Drum kit: Difference between revisions

{{Citations needed|date=May 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

* A [[snare drum]], mounted on a [[snare drum stand|stand]]

* A [[bass drum]], played with a [[percussion mallet|beater]] moved by one or more foot-operated pedals

* One or more [[Cymbal|cymbals]], including a [[ride cymbal]] and [[crash cymbal]]

[[File:Yoshiki's drum riser, XJapan MSG 10112014 (15325073010) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Japanese [[Visual kei|Visual Kei]] drummer [[Yoshiki (musician)|Yoshiki]]'s drum riser at [[Madison Square Garden]]]]

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[[William F. Ludwig Sr.]] and his brother Theobald founded [[Ludwig Drums|Ludwig & Ludwig Co.]] in 1909 and patented the first commercially successful [[bass drum pedal]] system.<ref name="DRUMHISTORY"/>  

===20th century===

In 1918, [[Baby Dodds]], playing on [[Mississippi River]] riverboats with [[Louis Armstrong]], modified the military marching setup, experimenting with playing the drum rims instead of woodblocks, hitting cymbals with sticks (which was not yet common), and adding a side cymbal above the bass drum, which became known as the [[ride cymbal]]. William Ludwig developed the "sock" or early low-mounted [[hi-hat]] after observing Dodds' drumming. Dodds asked Ludwig to raise the newly produced low-hat cymbal nine inches to make them easier to play, thus creating the modern hi-hat cymbal.<ref>Information on Dodds is found in his own contemporary journals/biography "The Baby Dodds Story" – Louisiana State University Press, 1992, and from a contemporary witness – drummer George Wettling, who confirms that Dodds was the first drummer to keep the now-famous broken-triplet beat that became the standard pulse/roll of what we call ride cymbal playing.</ref> Dodds was one of the first drummers to play the broken-triplet beat that became the standard rhythm of modern ride cymbal playing. He also popularized the use of [[China cymbal|Chinese cymbals]].<ref>pp. 8–9, Jon Cohan's- "Star Sets"- Wording, see page nine; paragraphs 1–4. Further: see the Percussive Arts Society, 'Hall of Fame' Article, by Rick Mattingly].</ref> Recording technology was crude, which meant loud sounds could distort the recording. To get around this, Dodds used woodblocks and drum rims as quieter alternatives to cymbals and drum skins.<ref name="New Grove">{{cite book |last1=Sheridan |first1=Chris |editor1-last=Kernfeld |editor1-first=Barry |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz |date=2002 |publisher=Grove's Dictionaries |location=New York |isbn=1-56159-284-6 |page=373 |volume=3 |edition=2}}</ref>

==Playing==

Most drummers hold the drumsticks in one of two types of grip:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sweeney |first=Pete |title=Beginning Drumset: Complete Drumset Method |publisher=[[Alfred Music]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-739034-74-3 |location=Van Nuys, CA |pages=12 |oclc=655164352}}</ref>

==Components==

===Drums===

====Snare drum====

{{main|Snare drum}}

====Toms====

{{main|Tom-tom drum}}

====Other drums====

[[Octobans]] are smaller toms designed for use in a drum kit, extending the tom range upwards in pitch, primarily by their great depth and small diameter. They are also called rocket toms and tube toms.

===Cymbals===

In most drum kits and drum/percussion kits, cymbals are as prominent as the drums themselves. The oldest [[Idiophone|idiophones]] in music are cymbals, a version of which were used throughout the ancient Near East very early in the Bronze Age period. Cymbals are mostly associated with Turkey and Turkish craftsmanship, where [[Zildjian]] has made them since 1623.<ref>Remnant, M. (1989). Musical instruments. (pp. 159–174). London: B.T. Batsford Ltd</ref>

