Compact electronic drum kit
A quiet and space-saving alternative for drummers, this kit provides a variety of drum sounds and allows for silent practice with headphones.
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Electronic musical instruments
6 kinds worth knowing, 9 picks, and what to check before you buy.
Electronic instruments suit someone who wants to play at home without taking over the house. Most of these gifts go to teens, students and adults who are starting out or coming back to music, and the ones that get used are simple to set up and quiet enough to play late at night. A digital drum set with headphones lets a drummer practise without bothering the neighbours. A portable digital piano keyboard can sit on a desk and go back in the closet afterwards. Think about where the instrument will live, whether the person already plays, and what they want to do with it: learn songs, make tracks on a laptop, or just noodle for fun.
Kind 1 of 6
A drum kit you can play at night
A digital drum set uses rubber or mesh pads that trigger drum sounds through headphones or a speaker, so you get the feel of a real kit at a fraction of the volume. It suits a teen who wants to play drums, or an adult who played years ago and misses it. Before you buy, measure the floor space and check whether the kit folds up. Look at how many pads and cymbals it has, whether a kick pedal and throne are included, and whether it connects to a computer for lesson apps.
Kind 2 of 6
A keyboard that fits in any room
A portable digital piano keyboard gives you piano sounds, a headphone jack and built-in speakers in something light enough to carry. It works well for a beginner of any age, a student in a small apartment, or a player who wants a second instrument for travel. Check the number of keys, since 61 is fine for learning and 88 matters to anyone serious about piano. Weighted or touch-sensitive keys feel closer to a real piano. Also check whether a stand, sustain pedal and power adapter come in the box.
Portable digital piano keyboard
This instrument offers a full range of sounds and touch sensitivity, ideal for aspiring pianists or musicians needing a versatile practice tool.
Kind 3 of 6
Starting out on electronic drums
A beginner doesn't need a large kit. A small setup with a snare, a couple of toms, a hi-hat, a crash, a ride and a kick pedal covers almost every lesson and song. Built-in coaching features like a metronome and practice songs keep a new drummer interested once the first excitement wears off. Mesh heads feel more natural and make less tapping noise than rubber pads. Plan on headphones and a stool if the kit doesn't include them, and make sure there's space to leave it set up so practice actually happens.
Kind 4 of 6
Synths and sound-making gear
A digital synthesizer creates and shapes sounds instead of just copying a piano, which makes it a good fit for someone who likes electronic music, film scores or tinkering. A pocket-sized synth is a fun first taste. Desktop synthesizers, samplers and looper pedals are better for someone already making tracks. An electronic wind instrument suits a sax or clarinet player who wants new sounds. Before buying, check whether it has built-in speakers, runs on batteries or needs to be plugged in, and connects to the gear the person already uses.
Desktop synthesizer workstation
Perfect for electronic music producers and sound designers, this device allows for creating unique textures and complex sonic landscapes.
Desktop audio sampler workstation
A powerful tool for creative musicians and producers, enabling the capture, manipulation, and sequencing of audio samples to build unique tracks.
Compact looper pedal
Ideal for guitarists, vocalists, or instrumentalists, this device allows for recording and layering musical phrases in real-time, enhancing practice and performance.
Electronic wind instrument
This modern instrument offers a wide range of sounds and expressive control, appealing to woodwind players or those seeking unique sonic possibilities.
Kind 5 of 6
A kalimba for anyone to pick up
A kalimba thumb piano is a small instrument with metal tines that you pluck with your thumbs. It sounds soft and bell-like, and most people can play a simple tune within minutes, even with no musical background. It makes an easy gift for a student, a teen or anyone who likes to fidget with something creative. Check the number of keys, whether the tines are marked with note names or numbers, and whether it comes with a tuning hammer and a songbook for beginners.
Kalimba Thumb Piano
An instrument that sounds like a music box on day one — no lessons, no noise complaints
Kind 6 of 6
A keyboard for making music on a laptop
A USB MIDI controller keyboard makes no sound by itself. It plugs into a computer or tablet and plays the instruments inside music software. That makes it a great fit for someone who already produces beats or records on a laptop, and a confusing one for someone who just wants to play piano. Check that it works with the person's computer and software, count the keys, and see whether it has drum pads and knobs, which people who make beats tend to use a lot.
USB midi controller keyboard
This essential tool connects to computers or tablets, enabling musicians to control virtual instruments and music software with tactile keys and knobs.
How to choose electronic musical instruments as a gift
- Find out where the instrument will live before choosing a size, since a kit or keyboard that has to be packed away gets played less.
- Match the gift to their experience: simple and ready to play for beginners, more control and connections for people who already play.
- Check what's in the box, like the stand, pedal, stool, headphones and power adapter, so it can be played on Christmas morning.
- If they make music on a computer, confirm the gift connects to the device and software they already use.
- Headphones make a thoughtful add-on for drums or keyboards when the person shares walls with family or roommates.
Usually safe to skip
- Toy-grade keyboards with tiny, stiff keys often frustrate a real learner and end up in a drawer within a few weeks.
- A MIDI controller for someone with no computer music setup usually misses, because it makes no sound on its own.
- Large, feature-packed workstations can overwhelm a beginner who really just wanted to learn a few songs.
Questions people ask about electronic musical instruments
- Is an electronic drum set quiet enough for an apartment?
- The sound goes through headphones, but hitting the pads and pressing the kick pedal still makes some thumping. Mesh heads are quieter than rubber pads, and a rug or drum mat under the kit cuts down on noise that travels through the floor to the neighbours below.
- How many keys should a beginner keyboard have?
- Sixty-one keys cover most beginner lessons and pop songs and take up less space. For someone who wants to study classical piano or take formal lessons, 88 keys and weighted action are the better choice, because the full range and feel carry over to a real piano.
- What is the difference between a synthesizer and a MIDI controller?
- A synthesizer makes its own sounds, and many models can play straight through speakers or headphones. A MIDI controller only sends notes to a computer or tablet, where software makes the sound. If the person doesn't use music software, a synthesizer or digital keyboard is the safer gift.
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All electronic musical instruments picks
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