Korg Volca Beats
A capable drum machine (analog) for hands-on beat-making.
The Best Drum Machines for Beginners (UK 2026)
The best beginner drum machines are affordable, hands-on and quick to get sounds out of. You want something immediate you can make beats on within minutes, that still has room to grow.
What to look for
- An intuitive step sequencer to start fast.
- Affordable, forgiving to learn on.
- Built-in sounds so you're making beats straight away.
- Room to grow into deeper features later.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Behringer RHYTHM DESIGNER RD-6-SR
A capable drum machine (analog) for hands-on beat-making.
#3 
#4 
Behringer RHYTHM DESIGNER RD-6-BK
A capable drum machine (analog) for hands-on beat-making.
#5 
Behringer RHYTHM DESIGNER RD-6-BB
A capable drum machine (analog) for hands-on beat-making.
#6 
Teenage Engineering PO-12 Rhythm Pocket Operator
A capable drum machine (pocket operator, portable) for hands-on beat-making.
#7 
Novation Circuit Tracks
A capable drum machine (groovebox) for hands-on beat-making.
#8 
Frequently asked questions
What is a good first drum machine?
The Korg Volca Beats and Alesis SR-16 are classic beginner-friendly choices, and Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators are cheap and fun to learn on. Look for an intuitive step sequencer and built-in sounds so you can start making beats immediately, without a steep learning curve.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Korg Volca Beats (our score 9.6/10) - A capable drum machine (analog) for hands-on beat-making..