About snare drums
What is a snare drum?
The small drum right in front of a drummer at knee high in the centre of a drum set is the snare drum. The snares are strands of steel or stainless steel wires on the back of the drum, that vibrate sympathetically when the drumhead is struck, producing a unique, clear-cut sound. The snare drum is the leading player in creating rhythm, so sounding a snare drum properly is the most basic of all drumming basics.
Where does the difference in sound come from?
The standard diameter for a snare drum is 14 inches. Most drum shells are 5.5 or 6.5 inches deep. Generally, as the size of the drum decreases, the tuning range becomes higher, and as it increases, the range lower. Shallow drums tend to generate a crisp, clear-cut sound, and on the other hand, deeper drums produce a deep, loud sound. The surface skin is called the drumhead. The head of the drum was originally made of pure hide, but now most of them are made of plastic. The drumhead is tucked into a hoop, called the rim, and attached to the body part, called the shell. Different material combinations produce different sound characteristics.
There are two broad categories of shell materials, metal and wood: a metal shell produces a hard sharp sound, and a wood shell produces a full-bodied, round and warm sound. The hardest sound comes from oak, then maple, followed by birch.
Metal shell materials include steel, which produces a quick attack and bright sound; aluminum, which produces a crisp and clean sound; brass, which generates a bright and loud sound and is described as having a quality between that of wood and metal; and copper, which has a sharp attack and lower harmonic tones and is also used for kettledrums.
Cultivating a discriminating ear
There is no specific rule about how to choose a snare drum. Indeed, the sound varies more from its tuning, the shape of the drumsticks, and the type of head than on the difference between individual drums. Needless to say, the sound of the drum ultimately depends on the personality and skills of the drummer. Normally resonant snare drums may not be able to fully fulfil their potential if the tuning of the top and bottom heads is out of alignment. The first step toward becoming a great drummer is to always pay careful attention to the sound you create and cultivate an ear to catch the slightest difference.
