Rubber drum pads are cheaper and easier to find, while their mesh counterparts produce a more natural feeling. Mesh’s heads are also quieter and easier on the player’s arms. They are equally durable, although it’s a bit easier to damage a mesh drum head.

If you’re in the market for a new electronic drum kit and are unsure what to pick, we’ve got you covered. This article will explain the pros and cons of both types of drum heads, so you’ll easily know what the best choice is for you. 

Mesh Drum Heads: Pros and Cons

Until recently, mesh drum heads were exclusive to high-end Roland electronic drum kits. After a while, the exclusivity waned steadily, and an increasing number of e-drum manufacturers started creating their version of electronic drums with mesh heads. 

They have become quite popular, and there are always new drummers who switch from acoustic to electronic drums because mesh drum heads allow them to practice quietly without changing much in their technique. 

There are several reasons why this is happening, so let’s examine what mesh drum heads offer. We’ll also check out what their drawbacks are so you can get the full picture. 

Mesh Drum Heads Feel Great

The biggest advantage of mesh drum heads is that they closely mimic how acoustic drum skins behave and feel. Their rebound is rather similar to the one you can find on acoustic drums, and the pads are in different sizes, which makes them more similar to the acoustic ones.

This size similarity is not just there for aesthetics. Since the pads are not all the same size, you won’t have to change your technique to adapt to the new drum kit. You’d be able to play more or less the same way you usually do. 

Thus, you could jump right into playing your favorite songs without missing the pads or hitting them on the wrong part. 

The rebound these heads offer is similar to what you’d get from an acoustic drum set. The mesh is not hard like plastic or rubber. It is more elastic, much like real drum skins, which means it will behave similarly. This also means less fatigue and pain in your forearms, allowing you to keep playing for much longer. 

Mesh drum pads are also tensionable, just like acoustic drum heads. This means you can tweak the tension to make it even closer to what you’re used to on acoustic drums.

The material and the customizability mean that you’ll have an easy time switching from acoustic drums to electronic drums. However, the opposite is also true. If you’re learning how to play on an electronic set with mesh heads, you’ll have a much easier time when you finally sit behind an acoustic set. 

Mesh Drum Heads Aren’t Noisy

Even though electronic drums don’t produce any drum sound when they’re not plugged in or when you’re using headphones, there is always some acoustic sound. After all, you’re hitting the pads with sticks, and you can’t do that without making a sound. 

Mesh drum heads are full of tiny holes that diffuse vibrations and thus produce less acoustic sound. This diffusion of vibrations also means fewer vibrations will travel to the rooms around you, meaning less noise for your roommates or family members. 

If you aim to practice drums with as little noise as possible, you should go for mesh drum heads. You’re not very likely to disturb anyone with your playing if you use these, and you’ll be able to play them anywhere there’s space, even in a dorm room or another similar place where you’re not allowed to make noise.

They Make You Feel Less Tired

Since mesh drum heads diffuse vibrations, fewer of them will travel through your fingers and forearms. This is a huge benefit if you hit the pads hard because you might feel those vibrations in your bones as pain after a while. 

Drummers generally report that they feel less pain and fatigue when they use mesh drum heads. If you’re into marathon practice sessions, they might give you an edge and allow you to play longer. 

While you won’t exactly get permanent damage from playing other types of electronic drum heads, making your playing as comfortable as possible should always be a goal for you. For that reason, opting for mesh heads is a good option. 

Mesh Drum Heads are More Durable

The mesh material these drum heads are made of is relatively soft. However, that doesn’t mean that it is not durable. It can get pierced with a stick if you go ham on it, but that almost never happens. Even if it happens, you can easily replace the drum head and continue playing like nothing happened.

There Is Less Crosstalk With Mesh Drum Heads

Crosstalk occurs when a pad misfires because it reacts to outside noise or vibrations from another pad. This is not always a bad thing. There’s always some crosstalk when using an acoustic drum kit, and you want your electronic drums to behave similarly to your acoustic drums. However, when crosstalk starts to hinder your playing, you have to do something to prevent it.

Using a mesh drum head is a good choice for minimizing or eliminating crosstalk. Since mesh heads dampen the vibrations, fewer of them will travel to the other pads and cause crosstalk. You can also change the gain, sensitivity, and crosstalk settings, but a mesh drum head will ensure that you don’t have to tinker much with that. 

Mesh Drum Heads Are Expensive

Even though this type of drum head is not as exclusive as it once was, it’s still high-end technology. They will closely mirror acoustic drums and give you an amazing sound. The material they’re made of is not very easy to produce. This all inflates the price and makes them a less affordable option. 

Even when it comes to relatively inexpensive mesh drum heads, they cost roughly twice as much as e-drums with rubber heads. If you’re looking for a high-end electronic drum kit with mesh heads, you’ll probably spend three or four times as much compared to a kit with rubber pads.

If you’re looking for an affordable option, mesh drum heads are not for you. They have many amazing benefits, but those benefits have to come at a very high price, so they are not for everyone. 

These Drum Kits Take Up More Space

E-drum kits with mesh heads have pads that are similar in size to actual snares and toms. While this adds to the realism and makes you feel more like you’re playing an acoustic drum kit, it also means that they take up almost as much space. 

If you want a drum kit that has a very small footprint because you lack space, a kit with mesh heads probably isn’t for you. While it’s not huge, it’s not easy to squeeze it into any room, either, so you’ll need a few extra inches of space to accommodate it. 

Rubber Drum Pads: Pros and Cons

Rubber pads have been around much longer than mesh heads. Even though this is an older technology, seemingly inferior to mesh heads, it is still very widely used by drummers who use e-drums, and some prefer these pads to mesh heads. 

Let’s check out the pros and cons of rubber pads and see if they’re worthy of their good reputation and long use. 

Rubber Drum Pads Are Affordable

Rubber pads have been around for a long time, they’re not difficult to produce, and there is an abundance of them. In addition, they are not some kind of high-end technology; they’re quite basic in their designs for today’s standards.

All these factors make e-drum kits with rubber pads a very affordable option. This makes them a great choice for beginners and inexperienced players, but also for those who mainly play acoustic drums and only need electronic drums on specific occasions. 

You can find a great set of electronic drums with rubber pads for around $400 to $500. If you only want something basic that suits the needs of a total beginner, you can get away with spending even less than that. 

While the prices for super high-end rubber pad drum kits go much higher than the range mentioned above, they’re still much more affordable than their mesh head counterparts. Their affordability is a huge part of their continued use and popularity today. 

Rubber Pad Electronic Drums Are Very Compact

Rubber pads are usually very slim and take up very little space. All the pads are much smaller than the drum components they represent, which means that these drum kits have really small footprints. 

An e-drum set with rubber pads is an excellent choice if you live in a studio apartment or have a very small room. You can squeeze them pretty much anywhere, especially if it is a minimalistic kit. 

Another great benefit of their small size is that they can be easily stored somewhere if you don’t want them to take up precious space in your room. When they’re taken apart, they can be easily left in a closet without taking too much space in it.

If you have to commute to your band practice, having a rubber pad kit is again an advantage. You can easily put it in your trunk and still have enough space to squeeze in other things if necessary. Unless you drive a teeny-tiny car, in which case you might want to upgrade. 

Rubber Drum Pads Are Extremely Durable

We’ve mentioned that mesh heads are durable and difficult to destroy. However, rubber pads take that durability up a notch. They’re almost indestructible, and unless you stab them with a knife or a very sharp broken stick, it’s almost impossible to damage or destroy them. 

Since this situation is probably extremely unlikely, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to use rubber pads for quite a long time. After a while, they might get some traces of use, but that won’t affect their functionality. You can use a rubber cleaning solution to protect them and give them a fresh look.

However, there is one big downside here. If the playing surface of your rubber pad gets damaged, it’s cheaper and more effective to buy a whole new pad. This can be a bit wasteful, and you have to put in more effort, but it’s not very likely to happen. 

Rubber Drum Pads Are Good for Bass Drums

Rubber bass drum pads have a spongy feel and are made from a layered material that gives less rebound and absorbs the beater’s hits much better than the mesh counterpart. Many drummers prefer this feel.

On the other hand, rubber bass drum pads are relatively tall and thin, so there’s always a chance they’ll wobble, move side to side, or fall over. You can always make them more stable by propping them up against something, but they’d be much better if this was unnecessary.

These Pads Are Great for Synthetic Sounds

Mesh heads can provide you with a more natural feel than rubber pads, hands down. However, you might not always want to emulate the sound and feel of acoustic drums, in which case, rubber pads are the better option.

For example, if your electronic drums are hooked up to a module or sample pad with the goal of creating synthetic, obviously electronic sounds, a rubber pad might give you a better feel. Since you’re explicitly aiming to create a synthetic sound, having a pad that doesn’t feel like a real drum might be a better fit. 

If you want to use a pad as a functional switch, a mesh head would be absolutely overkill. It would just be a waste of an expensive head. Plus, using a rubber pad, in that case, might help you differentiate between the pad used as a functional switch and the pads used to produce drum sounds. 

Rubber Pads Can Be Noisy

Rubber pads produce much more acoustic noise than their mesh counterparts. The rubber surface does not diffuse the vibrations as well as a mesh surface, so the sound of your sticks hitting the surface of the pads will be much more audible. 

This might make them less suitable for situations in which you have to be silent. Even if you plug in your headphones, thwacking the pads with the sticks will be heard. This sound can also be a bother if you can hear it while playing. 

Hearing that noise alongside the actual drum sounds can break your and your bandmates’ concentration and spoil the mood a bit. You can eliminate this problem by increasing the volume, but that’s not an option if you want to raise very little noise. 

For these reasons, an electronic drum kit with rubber pads is not the best choice if you’re looking for a silent drum kit. However, rubber pads will do just fine if noise is not an issue. 

Rubber Drum Pads Don’t Absorb Vibrations Well Enough

Mesh heads feature many little holes that absorb and diffuse vibrations. Unlike them, rubber pads are firm pieces of rubber with no holes that can efficiently deal with vibrations. Apart from making them noisier, this may cause some other problems. 

Firstly, this may make you more tired and feel more pain in your forearms, especially when you get wild during practice. Since a bigger part of the vibrations will go through your bones, you’ll feel them much more, and you might eventually feel some pain. You won’t get carpal tunnel syndrome from this, but it might make you feel discomfort or shorten your sessions. 

In addition to that, the excess vibrations might create more crosstalk. As crosstalk is caused by the pads reacting to vibrations they shouldn’t react to, more vibrations equal more crosstalk. This doesn’t mean that your entire kit will go crazy, but you might be annoyed more than you would usually be. 

However, these vibration problems might not be noticeable. If you have good control over how hard you hit the pads, you’re likely to avoid these problems altogether. 

Final Thoughts

Mesh drum heads can offer you a superior sound and feel. They’re much closer to acoustic drums, and they’re a perfect choice for situations in which you have to practice silently as they don’t produce much acoustic sound. However, they’re quite costly, so it might not always be a good idea to invest in them. 

Rubber pads are much cheaper and take up less space. They’re a great choice if you’re looking for a budget option or if you lack space. However, they’re not great if you need to be silent, and you might have more sound problems with them.

Electronic drums differ from acoustic drums in that they consist of rubber, plastic, and mesh, while acoustic drums use wood and metal. Electric kits use sensors to create sound via a drum module, while acoustic drum sets’ sound is the natural consequence of the drumstick hitting the drumhead. 

While some musicians are traditionalists and prefer the feel of an acoustic kit, many professional drummers are turning to electronic drum kits as their first choice. This article will explain the main differences between these two types of drums, so you can choose the one that’ll benefit you the most.

How Are Electronic and Acoustic Drums Different?

Electronic and acoustic drums are different in composition and functions. Electric kits use rubber or mesh pads, which make a minimal sound while playing unless you plug them into an output such as earphones, DAW, or amplifier. Acoustic drums produce sound naturally. 

Acoustic drums are what we think of first when we hear “drum set”; they consist of cymbals, a bass, and a snare drum. The sound comes from striking these instruments with a drumstick, unlike with an electric drum. The electronic set uses speakers to produce sound after the pad sensors detect that you’ve hit them.

Both of these drum types have various benefits and downsides. Here’s what you’ll need to consider:

Electronic Drums

Pros

• You can unplug them for less noisy practice.
• It takes up less space.
• You can program specific sound samples to each drum pad.
• It doesn’t need tuning.
• It doesn’t need maintenance.

Cons

• It can become outdated quickly with advances in technology.
• It can create bad habits in drumming beginners.
• You need to find a set that doesn’t have too many limitations.
• It requires an outlet to run.

Acoustic Drums

Pros

• It works wonderfully with any acoustic music style.
• Better for beginners to develop their skills.
• You learn how to control the volume of your strikes.
• You learn how to take care of a drum kit properly.
• It takes less secondary equipment to use.

Cons

• It can be too loud if you have close neighbors.
• It takes up a lot of space.
• Acoustic drum kits often need parts replaced.
• Acoustic drums require frequent tuning.

Electronic Drums vs. Acoustic: Sound Creation

The fundamental difference between an acoustic and electronic drum kit is how they produce sound. So how exactly do these two kits produce sound?

Electronic Drum Sound

Electronic drums produce sound through single or multiple sensors underneath the mesh head or rubber pad. When you strike the pad, an electric signal travels through a cable to the drum module, which converts the strike into audible sound through your synthesizer, amplifier, or your DAW. 

Acoustic Drum Sound

When a player strikes at a drum head, the air is compressed and expands on either side of the drumhead producing a vibration. The frequency of this vibration determines the sound of the player’s strike, with larger surfaces producing slow vibrations at a lower pitch. 

Do Electronic Drums Feel Like Acoustic Ones?

Electronic drums feel like acoustic ones, but they’re never 100% the same since they consist of different materials. Many drummers say that they feel similar to play, although you can choose to have them make very different sounds. 

For instance, you can choose from various sounds on an electric drum set. You don’t have to make it sound like an acoustic drum either- you can pick any sounds you want. As you practice, you’ll feel more in control with acoustic drums because how hard you hit the set directly impacts the sound it makes. 

Modern electronic drums feel much more like acoustic sets than in the past. Although, it’s unlikely that manufacturers will be able to make them feel identical. 

What Are the Benefits of Electronic Drums?

