A common question I get from people who either aren’t drummers or are newer drummers is “Do All Drums Sound the Same?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost all drums have several essential components influencing how the instrument sounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at how these materials can affect how a drum sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specific drums, like the snare drum, can be made with wood and metal. The different materials affect the sharpness of the drum\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s shell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019re more lightweight and less durable. In comparison, thicker skins produce louder, deeper tones and can withstand louder music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all drums have tuning bolts, but they all have a mechanism for tightening the drum head. It\u2019s a routine part of proper drum maintenance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2014even electric drums are prevalent in today\u2019s music!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s look at some of the most common types of drums and how manufacturers create them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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). <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFactors That Change a Drum\u2019s Sound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Drum Shell and Size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Drum Head<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tuning Bolts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most Popular Drums and Their Sounds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Drums in a Kit <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Snare Drum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n