Umair Gaines
The evolution of the electronic drum kit has been a long and fascinating journey, with many pioneers contributing to its development over several decades. The story of electronic drums began in the 1930s with the creation of the first electric drum kit by Harry Mendell, using vacuum tubes and a limited range of sounds. Despite its primitive design, it found some use among jazz musicians. However, it wasn't until the 1960s that electronic drums started to gain popularity, with the release of the first commercially successful electronic drum machine, the Rhythm Ace by Ace Tone in 1967. The 1970s witnessed a significant surge in interest, with Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues creating the first modern electronic drum kit in collaboration with Brian Groves in 1971, and the launch of the world's first commercial electronic drum, the Pollard Syndrum, in 1976. The 1980s further propelled the popularity of electronic drums, with the emergence of iconic kits such as the Simmons SDS-V in 1978 and the Roland TR-77, which was widely adopted by famous musicians. The 1990s brought even more innovation, with the introduction of mesh triggers and synthesizer-based sounds by manufacturers like Yamaha and Roland. Today, electronic drums are an integral part of modern music, offering drummers a diverse range of sounds and features across genres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electro-acoustic drum set | Hollywood Meazzi's Tronic Drum set |
| Year of release | 1968 |
| Features | The Tronicdrum President (with a module mounted over the bass drum) and the Tronicdrum Golden (with a module built into the bass drum itself) |
| First electronic drum kit | Created by Graeme Edge, drummer of The Moody Blues, in collaboration with Brian Groves, a professor at Sussex University |
| Year of creation | 1971 |
| First commercially available electronic drum | Pollard Syndrum |
| Year of release | 1976 |
| Creators | Joe Pollard and Mark Barton |
| Company | Tycobrahe Sound Company |
| First fully electronic drum kit | Simmons SDS-V |
| Year of release | 1978 |
| Features | 5 modules (bass, snare, and three toms) and a signature hexagonal pad layout |
| First electronic drum kit with mesh triggers | Roland V-Drums |
| Year of release | 1997 |
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What You'll Learn
The first electro-acoustic drums
In 1968, Italian drum company Hollywood Meazzi launched the first line of electro-acoustic drums called Tronicdrum. The Tronicdrum came in two models: the President, with a module mounted over the bass drum, and the Golden, with a module built into the bass drum. Each drum had a pickup inside, and the entire drum set was mounted on wheels, making it easy to move on and off stage. While these drums included electronic components, they did not use power.
In the early 1970s, Graeme Edge, drummer for the Moody Blues, created what is considered the first modern electronic drum kit with Sussex University professor Brian Groves. Edge's electronic drum kit can be heard on the Moody Blues song "Procession" from their 1971 album "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour". Unfortunately, the kit was not marketed as it was challenging to build, expensive, and prone to mechanical failure.
In 1976, the Pollard Syndrum became the first commercially available electronic drum. Designed by Joe Pollard and Mark Barton for Tycobrahe Sound Company, the Syndrum was endorsed by notable drummers such as Terry Bozzio and Keith Moon. However, it was not a commercial success, leading to the financial ruin of Pollard Industries. In 1978, Simmons created the Simmons SDS-V, the first fully electronic drum kit with hexagonal pads and five modules. This kit revolutionized the world of drumming and marked the beginning of the electronic drum's golden years in the 1980s.
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Graeme Edge and Brian Groves' drum kit
The history of the first electric drum set can be traced back to the 1970s, when Graeme Edge, the drummer for the band The Moody Blues, collaborated with Sussex University professor Brian Groves to create the first electronic drum kit. Edge, a talented musician, songwriter, and poet, was a founding member of The Moody Blues and played a pivotal role in shaping their distinctive sound.
In the early 1970s, Edge and Groves embarked on a journey to create something revolutionary. Their invention, the electronic drum kit, debuted in 1971 on the Moody Blues' song "Procession" from the album "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour." This drum kit was not just a musical instrument but a technological marvel for its time. It featured a rubber control panel, touch-sensitive triggers, and an impressive array of 500 transistors.
The Graeme Edge and Brian Groves drum kit was a product of sheer innovation and creativity. Edge described the kit as having "pieces of rubber with silver paper on the back with a silver coil that moved up and down inside a magnet, producing a signal." This design made the drums touch-sensitive, allowing for dynamic and expressive playing. The kit also included five snares across the top, ten tom-toms, an entire octave of bass drums, and four sets of 16 sequencers, creating a vast range of sounds.