The benefits of electronic drums include the ability to reduce noise, easier recording, and built-in features. You can also practice wherever you want since you may easily take an electric drum kit with you when you travel.

Electronic drum sets are trendy today because of their versatility. Plus, the technology these kits use is continually improving. Let’s break down these benefits in more detail. 

You Can Reduce Noise

The limited amount of noise electronic drums produce is essential for most people. If you live in an apartment, you won’t be able to practice at home with acoustic drums—they’ll probably be too loud for your neighbors. 

Electronic drum kits don’t make much noise when you strike the rubber with a drumstick. You have the choice of connecting your drums to speakers or headphones, and you can also control the volume with the turn of a dial. All these features allow you to control the volume completely. 

So, if you have close neighbors, they’ll never be able to hear you practicing. This feature is also great if you need to practice during the night. 

It’s Simple To Record Music

It’s easier to record music using electronic drum kits than acoustic ones. You won’t need to soundproof your playing space, and the kit should come with a place to plug in your recording equipment. 

Electric drums can even connect with your computer quickly, so you can mix and record without delay. Many drummers enjoy the convenience of being able to record their music at home.

You Get Built-In Features

Electronic drums also come with more features than acoustic ones. They can include tools such as metronomes, aux input, and even built-in learning tools to help you improve your drumming skills. 

However, every electronic drum set comes with different features. You’ll want to think about what you want most in your drum set, then try to find one that covers the features you want the most.

Overall, beginners should get drum sets that come with learning tools. Services like Melodics connect with many electric MIDI drums and allow you to build your own practice routine. You’ll want to consider using something like this with your electric drum set to enhance your practice sessions. 

It’s More Compact

You can take your drum kit with you wherever you need to go. The set isn’t nearly as bulky as acoustic ones. You can fold them and store the drums in a few travel cases, making them extremely easy to transport.

It’s much harder to bring an acoustic drum set with you, although it’s not impossible. However, choosing a compact electronic kit can make traveling with your drums easier.

Electronic drum sets also don’t take up nearly as much space, so you won’t need as large of a room to practice. Plus, you can always fold the set and store it when you finish practicing to get the space in your room back. Practicing in a dorm, apartment, or condo is much more convenient with these types of drums.

If you know you’ll need to take your drum kit with you everywhere, it’s usually better that you choose an electronic set. Some acoustic drum sets require more than one person to move them efficiently.

What Are the Benefits of Acoustic Drums?

The benefits of acoustic drums include learning drumming techniques, dynamic control, and feeling how the instrument responds to you. You also learn to take care of the drum and tune it, which are skills electronic-only drummers don’t get immediately.

You’ll learn much more from acoustic drum sets than electronic ones since they provide you with experiences you wouldn’t otherwise have. Electronic drums can’t wholly recreate realistic drumming sounds, so you’ll have a wider sound range as you learn all the techniques.

You Learn Drum Techniques

Learning all drum techniques is the most crucial benefit of using an acoustic set. Since you can play using touch, you can also control how the drum stick hits the set. Electronic pads only sense that you have hit them—but not always how.

That means, with acoustic drums, you can use all of these techniques:

• Drum rolls
• Buzz rolls
• Cymbal and crash rolls.

While electronic drums can also recreate these sounds, they don’t usually sound as realistic. Plus, you’ll learn how to perform these sounds with your sticks, which you can’t always do when using electric drum pads.

Many drum instructors recommend using acoustic drums to learn all these techniques. You’ll learn much faster when you can “feel” how to make and control the sounds.

You Learn To Maintain the Set

Next, you also gain experience in maintaining the set. Beginners who start with an electronic drum kit don’t need to learn how to take care of acoustic drums, which can cause problems later if they ever get a set.

An acoustic set will last longer than an electronic one, although you need to put more effort into taking care of it. Some beginners don’t realize that they need to change the skin on the drum head about every six months. If you don’t, the sound starts to change.

Learning to maintain your set now will help it last you many years. It would be best if you weren’t careless with your instrument.

You’ll Feel the Drums Respond

Acoustic drums allow you to easily see and feel how the drum responds to you when you strike it. That means you’ll learn how hard to hit the drums to get the sound level you want. You understand this faster when you can experiment with it in person.

Those who solely play electronic drums don’t need to practice how hard to hit the drum since they control the volume in other ways. 

Lastly, you’ll form much better drum habits when you can feel the drum. You won’t hit it too hard, and you’ll have cleaner strikes. Acoustic drums are much better for practicing when you want to ensure that you don’t form bad habits.

They Sound Great With Other Acoustics

Acoustic drums sound wonderful with other acoustic instruments. You can also use them in various genres, so you’re sure to play them with others. Many musicians feel acoustic drums are great for group play in-person, while electronic drums make music production with groups over the internet go more smoothly.

If you love acoustic instruments, you can pair your drum with any of them. While electronic drums still sound great, many people prefer the sound of real drums over them.

You Only Need the Drums

You only need an acoustic set if you intend to practice learning the drums without recording anything. You can hear yourself playing easily, so you can note how you’re progressing.

Acoustic drum sets don’t require any special equipment to run. You don’t need to plug these drums into a power source or connect them with a speaker system. Many people appreciate sitting and playing whenever they want, without having to set up an extensive array of electronic equipment.

Plus, if you’re anxious to start learning, you only need to buy the drum kit. You won’t need to research and purchase sound equipment to be able to hear yourself playing. You can get to practicing and worry about buying other equipment later.

What Are Electronic Drums Made Of?

Electronic drums are usually made of plastic or metal. They have a shallow drum shell with a rubber or silicon material stretched over the surface. Inside the drum are sensors that let the equipment know when you’ve hit it with your sticks.

Electronic drum kits have many more parts than acoustic drums since a ton of sound equipment is involved. Unfortunately, any of these parts can break just like an acoustic drum. However, When something goes wrong, it can impact other electronic system parts.

The material that stretches over the drum shell needs to be tight enough to provide you with some stick rebound, making it feel closer to playing an acoustic drum. You can find different material options, although mesh, rubber, and silicone are the most common. The rest of the drum is usually metal or plastic.

You can expect an electronic drum set to last between five and ten years. Internal components slowly wear down as you strike the drum pad over and over, so you’ll want to ensure you get a durable set.

What Are Acoustic Drums Made Of?

Acoustic drums can be made of various materials, including wood, metal, polyester, or mylar. Often they consist of birch and maple wood, although hickory can provide better sound quality. 

Traditionally, acoustic drums had animal skins, although that’s usually not the case anymore. The new skins are Mylar (a plastic film) and other synthetic materials, which sound good and last much longer than animal skins.

Metal drum kits can make use of several different materials, including:

• Steel
• Brass
• Bronze
• Aluminum.

Some materials are much more expensive, and pricier kits sound much better than cheaper ones. You’ll want to consider this when deciding what set you want to buy.

Overall, you can find acoustic drum kits in all kinds of styles and materials. It’s not uncommon for professional drummers to have different sets since they produce varying sounds depending on how the manufacturer made them.

Why Are Electric Drums More Expensive?

Electric drums are more expensive than many entry-level acoustic drums because they cost more to produce. They use more parts and need electronic wiring. Plus, they often feature digital tools, and the technology takes more research to make the sounds accurate.

If you need a budget drum set, you can often find used acoustic ones for cheaper than electronic sets. You also will want to buy a new electronic drum kit over a used one.

However, electric drum kits being more expensive doesn’t mean you’re getting ripped off; you’re mostly paying for more features. Electronic drums need to have a system of sensors and a sound module that sends noise to your speakers. These systems aren’t cheap to make, so you have to cover that cost.

Plus, you need a lot of secondary equipment with electronic sets. If you don’t have speakers or headphones, you won’t be able to listen to yourself playing the drums.

Acoustic drums don’t require any other equipment. So, you can play them without as much setup. It’s a lot faster to begin a practice session too.

Electric drums almost always have a heavier price tag than an acoustic set. 

Are Electric or Acoustic Drums Better?

Electric drums are better for portability, noise reduction, and recording purposes. Acoustic drums are better for learning dynamic control, live play, and the versatility of drum techniques. Ultimately, which kit suits you best depends on how you intend to use them. 

For instance, electric drums will better suit someone recording digital music in an apartment. This person could quietly perform and record music while wearing headphones, so they don’t disturb those around them. They’d get much more from an electric kit than an acoustic one.

However, a person performing in a band with other acoustic instruments might want to use traditional drums, so their sound doesn’t stand out too much.

In short, neither one of these instruments is better than the other—it all depends on what you want from the drum kit. You’re sure to appreciate one type more, depending on your situation. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t use both.

Conclusion

Electronic drums are easy to transport and have ports that make recording simple. On the other hand, acoustic drums are usually more affordable and help beginners learn correct techniques.

To summarize, there are many differences between electric and acoustic drums. When you learn one, you can usually switch to the other easily. However, you’ll want to buy a set that best suits your situation.

Fifteen of the best female drummers include Viola Smith and Karen Carpenter. They paved the way for women who have chosen to go behind the kits like Anika Nilles and Nikki Glaspie. 

Female drummers may not be as common as their male counterparts, but they are no less inspiring and talented. Read on to learn more about the fifteen best female drummers. Who knows: You might be inspired to follow in their footsteps (whether you’re a woman, a man, or somewhere in between).

1. Viola Smith

Viola Smith was — and arguably still is — the epitome of girl power in the percussion world. Born in 1912, her family introduced her to the music scene, and she very quickly developed a keen ear for music, particularly the drums. Her decades-long career included stints on Broadway, playing as one of the few professional female drummers of her time until 1975. 

Dubbed the fastest girl drummer in the world, Smith began her musical journey with her sisters in the Schmitz Sisters Family Orchestra. Afterward, she moved into swing music, starting another band with her siblings called The Coquettes. In the 1970s, Smith retired from music and lived until the ripe old age of 107. 

Smith was an ardent champion for female musicians, famously penning a manifesto with the tagline “Think it over, boys!” Considering her stellar resume as a percussionist, she was definitely the perfect person to carve out a feminist space in the drumming world during her time. 

Here’s a YouTube video of Viola Smith working her magic behind the kits in 1966:

2. Dottie Dodgion

Dottie Dodgion is another noteworthy female drummer of the mid-1900s who overcame much adversity to make a name for herself in jazz music. Although she was a victim of kidnapping and sexual assault at a young age, she managed to rise from the ashes and make her mark in the music world.

Under the tutelage of her father and his bandmates, Dottie played for several famous jazz bands in the fifties and sixties. She only stopped drumming in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions forced the closure of the hotel she performed at. 

Dottie wrote a memoir about her experiences as a female drummer in the jazz scene titled The Lady Swings: Memoirs of a Jazz Drummer (available on Amazon.com). She died in 2021 at 91 years old. She spent the better portion of her life pursuing her passion and encouraging other women to do the same.

3. Meg White

Meg White was an influential drummer that formed half of the classic duo The Whitestripes before they broke up in 2011. To date, White is still alive, but she no longer makes music with the second half of The Whitestripes, Jack. For unknown reasons, Meg White stepped out of the spotlight and chose not to pursue music as a career. 

Her drumming was characterized by its lack of fancy tricks and techniques. The simplicity of her playing wasn’t a handicap, though: During her stint with The Whitestripes, she was responsible for the creation of classic songs such as Seven Nation Army, Icky Thump, and You Don’t Know What Love Is. Consistency is part of what makes an epic drummer, and Meg White was as consistent as they came. 

Her straightforward playing can be seen in the YouTube video below, where the Whitestripes performed Fell In Love With A Girl on the Letterman Show in 2007.

4. Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter is a well-known name, making up one half of the brother-sister duo The Carpenters, which formed in the late 1960s. Although Karen eventually took over vocals in the band, she started out on the drums in her high school years, developing quick hands and a lively persona that initially led her to the drum kit.

Carpenter died prematurely due to a long-term battle with anorexia at the young age of thirty-two. Reports suggest that Carpenter struggled immensely with self-esteem issues. Despite receiving treatment, she eventually succumbed to the eating disorder in 1983. 

Nonetheless, Karen Carpenter left a lasting mark on the musical world, with various prominent artists (including Paul McCartney no less) praising her work. 

Watch her perform a drum solo in 1976 in the YouTube video below:

5. Honey Lantree

Honey Lantree is yet another female drummer who is no longer with us — the only woman in a mostly male rock band called The Honeycombs. Her real name was Anne Margot Lantree, and she first started playing in England in 1963. 

Unlike most of the drummers on the list so far, Honey wasn’t born into a world of music. Instead, she discovered the drums by chance: During her work at a hair salon, Lantree had a client who introduced her to percussion, and the rest is history. Since then, Lantree became one of a small handful of female drummers in the 1900s. 

The Honeycombs broke up only a few short years after the band began playing together. Still, Lantree kept on playing the drums for years to come, returning to the kit from 1980 to 2005 to make music not unlike what The Honeycombs produced. 

In 2005, one of her bandmates passed away, which is what ultimately forced Lantree to stop playing. Thirteen years later, in December of 2018, Lantree followed her bandmate — but not without leaving a legacy of her own in the drumming world.

You can see a sample of Honey Lantree’s playing in the YouTube video below:

6. Anika Nilles

Drummers like Viola Smith and Karen Carpenter took to the stage so that the women who came after them could work their magic behind the kit without discrimination or gender stereotypes hindering their success. 

One of the most noteworthy female drummers post-2010 is the vivid, high-energy percussionist Anika Nilles. Anika is a German-born musician who didn’t sit behind the kit until later in life but has since blown up in popularity with her hit songs Alter Ego and Wild Boy. 

Nilles’ songs are a delicious mix of pop and rock, with fast, unique beats on the kit. There are few vocals in this drummer’s music, and watching her rock out on the percussion is a genuine treat. 

Check out her drumming for the song “Alter Ego” below:

7. Taylor ‘The Pocket Queen’ Gordon

Taylor Gordon, also known as the Pocket Queen, started playing the drums for her New Orleans church choir at the age of seven and has yet to stop. She is also the first black female drummer featured on this list. 

The Pocket Queen has performed with prominent pop musicians like Fifth Harmony, Beyonce, and even Stevie Wonder. She has an eclectic style and certainly gives off the impression that she has the most fun behind the drums, grinning from ear-to-ear as she jams to funky tracks like Din Da Da.