All cymbals, other than rides, hi-hats, and crashes/splashes, are usually called [[effects cymbal]]s when used in a drum kit, though this is a non-classical or colloquial designation that has become standardized. Most extended kits include one or more [[splash cymbal]]s and at least one [[china cymbal]]. Major cymbal makers produce [[cymbal extension pack]]s consisting of one splash and one china, or more rarely a second crash, a splash, and a china, to match some of their starter packs of ride, crash, and hi-hats. However, any combination of options can be found in the marketplace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reverb.com/uk/news/the-evolution-of-the-china-cymbal|title=The Evolution of the China Cymbal|website=reverb.com|date=11 January 2017|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>

=====Accent cymbals=====

===Other acoustic instruments===

Other instruments that have regularly been incorporated into drum kits include:

===Electronic drums===

[[File:Clavia ddrum4 SE.jpg|thumb|Triggers sensors in use, here they are red and mounted on the rims of the snare drum, bass drum and hanging toms. The larger box in the same color of red is the "brain" to which they are connected.]]

{{main|Electronic drums}}

[[File:V-drums-2.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A MIDI drum kit|Drum controllers, such as the [[Roland V-Drums]], are often built in the form of an acoustic drum kit. The unit's sound module is mounted to the left.]]

==Common configurations==

Traditionally, in America and the United Kingdom, drum sizes are expressed as ''depth x diameter'', both measured in inches. Many drum kit manufacturers have recently been expressing sizes as ''diameter x depth'', still in inches. For example, a [[hanging tom]] 12 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep would be described by Tama as 8 inches × 12 inches, but by Pearl as 12 inches × 8 inches, and a standard diameter Ludwig snare drum 5 inches deep is a 5-inch × 14-inch instrument, while the UK's Premier Manufacturer offers the same dimensions as a 14-inch × 5-inch snare. The sizes of drums and cymbals given below are typical. Many instruments differ slightly or radically from them. Where no size is given, it is because there is too much variety to give a typical size.

A conventional three-piece kit consists of a bass drum, snare drum (14" diameter), hi-hat (12–14"), hanging tom (12 x 8-9" depth), and a suspended 14"–18" cymbal, the latter two mounted on the bass drum. These kits were most common in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintageolympic.co.uk/1960.html|title=Vintage Olympic – a unique online history of Olympic drums|website=vintageolympic.co.uk|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref>  

===Four-piece===

A four-piece kit adds a second mounted tom (a notable user is [[Chris Frantz]] of [[Talking Heads]]) which displaces the cymbal. It is 10" diameter and 8" deep for fusion, or 13" diameter and one inch deeper than for the 12" diameter tom. Otherwise, a 14" diameter hanging tom is added to the 12", both being 8" deep. In any case, both toms are most often mounted on the bass drum with the smaller of the two next to the hi-hats (which are to the left for a right-handed drummer).  

Typically another cymbal is added, so there are separate ride and crash, either on two stands, or with the ride mounted on the bass drum to the player's right and the crash on a separate stand. The standard crash is a 16" diameter, and 18"–20" ride (20" being the most common).

These kits are particularly useful for smaller venues, where space is limited, such as coffeehouses, cafés, hotel lounges, and small pubs.

====Four piece with floor tom====

When a floor tom is added rather than a mounted tom to make a four-piece kit, the floor tom is usually 14" for [[jazz]], and 16" otherwise. Outside of jazz, the four-piece kit is widely used in [[rock music|rock]], [[pop music|pop]] and [[rhythm and blues]]. In addition, it is also the most common setup for [[music school]]s and for novice players.

===Five-piece===

The five-piece kit is the full-size kit and is the most common configuration for various genres and styles, including pop, rock, [[jazz fusion]] and even [[electronic music]]. It adds a third tom to the four-piece kit, making for three toms in all. A fusion kit will normally add a 14" tom, either a second floor tom or a hanging tom on a stand to the right of the bass drum; in either case, making the tom lineup 10", 12" and 14". Having three toms enables drummers to have high-, middle-, and low-pitched toms, which gives them more options for fills, solos, and breaks.  

