Best Drum Pedal For Guitar (Jan 2023 Update)

Initial troubles with connecting to a computer, turns out it was my faulty USB cable (NU-X responded fairly quickly to me – which was good). However, the audio converter software from the NU-X website will not open on a Mac with Catalina as the Mac cannot verify the developer. You have to go into your Preferences and change your security settings to open the software. After that – OK. I'm still experimenting with the unit so I cant comment on that, but a list of the in-built rhythms (style, emphasis on '2' etc.) would be handy.Brendan Robb

The hardware seems solid and well made, though the main pedal itself it not very smooth for an expensive unit. I also thought it was poor on Singular's part they didn't include the power supply and the plug-in two button extension pedal to switch from one song to another from a stand up position. That, in my opinion is a capability that should have been part of the original pedal. Pretty useless without it if you plan to use the pedal in performance. The alternative is to drop to the floor after each song and manually switch to the next song using a plastic arrow button. They do provide a prodigious amount of pre-programmed drum sequences categorized by style and those can be switched to use different drum sets. And the display is pretty well thought out and most of it is readable from a standing position. I was disappointed by how much work it took to create song drum sequences that matched any particular song. This was probably my own lack of thinking this through… somehow expected they would have come up with a usable way to quickly find the components needed to come close to what's used in some of the more popular songs. The manager software it does come with allows you to select a provided drum sequence, or move it's parts and a few alternatives around to create a variation. You can get closer by choosing a particular musical style and sampling all the sets included in that style, but getting that to match an actual song is a tedious and time consuming task… a big one if you are using two 15-20 song sets for a performance. It is also possible to take components from different musical styles and assemble them into a new song sequence but there are hundreds of parts… you could well spend an hour or more for each song doing this and unless you have a heck of a memory, you'll spend those hours many times over as you do each song. If you need something other than the drum sets and style building blocks they provide, you need to download a free very basic program that lets you time sequence hits on different drum set pieces into the various drum song parts you want. This is also pretty time consuming, but might be an alternative if you give up on searching all the different sets and styles they provide and decide to build your own from scratch. But be aware this free program is not even close to a DAW… no tweaking, no panning or volume envelopes, no effects… free, but very basic. What you get in the package might be enough if your goal is to create something close enough that you can practice timing and hear a basic style and drumset combo while you play. And it might even work if you're a player/singer/song writer and don't have a drum sequence you're trying to match. It might even be a creative tool used this way. But, if you expect to use this unit for live performances and you're fussy (musicians… fussy 😉 you will need to plan on taking a good chunk of time to assemble your song sets and will probably need to have or buy at least a basic DAW to tweak up the drum set component sounds. To be fair, if I was willing to invest the time and make notes on all the parts I auditioned, I might have been able to search through the huge selection of styles and segments and pull pieces from different sets together, but that's a daunting time commitment. There's no easy way to know what you might want without listening to hundreds of sequences and parts and creating a system to remember them and where they were. Here's a software challenge, Singular. Create a program that will input a song MP3, analyse the drum patterns and spit out a best match parts list based on the styles and sets you provide. I ended up sending my unit back, decided it was too much work for the end result. But, with that analysis software, I'd take another shot. As always, your mileage may vary.scbbob_9sqftcxov

I'm a gigging acoustic guitar musician and I use a simplified rig so I'm able to set up and pack up easily The only pedals I use are a Digitech Vocalizer and a Distortion pedal for when I use a Tele. I played around with other drum machines & backing tracks but found them cumbersome to use. Enter the BeatBuddy. Unboxed it, plugged it in and put on a set of headphones to listen to the different beats and to figure out how to use the pedal for start, stop, transitions and outros. I did not purchase the BeatBuddy auxiliary pedal but much to my surprise and old two button stomp box I had left from an old Crate Acoustic Amp worked perfectly with the BeatBuddy. While the current BeatBuddy auxiliary pedal is momentary, my Crate is latching. However, the BeatBuddy will set up for either type and works flawlessly with my latching switches. After figuring out the basics, time to plug it in. I set it up to run independently from my Vocalizer so it is not part of the signal chain. I plugged it into the Aux input on my SA-220 P.A. which has the benefit of having a separate volume control so I can easily change the volume of the drum kit. First off let me say that when it comes to pedal work, I'm a klutz (which is why I keep it simple) who's fat feet make pedal work difficult. NO PROBLEM with the BeatBuddy. I was able to control start, stop, fills, cymbal hits and transitions flawlessly on first attempt. It comes loaded with an amazing number of beats and a good number of drum kits. You can load in a song (beats) and then change the drum set, tempo, change fills in or out, just incredibly flexible. You can add more drum kits and beats at very reasonable prices from Singular Sound. For gigging, you can set up your playlist and using the Aux pedal move forward and backward in the list again, incredibly was to use even for a klutz like me. Did I mention it has MIDI too.RightSongs