Gordon is nicknamed ‘The Pocket Queen’ after the drumming phrase “in the pocket,” which basically refers to how a song is played in its very best version — that is, perfectly in sync with the other instruments. Gordon plays all of her music so groovily, so she’s always “in the pocket.” 

Watch her perform “This Is America” in the YouTube video below:

8. Nikki Glaspie

Nikki Glaspie is another pop-rock drummer who has performed with Beyonce for five years in Suga Mama, as well as other big names like Jay-Z and Kanye West. Like Taylor Gordon, Nikki Glaspie attended Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2005 — six years before the Pocket Queen. 

Glaspie’s three-person R&B band, The Nth Power, was formed in 2012, one year after she stopped playing for Beyonce. She also plays in various other bands in New Orleans and looks wicked cool doing it. 

Picking up the drum sticks at two years old, Glaspie was influenced by Sheila E. The latter was a percussionist who lived in the same era as Viola Smith and learned how to play the drums by listening to her church band. Considering Sheila E’s influence, plus the impact of her pianist mother, Glaspie is unsurprisingly a natural behind the drum kit.

Here’s Nikki Glaspie performing live at the UK Drum Show 2019:

9. Mercedes Lander

Mercedes Lander is a Canadian metal drummer who formed her first band in 6th grade, calling it “Kittie.” Mercedes and Kittie created and released various albums, with the last one released in 2011. Since then, Kittie hasn’t put out anything new, but the band hasn’t formally dissolved, so there’s always a possibility of hearing Lander lay it down on the drums again.

Also, Lander started a second band in 2016 (White Swan), which is still active to this day. Lander brings a hardcore style of drumming in both Kittie and White Swan. Through her music, she provides the explosive energy necessary for playing the best heavy metal music.

Here’s Mercedes Lander rocking out behind the kit in 40 seconds:

10. Sarah Thawer

Like Mercedes Lander, Sarah Thawer is a Canadian-born musician who learned to play the drums at a young age. Coming from a musical family, Thawer was inspired to go behind the kit by the Indian music her parents would play at home. She would go on to create countless Indian and Latin-inspired drum beats as she grew up and transformed into a musician.

Also nicknamed the Drum Guru, Thawer’s identity is a massive part of her career as a drummer. In fact, it’s what differentiates Thawer from all the rest, showing how music can transcend time and space to reach people all over the world.

Sarah has played with various incredible artists, including Jon Batiste (the creator of the Disney/Pixar movie ‘Soul’ soundtrack) and sister duo Tegan and Sara. She also creates video lessons for Indian percussion and posts them on Drumeo.

Here’s a YouTube video of Sarah Thawer making a big bang (pun intended):

11. Nandi Bushell 

An up-and-coming drummer, Nandi Bushell has already performed in front of thousands alongside The Foo Fighters as a guest drummer. Before that, she made incredible drum covers and posted them on her YouTube channel, which her parents manage. 

Nandi’s friendship with The Foo Fighters lead guitarist Dave Grohl has blossomed over the years, with the two purportedly planning on writing a song together. Grohl isn’t this young drummer’s only fan, though: Stars like Lenny Kravitz and Roger Taylor have also jammed with her and loved every second of it.

Watch her jam live with The Foo Fighters in the YouTube video below:

12. Meytal Cohen

Meytal Cohen is another up-and-coming drummer who co-founded the heavy metal band Meytal. Before that, she played and toured in a band called Metaphor. 

Born in Israel from a family of nine, Meytal Cohen first gained recognition through the drum covers she posted on YouTube. In 2015, the band released their first album titled “Alchemy.”  Interestingly, Alchemy was funded on Kickstarter before Cohen released the album herself. 

When she was younger, Cohen’s father was killed in a drunk driving accident, and she was raised (along with her seven siblings) by her mother. When Cohen graduated high school, she had to join the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) for a mandatory two-year service before moving to Los Angeles to pursue music. 

Cohen’s school career was abruptly interrupted when she got into a car accident that broke her back, but not even this stopped her. Once she was back on her feet, she returned to school, graduated, and continued her drumming career. 

Here’s a YouTube video of Cohen covering Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”:

13. Anastasia Sereda

Anastasia Sereda was born in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2001. Like many other up-and-coming artists, she rose to fame via YouTube and TikTok for her wicked drum covers. She later joined a Ukrainian band called O. Torvald. 

In 2016, she took on the lead drummer position in the Russian heavy metal band Invertor and continues to play and tour with them to date. She also regularly updates her YouTube channel and other social media accounts with colorful videos of herself banging on the drums. 

She looks totally seamless behind the kit as if jamming on the drums was an easy skill to master. Sereda’s band Invertor released an album in 2020 that’s currently available on Spotify and Apple Music. You can also find Invertor’s music here. 

Also, check out a sample of Sereda’s drum playthrough below:

14. Domino Santantonio

Domino Santantonio is an energetic female drummer born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Her father played the drums when she was younger, inspiring her to pick up her own set of drumsticks in her teen years. 

Santantonio toured with several French bands and worked in recording studios before her Hips Don’t Lie drum cover went viral in 2020. (Yes, the song by Shakira!). Most of her covers are of the pop-rock variety and are undoubtedly catchy. 

Still, Santantonio claims her most considerable influence is Travis Barker. The drummer also toured with Roxane Bruneau in 2017. (Bruneau is a French Canadian singer).  

To date, Domino Santantonio works as a drum instructor on Drumeo and continues to make content for her social media accounts.

If you thought you’ve heard every possible cover of Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life,” wait until you hear Santantonio’s take on it:

15. Valerie Franco

Last but not least, there’s Valerie Franco, an independent, non-binary musician specializing in drums. (I’m only including them here because they were assigned female at birth, but I will refer to them with they/their/them pronouns from here on out. Also, I believe they are worth recognizing regardless of the gender they choose to identify with.)

Born in California, Franco studied at the Los Angeles College of Music. Their taste in music was heavily influenced by their father, who often listened to Rush when Franco was young. (As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, Neil Peart is the drummer for Rush).

Franco first played with an electronic band called Halo Circus in 2012 and 2013. Now, they play with Hayley Kiyoko, an artist-slash-actress. Additionally, they work as a session drummer, meaning when a band’s original drummer can’t play for whatever reason, Franco is sometimes called to step in. 

As a result, Franco has played with various different bands, like the 8G Band. They have made several appearances on the Late Night Show with Seth Meyers. 

Listen to their cover of “Blood Pressure” by Mutemath below:

Here’s how to pack and ship a drum set:

1. Prepare what you need.
2. Remove the hardware.
3. Remove your bass drum’s hoops and heads.
4. Wrap the drums.
5. Put the drums in the box.
6. Wrap and pack the hardware.
7. Fill in the gaps.
8. Pack the bass drum heads.
9. Wrap and pack the cymbals.
10. Cut down the box.
11. Choose the best shipping option. 

Keep reading to learn more about the process of properly packing your drum set for shipping. I’ll take you through it step by step, so you can be sure that your drum set will not get damaged at any point of the shipment. 

1. Prepare What You Need

You’ll need to prepare all the tools and materials you’ll need for the job before you start, so you don’t have to run around, looking frantically for a piece of material and equipment as you work. This will allow you to save time while working more efficiently. 

Here’s what you need to properly pack your drum set:

• Packing paper: You will need lots of packing paper for padding. The more, the better, as you don’t want to take any chances. You can use newspapers as well, which are a significantly cheaper option. However, they might not be as protective or effective as packing paper.
• Cardboard scraps: Get as many as you can. You will need them for wrapping your drums and creating some additional padding in the box.
• Bubble wrap: No packing job can be done properly without bubble wrap. The stuff is even more essential when packing drums, as they can be rather delicate, and the hardware floating around the box can easily damage them.
• A bass drum box: Any box big enough will do, but it can be very difficult to find one. If you can’t find such a big box, you can always order a dedicated bass drum box online and save yourself the headache. 
• Boxes for the bass drum head and cymbals: As long as the boxes are sturdy enough, they will do. Don’t use something like a pizza box because those will likely get damaged, allowing your cymbals or bass drum head to get scratched, broken or do the same to another component.
• Packing tape: You’ll need generous amounts of it, and you should opt for something durable and sturdy.
• Utility knife: There will definitely be a need to cut something, so a utility knife will come in handy. Even a common boxcutter would do in this case, even though it’s not as versatile.
• A drum key: There is no better tool for disassembling your drum set. However, you could also use a drill bit key, even though it’s not a dedicated tool. 

Now that you’ve got everything you need close by, you’re ready to start packing. Let’s see what you need to do. 

2. Remove the Hardware

The hardware can easily get in the way when packing, and it can damage other components even more easily. You don’t want a drum head to get pierced during shipping, or a small metal piece moving around the box, so you need to spend a minute or two to remove these parts.

You’ll want to wrap them individually, but for now, you can put them aside, making sure that you haven’t lost anything. It is best to focus on the bigger parts, as they need to be packed first. 

3. Remove Your Bass Drum’s Hoops and Heads

The bass drum head can be very easily damaged during shipping, so it’s vital to pack it separately to prevent this. While you’re at it, you should also remove the hoops because they also need some additional protection. 

You can put the heads in a box right away. It is not absolutely necessary to add padding to the box, but it might be good to put some bubble wrap in it, just to be sure. You can get a special box for drum heads, but as long as you’ve got access to anything big and sturdy enough, you can use it. Make sure the box is not too big either because you want everything packed very tightly.

You also want the bass drum to be hollow, so you can pack the toms and snare inside it. This is an additional reason to remove the heads, as it will allow you to end up with a smaller, compact package, which may lower the shipping price. 

After you’ve done that, you can focus on the hoops. Take some bubble wrap and wrap the hoops with it, covering them completely. Secure with packing tape and slide the hoops back on the bass drum case. This will ensure that the hoops won’t scratch the bass drum during shipping (or vice versa). Plus, you’ll get to pop some of those bubbles, which is always satisfying. 

4. Wrap the Drums

For maximum protection, you’ll need to wrap each of the drums in bubble wrap, and then in cardboard. The bubble wrap should go twice around the diameter of each drum. You can do more if you think it’s necessary, but most of the time, it won’t be, since you’ll be adding many layers of protection. 

After you’ve wrapped everything in bubble wrap and secured it with packing tape, you’ll need to add some cardboard over the bubble wrap for extra protection. It is best to use larger pieces of cardboard since they’ll allow you to wrap everything more quickly and easily. Make sure you’re using lots of packing tape, so nothing gets loose.

Once you’ve wrapped all components, double-check to see if everything is nice and tight, and then you can move on to the next step. 

5. Put the Drums in the Box 

Now that everything is wrapped tightly in bubble wrap and cardboard, you can start putting the drums in the bass drum box. As mentioned, you’ll have to put smaller drums inside bigger drums, and you’ll have to add cardboard and bubble wrap between them to prevent anything from moving and scratching the other components. 

There are a couple of steps you should follow to prepare the box for packing:

1. Assemble the box, using lots of packing tape.
2. Line the bottom of the box with bubble wrap.
3. Add a thin layer of cardboard over the bubble wrap.
4. Reinforce the interior walls of the box with cardboard.

Now that the box is ready, you can start packing the drums. 

1. Place the bass drum in the box. 
2. Line its inside with cardboard. 
3. Cradle floor tom inside the bass drum.
4. Add packing paper or bubble wrap in between if it’s necessary.
5. Make sure that nothing is moving.
6. Remove one head from the floor tom and insert the rack tom.
7. Repeat the process until all the drums are nested safely inside one another. 

This process will ensure that nothing in the package can move around and get damaged. Feel free to be liberal with the use of packing paper and bubble wrap. It’s hard to overdo it, and it’s better to be safe than sorry, anyway. 

6. Wrap and Pack the Hardware

Now you can go back to your hardware and wrap it tightly with bubble wrap. You should first take the tension rods and other small metal bits and wrap them in lots of bubble wrap, so they can’t move around or pierce the wrap, damaging the drums. You can put them on the head of the last drum you packed.

Before you proceed with the rest of the hardware, use a generous amount of packing paper (or newspapers if that is what you’re using), and fill in all the voids. This will create an additional layer of protection and make sure that, for example, tom legs can’t damage the drums. 

After that, you can proceed with adding the tom legs, and if there’s space, the cymbal stands. Unfortunately, you might have to resort to packing and shipping cymbal stands separately if there is no space in the box or if it ends up being too heavy. 

Whatever the case, you can wrap the legs and stands in bubble wrap, but it might not be necessary. Since there will be a lot of packing paper for padding, you can put them on the padding and add some more on top for extra protection. 

7. Fill in the Gaps

At this stage, there probably won’t be any gaps, but it would be smart to check and make sure everything is tight and unable to move before you proceed to the next step. If you notice any gaps in the padding or if you see that a component is loose, add enough paper or bubble wrap to prevent it from moving around. 

8. Pack the Bass Drum Heads

Now that there’s enough padding in the box, you can proceed by adding the bass drum heads to the box. The heads should, of course, be in their own box, which you can just lay gently on top of everything else. You don’t have to add any additional padding at this stage because there is already enough. 

The most important thing to remember is to use a sturdy box that won’t get ripped and allow the bass drum heads to get out of it. If you have no access to a suitable box, you can improvise one from scrap cardboard. In that case, it would be wise to first wrap the heads in some bubble wrap and then tape the cardboard to that, just to make sure that everything is protected well. 

9. Wrap and Pack the Cymbals

Cymbals should also ideally be in boxes. Again, opt for something sturdy and wrap them in some bubble wrap before packing. Cymbals are hard and sharp, so you don’t want them getting out of the box and damaging another component.

If you can’t find a suitable box, you can use the trick from the previous step. Wrap them in bubble wrap and then improvise a box by taping scrap cardboard over everything. While it’s not the best option, it is still much better than nothing. 

10. Cut Down the Box

This step is completely optional; if you’ve squeezed a lot of stuff in the box, there probably won’t be any space left in it, so there will be nothing left to cut. But if there is some extra space between the roof of the box and your drums, you’ll need to make your box a bit shorter. This is necessary to prevent the drums from moving if the box gets tumbled or thrown around. 

You could throw in some additional padding, but you would end up drowning the receiver in paper and bubble wrap since you’ve probably already used quite a lot of it in the previous steps. So, the most reasonable option is to just make the box shorter. 

This can be done in a few steps.

