The Parts of a Drum Kit

The Parts of a Drum Kit A Guide the Main Parts of a Drum Set ChaptersHistory of the Drum KitWhat are the Parts of a Standard Acoustic Drum SetElectronic Drum SetsIf you decide to study percussion, especially modern drumming, you will be confronted with drum kits - different types of drum set up so they can all be played by one drummer. drummers using it were called trap drummers. While the overhang pedal for the bass drum was known since the 1870s, it was not immediately popular, many drummers preferring to continue in the double-drumming style. As more and more companies offered solutions for a drum pedal, the bass drum became the kick drum, liberating the hands for more complicated fills and drum rolls with the snares.These pedals were often rather slow or unreliable in their timing until the Ludwig Ludwig Co. patented the first truly reliable bass drum pedal in 1909. Now nothing stood in the way of the full potential of the kick drum.Very often, early trap sets were set up by each individual drummer, and while the combination of instrument s - snare and bass - was fairly common, stands or traps could hold any combination of toms, gongs, tambourines… and, in fact, still can.Also discover the different components that make up a modern drum set!  A drum kit or trap set from a band in 1928. Photo credit: State Library of Queensland, Australia on Visual huntThe basic modern drum kit, though, arose in the 1920s vaudeville bands. Baby Dodds, a drummer playing riverboats on the Mississippi with Louis Armstrong, hung a side cymbal over the bass drum - the first ride cymbal. The Ludwig Company invented a lower version of the hi-hat after observing Dodds tapping with his left foot; Dodds then suggested it be raised so it could be easier to play.And so one man had a hand in the invention of both signature drum-set cymbals.Big-Band Era drum setsWith a new sound becoming popular in the 1930s - due in part to the popularity of radio - a new drum sound was needed, and drum kits expanded to include not only the snare and bass drums, but also tom-tom drums; a China cymbal and small crash cymbals became popular additions. But the basic big band drum set soon became established as:Bass drumSnare drumTom-tomFloor tomHi-hats in various iterationsEventually, the large floor toms got fitted with legs, and “consolettes” made it possible to add smaller drums (usually tom-toms called “ride toms”) above the bass drum.As be-bop evolved, the trend led away from the big drums toward a sound that wasn’t quite as loud. Mostly this meant smaller drum sizes and the popularisation of the ride cymbal. Be-bop bands also pioneered the use of a double bass drum.Discover famous drummers of rock and jazz that you could learn from!Rock drummingWith rock'n’roll, bigger drum kits became popular once more, many drummers, especially in the 1980s, using a highly-personalised drum kit with a great many different drums and cymbals.Drum kits can be expanded at will - with as many drums and cymbals as you like. Photo credit: kamalab oulhosn on VisualhuntWhat are the Parts of a Standard Acoustic Drum SetAs a beginner drummer, you won’t need to worry about unusual and eclectic drums such as timbales, congo drums or tambourines. You should start out with a basic drum set to learn your craft; you can always expand later on.The components of an acoustic drum kit are:DrumsStands for the drums, also called a rackCymbalsCymbal standPedalsSticks, mallets and brushesSeat for the drummer called the drum throne.A lot of children start out with a very simple three-piece drum set, comprised of:Snare drumBass drumHanging tomHi-hatsHanging cymbal(The “pieces” refer to the drums, not the cymbals).What easy drum pieces can beginners learn to play the drum to?A junior drum set with bas drum, snare and one tom, with a single cymbal - perfect when you are just starting out. Photo credit: mikecogh on VisualHunt.comThis is extremely basic, and while there are many easy drum songs you can learn that don’t go beyond that, if yo u take drumming and drumming lessons seriously you will eventually want to invest in a five-piece kit or another drum set.A five-piece kit includes:Bass drumSnare drumThree toms of different sizes: low, middle and high pitch. All can be hanging toms, or one can be a floor tom. The exact constellation will depend on whether you want to play jazz, rock or fusion music.2 crash cymbalsA hi-hat standEffects cymbals (optional)Let’s have a closer look at the individual drums and the different sounds they contribute to the kit.Snare drumsSnare drums are double-headed drums with wires strung under the lower drum head and tensioned. Also called side drums, snares have drum shells that can be made out of wood, metal, acrylic or fibreglass. Drum skin tension is achieved by the use of tensions rods.It is very sensitive and responsive and can be played very subtly to great effect, but also produce loud cracking sounds, especially if hit on its metal rim. It is often used for the backbeat.You ca n play the snare with sticks, brushes or mallets.There are almost infinite variations on the snare drum, from the Highland snare, piccolo snare to the tarol snare.Do you know where the snare fits into the history of drums and drumming?Bass drumsBass drums are generally double-headed. They have a cylindrical body where the diameter is greater than its depth.Bass drums come in three main variations:Concert bass drums usually mounted on a stand  where the angle of the drum can be adjusted.Kick drums mounted vertically on a floor stand and beaten with a bass drum pedal.Pitched bass drums tuned to a specific pitch and generally worn in a harness in marching bands. Often a single cymbal is attached to it.The bass drum is stricken by a heavy felt-covered mallet; two matching mallets or a double-headed mallet is used for drum rolls. On kick drums, this mallet is attached to the foot pedal.When hung vertically, it might be played with a mallet in one hand and a rute in the other.Bass drums h ave a deep sound. It is often played on beats one and three, contrasting with the backbeat (two, four) of the other drums.Tom drumsA tom-tom (a term that supposedly comes from India) is a cylindrical drum. Unlike the snare, it has no snare wires; there are one-headed and two-headed variations.Toms are usually used for fills.A nice view of well-loved drums: hanging toms, snare and a floor tom (and tons of cymbals). Photo credit: Travis Estell on Visual huntThe first examples had no rims, but as metal tensioning elements appeared, so did, eventually, the rim.Hanging toms or rack toms are mounted on high stands; racks can take more than one drum. Floor toms are set on short feet. A floor tom is not quite as deep as a bass drum, but more resonant.CymbalsA drum set typically has several cymbals; at least two, with any number of additions:A hi-hat cymbalA crash cymbalA ride cymbalEffect cymbalsElectronic Drum SetsElectronic sets have the advantage of full volume control - you can get the energy of hitting hard  without blowing away the ears of little old ladies intent on their afternoon tea. You can even listen to them with headphones.They include:A drum module that processes the data and turns it into sound.Drum pads with trigger pads that can be programmed to the sound you want. This is not necessarily a version of acoustic drums, but can be any sound you want. Rhythmic squeaking mouse is seldom called for, but it is possible on an electronic drum. They are usually organised the way the drums would be on an acoustic drum rack.Rubber cymbals.Electronic drums are particularly useful if you want absolute control over the volume of your drums or if you want to reproduce a sound that cannot be made by other modern instruments.Electronic drum sets are made to look a lot like acoustic kits. Photo credit: Christian Steen on Visual HuntHowever, tapping the trigger pads does not have exactly the same feel as drumming on acoustic drums. You will be lacking feedback from your sticks.It is possible to attach specially-made trigger pads to a traditional drum set for a hybrid drumming experience.In the course of your drum lessons, your Superprof drum instructor may recommend such a kit!Now learn more facts about drums...