This has probably been one of my favorite and most useful equipment purchase in the last few years. Due to COVID 19 we were forced to reduce the size of our band from 7 to 4 people. In doing so we felt it would be better to have four main performers/singers and not use a live drummer. This lead to purchasing the BeatBuddy based on the large number of positive reviews it's received, and i haven't been disappointed. Along with all it's positives, it does have some limitations though. The sound quality is exceptional and very realistic. Programming your drum tracks is relatively easy and straightforward as it comes with a pretty wide variety of stock drum tracks and and drum models. I augmented these drum tracks and drum models with after market extensions available from the manufacturer which helped round out the overall capabilities. The main process of building drum tracks is done on your PC or Mac through a program called BeatBuddy Manager and then downloaded to a memory card which is inserted in the BeatBuddy for live performances. The Manager program is adequate, but fairly rudimentary and can be somewhat confusing in how you work with it. It has a MIDI editor for building or modifying drum tracks, but it's very basic and tedious to work with. Hopefully this will be an area that will be improved through future updates. In terms of live performance I don't use the BeatBuddy pedal itself. I control it using MIDI messages which I program and send from my Helix Floor unit. I would suspect for any type of professional usage you would probably want to invest in some sort of MIDI controller as the BeatBuddy pedal interface is quite limited and hard to incorporate into your performances.DAVE

Really great drum machine if you want something that's fairly quick and easy to get up and running. The samples are good, it has plenty of right hand rhythmic variation and grooves available via a rotary knob, and the ability to select alternate sounds (hat/ride/floor tom), (snare/cross-stick/tambourine) is really handy. The auto-generated chorus is also quite useful, especially if you want to create your drum parts on the fly. There is a bit of a learning curve, particularly if you want to utilize more than just its basic features, but it's worth diving into the manual to learn all that the SDRUM is capable of. I also recommend utilizing the optional foot switch in order to access its additional capabilities.jacobkaran

Amazing quality of features in such a compact pedal. Simple functions are super easy. I love that it can store up to 36 songs, each with its own verse, chorus, and bridge. The learning feature is so intelligent that it's almost scary. Be sure to read the online user's manual to understand all of the features and uses.dominic71280

Amazing all the features this pedal has, first thing when you get one is download full manuel. The best place to learn about this pedal is youtube by the pedal guy, very informative videos, 4 he has out on this pedal! Can be complicated at first but not bad after i watched videos on it. Learned everything now and theirs not much it doesnt do, it doesnt seem to like more than 2 bars or so with metronome on ive noticed but a really good pedal to learn timing and have fun with!pazdra2008

I purchased this after our other guitarist bought the regular BeatBuddy. I was impressed with the ease of use of the BeatBuddy Mini as well as the amount of preloaded beats. I just recently ordered the foot switch to enable pauses during songs. Overall I've been pleased with the quality in construction, sound, and easy setup. The Mini is perfect for at home practice or even small performances, so long as you get the foot switch.Mark G

This pedal is good sounding and simple to use however if you suffer from a bad back dont buy one! If the unit is positioned on the floor as intended it is annoying having to bend down every time you want to change styles or tempo which is potentially every tune! The design should be altered to incorporate a remote switch so that the unit may be mounted to a mic stand.rob_zeroes

Use this when practicing, with an appropriate beat or just the metronome depending on what helps at the time. I knew that this was not the "expandable" version when I purchased it. Now I wish I had the full Beat Buddy and the side switch as well. That will be a future purchase. I like that it has it's own volume control so I can set it where needed while practicing having the beats coming through the same amp I'm playing through. The hardest part was finding room on my pedal board for it.Alan D.