1. Take your utility knife and cut it into the box just above the bass drum heads.
2. Do not cut all the way through. Instead, create a light cut to allow the cardboard to bend.
3. Cut the corners all the way through so you can close the box. 

Now that the box is shorter, you can close it and seal it with packing tape. Before you tape everything, give the box a shake to see if anything is moving. If you hear something moving, you might have to add some additional padding to prevent it from doing so. 

If you see that nothing is moving and that everything in the box is tight, tape it up, and don’t skimp out on the tape. Use it liberally and tape all the sides, especially the edges. You don’t want the box to open in the middle of shipping. After that, you can stick your label to the box and ship it out. 

11. Choose the Best Shipping Option

Once the drums are packed tightly and safely, it’s time to ship them. Depending on where you live, you’ll be able to choose between quite a few carriers; however, the selection process should not be taken lightly. Not all shipping companies offer the same quality of service, so you’ll want to make sure that the carrier you end up opting for will treat your drums with all the care they require. 

Cost is another factor to keep in mind when choosing a shipping option, as transporting such a large and delicate instrument can be pretty costly; however, when it comes to low cost vs. high-quality service, I always recommend choosing the latter. After all, you just spent all this time making sure that your drums don’t get damaged, it doesn’t make sense to skimp on the most important part of the process.

Some common options you can choose from include:

• UPS
• USPS
• FedEx

UPS

UPS is widely viewed as the best option for sending large packages, and many drum sellers prefer to use their services. They tend to have the cheapest shipping rates for big shipments, and they’re also pretty reliable, which is a great combination. You can also get a business account on their website, which will give you some great discounts, and if you’re in the business of selling drums, this might be the best possible option.

Even though their shipping tends to be cheap, you shouldn’t rely on their stores for packing. They charge quite a lot of money, and they will probably not do a great job packing drums since there are quite a few details to remember when doing that. It’s best to pack them yourself and then have a UPS driver pick them up. Yes, you’ll pay a small fee, but it’s still cheaper than having them pack your drums.

USPS

USPS is a bit more expensive than UPS since there are no discounts, but it is a pretty reliable option, especially if you’re sending a smaller package. It’s also quite convenient since you can print out a label from their website and wait for a mailman to come and pick up your package, which is free of charge.

You will also get a telephone number from a customer service representative, so you know who to call if something goes wrong. Overall, it is not a bad option, but it is usually not as affordable as UPS. 

FedEx 

FedEx is the most expensive option here, so it is the least advisable. They do offer a cheaper packing service than UPS, but it is still best to do it yourself unless you are perfectly confident they’ll do a good job. Overall, unless the customer specifically asks for it, there is no need to choose FedEx. 

You should also not forget to get insurance for what you’re shipping. It will make everything a bit costlier, but it will make the experience safer, too. 

Final Thoughts

There you have it – all you need to know now is if you wish to ship out a drum set. The most important thing to keep in mind when packing a drum set is to add enough padding. Doing so will prevent the drums from moving and bumping into each other, causing damage. 

It’s also essential to choose the right shipping company. UPS is favored, but USPS is also not a bad option. 

We all know that our drums need a good dusting and a wipe-down every now and then. To keep your drums in the best possible condition, you should deep clean them regularly. However, this can be a delicate process as you want to make sure you are cleaning your drums thoroughly and carefully.

Here’s how you can clean your drums:

1. Start with a basic wipe-down.
2. Take the drum set apart.
3. Use dish soap and water to clean each part.
4. Put your drums back together.
5. Provide in-between care.

Let’s go over these steps in more detail and help you get your drums thoroughly clean.

1. Start With a Basic Wipe Down

The first rule of keeping your drums clean is to regularly wipe them down. For this, you’ll want to use the least abrasive cloth you have, preferably a microfiber cloth. This type won’t leave scratches or abrasions behind. The cloths are also great for removing dirt and fingerprint smudges, so keep a microfiber cloth close by when taking care of your drums.

The microfiber cloth is versatile. You can use it for polishing and cleaning your entire drum set. So, keep one handy while following these steps. If you don’t have one, you can use a different type of cloth to care for your drumset but consider getting a microfiber cloth.

When you start to clean your drums, begin with a basic wipe-down. This will help get rid of smudges and any dirt that has begun to accumulate on your drum set. Nevertheless, this process is not enough for a deep clean. You’ll need to do much more. 

Let’s get into the next step.

2. Take the Drum Set Apart

After the initial wipe down, you will need to take apart your drum set. This can be intimidating for those who haven’t done it before, but we’ll guide you through the process. Let’s get started.

1. Remove the Cymbals

When disassembling your drum set, the first thing you want to do is to remove the cymbals. These are relatively easy to remove:

1. Start by unscrewing the wing nut that is holding the cymbal in place. Remember to keep a firm hand on the cymbal, so it doesn’t fall when you unscrew it. 
2. Set the cymbals aside, laying them upside down for maximum balance.
3. Ensure you screw the wing nuts back on the drumset so they don’t get lost or mixed up with other parts as you take apart your drum set. 
4. When it comes to the hihat, you should remove the cymbals, but it is okay to leave the wing nut attached to the top of the hihat. This will make it easier for you to put it all back together once finished cleaning.

2. Adjust the Cymbal Stands

The cymbal stands can be left as they are if you can reach them properly to clean them. If not, you can adjust them with the height adjustments on the side. Simply twist the adjustments, which will loosen them. This allows you to shorten the stand or elongate it. If you want to ensure you clean the entire stand, elongate it as much as you can.

Repeat this process for the other cymbal stands, and don’t forget to also remove the drum stick holder as well. Loosen it the same way you loosened the stands. You can also remove it entirely for the easiest possible cleaning. Once done, take your drum sticks and set them aside with the cymbals you have already removed.

3. Remove the Drums

Next, remove the drums from the stand by twisting the wing nuts, as you did above. You will need to hold the drums as you remove them, so they don’t fall. You can remove the drum stand from the bass drum by twisting it loose and carefully pulling it upward. This will separate the bass drum and the pedal from the stand.

You can also remove the pedal from the bass drum by locating the wing nut hidden under the pedal and loosening it. 

Once you separate the drums from their stands, it is time to take the drums apart. To do this, you will need a drum key. This is a small tool that should have come with your drum set. It looks like a capital T.

If you lose your drum key, don’t panic. You can buy drum keys just about anywhere you purchase music items. Here’s an EASTROCK 3-Pack Drum Tuning Key (available on Amazon.com). The keys are reasonably priced, so don’t worry about losing yours. In fact, it may be a good idea to keep a few handy for taking your drums apart or changing your drum heads.

Use your drum key to loosen the lug nuts surrounding the drum. Once they are all loose, you can remove them and lift the rim off the drum. It’s essential to keep track of all the lug nuts and washers if you choose to remove them. Alternatively, leave them on the rim to prevent them from getting lost. You can now remove the head of the drum, allowing you full access to the inside of the drum.

3. Use Dishsoap and Water To Clean Each Part

Now that you have the entire drum set disassembled and ready to clean, let’s talk about the cleaning process. 

First, you want to avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your drum set. Water and dish soap is enough to get your drums completely clean. Besides, some parts of your drums should not get wet or soapy. 

Here’s what each part of the set needs.

Cymbals

Now that you have them separated from their stands, the cymbals will be a lot easier to clean thoroughly. First, wipe them down completely to ensure that there are no leftover chips from your drum stick. This can happen often and is one of the reasons cleaning your cymbals is so important.

While you’re cleaning the cymbals, you want to treat them like a vinyl record. The fewer fingerprints you leave behind, the better. Therefore, try to avoid touching the cymbals anywhere but the edges while handling them.

You can address small spots or stains on your cymbals with some water and dish soap. Gently scrub the stain with a damp, soapy cloth to remove the stains. While dish soap will not harm the cymbals, remember that your cymbals are made of metal. This means that you should dry them quickly and thoroughly after any cleaning to avoid rusting.

There are other options available if you need something a little harsher than dish soap and water. However, it’s important to note that you should not use basic metal cleaners on your cymbals if you want to keep them sounding crisp. Using something too harsh on the cymbals can wear down the lathing and change the tone of your cymbals.

One option that you have, if you need something a little more intense than dish soap, is a cymbal cleaner. Try to find something that is not abrasive, like this MusicNomad Premium Cymbal Cleaner available on Amazon. It’s acid-free and will leave your cymbals looking brand new without risking damage or tone changes.

Whichever method you use to clean your cymbals, wipe them down with a microfiber towel after you finish removing fingerprints you may have left behind.

Stands

Next, you want to clean the cymbal and drum stands that you removed from their attachments. To start with, make sure to elongate the stands as much as possible for the most thorough possible cleaning. Manufacturers use chrome to make these stands, so, any chrome cleaner will work just fine when cleaning your stands.

If you don’t have a chrome cleaner at home, that’s okay. There are plenty of alternatives you can use to clean these parts. The stands are the least risky part of the drum set to clean, hence, using chemicals and materials will not change how the drum sounds. This gives you more options for cleaning than other parts of the drum set.

If you want to avoid cleaners and harsh chemicals, you can use dish soap and water to clean the stands. Finish by ensuring the stands are completely dry, just like the cymbals, to avoid rusting. You also want to wipe them down with a microfiber cloth to ensure that there is no leftover cleaning residue or fingerprints.

Drums

You’ll need to clean the drums in parts to avoid using chemicals in certain areas. 

You can clean the rims of your drums the same way you cleaned the stands because manufacturers also make them with chrome. Therefore, use chrome cleaner for a more polished look or dish soap and water to avoid chemicals.

It’s essential to try to be more careful with the drum heads as certain chemicals and abrasive materials can harm these items. As such, you want to stay away from household cleaners that can cause harm. 

One of the best possible solutions for cleaning drum heads is a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. This mixture will allow you to safely clean your drums without causing any harm.

You can use the same technique used on the stands above to clean the outside of the drums. Dish soap and chrome cleaners will both work fine too but make sure you avoid the inside and the head when cleaning with chemicals.

Finally, you should dust the inside of the drums to ensure there is no dirt or residue left inside. Because the inside of the drum is wooden, you need to be careful even when using dish soap and water. The main goal of cleaning the inside of a drum should be to remove dust and debris. Otherwise, you should leave the insides alone as chemicals can affect the sound of the drum.

Wingnuts, Lugnuts, and Smaller Parts

When cleaning the smaller parts of a drum, it’s important to be aware of the other components they will come in contact with. For example, the rims of a drum are made of chrome, hence, using chrome cleaner on these will not harm them. However, the rims of the drum may come in contact with the drum head when reassembling the drum set.

Thus, you can use whatever cleaner you choose for these parts, but ensure to dry and wipe them down thoroughly before attempting to reassemble the drum set to avoid cross-contamination. Remember, these metal parts can also rust. So, even if you just use the basic dish soap and water combination, you need to ensure they get completely dry.

4. Put Your Drums Back Together

After thoroughly cleaning your drum set, it’s time to put everything back together. While this may seem simple after disassembling the drum set, it’s very important to get it done correctly. Let’s break down the process to ensure you don’t run into any issues.

1. Start by Assembling Drums

You need to put the drums back together after cleaning them. Use the rims to re-attach the drum heads to the base of the drums. Once you have the rim attached, you need to use the drum keys to tighten the lug nuts around it. You can start this process using your hand, but you will need a drum key to ensure that you tightly put it together. 

2. Attach the Drums to the Stand

Next, you want to reattach the drums to the stand. Do the following:

1. Start by inserting the drum stand into the kick drum, where you pulled it from. 
2. Insert the stand and tighten it with the wing nut to ensure that it is secure. 
3. You can now attach the rest of the drums to the stand as well. During this process, ensure you tighten the wing nuts to prevent them from coming off.
4. Once you attach the drums to the stand, you can begin adjusting the stand back to where you had it originally. 
5. Fully cleaning the drum set means that you need to change the height of the stands. So, take some time to adjust the stand to the correct height.

3. Place the Cymbals Back on the Stand

You now need to place the cymbals back on the stands. Again, do this carefully so that you touch the cymbals as little as possible. Hold them around the edges to ensure you don’t leave anything behind.

If you adjusted the cymbal stands to thoroughly clean them, you would need to readjust their height to be comfortable. Take some time to ensure that they are at the correct and most comfortable height. During this process, also make sure you reattach the drum stick holder. Simply place it back on the stand and twist the wing nut to tighten it.

Putting your drums back together will be much easier after disassembling them. If this is your first time putting your drum set back together, know that it will get easier the more you do it. Be sure to clean your drum set regularly and familiarize yourself with the process of disassembling and reassembling it. You’ll be a master in no time.

5. Provide In Between Care

Finally, let’s talk about how to care for your drum set between cleanings. 

• Use a soft cloth. As we discussed above, always make sure you are using a soft cloth for any care, preferably a microfiber cloth.
• Wipe down your drums regularly. You also want to get into the system of wiping down your drum set regularly to help avoid any stains or chips from your drum sticks affecting the sound of your cymbals. Overall, keeping your drum set clean takes very little effort as long as you maintain it regularly. Just remember to wipe it down before using it to remove any dust.
• Look out for faded spots or stains. When wiping down your drums, keep an eye out for any faded spots or stains, especially on the cymbals. Cymbals are highly susceptible to damage, and any small change can affect the cymbal’s sound. So, if you notice the tone of your cymbals seems off, it may be time to inspect and clean them to ensure nothing is affecting the sound.
• Change your drum heads regularly. Don’t forget to replace your drum heads regularly as well. How often you change them depends entirely on how much you play. For most people, experts recommend you replace your drum heads once a year. If you play quite often or play live, then you should do this more often.

Remember, fresh drum heads give you the best possible sound. So, even though you don’t need to replace them too often, consider replacing them right before an important performance. Also, if you perform live or plan to record, replace the drum heads before you do this for the best possible sound.

Final Thoughts

While cleaning your drums thoroughly is a lengthy process, it is vital for your drum set’s proper care and longevity. Follow these steps to ensure you are always cleaning your drum set thoroughly and carefully.

Lastly, ensure you don’t forget to take care of your drum set between cleanings. Wiping it down often will keep dust and drumstick chippings under control. Also, it’s important to consistently check your drum heads and cymbals for any damages, stains, or markings that would indicate something is wrong.

