When choosing an electronic drum kit, you will come across the term “zone” for the snare, toms, and cymbals. It sounds technical, but it is actually quite simple. In this blog, I will explain it.
What is a zone?
A zone is a section of a pad that produces a different sound. The more zones, the more different sounds you can get from a single pad. In online shops, it is also referred to as single zone, dual zone or triple zone.
Simple kits often have pads with 1 zone ( Millenium HD-120 ), while kits for experienced drummers, such as the Efnote 7X , have many more zones and therefore play much more realistically. Generally speaking: the more zones, the more realistic the drum kit sounds.
Zones on snare and cymbal
On a snare drum, the zones are designated as follows:
Zone 1 – Center: The center of the snare drum (base)
Zone 2 – Edge: The edge of the sheet (adds just a different accent)
Zone 3 – Rim: The rim of the snare drum (for cross stick)
For a cymbal, that is:
Zone 1 – Bow: The flat part you play on the most (for the ride, this is the part you tap with the stick)
Zone 2 – Edge: The outer edge (for accents and crashes)
Zone 3 – Bell: High pitch (typical ride sound)
2-zone pads
The images describe pads with 3 zones, but many kits have parts with only 2 zones. For a snare, for example, this is the head (main stroke) and the rim. For a cymbal, this is the bow (the flat part) and the bell.
Two zones are standard on most entry-level models and more than enough for beginners. The Alesis Nitro Max, for example, has a snare with 2 zones, but toms with 1 zone.
3-zone pads
A 3-zone pad adds a third zone. On a snare, this is often the edge, the rim of the drumhead. This often produces a louder (and higher) sound, which can be used for accents. On a ride cymbal, the third zone is usually the bell, the raised section in the center that produces a clear, ping sound.
For a ride cymbal, this really makes a big difference. If you play jazz or funk, you use the bell a lot. Without a 3-zone ride, you miss a very important sound.
Not all drum kits arrange the zones in the way shown above; this varies by brand.
Conclusion
So, simply explained: more zones mean more sounds from a single pad. For a snare, 2-zone is fine (3 is obviously even better), but for a ride, 3-zone is much nicer.
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