However, the drum kit had its challenges. Edge mentioned that it was "before its day" due to its extreme sensitivity. Additionally, the kit was difficult and costly to build and prone to mechanical failures, which deterred its commercialisation. Nevertheless, it laid the foundation for future advancements in electronic drumming.
The creation of the Graeme Edge and Brian Groves drum kit opened up new possibilities in the world of percussion. It sparked a wave of innovation, with companies like Simmons, Pearl, Roland, and Yamaha developing their own versions of electronic drums in the following years. The electronic drum kit evolved from a novel invention to a staple in the music industry, offering drummers a lightweight, versatile, and modern gigging kit.
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The Pollard Syndrum
The Syndrum was a musical success, with endorsements from notable drummers like Terry Bozzio, Keith Moon, and Ringo Starr, and was used on popular recordings such as the Cars' debut album and Gerry Rafferty's hit single "Baker Street". It was also played on Linda Ronstadt's 1978 single "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and throughout Sparks' 1979 album "No.1 in Heaven".
There were three major types of Syndrums: the Syndrum 1, the Syndrum Twindrum, and the Syndrum Quad, with the latter being the most famous. The Syndrum was a single drum 177 and a four-drum 477 model available for purchase. The Syndrum was a significant innovation in the world of electronic drums, but it was a financial failure for the company, leading to its ruin.
The Syndrum's unique design and capabilities opened up a new world of creative possibilities for drummers and percussionists, showcasing the potential of electronic drums in the music industry.
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The Synare 3
The Synare series was a drum synthesizer, meaning that it was triggered by hitting rubber pads that were pressure-sensitive or programmable. The Synare 3, in particular, utilized two analog oscillators, an envelope generator, and a resonant low-pass filter to produce a range of analog "drum machine" tones. Underneath the pad was a small speaker wired in reverse, acting as a microphone that triggered the envelope when struck.
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Roland V-Drums
The Roland V-Drums is an electronic drum set that was unveiled in 1997. It revolutionized the expectations for consumer electronic drums in several ways. Unlike previous electronic drum kits, the Roland TD-10 V-Drums kit did not use sampled acoustic drum or cymbal sounds when triggered. Instead, it employed mathematical models and Roland-designed synthesizers to generate its unique sounds.
Another distinguishing feature of the Roland V-Drums was its use of mesh pads, a collaboration with Remo, the makers of acoustic drum heads. This provided a more realistic sound and feel, enhancing the overall drumming experience. This innovation set a new standard for modern electronic drums, combining the benefits of both electronic and acoustic drums.
The Roland V-Drums also introduced dual-zone drum pads for cymbals, such as the CY-14C and CY-15R V-Cymbals. These cymbals offered a more "live-feel" to electronic cymbals, allowing drummers to produce separate sounds by hitting different zones on the pads, mimicking the experience of playing a real acoustic cymbal. This feature added to the overall authenticity and expressiveness of the electronic drum set.
The impact of the Roland V-Drums extended beyond just the technical aspects of electronic drums. The combination of realistic sound and feel that it offered opened up new possibilities for drummers. No longer was electronic drumming seen solely as a novelty or a compromise; it had evolved into a legitimate and compelling alternative to acoustic drums. Drummers now had the flexibility to choose the instrument that best suited their playing style, preferences, and performance requirements.
In conclusion, the Roland V-Drums played a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronic drums. By challenging the norms and incorporating innovative technologies, it elevated the expectations of consumers and expanded the capabilities of electronic drum kits. The influence of the Roland V-Drums can still be felt today, as modern electronic drums continue to build upon the foundation it helped establish.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electronic drum kit is credited to Graeme Edge, the drummer of the Moody Blues, in 1971. He worked with a professor from Sussex University, Brian Groves, to create the first modern electronic drum.
No, the first electronic drum kit was not marketed due to its high production cost, mechanical failure issues, and difficulty to build.
The first commercially available electronic drum kit was the Pollard Syndrum, designed by Joe Pollard and Mark Barton in 1976 for the Tycobrahe Sound Company.
The first commercially successful electronic drum kit was the Rhythm Ace, released by the Japanese company Ace Tone in 1972.
The Roland Corporation's TD-10 V-Drums kit, released in 1997, was the first electronic drum kit to feature mesh pads.