An electronic or digital drum kit uses pads and electronic trigger sensors to replace traditional drums and cymbals. Using a drum module, drummers can trigger sounds, sequences, and various types of percussion on the electronic drum kit and then amplify those sounds.

Electric drums or standalone drum machines are becoming more and more popular as a tool for recording and producing music. They’re used in many styles of music, from hip-hop, metal, punk, and rock. But before we look at what electric drums can do for you, let’s look at the anatomy of an electronic drum kit to see how they work.

The Anatomy of Electronic Drums

Electronic drums have been a popular instrument for some time and have become more advanced as technology continues to evolve. This type of drum kit does not use percussion to make sounds. Instead, they use electronic components to create the sound of drums.

The fact is that all acoustic drum kits are made from wood and metal, but the electronic versions do not use any physical cymbals or drums. 

Using electronic drums is similar to using an electric guitar-like controller with a more limited range of sounds and less precision than an acoustic drum kit. 

The electronic drums are made up of four main parts:

• Kit frame.
• Electronic drum pad.
• Drum module (the brain).
• Amplifier.

Each pad is hooked up to a trigger sensor input on the drum module so that it sends signals to your amplifier and speakers when you strike it (or tap it with your hand or foot). This creates sounds that correspond with whatever you’ve programmed into the module. 

Let’s inspect each of these components and how they work.

The Kit Frame

While a traditional drum kit has a wide range of instruments and can be played by anyone who’s mastered the basics of drumming, the electric kit frame is made for the beginner or intermediate drummer who wants to play drums in a group setting but doesn’t want to be confined to a traditional set. 

The big difference between this kind of drum kit and its acoustic counterpart is that it’s not made out of wood–it’s made out of metal. The kit frame is part of this instrument that provides the structure that holds up all the various pads and makes them one unit.

The electronic drum heads (pads) are connected to the frame with an adjustable hinge and feature everything you need to make music that an acoustic kit offers:

• Bass drum
• Kick pedal
• Two rack toms
• One floor tom
• Hi-hat
• Hi-hat pedal
• Cymbals

Each piece of an electric drum kit serves a different purpose for making music and helping you achieve your desired sound. You can create a unique sound with the many extra pads and add-ons available, making this type of kit extremely versatile.

Electronic Drum Pad

An electronic drum kit’s pads give it its name. These pads don’t function like acoustic drums. When you hit the standard drum head, a sound is created that’s transferred through the air and heard by your ears. Instead, electric drum kits trigger audio samples when the pads are hit.

The pads themselves are the main component of the kit and consist of a mesh head and a trigger sensor. When you strike the pad, a sensor detects that vibration and sends a signal to the sound module, which boosts it and sends it to an output port.

Each sound in an electronic drum kit has a sample of its own. When you hit a pad, the sound from that pad (different for each one) will play through your speakers or headphones. 

To get the sound as naturally as possible, drum pads have to sense when they’re being hit and transmit that information through electronic signals to the triggering software that routes them to the sound module.

The sensors act as a trigger inside the cymbal, drum pad or external trigger device attached to the outside of each pad. The triggers respond to pressure, resulting in different sounds depending on how hard each head is struck.

However, some models require that you use special sticks with rubber tips for the sensors to register the vibrations correctly.

Next, you’ll notice that these drum pads are quieter than any other kind of drum you’ve ever used before. That’s because they don’t make a sound themselves. After hitting them, the sound begins to play back through your speakers or headphones. 

This makes them much more versatile than conventional drums, but they would be pretty hard to use if they had no way of amplification.

Therefore, an electronic drum kit does not use shells to produce sounds like its acoustic counterpart. Instead, it uses electronic pads fitted with sensors that reproduce samples of each pad to your amplifier. 

You’ll hear different sounds created by various combinations of how the sensor, sound module, and output work together, depending on how hard you hit the pad and where you hit it. For example, the center of the pad will generally produce more volume than its edge.

The Drum Module

The drum module is the brain of an electric drum kit that has been around since the beginning of electronic drums, as it contains all the electronics that allow it to produce sounds and make music. The kit can be battery operated or run on a power source, such as an AC adapter. 

The drum module contains two main components: 

• A synthesizer
• A sampler

A synthesizer is used in electric drums because it produces an infinite range of tones based on several parameters, including timbre and frequency, which are adjusted with knobs or sliders. 

On the other hand, a sampler can record a full range of sounds and play them back at different pitches. It works by reading the digital input signal and replicating it using an internal computer chip or memory card. This is why there are multiple options for sampling; you can choose what sort of sounds you want to use.

An external drum module (or brain, as it’s often called) takes the sound from each drum pad, processes it through its internal effects and amplification circuits, and then sends it to the amplifier or headphones. The brain usually has built-in rhythms to play along with but can also be triggered by other devices.

The module offers multiple settings that allow you to customize your sound during different songs or genres of music. You can adjust the sensitivity of each head and change the overall volume level of your sound.

Drum modules are often used in studios because they don’t take up much space and allow for precise tuning capabilities that traditional acoustic drums do not permit (i.e., tightening or loosening specific drum heads). They’re also used in live performances because they offer more flexibility than traditional acoustic drums.

The module must be mounted on a stand so that you can easily see its display. It consists of digital memory, which allows it to store thousands of different drum sounds. Each sound can be customized by altering the pitch, volume, and length.

Many drummers like to customize their setup by choosing additional sounds they want and switching out some preprogrammed ones that come installed on the module. Some people even decide to create their sounds entirely from scratch!

Amplifier

The thing that makes an electric drum kit electric is that it has wires running from it that power an amplifier so you can be heard. The amplifier can control the volume of each part of the drum kit so that the sound you’re playing can be heard independently.

Although electric drum modules come with a built-in amplifier, they also contain outputs for sending a signal to an external amplifier. However, it’s best to use an external amplifier because most electronic drum kits don’t have outstanding built-in speakers.

If you’re looking for a great amplifier to boost your sound or use for a live performance, try Donner’s Electric Drum Amplifier from Amazon. It comes at an affordable price and will deliver quality sound for your next electric drumming session.

When you’re playing alone and don’t need to be amplified, you can plug your headphones into the jack on your drum module and practice as much as you want without disturbing anyone else. 

But if you’re playing with other instruments or vocals, you’ll need an amplifier to boost your signal so your sound can be heard. 

The amplifier gives electric drums their characteristic booming sound and is also crucial for adjusting the tone of your drums so that they sound like acoustic drums. Your sound will have a flat tone if you don’t use an amp and plug your electric drum directly into a speaker or PA system. 

You’ll also be able to customize your settings with the amplifier because it has an equalizer that allows you to boost or cut bass and high tones to shape the sound to your preference.

Benefits of Using Electronic Drums

If you lack the luxury of having a drumkit in your living room, electronic drum kits offer a great way to get your hands on the instrument that’s been the backbone of rock and roll for decades.

Electronic drum kits are a godsend for percussionists who want to expand their beat beyond the realm of acoustic instruments. These kits thrill any musician interested in exploring new sounds and styles worldwide.

There are many positive characteristics of using an electronic drum kit over a traditional acoustic kit, but the most obvious is that they are quieter. 

No More Noise Complaints

Using an electronic drum kit to practice can eliminate some of the noise issues that might be present in a typical drum kit. 

If you’ve ever felt inclined to learn to play the drums but live in a place where you’d get complaints from your neighbors, or if you want to rock out in your room without disturbing anyone, an electronic drum kit is a great option!

Electronic drum kits can offer a happy medium between playing and silence. They have been used for decades by drummers who play in rock bands and want to practice at home. This makes them popular for the same reason that they’re useful; they allow you to get the feel of drumming without as much noise.

With the fitting kit, you can play on it without any noise coming out of it. Most drum modules have a volume knob that allows you to adjust the level of sensitivity and the volume at which they create sound. This feature allows you to play music quietly through your amp without anyone else hearing what you are doing.

Alternatively, you also have the option to plug headphones into your kit via the drum module. 

Easy To Record

While playing those big, booming acoustic drums is fun. They have some severe limitations.

Their sound may be fantastic in a large room or auditorium, but if you’re looking to play your drums at home, getting the same great sound can be challenging without investing in extra microphones and mixing equipment. And even then, you’ll have to contend with recording limitations and other noise-reduction measures, which can further complicate your setup. 

But when you use an electronic drum kit, you need not worry about setting up the perfect home studio. The drum module generates all the sounds and is instantly available for any recording or playing purposes you want.

In fact, you can plug your electronic kit directly into your computer via a USB cable and start recording on your Digital Audio Workspace software (DAW). The only accessories you’d need are headphones. 

This is especially handy if you’re recording in a home studio because it allows you to get the drum kit sounds you want without worrying about using the correct mic placement or dealing with the noise of mic booms or stands.

Versatility

There are endless options when purchasing an electronic kit, but one thing they have in common is that they’re accompanied by a built-in library of preset sounds and beats. 

Electronic drums can also be played and sound like a traditional drum kit, or you can use them to create sounds that aren’t available on a standard kit. 

The ability to fine-tune every sound allows musicians to bring out the subtleties of different genres and even fuse multiple styles into one song. With just a few taps on your drum module screen, you can summon up a full-bodied djembe, an explosive dholak, or even something entirely unlike anything you’ve ever heard.

For example, you could have a preset of drum sounds that fit together to make your unique style, or you could have all the instruments of a traditional drum kit play separately with their distinct sounds.

The versatility aspect of electronic drums makes them popular among musicians because they can be used in any genre and blend in nicely. With the possibilities of electronic drums, music is only limited by your imagination.

They’re Cheaper Than Acoustic Drums

Electronic drums are cheaper than acoustic ones, but they can still give you a lot of bang for your buck.

Some kits include accessories like drum pads, stands, and pedals that you’d need to buy separately if you went with an acoustic kit. Some even have built-in amplifiers and speakers, so you don’t need to worry about hooking up your equipment. 

There are no microphones to purchase or set up if you want to record, and they can be bought and used for a fraction of the price of an acoustic kit.

Portability

We’ve discussed how electronic drums are a great alternative to real drums and can benefit those who lack space or funds for traditional setups. That said, one thing that I haven’t touched on yet is the portability of these instruments.

If you’re still new to drumming, there’s nothing like learning a new instrument without dealing with the added frustration of figuring out how to transport it from place to place. It’s especially great if you live in an apartment where you don’t have many options for storage.

The pads on electronic drums can be moved around a lot more than their acoustic counterparts, and it’s easy to switch them from one location to another, giving you much more freedom to practice. 

Nowadays, we’re all very busy with work, school, and other commitments, and it can often be hard to find the time and space you need to practice your drums. Electronic drums give you a chance to make your own space available at any time.

Additionally, because the instrument is smaller and more compact, you can take it with you when you travel. You can set up your drum kit in any space available while traveling, letting you keep up with your regular practice even when you’re away from home.

Summary

Electric drums work by using pads and electronic trigger sensors to replace a traditional drum and cymbal. The electric drum kit will know what the sound output will be like based on its configuration. You will need headphones or a sound amplifier to hear your drums.

An electronic drum kit can help you achieve a new level of playing. This kit can also save money and allow you to practice anytime, anywhere. They are an excellent tool for learning how to play the drums if you live in an apartment or don’t have anywhere to practice. 

Drums make sound by vibrating when struck by hand, padded mallet, or drum stick. The head of the drum (skin) vibrates up and down with each hit, pushing the air molecules around it and creating air pressure differentials that our ears perceive as sound.

There’s substantial science behind how drums make sound and a couple of factors that affect how a drum sounds. In this article, we’ll break down the basic anatomy of the drum and the different parts that make it sound unique.

The Anatomy of a Drum

A drum is a versatile instrument that can be used in many ways and for different audiences. Various drums are used for different styles of music, and the same drum can be played in very different ways. 

Perhaps the most important determinant of any drum’s sound is its anatomy. The different parts, shapes, and designs determine how this instrument will sound, as you will see later in the article. And while all drums have unique characteristics, they also share some common traits that give them their particular sounds.

Parts of a Drum

• The drum head – The drumhead is the part you strike with the drumstick. It is the topmost component of any drum and can be made from various animal skins (sheepskin, goat skin, and cowhide). The drum head can also be made with synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, Kevlar, or Mylar) and is responsible for the vibrations that make the sound.
• The shell – The shell is the main body of the drum. It’s usually made of wood and is responsible for the drum’s resonance and sustain. The material used (wood, aluminum, or steel, for example) and how it is shaped and formed will affect the drum’s sound.
• Drum rim – The drum rim (also known as the drum hoop) is a circular piece of wood, metal, or occasionally other materials that attach to your drum’s top. It holds the drumhead in place and provides the tension needed to produce different tones in your drum beats.
• Tuning keys – Like a guitar, the drum can be tuned to produce a higher or lower tone by tightening or loosening the drumhead. A drum’s tuning keys are small metal structures that help you tighten the head and achieve the perfect tone.
• Drum pedal – A pedal is an accessory that attaches to the base of the drum kit. A drummer steps on the pedal to hit the bass drum, matching the song’s beat. 

The Mechanics of Sound Production in a Drum

Having covered the various parts of a drum, let’s zero in on what happens inside it to create sound.

Sound is vibration. It is a mechanical wave created by a disturbance in an elastic medium and transferred into the air around us. Drums and other musical instruments, like the guitar and the harp, make sound thanks to vibrations.

When you hit the drum head, the skin vibrates, rapidly compressing and expanding the air under and above it. This quick expansion and compression of air creates rapid changes in air pressure. It’s from these air pressure changes that sound waves are born. The waves then travel through the air until your ear picks them up as sound from your drum.

Like many other instruments, drums are designed to play a particular range of notes. This depends on the size of the drum and the material it’s made from. The notes that a drum can make are also determined by the size of the shell, what it’s made of, and the thickness and tension of the drumhead.

Drum Shapes, Size, Thickness, and How They Affect Sound

As mentioned earlier, a drum’s sound is shaped by the type of shell, its dimensions, the material it’s made of, and how it’s tuned. Each of these elements has a unique effect on how the drum sounds. And while most (if not all drums) have a rounded shell, their size plays the most crucial role in their sound.

Shell Size

Bigger drums produce lower tones. It all goes back to the size of the skin and shell. Bigger drums have large skins that vibrate less. On the other hand, smaller drums have smaller skins that vibrate more times per second, giving off a higher-pitched attack sound when struck. That’s why a 20″ x 14″ bass drum will produce a lower frequency beat and more ‘oomph’ than a 14″ snare drum.

