An
electronic drum is an electrical device struck by a drummer, played in real time (using either hands, sticks, brushes or other implements) to produce a selection of sounds, instruments and effects, from either samples or modeled sounds contained in a
sound module or electronic processor. It is an
electronic synthesizer that can, with sampling developments in the 2000s, replicate the sound of an acoustic drum kit credibly and with good quality. Strictly speaking,
sequencers and
drum machines are not electronic drums, because a human drummer is not triggering the sounds.