Are Electronic Air Drums Good for Practice?

Electronic air drums like Aerodrums and AeroBand PocketDrum 2 Plus let you play drums without a real drum set. You move your hands in the air. The sound plays through your headphones. 

These tools use motion capture or Bluetooth sticks to track your moves. They are quiet and easy to carry. You can use them in small rooms or late at night. You can also practice with a metronome to stay on beat.

But air drums don’t give you real stick bounce. You can’t build strong stick control or muscle memory like you can on a practice pad or electronic drum kit. 

Here we’ll show you what air drums can do, what they can’t do, and if they are right for your practice.

What Are Electronic Air Drums?

Electronic air drums are drums that you can play without touching anything. You don’t need a drum set. You don’t even need pads. You just move your hands in the air, and the sound plays.

Some air drums, like Aerodrums, use a camera and motion capture. You wear small shiny dots on your sticks and feet. The camera watches your moves and plays the right drum sounds.

Others, like AeroBand PocketDrum 2 Plus, use Bluetooth sticks and an app. The sticks feel like real drumsticks. When you move them, the app makes drum sounds in your headphones.

Air drums are fun, easy to carry, and great for quiet practice. But they feel very different from real drums.

How Do Electronic Air Drums Work?

Electronic air drums work by tracking your movements. When you wave your hands or drumsticks, special sensors pick up your motions and turn them into drum sounds.

• Aerodrums use a camera to watch your hands and feet. You wear tiny shiny dots on your sticks. The camera sees the dots and makes the drums sound when you move.
  
• AeroBand PocketDrum 2 Plus uses Bluetooth sticks. You hold the sticks, and the app on your phone or tablet listens to your moves. The sticks feel like real drumsticks and make sounds in your headphones.

This way, you can play drums anywhere even in a tiny room without making noise.

What You Can Practice with Electronic Air Drums

Electronic air drums are great for practicing some important things. They help you get better at:

• Timing: You can use a metronome (a tool that keeps a steady beat) to stay on rhythm.
• Coordination: Moving your hands and feet together is good practice for drumming skills.
• Rhythm: You can practice different rhythms and beats, even without a real drum set.
• Quiet Practice: Since air drums are silent, you can play anytime, even at night or in small spaces.

They help you get better at the basics and practice in places where regular drums might be too loud.

What You Can’t Learn with Air Drums

Electronic air drums are great for some practice, but they can’t teach you everything. There are a few things air drums don’t do well:

• Stick Control: On real drums, the sticks bounce back, helping you learn how to control them. Air drums don’t give you that feeling.
  
• Muscle Memory: Since there’s no real drum kit, it’s harder to build muscle memory. That’s the way your muscles learn to play without thinking.
  
• Real Drumming Feel: Air drums don’t feel like hitting real drums. They don’t have the same rebound or dynamic response.

So, while electronic air drums are fun and good for practicing, they can’t replace a real drum set if you want to get better at actual drumming skills.

Aerodrums vs PocketDrum 2 Plus

Let’s compare two popular electronic air drums: Aerodrums and AeroBand PocketDrum 2 Plus. Both are great, but they work a little differently.

Each one has its own strengths, so it depends on what you need. If you want something small and portable, PocketDrum 2 Plus is great. But if you want more accurate tracking and don’t mind needing a little space, Aerodrums might be better.

Compared to Other Practice Tools

Electronic air drums are great, but they aren’t the only way to practice drumming. Here’s how they compare to some other common practice tools:

Practice Pads

• What They Are: Simple, quiet pads that let you practice sticking.
• Pros: You can feel the stick bounce back. This helps with stick control and muscle memory.
• Cons: They don’t sound like a full drum set. You also need a quiet space.

Electronic Drum Kits

• What They Are: Real drum pads connected to an electronic sound system.
• Pros: These feel like real drums. They have good rebound and dynamic response.
• Cons: They are big, expensive, and still noisy unless you use headphones.

Electronic Air Drums

• What They Are: Small, portable, silent tools that use motion capture or Bluetooth sticks.
• Pros: Quiet and portable. You can play anywhere. Great for rhythm practice.
• Cons: They don’t feel like real drums. No stick rebound or muscle memory building.

In short, electronic air drums are a great way to practice when space is limited or you need silence. But if you want to build real drumming skills, tools like practice pads or electronic drum kits are better.

So… Are Air Drums Accurate Enough?

Electronic air drums are fun and easy to use, but how accurate are they when it comes to helping you get better at drumming?

• Accuracy for Timing: Electronic air drums are pretty good for helping you keep time. Since they work with a metronome, you can practice rhythms and stay on beat.
  
• Accuracy for Sticking: They are not as good for stick control. You don’t feel the drumsticks bounce back like you do on real drums, so it’s harder to build strong control.
  
• Accuracy for Muscle Memory: Electronic air drums don’t give you the same feel as a real kit. Without rebound from the drum pads, it’s hard to build muscle memory the way you would on an actual drum set.

In the end, electronic air drums are good for practicing timing and rhythm, but they can’t replace real drums when it comes to improving your stick control or muscle memory.

Should You Buy Electronic Air Drums?

When deciding whether electronic air drums are the right tool for you, it depends on your goals and where you’re practicing. Here’s a quick breakdown for different types of drummers:

Beginner or Hobbyist?  YES!

If you’re just starting or you drum for fun, electronic air drums are a great choice! They’re affordable, easy to use, and perfect for practicing basic rhythms. You can practice without worrying about noise or space, and they help you stay in time with a metronome. Plus, they’re a lot of fun!

Electronic air drums are great for beginners of all ages, even seniors! See why you’re never too old to start drumming.

Practicing in a Dorm or Shared House?  YES!

If you’re living in a dorm, apartment, or shared house, air drums are a perfect solution. They let you practice without disturbing others. You can use Bluetooth sticks or motion capture to hear the sounds in your headphones, so you can play quietly and anywhere.

Trying to Go Pro or Improve Speed/Control?  NO!

If you’re serious about becoming a pro or improving your stick control and speed, air drums might not be enough. They don’t give you the feel of real drums. You won’t get the rebound from the sticks, and it’s harder to build muscle memory. For serious practice, you’ll need a practice pad or electronic drum kit.

Quick Recap: Are Electronic Air Drums Worth It?

FAQ

Final Thoughts

Electronic air drums are a fun and quiet way to practice drumming. They are perfect if you have little space or need to practice without making noise. You can use them anywhere and practice your timing, rhythm, and coordination.

But they don’t feel like real drums. You miss out on stick control and muscle memory that you get with a real practice pad or electronic drum kit. So, while air drums can help you with the basics, they aren’t enough to replace real drumming practice if you want to improve your skills.

In the end, air drums are a great tool for beginners or anyone who needs to practice quietly. But if you’re serious about becoming a skilled drummer, you’ll need to use a real drum set or practice pads along with them.