Keep in mind that the shell size also affects the volume of the drum. A larger drum displaces more air and therefore sounds louder. A smaller drum displaces less air but sounds sharper and quieter than a larger drum. In simpler terms, the larger the drum, the louder it sounds.

Shell Material

Although often overlooked, the material of the shell is another primary factor determining the sound of a drum. Different materials produce different tones, which gives you a wide selection to choose from based on the tone you want your drums to have: 

• Birch and maple are common drum shell materials. Birch produces a bright, crisp sound, while maple produces a warmer tone. 
• Mahogany is another common option; it provides a warmer tone than maple.
• Oak is a more balanced option, with a rich mid-range. 
• Metal shells will always produce higher notes.

When choosing a drum shell, keep in mind its impact on the tone of your drums. You might want a drum shell material that works well with certain types of music. You can also purchase shells made from synthetic materials like carbon fiber to get a more focused tone.

Depending on the music you play, you may want a drum with a certain type of shell material.

For example, if you are in a loud rock ‘n’ roll band, you may want to choose a drum with hard shell material, such as maple. On the other hand, someone playing in a quieter acoustic group may want to choose a drum with softer shell material, such as birch.

Thickness

Thinner shells will produce a lower tone, while thicker shells create a higher one. Shell thickness is measured in millimeters, and most shells fall between 5mm and 10mm. If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with thinner shells because they’re easier to work with. These shells have less material inhibiting vibration, making them easy to vibrate.

Drum Sounds Are Affected by the Technique

The way you hit the drums has a major impact on the sound you get. There are numerous variables to take into account when playing drums, such as where you strike the head, how hard you strike it, what part of your hand hits it, and the angle at which you strike the head. All these affect the sound of the drum.

For example, if you strike the head of the drum from the side at a sharp angle, you’ll get a different tone than if you strike it from the top at a shallow angle. It’s important to experiment with different angles and positions to find the sounds that work best for your music.

Drummers have their own unique styles. Some drummers are heavy and hard-hitting, while others are light and fast with lots of snare work. Drummers use different-sized drumsticks; smaller sticks feel lighter and can be moved effortlessly. Heavier and larger sticks are harder to move fluidly but produce louder sounds with less effort.

Drum Tuning Has an Impact on the Sound Your Drum Produces

The way you tune your drums makes a big difference in their sound. The tension of the head and the position of the drum under the tunable tension rod has a direct impact on the sound. You may also experiment with different materials for the heads to get a different sound.

Drum tension rods increase the responsiveness of the drum by tightening its skin more firmly over its shell. They also help keep the drum at a consistent pitch and volume. 

When tuning a drum, you are adjusting the tension on the head to get the desired sound. Depending on your playing style, there’s a sweet spot where the drum sounds its best. You will lose some of the character and volume if you go too far in either direction. 

It’s important to keep in mind the type of music you are playing. Depending on the genre, you may want tighter or looser tension on the head.

How To Play Drums and Make Them Sound Better

Any drummer will tell you that the drums are one of the most physically demanding instruments to play. It’s not just about having stamina or rhythm but also strength, agility, and flawless coordination between your arms and feet. 

To become a proficient drummer and hit those beats like a pro takes practice, practice, and more practice. Playing the drums involves using your entire body, from your fingers to your legs. 

Before we go into the details on how to play the drum, it’s important to point out that you’ll use both hands and feet simultaneously while also remaining stationary. This may seem like a lot to ask of someone who has never played an instrument before, but it is possible to learn how to drum with some practice and patience.

Here are the steps:

1. Get a Solid Drum Kit

The first thing you should do is purchase a solid drum kit. As a beginner, you don’t need to invest in a high-end kit right away. What’s important is to ensure that the kit you purchase is made with quality materials. 

Don’t worry; there are plenty of affordable kits out there that are great for beginners. One example is the Donner Drum Set (available on Amazon.com). Other than its visually striking appearance, this beginner/professional drum kit has everything you need to start playing drums, including a high hat, tom, and cymbals. Plus, it comes with mute pads so you can keep the noise down while you practice. 

If you’re staring into a long career as a drummer, you’re probably better off with a higher-end model like the PDP By DW 7-Piece Concept Maple Shell Pack (available on Amazon.com). This drum set is perfect for drummers looking for a quality upgrade. It comes with everything you need to start jamming out in your living room or on the stage. The shells are made of basswood for a warm tone that packs a punch.

2. Learn the Basic Drumming Techniques

Learning the basics of drumming is the first step toward becoming a better drummer. The basics of learning how to drum aren’t difficult, but they do require practice. You can start with simple beats and work your way up to more complicated rhythms as your skills improve.

Here are a few basic drumming techniques to get you started:

The Full/Half-Stroke

Full stroke drumming is the process of striking the drum head with one fluid motion. It involves striking the drum head with the drumstick from top to bottom. Check out this video for a more detailed explanation of the full stroke:

The half-stroke technique is somewhat similar to the full-stroke. But instead of hitting the drum and pulling the stick back up, you let it rest 2-3 inches (5.04-7.62 centimeters) above the drum head.

Tap-Up

This technique starts off by hitting the drum from two to three inches above the drum head. Next, pull up the drum stick all the way to the full-stroke position. Check out this video for more detailed instructions about the half-stroke and tap-up drumming techniques:

The Rebound Stroke

To do the rebound stroke, you need to have a drum stick in each hand. Hold the stick between your thumb and index finger. Keep your wrists loose and relaxed, and raise your hand to the full stroke position. Let the drumstick rebound to the original position as you strike the drum.

One key point to remember is that it takes a lot of time and practice before you can perfect your skills.

3. Don’t Forget To Involve Your Feet

Another important aspect of learning how to play the drums that many beginners seem to forget is learning how to use their feet properly. On that note, getting a foot pedal for your bass drum is important. If you do have one, use it to keep the beat alive while you’re playing the snare drums with your hands or soloing with your voice. 

4. Practice With a Metronome

The idea of adding a metronome to your setup may sound a little far-fetched, but this little device can actually help you develop a strong, accurate sense of rhythm in your drumming routine. 

A metronome is a device that produces an audible click at a set interval, most commonly every second. You can use a metronome to help you keep a steady tempo when practicing. It can be used to help with counting out loud.

Using a metronome in your practice is easy and straightforward: 

1. Set the device to a slow tempo. 
2. Try playing simple beats on the drum set to the sound of the metronome. 
3. As you get more comfortable playing to the metronome’s beat, gradually increase its tempo. 
4. When you are able to play simple beats at an advanced tempo, you know you’ve reached the next level in your drumming journey.

Also, don’t forget to practice your drum rudiments. Drum rudiments are simple exercises that help you to develop your technique, speed, and accuracy. You can find most of these exercises online or in a drumming book for beginners. It is important to practice these rudiments daily to improve your drumming skills. 

Once you have begun practicing your rudiments, make sure to vary the order in which you do them.

5. Start Drumming

Once you have a solid grasp of drum rudiments and exercises, it is time to begin learning how to play some simple beats. You can start off with the snare and advance to a bass drum.

To begin playing the snare drum: 

1. Learn a simple drum pattern on your drum set. 
2. Once you have the pattern selected, place your left hand in your preferred snare drum grip. 
3. Play the simple drum pattern with the right hand while simultaneously playing a continuous single stroke with the left hand on the snare drum.
4. Find the right posture. Poor posture makes it much more difficult to control your muscles, which can lead to issues with accuracy and speed when playing.

Once you have a good grasp on the snare drum beat, you can move on to the bass drum beat. Bass drum beats are a little bit different from snare drums since you’ll be using your foot pedal. Also, playing the perfect bass requires that you hit the bass drum in the center region.

Conclusion

Drums are simple yet complex instruments, with each part having a unique effect on the sound. Beyond all that, the way you play and tune each drum is also important in shaping the sound. The type of drum heads you use will have an effect on the sound as well, so there is a lot to think about if you want to get the most out of your drums. 

Drums can be as loud as between 90 and 130 decibels. Different drums vary quite a bit in how loud they are. Smaller drums would be closer to 90dB, but larger ones, like the tom-toms, can be as loud as 120 decibels. The drum’s diameter and depth are the two most significant factors in its loudness. 

This article will look at how drums create their unique booming sounds and how these sounds are measured. We will also look at how you can best control your drum kit’s loudness. 

How Drums Create Their Unique Sound

Drums are vital to every band’s sound, especially in genres like rock and reggae. Their percussive nature gives them a unique sound that complements the other instrumentation, making them irreplaceable. But how do they create their unique sound? 

Drums have two primary components that work together to create sound. These parts are the shell, which contains the entire drum, and the drumhead. 

The shell is made of wood or plastic and is hollowed out so that the musician can hit it with their hand or a stick to create sound. 

The skin or head is the main component of a drum that produces sound when struck. As the drum head is struck, it compresses the air inside the shell. The compressed air is reflected off the bottom head and moves through the drum shell to create vibrations and the sound we hear. 

However, these sounds will often vary depending on the size of the drum. The bigger the drum, the deeper the sound and visa-versa. 

Diameter and Depth Are Important Sound Components

Drums may be made of different materials, but they all have one thing in common: they’re cylindrical. This shape gives drums their unique sound, regardless of the material they’re made from. 

A drum’s cylindrical body’s vibrations enable these vibrations to travel through the instrument differently than those of a flat surface like a cymbal would. A drum’s tone depends on its shape as well as its size. 

A drum’s diameter and depth can significantly affect the sound, which is why so much attention is given to both of these factors.

Of course, the material of the drum is also important – what it’s made of will make up most of the sound. However, suppose you’ve ever sat behind a drum set with instruments made from the same material but different diameters and depths. In that case, you’ll quickly notice that the tuning is different for each one.

Drums with larger diameters will always be louder than smaller ones because they have more surface area in contact with open air. For example, a balloon will always be louder when you blow it up because there’s more space for the air to move around and reflect off, creating more sound. 

The depth of a drum has a similar effect on volume: if two drums are made from the same material, but one is more profound than the other, it stands to reason that it will always be louder because there’s more space for air to move around in.

Ultimately, the greater the diameter and depth of a drum, the thicker and deeper its tone will be. The smaller its diameter and depth is, you can expect its tone to be lighter and brighter. An excellent example is comparing your rack toms to your floor toms.  

Tuning Can Affect Sound Too

When you’re learning to play the drums, you might feel like you need to make some noise immediately. Therefore, learning to tune your drums first might seem a little counterintuitive. However, there’s a reason why drum kits come with tuning keys – even if they aren’t always used. So, what’s the deal?

I’ll start by explaining that tuning your drums is to ensure that each drum head is set up to make the most distinct sound possible.

This is done by adjusting how tightly each drum head is stretched across its respective drum shell. If there is too much tension, the sound will get brighter, muffled, or deadened. If it is too loose, it can get darker or softer sounding. How the drum head is tuned depends on the resonant frequency a drummer prefers. 

The ideal tension for any drum head depends on how it will be used. The snare head should ring out and emphasize a crisp crack over a thud. Meanwhile, tom-toms or bass drums create unique sounds depending on their size and tuning. 

In either case, when a drum is tuned correctly, it will sound full and rich while still allowing its own unique character to shine through.

A Drum’s Loudness Is Measured in Decibels

Drums are a challenging instrument to get right. They’re not as simple as the guitar or a piano; the pounding rhythm and big sound can be overwhelming if you aren’t careful. 

Even if you do everything correctly, it’s hard to tell how they’re coming across to others. Are they too loud? Too soft? How do they compare to the other instruments in your band? The best way to figure all this out is with some testing.

Using a decibel meter is a productive way to know how loud your drum is. A decibel meter is a device that enables you to measure sound intensity (or volume). It’s used to determine how loud a sound is, and is usually expressed as a decibels (dB) measurement. Decibel meters are beneficial in various situations, especially when you want to be aware of how loud your drums are. 

Lonvox’s digital decibel meter is available on Amazon and can measure sounds ranging from 30 to 130 dB, making it perfect for testing your drums’ loudness. 

Drums Are One of the Loudest Instruments Created

If you’re playing with a drummer, you cannot help but feel the power of a beat pounding through your body. The sound of drums can be felt in your heart, not just in your ear, and that’s why they have been used as an instrument in many cultures worldwide.

As previously stated, this instrument creates sound between 90 to 130 dB. Focusing on the traditional acoustic drum kit, each drum creates a different decibel level, so let us look at how these levels vary: 

• Bass drum: Surprisingly, even though the bass drum is the largest in a kit, it does not produce the loudest sound. Their sound is read at a level of around 105 dB.
• Tom-tom drums: There are three toms in a drum kit: two rack toms and a floor tom. They produce deep sounds that measure around 110 dB.
• Snare drum: This drum produces a loud cracking sound. Drummers often utilize the sound of the drum’s head and rim. These sounds range between 90 and 120 dB – the equivalent of a subway train!
• Cymbals: This traditional acoustic drum kit component is typically the loudest. There are three cymbals in a kit: the hi-hat, the crash, and the ride cymbals. Their sound is emitted between 110 and 125 dB levels, with the crash cymbal being the loudest. 

Of course, the loudness emitted from a drum will vary depending on how hard it is struck. But I’m sure you’re wondering at which point consuming loud sound (a high level of decibels) becomes a danger to your ears. 

Drums Can Affect Your Hearing

Drums have a fantastic ability to put people in a good mood instantly. They’re a fun way to get people dancing, and the beat is infectious – it’s easy to understand why drum circles and kits have been so popular for so long.

However, there is a downside to all of this drumming. It can actually damage your hearing, and it’s not something that you’ll notice right away.

When you’re playing drums, you’re putting your ears through a lot of volume changes in a short amount of time. Think about how often you go from silence during the rests to the near-deafening sound when you strike the drum. 

It doesn’t take much for these spikes in volume to start taking a toll on your hearing. Studies have shown that drummers are more susceptible to Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) than any other musician in the pop, rock, and jazz genres. The leading cause of NIHL is long-term exposure to the drums, which ultimately affects a drummer’s hearing. 

