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A snare drum is constructed of a hollow cylinder made of metal or wood, with two drumheads stretched over it—one on the top and one on the bottom. The drumheads are made of calfskin or plastic. The drumheads are held in place by metal or wood rims.
What materials are used to make a snare drum?
The snare drum is constructed of two heads—both usually made of Mylar plastic in modern drums but historically made from calf or goat skin—along with a rattle of metal, plastic, nylon, or gut wires on the bottom head called the snares.
What are drums made out of?
Drum shells are chiefly made from birch, maple, and poplar wood, though metal and synthetic variations are also available now and are taking over in some respects. Steel, aluminum, brass, and bronze are regularly used in the construction of these and plastic is used in synthetic shells.
What is the bass drum made out of?
The bass drum consists of a cylindrical soundbox (shell) made of wood (occasionally of plywood or metal) and two heads stretched across the open ends of the shell.
What are snare wires made from?
Snare wires are usually made from coiled wire in a spiral shape that creates crisp bright tone. The most common wires are made from chrome-plated steel. Historically, the snares were made from animal gut stretched across the bottom head. Gut snares had a very dark, dry tone compared to wire snares.
What is the best snare material?
Maple is one of the most popular woods used for high quality snare shells. Maple is known for its warm tone and has enhanced lower frequencies and an even distribution of middle and high frequencies. The sound is clear and supports a wide tuning range making for a good general-purpose snare.
How is the snare drum played?
A drummer plays the snare drum by striking its top membrane (called a drum head) with a beater like a drumstick or wire brush. This causes the drum’s top and bottom membranes to vibrate. The bottom membrane, in turn, vibrates metal wires strung across the bottom of the instrument.
What types of wood are drums made from?
What wood is used? Drum shells are made from birch, beech, maple, and oak, among other types of wood and materials. They use two-ply and three-ply plywood. From the left: oak, beech, birch, and maple plywood.
Why are drums made of wood?
The plies (layers of wood) make a difference too – thinner plies make the drum more resonant, which essentially means that it rings more after being struck.
What sound does a snare make?
Snare. A snare drum is struck with a drum stick, and produces a short, bright sound. A set of wires (called snares) is stretched across a drum head at the bottom of the drum. The vibration of the bottom drum head against the snares produces the drum’s characteristic “cracking” tone.
What family is the snare drum from?
The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta, and piano.
What type of wire is used for snares?
Less = faster. Common snare wires range in number from 16 and 20 strands to more contemporary 30– and 42-strand options. Fewer wires generally yields a tighter, faster, snappier response. More wires is believed to create a fatter attack and greater resonance — more “fuzz” or “jangle” — but often at the cost of speed.
What difference do snare wires make?
The more wires a snare has the more they influence the drum sound; fewer wires allow a more pure drum sound. Generally, more wires will result in a crisper, brighter sound. While using more wires adds articulation, they can dampen or even choke a drum’s sound.
What is a good snare drum?
The best snare drums in 2022 for all budgets and playing styles Tama. S.L.P. Natal. Arcadia Acrylic. Pearl. Sensitone. DW. Design Series Black Nickel Over Brass. Gretsch. Full Range Hammered Black Steel. Mapex. Black Panther Design Lab Series. Yamaha. Recording Custom. British. Drum Company Merlin.
What is the shell of a snare drum?
The shell is the main part of any drum and is really where the sound starts once you hit the head. Whether it’s a wood shell that’s been glued in plies or a metal shell cast in a mold, everything that goes into making a shell has an effect on the sound the drum produces.
Are acrylic snare drums good?
Acrylic is a great drum material because of both the look and sound quality that it produces. If you’re looking for a punchy sound, while having a really stylish drum set, then acrylic drums might be for you.
Why is it called a snare drum?
Inside of the drum there is a between 8 and 18 snares, which are made of plastic, metal, nylon, silk, or other material, stretched across the snare head. The snares are what make the crisp sound of the snare drum possible. This is also the reason it is called the ‘snare drum’.
Is snare drum easy?
Newcomers to marching band often wonder which of the two is easier to play and march. Overall, the snare drum is easier to march and play because it is lighter and only requires playing on one surface. Snare players also hold a major responsibility within the drumline and the band.
How much is a snare drum?
Snare drum prices typically range from $500 to $1,000, although you can pay more for snares with unique specifications or limited editions.
