Electronic drums easy to store away, move around, and are much lighter than acoustic drums. E-kits also allow for the flexibility of customizing the sounds, which makes the playing experience a lot more fun, especially kits with reverb.
How much to spend?
For your first drum set, stay within the $300 to $700 range. This ensures you invest in a quality kit without overspending before fully committing. Off-brand kits under $300 may seem tempting, but they often lack durability and playability for a positive learning experience. Brands like Alesis, Yamaha, and Roland offer excellent options that balance affordability and quality.
The Alesis Nitro Pro is a great choice for adult beginners because it’s affordable, durable, and has features that are perfect for beginners.
The Alesis Nitro Pro is a standout option for adult beginners, designed with features that make learning accessible and fun. Its sturdy frame and taller design make it comfortable for drummers of all ages. You can use Bluetooth to stream music or lessons to your headphones. The kit’s mesh pads ensure a quiet practice session. Compared to acoustic drums, playing and practicing at home without disturbing anyone is only possible if you have a soundproof room.
While I didn’t start playing drums as an adult, I understand the unique needs of older players. Choosing the right gear is vital, especially if you’re in it long term. You’ll want something easy to play, comfortable, and packed with features tailored to adult learners.
You could choose an acoustic drum set, but I suggest starting with the Alesis Nitro Pro for most beginner adults learning drums. It’s bigger and taller than most beginner kits, has Bluetooth for streaming songs and lessons to your headphones, a solid frame, and is very quiet for practicing. You won’t disturb others while practicing, and no one will hear you struggling at first. The Nitro Pro is a killer value for the price.
The kit comes with eight drum and cymbal pads and sets up like a regular 5-piece acoustic drum set. Since the Alesis Nitro Pro doesn’t include a drum throne or headphones, you’ll need to grab these separately. The included sticks are okay, but I suggest grabbing a pair from a good brand like Vic Firth.
For beginners I suggest:
If the throne and headphones are too expensive, some budget options are the Gibraltar 6608 and the Alesis DRP100s.
Don’t just use any random chair you have lying around instead of picking up a throne. You won’t be able to control your seated height, and a chair may not support your back properly while you play.
The pads on the Nitro Pro are very responsive; you can even adjust them to your liking with the drum key. Typically, I leave them where they are from the factory, but some drummers like to tune them lower to mimic the feel of acoustic drums, and some tighten them to get a more responsive playing experience.
The Nitro Pro has 36 sound presets. You can customize up to 16 user kits with any sounds on the module. The kit’s Bluetooth functionality makes it easy to jam along to music from your library. In testing, my iPhone connected to the Nitro Pro in seconds, and I could stream music from Spotify to the drum module and jam along. Listen below to some of the sounds of the Nitro Pro.
An added benefit of the Nitro Pro is the 90-day subscription to Drumeo Edge. This online drum course holds your hand and walks you through the entire process of going from a total beginner to advanced with its detailed video courses. They also have a massive library of drumless tracks from famous artists, so there’s always something fun to play along with. Their platform isn’t explicitly tailored to younger players; they make it easy for older adults to start playing the drums.
For metalheads, the Nitro Pro is compatible with double bass drum pedals. In my testing, it performed well, even though I’m not great at quick double bass technique.
Compared to the Alesis Nitro MAX
Many electronic drum sets in this price range feel too small and compact. Its little brother, the Nitro MAX, is more affordable but is better suited to younger players. When I tested that kit, I found it too short and required using furniture risers to get it to my height. I’m by no means tall, at 5ft 7in, so that should give you an idea of the limitations of that drum set.
The Nitro Pro decimates its smaller sibling, the Nitro MAX, in performance. While the MAX may appeal to younger players, the Nitro Pro’s adjustable frame and larger pads make it better suited to adult drummers. The Nitro Pro also has more sound presets, making the experience more fun, especially if you’re particular about how the drums sound.
The Nitro MAX and Nitro Pro feature BFD sound samples, which are higher quality than you’ll get from most beginner electronic drum sets. If you sound good while playing, you’ll be more inspired to practice more often.
| Nitro MAX | Nitro Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Kick | 6″ rubber pad kick tower | 8″ mesh kick tower with double kick compatibility |
| Snare | 10″ dual-zone snare drum | 10″ deep dual-zone snare drum |
| Toms | 8″ single zone toms | 8″ dual-zone toms |
| Rack | Standard Nitro rack | Steel rack with extended height and superior stability |
| Cymbals | 10″ hi-hat, ride, and crash with choke | 10″ hi-hat, ride with choke and crash with choke |
| Drum Module | 48 kits (32 BFD, classic and modern + 16 user) | 440+ sounds | 52 kits (36 BFD, classic and modern + 16 user) | 500+ sounds |
How much time for practicing?
For beginner adults, consistency is vital. Setting aside 30 minutes to an hour daily will help you progress steadily, allowing you to build coordination and stamina over time. Start with simple exercises, focusing on basic beats and hand-foot coordination, and gradually increase the complexity. If you want to progress as fast as possible, I’d combine the included online drum course from Drumeo with in-person lessons from a local teacher.
Other kits at this price point
At a similar price point to the Nitro Pro, you’ll find options like the Roland TD-02KV, ddrum E-Flex BT9, Yamaha DTX452K, and Behringer XD80UDB. What’s surprising is that none of these kits offer mesh drum heads on the toms or include many of the features that come standard with the Nitro Pro
If you’re ready to start your drumming journey, the Alesis Nitro Pro is a perfect option for beginner adults. Check it out at Sweetwater to see if it fits your budget. Check out my full review of the Alesis Nitro Pro here. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