If you’re a drummer and think you’re experiencing the effects of NIHL, here are some of the symptoms:

• Tinnitus or a ringing sound in the ears
• Hypersensitivity to sound
• Muffled speech
• A feeling of pressure in your ear.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put forward that if you’re experiencing noise over 70dB for an extended period, you’re more likely to damage your ears. This puts drummers at risk of NIHL and it should be taken into account when wanting to learn how to play the drums.

Nonetheless, you’ll be glad to hear various tips to quieten your kit are available to avoid noise-induced hearing loss risks. 

Tips To Make Your Drums Quieter

Drums are often the loudest thing in a band’s practice space, which can be problematic if these sessions occur in an apartment or house with thin walls. When you’re trying to keep your drumming practice sessions under wraps, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of preparation and gear adjustment that may be required. 

If your neighbors are bothered by the sound, with a few simple tips, you can make the process smooth and quiet without sacrificing the quality of your playing.

Use Mesh Heads To Reduce Your Drum’s Volume

Mesh drum heads are an easy way to reduce the volume of your drum without sacrificing sound quality.

Mesh heads like the Evans SoundOff from Amazon give you a great sound in various situations, which can be utilized almost anywhere. They don’t have the volume or tone of regular drumheads, however. 

The most significant advantage of using mesh heads is that they are incredibly versatile and drastically reduce noise. You can tune them higher or lower for use in any situation, whether you’re playing jazz, rock, or heavy metal. 

Consider Purchasing Electronic Drums

Electric drums are becoming an increasingly popular instrument. It’s no surprise, as they have many benefits over their acoustic counterparts. Besides them being cost-effective and portable, electric drums are highly versatile. 

An electric drum kit usually includes a mix of pads and triggers that produce different sounds when hit. These sounds are sent through an amplifier through the kit’s computer or ‘brain.’ By adjusting the master volume of the amplifier, as well as the volume knob on the brain, you can control how loud your drums sound. 

Electric drum sets reduce the chance of causing hearing loss because you don’t have to be playing through amplifiers with high volume levels that can damage your ears. 

Additionally, on some kits, you can plug in a set of headphones which will allow you to control the loudness of your drums, too. 

Place Drum Mutes on Top of Your Drum Heads

Drum mutes are a drummer’s best friend. Regardless of your skill level, every drummer, at some point in their career, will have to deal with a noisy neighbor or just not be able to practice late at night.

Drum mutes’ rubber pads are designed to be placed on the top of the drum head, reducing the drum volume significantly. They’re not perfect, but they can accommodate most situations and allow you to play at any hour without issue.

Drum mute pads don’t make the actual drum quieter, but they do change the way it sounds. The soft rubber on these pads is specifically designed to absorb noise when placed between two objects that are making noise. 

To put it another way, drum mutes are designed to reduce the amount of vibration from one object to another by absorbing that vibration and turning it into heat energy.

If you think this is the route you’re going to take to reduce the loudness of your drums, then look at XCEL’s 6-Piece Rubber Drum Mute Pads (available on Amazon.com). These pads provide optimum noise reduction by using excellent quality material. By purchasing these, you’ll also be able to get cymbal pads, giving you the ultimate limiting of sound throughout your entire drum kit. 

Low Volume Cymbals Reduce Volume by 80%

Considering that cymbals produce the highest dB leveling of the entire drum kit, you should seriously consider getting low-volume cymbals to reduce the risk of Noise Induced Hearing Loss. 

If you’re looking for an excellent low-volume cymbal, look no further than Zildjian’s L80 Low Volume Cymbal Pack (available on Amazon.com), which comes with the ride, hi-hat, and crash cymbals that are 80% quieter than regular cymbals. Not only does this reduce the risk of NIHL, but it also helps drummers avoid ear fatigue when playing for an extended period. 

Low-volume cymbals are an excellent option for those who want to reduce the volume of their cymbals but still have the versatility and tone that a good cymbal can provide. They’re great for playing in apartments and any other space where sound needs to be kept at a minimum.

Home Remedies

While buying all the extras can help you reduce your sound significantly, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to reduce how loud your drum is. 

Drum dampening is something that can be done with a few household items, and here are some ideas to consider:  

• Put a blanket inside your bass drum. Doing this will make a significant difference in the volume of the drum because the sound is reduced by muffling the sound vibrations produced by the drum head hitting the drum shell. It’s an excellent solution to the problem of wanting to play loudly while still being considerate of your neighbors. 
• Place fabric on top of your drums. When you place something like a cloth or a towel over your drums, you reduce how much of the drum’s sound actually gets produced. The thicker the fabric, the more volume diminishes.
• Remove the bottom drum head. Taking off the bottom head would eliminate many vibrations that produce sound when the top head is struck. Usually, these vibrations would reflect off the bottom head to create sound. When they’re off, the only thing left would be the sound from the drum’s top head.

Drums are fantastic, but many people don’t like their constant booming sound. However, these simple home remedies will help make your drums quieter and benefit you (and your neighbors) greatly. 

Summary

While the sounds of other instruments sometimes blend into a melodious cacophony that is music, or even in a busy but orderly symphony, there’s something about the sound of drums that stands out from the mix. 

Whether the rhythm is fast and hard or slow and mellow, a drum introduces a feeling of excitement and anticipation. However, over a long period, there are some risks to being over-exposed to the high decibels drums create. 

To avoid the risk of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), you should practice preventative measures to reduce the overall volume of your drums.

When most people think of their iconic drum sound, the first thing that comes to mind is their snare drum. However, your tom-tom drums can be just as important when it comes to optimizing your drum sound for any particular song or style of music.

Tom-toms produce various sound effects based on tuning, depth, and diameter. The cylindrical drum’s primary function is to provide a rhythmic foundation for other drums in the kit to play over. They’re known for their warm and deep sounds, which musicians use in a wide range of genres. 

For decades, drummers have searched for the perfect drum kit—from steel to wood, round and square heads, chrome, and brass. Through it all, toms have stayed a true and steady staple in percussion since the early 1900s. But what are tom drums exactly? Let’s break it down.

What Are Toms?

Drum sets have been around for hundreds of years. The first drum was created in the 6th century in China and has come a long way since then. The instrument has evolved from simple wooden drums to advanced and complex components that one person or an entire orchestra can play.

Tom-tom drums can be confusing and overwhelming if you try to figure out how they work. But once you do, you’re opening yourself up to a world of rhythm. So, What are toms? They are the low, steady beat that helps to establish a musical rhythm and keep everything on track.

Toms are a critical feature of the standard five-piece drum kit. A tom-tom is a drum with a single head and no snares. Typically played in ensembles with other percussion instruments, toms are usually made of wood, though it is possible to find them made from metal, acrylic, or even plastic.

Ultimately, the tom drum is a percussion instrument used in many different styles of music. It’s a drum that, like the snare drum, is hit with a stick or mallets—but unlike the snare, the toms are tuned lower and have more resonance. 

How Toms Are Made 

Manufacturing a tom-tom drum is simple but requires coordination and attention to detail. The resonant frequency of the drum, combined with the shell, and vibrations of the drumhead, generates a unique sound. The tom drum is made up of three components to achieve its distinctive sound. Let us examine each component further.

Drum Shell

The drum shell is the tom’s body and is often natural wood. It contains a resonant head that vibrates to create sound when you hit it with a drumstick. Drum shells are made of various wood types and depths, making for a unique sound.

A few common kinds of wood to create some of the best-sounding shells are:

• Maple
• Birch
• Cherry
• Oak
• Walnut.

First, the raw material is cut and glued together to make a cylinder. The cylinder is then heated to wrap around a mold. The mold is placed into an oven, pressed, and heated until it becomes malleable. This process allows the cylinder to stretch to form the shape of the drum shell. 

Once fully assembled, the maker adds a special coating to add durability and enhance the sound quality. It is coating the tom with a lacquer that protects it as they’re being played and shipped to customers. The paint also helps give the toms a unique look.

It’s not uncommon to see acrylic tom shells either. This type of shell will have a higher pitch and less low-end than wooden ones. 

Drum Head

Drum heads are the skins of drums; as you can imagine, they can come in a variety of materials. Early drum makers used animal skin, such as calfskin, but today they are most commonly made of plastic.

Toms drumheads give them their characteristic sound and even affect how the drum itself sounds. The head is stretched across the drum, attached to a ring (called a hoop), and supported by secondary hardware. 

It’s important to note that not all head types work well with every type of drum—you’ll need to know what kind of sound you want your tom to have before choosing what type of head to use.

Drumheads are a drummer’s best friend. They protect the drum, and they also affect the sound. While drummers often overlook heads, they are one of the essential parts of getting a unique sound from a tom. 

Secondary Hardware

Heads and shells are the building blocks of the tom-tom drum. However, secondary hardware must combine these two components and keep them structurally sound. Various chrome tension rods and lugs serve this purpose.

The tension rods and lugs are a vital feature of the tom drum. These components enable the fine-tuning of each drum by tightening or loosening them. Additionally, a chrome rim attaches the tom’s head to its shell.

While rack toms are attached to the kick drum, floor toms are also usually mounted atop detachable legs, making them easier to move around.

How Many Toms in a Kit

When looking for a new drum kit, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the available options. With so many sizes, brands, and features, it’s hard to know what’s best when starting.

There’s much to learn about each drum’s part in the kit. First, let’s review some basic information about a drum kit. A drum kit consists of many different pieces of equipment. The drums provide the foundation for the sound you hear, and then there are cymbals, which help accent those sounds.

Various accessories, such as cowbells and tambourines, help create a full sound. But one of a drum kit’s most important aspects is its tom-tom drums.

While learning to play the drums, one of the first things you’ll know is how to count the number of tom drums in a drum kit. After all, the toms are where you get your rhythm, and each drum has a unique sound.

There is no standard configuration for the drumkit. You can use as many toms, drums, and cymbals as you like. The most common drum kit setup is the five-piece, which entails; 

• One floor tom.
• Two rack toms.

However, it’s common for drummers to add extra toms to their kit. 

How many toms you need will depend upon the depth of sound you’re trying to create, the genre of music you’re playing, how skilled you are, and what you’re trying to achieve with your sound. Some drummers will have three rack and two-floor toms of different sizes to make more complex and unique sounds.

For the beginner, starting with the standard three-tom setup is recommended. It’s not uncommon to use one rack tom either. As you progress in your drum playing skills, you can add more depth to your sound by increasing the number of toms in your kit. 

Different Types of Toms

Tom-toms come in a few different varieties, each of which will create a different sound. If you want a particular sound like a low, booming drum, you will want to ensure that you are getting the correct tom. 

Each type has a specific function in a drum kit and will therefore create a different sound. There are four main types of toms:

Rack Toms

The rack tom consists of two tom-tom drums mounted on the kick drum via a stand (or rack). Each tom is fine-tuned slightly differently from one another to achieve a more significant variation of sound.

Rack toms are used the same way floor toms but produce a different sound because of how much smaller they are. They provide an excellent full sound at a lower dynamic level than the snare drum but higher than the floor tom while adding extra definition to rhythmic patterns. 

Rack toms enhance a drummer’s sound by playing fills and adding variation.

Floor Tom

The floor tom is the largest tom-tom drum and sits on the ground to the drummer’s right. Musicians use this tom to make it stand out in a drum kit by giving depth to the music and can characterize a song by its presence or absence.

It’s the most resonant pitched drum in a drum kit and typically sits at waist level. Since the floor tom is big and relatively easy to move around, it’s also often used as a more active element in percussion arrangements. 

Floor toms are excellent for providing solid percussive support for playing rhythm guitar, for singing along with, or for setting up a beat that’s easy for other musicians to find their place.

Roto Toms

Roto Toms are a less common drum in a drum kit. Their unique design separates them from other toms in the market.

This type of tom doesn’t have a drum shell and comprises a single head in an aluminum frame. To tune the roto, you have to rotate it, making this drum have a definite pitch compared to regular toms. Therefore, they are used to expand upon the range of a standard kit.

Rototom drums allow you to play rhythms that aren’t possible on a standard drum kit, but they also make some drumming techniques more difficult.

Concert Toms

Drummers frequently use concert toms in orchestras, symphonies, bands, and other musical groups. They offer more melodic tones than standard toms and are used in the classical scene to help produce music that has a variety of sounds and techniques.

They are single-headed tom drums, meaning they only have a top head and no bottom head. Due to their extra deep shells, this shape gives them a more significant punch than regular toms. 

There are many different types of tom drums, but the most critical factor in determining the sound you will create is the size of the drum and material. 

The Depth and Diameter of Toms

Toms are the backbone of most percussion setups, with their smooth, rounded sound and a wide variety of tones. The different depths and diameters of the drums achieve distinctive sounds and tones. 

A significant difference that affects sound is pitch—the higher pitch of a drum will result from a smaller shell with a smaller diameter (less depth). This shape will bring forth a quick response from the tom itself. A lower pitch will result from a deeper shell with a wider diameter. 

While there are no rules determining what tom size you should have on your kit, it’s important to remember that different depths and diameters of a toms shell will create different sounds. Ultimately the size of tom you should get will need to be based on the genre or sound you’re trying to achieve.

Here is a list of some standard diameter sizes for rack toms:

• 8″
• 10″
• 12″
• 14″.

Floor toms are generally larger in diameter than rack toms:

• 14″
• 16″
• 18″.

You will typically find the depths of toms in the ranges of:

• 8″
• 10″
• 13″
• 16″.

The trade-off is that deeper drums with a larger diameter will increase the volume of your sound and are generally more robust, especially when playing fast passages.

If you want something bright and crisp, look for a shallower drum with a small diameter. These tend to be more responsive to lighter touches, faster strokes, and rolls—which can be very useful in many situations!

How Toms Are Used

Toms are the most basic of all drum sets. They’re the ones on which you’ll learn the most fundamental drum techniques, so it’s important to know what they are and how to play them.

Learning to play the tom-tom drums can be a great way to get started with percussion. This type of drum is a little more forgiving than others because there are fewer notes and rhythms to play, making it easier for beginners. Tom-toms are also pretty versatile for their size, and you can use them in big, full-bodied tunes and more lighthearted, jazzy pieces.

There are several ways to play toms, but they all use the same basic motions. First, you strike the head of the drum, which creates a sound wave that travels through the shell and into the drumhead. The head then amplifies this sound wave and produces an audible pitch according to the size and material of the drum. 

The tom-tom drums are one of the most important aspects of a drum kit because they provide the base of your rhythm and give you a solid foundation to build upon when playing. 