All of the reverb and tremolo options sound amazing, and pair together so well. Little expensive but it's 2 pedals in one! What's not to likeJacob C.

Never spent so much on a pedal before but you definitely get what you pay for! Easy to use, it’s simple to get a great sound, in fact it’s so good it’s difficult to decide which sound to use. Love it!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Initial troubles with connecting to a computer, turns out it was my faulty USB cable (NU-X responded fairly quickly to me – which was good). However, the audio converter software from the NU-X website will not open on a Mac with Catalina as the Mac cannot verify the developer. You have to go into your Preferences and change your security settings to open the software. After that – OK. I'm still experimenting with the unit so I cant comment on that, but a list of the in-built rhythms (style, emphasis on '2' etc.) would be handy.Brendan Robb

Sounds are very good. Takes a bit to get used, and hard to see in darker settings. I really needed a good jazz ballad. It's not there. Triplet and rock ballads are there. Still a good value for many….pauleatstoomuch

Great practice tool. I would rather jam out practice to drum backing tracks than anything And this little pedal fits the bill. -the metal- double bass tracks are amazing best Ive heard so far -out of a pedal.jasohoudyschel-0

The idea sounds good. But a recording of a kick drum, or tambourine or whatever is going to be exactly the same every strike which does not sound authentic. The volume knob on the one I tried was set from really loud to unuseably loud. I couldn't turn it down enough to fit in the mix. Another problem is it only has an "out" so cannot be added into my chain. This one is going back. Instead, I will be using a miced cajon.Jimmybefree

This is a complete piece of trash. Very cheaply made. It came apart on me during the first gig. Not a professional piece of equipment and too expensive to be a toy.G.W.

Does exactly what is advertised. Some patches sound much louder than others so you won't be likely changing that within a song. The pedal is hard to trigger with your shoe's heel on the floor rather than on the pedal. It seems sturdy enough to support your weight if it had to. On the minus side, the Chinese build quality is sloppy. The circular logo is off kilter and the volume knob arrived with the chassis bent where it is bolted through. Looks to me like the packing was poorly designed to protect that pot. Hopefully the circuit board behind the pot is not bent too. I gave it as a gift to the other half of my acoustic duo. He seems happy with it and I'm not pushing to send it back as I think another one would likely have the same issues.Jon Fields

Really impressive little looper. I love the separate mix controls for the looper and drum machine. Easy to balance properly for maximum tone. The drum samples sound great over a PA system and very realistic. This is a fantastic tool for songwriting and inspires so easily. Exceptional for riffing.rustyacoustic

Looper tricky with scat instructions but there’s always YouTube and practice !! Would have preferred to set bpm on drums but tap tempo works well and it is a tiny pedal so can’t complainReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Great compact unit with plenty of features. All the rhythms can be tempo adjusted and with separate volumes for the drum sounds and guitar loop you can always get the balance right. The option to select between drum, guitar loop or both is great and gives some flexibility to your practice. Great unit for the price.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Really great drum machine if you want something that's fairly quick and easy to get up and running. The samples are good, it has plenty of right hand rhythmic variation and grooves available via a rotary knob, and the ability to select alternate sounds (hat/ride/floor tom), (snare/cross-stick/tambourine) is really handy. The auto-generated chorus is also quite useful, especially if you want to create your drum parts on the fly. There is a bit of a learning curve, particularly if you want to utilize more than just its basic features, but it's worth diving into the manual to learn all that the SDRUM is capable of. I also recommend utilizing the optional foot switch in order to access its additional capabilities.jacobkaran

Amazing quality of features in such a compact pedal. Simple functions are super easy. I love that it can store up to 36 songs, each with its own verse, chorus, and bridge. The learning feature is so intelligent that it's almost scary. Be sure to read the online user's manual to understand all of the features and uses.dominic71280

Amazing all the features this pedal has, first thing when you get one is download full manuel. The best place to learn about this pedal is youtube by the pedal guy, very informative videos, 4 he has out on this pedal! Can be complicated at first but not bad after i watched videos on it. Learned everything now and theirs not much it doesnt do, it doesnt seem to like more than 2 bars or so with metronome on ive noticed but a really good pedal to learn timing and have fun with!pazdra2008

