“AI could prove incredibly useful, from configuring our kits to generating the sounds in our head”: Where might electronic drums go next? Here are 9 of our predictions

Futuristic image of a drum set covered in neon lights and a drummer looking at a large screen.

DRUMS WEEK 2025: Electronic drum sets have changed the way drummers learn to play and practice - in many cases, owning an e-kit, regardless of your budget, can be the difference between becoming a drummer or not thanks to their noise-busting and space-saving abilities.

They’ve come a long way, too. It wasn’t that long ago that electronic kits featured carpal tunnel-inducing, rock-hard playing surfaces with unrealistic pad shapes and form factors that felt about as realistic as hitting a tabletop. The sounds matched the playing experience, with early examples limited by technology to produce synthesised, drum machine-style sounds rather than acoustic drum recreation.