They are used in a drum kit to achieve three different but related effects:

Toms Create Tempo

Tempo is one of the most important yet difficult to understand aspects of drumming. It’s commonly associated with every genre, from Jazz and Blues to Rock, Country, and Metal.

Tempo is known as the speed at which you play your instrument. It can be described by beats per minute or by other terms like fast, slow, or moderate.

The drummer sets the tempo of a song. If you want to achieve a great-sounding beat with tom-toms, it’s important not to think about it too much. The goal is to form a steady rhythm that feels natural while maintaining a sense of evenness throughout the entire beat.

The main idea behind achieving great sounding tempo with toms is being aware of these two things:

• Your stick height.
• The distance between the toms.

To assist you in achieving tempo with your toms, it’s a great idea to use a metronome. This tool is a timing device that you can set to how fast you would like to play relating to beats per second. If you want to utilize a metronome to take your skills to the next level, try the Ueteto Mechanical Metronome (available on Amazon.com).

Toms Provide a Distinct Sound

Musicians use the tom to help distinguish between different rhythms in play. A drummer may use one tom to mark out a simple 4/4 rhythm while they play more complex rhythms on other drums. This balance enables greater freedom of movement and helps delineate between beats, so they are heard clearly without crossing over and obscuring each other.

Toms provide helpful body and variety to the overall sound of a drum kit with their resonant tone that is distinct from the bass and snare drum.

Toms Are Great for Drum Fills

Drum fills are a type of drum beat used in many genres of music. They are beats that the drummer plays to fill the space between other parts of the song and to enhance the feel of a song. You may play drum fills on any drum, but musicians most commonly play fills utilizing toms.

Musicians usually play a drum fill in the middle of a song or near the end to give the music some drive. But they may also use it as an attention-grabber at the beginning, making the drums the center stage of the song.

Drummers also use tom-toms in songs with large amounts of percussion and orchestras. In both cases, they are usually only one instrument among many, rather than making up the core percussion line of an ensemble. 

Summary

Few other percussion instruments are as exciting and versatile as the tom-tom drums. They’re compact, robust, and provide a wide range of tones. 

Tom-toms are an exciting drum and a vital part of a kit. Used carefully, they’re great for adding contrasts to sound. They’re not always essential in some genres, but they’re worthwhile additions to any drum kit.

Toms add a unique element to your drum kit and can take your playing to the next level. Whether you’re new to drumming or want to learn more about the ins and outs, this guide will get you up to speed.

And it’s a completely valid question. Though the drums are the heartbeat of a song, they are primarily meant to stay in the background while vocals and guitars remain in the forefront.

While each type of drum may have a distinct sound, It can be pretty difficult to distinguish the subtle differences from one drum set to another when you’re comparing the same type of drum.

Hundreds of different kinds of drums exist, from hand drums to drums that you beat with percussion mallets. The instrument has evolved over centuries, and today, it exists in various sizes, shapes, and designs. Surely, though, all drums have the same percussive sound, right?

The short answer is, no, drums do not all sound the same. Several factors affect the sound of a drum, like how tight the drumhead is, the depth and diameter of the instrument, and how you play the drum.

Most rock bands consist of at least one drummer, but percussion instruments are shared amongst all types of music. It’s fascinating that drums come in such a variety of shapes, sizes, and sounds.

The rest of this article, we’ll discuss will identify the most common types of drums, what they sound like, and why they sound the way they do! 

Factors That Change a Drum’s Sound

Almost all drums have several essential components influencing how the instrument sounds. 

The shell is the hollowed-out body of the drum; the head is the top of the drum that gets hit to make a sound. Drummers use tuning bolts to tighten the drum head, which in turn changes the tone of the drum’s sound.

Let’s look at how these materials can affect how a drum sounds.

Drum Shell and Size

The drum shell refers to the body of the instrument. Most drum shells are birch or maple wood; the shell is cut and molded into the appropriate size.

Specific drums, like the snare drum, can be made with wood and metal. The different materials affect the sharpness of the drum’s tone.

When drums first emerged in 5000 BC, the shell was made from hollowed-out tree trunks and could be either tall and skinny or short and wide. The size (or diameter) and depth of the shell affect the drum’s sound. In particular, the larger and deeper the drum, the louder and lower the beat’s tone. The smaller and shorter the shell, the quieter and sharper the tone. 

Drum Head

A drum head (or a skin) covers the drum openings. Sometimes, both sides of the shell are covered; other times, just one. Typical drum heads in 2022 are made of polyester through the creation of liquid plastic into thin sheets, which are then cut to an appropriate size to match different drum shell sizes.

Before plastic, drum heads were initially made of animal hide that was dried, stretched, and tightened over the hollowed-out tree trunks that served as the drum’s shell. 

The thickness of a drum head is what plays the most impact on how a drum sounds. Thinner skins are best played in lighter songs because they’re more lightweight and less durable. In comparison, thicker skins produce louder, deeper tones and can withstand louder music.

Tuning Bolts

The drum head can be attached to the shell in various ways. Animal skins can be laced or glued to the shell, and plastic skins can connect through a fitted frame or metal ring. 

To be used as a drum, the skin must be attached tightly to the shell, and tension must be present. The tuning bolts on the shell of the drum tighten the head. If the head is loose, there will be nothing concrete to hit, and thus the drum will produce no sound.

Not all drums have tuning bolts, but they all have a mechanism for tightening the drum head. It’s a routine part of proper drum maintenance. 

Most Popular Drums and Their Sounds

When someone says they play the drums, the first type of instrument that comes to mind for most people is a drum kit, often seen on the stages of rock festivals across the world. However, multiple types of drums exist, like the bongo and cajons—even electric drums are prevalent in today’s music!

Let’s look at some of the most common types of drums and how manufacturers create them.

Drums in a Kit 

Drum kits are arranged from left to right, starting with the drum with the highest tone. Not including any of the cymbals, the snare drum is first on the left, followed by the small tom, the large tom, and the floor tom (otherwise known as the kick or bass drum). 

The drummer sits behind the drum kit, usually on a small stool, with the snare drum to her left. This positioning gives the player access to foot pedals on her right and left sides, which control the cymbals and the kick drum. 

Snare Drum

The snare drum is the smallest in size and depth of all the drums in the kit. As a result, it produces a quick, loud and lively beat. Its shell has both openings covered with two or three-ply skins. 

Additionally, snare drums have snare wires stretched on the inner side of the bottom head (the drum head on the bottom of the snare). These wires add to the sharp sound that snares make.

Tom-Toms

The small and large toms, originating many moons ago in China, sit next to each other, mounted either on the floor tom or using drum kit hardware. They have cylindrical shells that have two drum heads. 

Tom-toms are deeper than snare drums and lack snare wires. While there are a small handful of differently designed tom-tom drums, musicians primarily use roto toms in a complete drum kit. 

The small tom-tom is tuned to produce a higher tone, which it is capable of due to its smaller size and depth. On the other hand, a large tom-tom has a deeper tone with a mild sustain (the note is sustained for a few moments after you play the instrument.  

Kick Drum

The kick drum is the largest and sits on the floor beneath the small tom. It’s called a kick drum because the drummer steps on a foot pedal, which swings a mallet into the drum head to produce sound. People also refer to this instrument as the floor tom. 

The kick drum acts as the loudest and lowest tone and is an essential part of a standard 5 piece drum kit. It has two drum heads, and when you hit the top head, the drum produces a loud bass tone that gets quieter over time. 

You can check out free online drum machines (like Musicca) or Youtube videos for an audio example of how the snare, toms, and kick drum sound.

Hand Drums

Hand drums similarly have both a shell and a drum head. Still, drum makers build them slightly differently than traditional drum kit percussion. 

Each hand drum is incredibly unique, and as we’ve already seen with the tom-toms having roots in China, most drums have histories rich in culture.

Bongos and Conga Drums

Bongos and Conga drums, for example, date back to 19th-century Cuba and are often heard in Spanish and Latin American music. These two drums have contrasting shapes and thus, produce different sounds. 

Conga drums are tall and barrel-shaped solo drums, with animal hide serving as the drum head. Bongo drums, instead, are two much smaller drums attached together. They call the smaller bongo a hembra and the bigger bongo the macho. The size and depth of the drums influence the sounds they create.

Musicians play these two types of drums differently. They play the bongo with just a few fingers in the center and along the edges of the drum. In contrast, musicians play the conga drum with open hands, typically along the rim of the drum head. 

Cajon Drum

Cajon drum boxes have Afro-Peruvian roots, and early drummers used to play on a rectangular-shaped box, like an upside-down drawer (cajon in Spanish means’ drawer’) or, in African cultures, empty fruit crates.

A cajon is a six-sided instrument made primarily of birch or beech wood, with a plywood striking surface (called a tapa on the cajon, but the equivalent of a drum head). Drum makers use materials such as nails to secure the tapa to the cajon, and the body has a sound hole cut into the box. 

The percussionist sits atop the cajon because the instrument acts as a drum and a seat and hits the tapa with open hands, palms, or fingers. Not surprisingly, the cajon drum is often heard in flamenco music and can sound different depending on where the player strikes the tapa.

Steel Tongue Drum

One of the most exciting percussion instruments is the steel tongue drum, which does not resemble the other drums very much.

A tongue or tank drum is made by welding two metal bowls together. Metal is the most common material used to make tongue drums today. Still, traditionally they were carved out of wood in Caribbean and Aztec cultures. 

While most drums produce sound through vibration and aerodynamics, the tongue drum creates sound through the instrument. 

Different steel drums are tuned to specific pitches and have slits cut into the instrument to release the sound. Since the body of a tongue drum is metal, the tone it creates sounds metallic, like the hard or soft ringing of a bell in different pitches. 

Tongue drums can be played by hand or with percussion mallets.

Djembes and Tablas

Djembes originate from South Africa and are smaller-sized hand drums. These drums have a hide stretched over an upright wooden shell and secured using string. Drummers pace the instrument between their knees when they play, both standing up and seated. 

These drums have a distinctive sound similar to the sound and pitch of a snare drum when players strike the djembe on the rim. When struck in the center of the drum head, the sound is a deeper tone.

Tablas are a unique Indian drum pair, with a male and female in each set. The male drum produces a deeper tone while the female drum creates a higher pitched sound frequently associated with sitars.  Players use both fingers and palms to create a very distinctive sound. 

The Anatomy of a Drum Beat

So, we know that countless factors influence the sound a drum makes: size and depth of the drum, how tight the drum head is, what the instrument is made of and played with, and so much more. But that doesn’t explain how players produce the drum’s sound. So how do drums work?

Drums create sound through air, vibration, and reverberation. When a drummer strikes a drum head, the vibrating drum head changes the air pressure inside the instrument. The air bounces from head to head (or wall to wall, in the case of the cajon) and reverberates, thus creating sound.

Materials such as wood, steel, plastic, and animal hyde are all composed differently, changing the drum’s pitch or tone. Let’s explore sound frequencies and drum materials to understand these instruments’ pitches better

Sound, Frequency, and Pitch

As previously mentioned, the sound emerges through vibrations. When something vibrates very quickly, it creates a faster and higher frequency, which produces a high pitch. 

When something vibrates slowly, it creates a slower frequency, and these frequencies create a low-sounding pitch. Kick drums, for example, produce low frequencies because their head and shell are much larger, therefore vibrating and reverberating at a slower pace when struck. 

Percussion Mallets

Percussion mallets are the instruments used to strike the surface of a drum. In rock bands, drummers play with a pair of drumsticks and a foot pedal built with a mallet; when they step on the pedal, the mallet swings forward and hits the center of the kick drum. 

In marching bands, drummers use wrapped mallets. Wrapped mallets refer to mallets that drummers place yarn or rubber coverings over to dull the sound it makes against the drum head. 

Some percussion mallets are larger while others are on the smaller side, but drummers use both to hit a specific area on the drum head to affect the air pressure inside the instrument. Mallets without coverings create louder, sharper sounds in contrast to covered ones.

Sound Holes

Some drums have a mechanism called a sound hole. Simply put, a sound hole is an exit point for the sound created inside a drum. You will often find sound holes in kick drums or large drums like the cajon. Without a sound hole, the reverberation would sound quiet and muffled, with the drum beat staying inside the instrument. 

One side goes uncovered in instruments like bongo or conga drums, allowing the air and sound to escape the drum once struck. 

Tongue Drums and Sound

Tongue drums are different because the striking of metal creates certain bell-like tones versus the thumping, tapping, and cracking sounds of a traditional drum.

Drummers strike the tongues on the top of the instrument, and the length of each tongue, and the opening on either side, determine the pentatonic tone. There is also a sound hole in the center of the drum.

Tongue drums are melodic and peaceful, often seen in yoga or meditation studios. They are easy to learn how to play and are usually tuned to a specific scale, which makes it challenging to make a mistake when learning. The NUEVEN Steel Tongue Drum is a simple steel tongue drum that you may purchase on Amazon.

The sound a drum makes comes from the vibrating drum head, which one may strike with one’s hands or a mallet. The vibrations change the air pressure inside the instrument and create a sound that escapes through the sound hole. Countless factors influence the sound a drum makes.

Best Tools To Learn the Drums

Your local music school is the best resource for learning the difference between drums. Music teachers are incredibly knowledgeable; a drum teacher would be the best person to talk to about various drums and their sounds. 

Another good option is to visit your local music store and test the percussion instruments. Compare their sounds and try to notice the differences in vibration. Notice how smaller drums sound sharper, perhaps at a higher pitch, while larger drums sound deeper. 

Joining drum circles or music events can also train your ear to better identify the various drum sounds. Drum circles typically use handmade drums as opposed to the drums that one might see in a kit, and the percussionists often have extensive experience. 

Finally, unlimited drumming websites and apps let you explore the many drum sounds. Drumbit is an app that will allow you to experiment with all instruments in a drum kit. The page immediately directs you to the playing interface that includes the cymbals in a kit. 

In Conclusion

To summarize, not every drum sounds the same. Countless factors influence the sound of a drum, like the shape of a drum shell or the material of the striking surface.

The best way to familiarize yourself with drum sounds is to practice listening to them! If you have access to a drum kit, a set of bongos, or even a cajon, sit down and strike the drum’s surface; alternatively, you can have fun playing with online drum apps using the snare, toms, and kick drum to invent your own tracks.