Was reccomended to the brand by a family member. After purchasing I am very pleased! It works perfectly, very good amount of product, and affordable!cladyclean-64

More for making syndrum crash sounds like Gary Numan, Devo, Ultravox, Kraftwerk etc, rather than snare drum sounds. But if triggered by a sequencer and decay is set tight it can sound close to an old school analog drum or Modular snare! Works nice with my Roland or Yamaha electronic drum pads, so i can play it by stick also. Good feature that it can work by either battery or power adapter.denbacharl

I adore this pedal, it feels really high quality, and produces a gorgeous sound. I find it an inspiring pedal to play through, and my guitar teacher (30+ years experience, dislikes tremolo) was suitably impressed.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I never thought I could have a tremolo pedal that was as satisfying as the trem in my 65 DRRI but the Harmonious Monk performs beyond expectations.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Brilliant pedal with so much packed in without being complicated to use. Plus, Jam pedals are great and they look cool on your pedalboard!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Alesis est un fabricant fidèle et soucieux de proposer à un large panel des inconditionnels de la musique, des produits de qualités à des prix compétitifs. Sonovente les présentes à des tarifs bien plus attractifs que la concurrence.MHAMED

I am biased as Jojo Mayer's Secret Weapons… video helped me so much after an elbow surgery, he is just the technique-master-genius. I still use (love and swear by) his signature sticks. Anyway, I have playing on a Pearl Demon Drive (double)as my primary pedal. A great(but overly expensive) pedal. However, I am not a DB drummer at heart, so I was looking for a new single kick pedal. That said, the first look at the pedal I was underwhelmed. I saw it in the store on a counter display and I thought it was just some new Sonor prototype. The simple polished metal footboard made it seem unfinished and the strap drive looked chinsy to me. Shows what I know. Then I noticed it was Jojo's and I was surprised. I had come in pretty much set on picking up the single Tama Speed Cobra but this was a possible game changer. I spent a half hour in the store with the Perfect balanced and I was amazed. It is the best pedal I have ever used. It responds to even the smallest of motion. It reminds me a lot of the old Speed king but somehow updated and more responsive. The push button fold/set up is genius and makes set up that much easier. If you are a sigle kick player, this is the last kick pedal you will ever need.papaholdy-OTEPf

Ok, so I went over to my music shop to compare (side-by-side) a *few* pedals. -> Tama Iron & Speed Cobra, Dw 5000 & 9000, Pearl Eliminator & Demon Drive, Ludwig Atlas Pro, and this bad boy. Note that they were all single pedals. This is the order that I have ended up with, based solely on feel, smooth-ivity, and control. 1) Sonor Jojo, 2) Dw 9000, 3) Ludwig Atlas Pro, 4) Tama Speed Cobra, 5) Pearl Eliminator, 6) Dw 5000, 7) Tama Iron Cobra, 8) Pearl Demon Drive. Another thing is that I have my spring tension below the *average* drummer. I like to work for my strokes, but to bounce back quick and sweetly. This pedal does it, but see it like this; When I held the beater ON the head, and then let go, it went fully down, 4/5th back up, back down to *the middle* and then wobbled about for 1-2 seconds. What this means is that you get an awesome kick back, but past that nada, nothing, niet. I would heavily and super-duper-bly recommend this pedal, but the one itch is that for metalheads who crank the spring WAAYYYYYY high, look away, because you'll end up throwing it off a cliff.Mr.Cheese

Jo Jo Mayer is one of my favorite drummers and I love his heal to toe playing. I bought this in hopes that it would make my heal to toe better. It worked OK, not great for about three months and then started to literally fall apart. The pedal has four plastic pieces that touch the hoop and every time I had to adjust the pedal which was often these piece became dislodged. I could never get it to it flat no matter what type of surface I was on and in the end the nuts on the spring started to fall out while using it causing you to basically have no pedal. I called the people I bought it from after four months and they graciously refunded my money when I sent it back. I could have sold it but good conscience would not allow me. Back to my Iron Cobra 900 and that is a reliable a you can get. Good luck and good healthsnakepit456