A Sound Source and Triggers are All You Need

Photo: Acoustic and Electronic Hybrid Drum Kit

hy·brid noun \ˈhī-brəd: something that is formed by combining two or more things.

The tools available for drummers have been evolving for decades, and practically speaking, the modern acoustic kit is a hybrid drum kit in and of itself. Today, however, when we use the word “hybrid” in relation to drums, it usually refers to blending electronics with acoustic drums. While this is certainly not a new concept, the technical improvements in triggering technology, the incredible advances in sound-generating methods, and the availability of quality sounds make creating a hybrid drum kit more commonplace than ever before. A sound source and a way to trigger the sounds are really all you need to make this happen. There are three methods for doing this: percussion and sample pads, additional pads around your kit, and  acoustic drum triggers. Here is a quick rundown of how to incorporate each into your acoustic drum setup. More