===Small kits===

If the toms are omitted completely, or the bass drum is replaced by a pedal-operated beater on the bottom skin of a floor tom and the hanging toms omitted, the result is a two-piece [[cocktail drum]] kit, originally developed for [[cocktail lounge]] acts. Such kits are particularly favored in musical genres such as [[trad jazz]], [[bebop]], [[rockabilly]], and [[jump blues]]. Some rockabilly kits and beginner kits for very young players omit the hi-hat stand. In rockabilly, this allows the drummer to play standing rather than seated. A very simple jazz kit for informal or amateur [[jam session]]s consists of a bass drum, snare drum, and hi-hat, often with only a single cymbal (normally a ride, with or without [[sizzle cymbal|sizzler]]s).

===Extended kits===

[[File:OutsideBRX-15.JPG|right|thumb|200px | A seven-piece kit typically used for [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]], elaborate [[jazz fusion]], and [[progressive rock]], consisting of double bass drums, two-floor toms, and an extended set of cymbals (three crashes with [[splash cymbal|splash]] and [[China cymbal|China-type]]).]]

Common extensions beyond the standard configurations include:

===Sticks===

{{main|Drum stick}}

Sticks are traditionally made from wood (particularly maple, hickory, and oak), but more recently, metal, carbon fiber, and other materials have been used for sticks. The prototypical wooden drum stick was primarily designed for use with the snare drum, and optimized for playing snare rudiments. Sticks come in a variety of weights and tip designs; 7N is a common jazz stick with a nylon tip, while a 5B is a common wood tipped stick, heavier than a 7N but with a similar profile, and a common standard for beginners. Numbers range from 1 (heaviest) to 10 (lightest).

===Muffles===

Drum muffles are types of [[mute (music)|mutes]] that can reduce the ring, boomy [[overtone]] frequencies, or overall volume on a snare, bass, or tom. Controlling the ring is useful in studio or live settings when unwanted frequencies can clash with other instruments in the mix. There are internal and external muffling devices which rest on the inside or outside of the drumhead, respectively. Common types of mufflers include muffling rings, [[Moongel|gels]] and duct tape, and improvised methods, such as placing a wallet near the edge of the head. Some drummers muffle the sound of a drum by putting a cloth over the drumhead.

Another type of drum muffler is a piece of rubber that fits over the entire drumhead or cymbal. It interrupts contact between the stick and the head, which dampens the sound. They are typically used in practice settings.

'''Historical uses'''

===Stick holder===

===Sizzlers===

A [[sizzler (percussion)|sizzler]] is a metal chain, or combination of chains, that is hung across a cymbal, creating a distinctive metallic sound when the cymbal is struck, similar to that of a [[sizzle cymbal]]. Using a sizzler is the non-destructive alternative to drilling holes in a cymbal and putting metal rivets in the holes. Another benefit of using a "sizzler" chain is that the chain is removable, with the cymbal being easily returned to its normal sound.

===Cases===

{{Main|Drum case}}

Three types of protective covers are common for kit drums:

===Microphones===

[[Microphone]]s ("mics") are used with drum kits to pick up the sound of the drums and cymbals for a [[sound recording]] or to pick up the sound of the drum kit so that it can be amplified through a [[PA system]] or [[sound reinforcement system]]. While most drummers use microphones and amplification in live shows, so that the [[sound engineer]] can adjust the levels of the drums and cymbals, some bands that play quieter genres of music and in small venues, such as coffeehouses, play acoustically, without mics or PA amplification. Small jazz groups, such as [[jazz quartet]]s or [[organ trio]]s that are playing in a small bar, will often just use acoustic drums. Of course, if the same small jazz groups play on the mainstage of a big jazz festival, the drums will be miced so that they can be adjusted in the sound system mix. A middle-ground approach is used by some bands that play in small venues: they do not mic every drum and cymbal, but only the instruments that the sound engineer wants to be able to control in the mix, such as the bass drum and the snare.

For some styles of music, drummers use electronic effects on drums, such as individual [[noise gate]]s that mute the attached microphone when the signal is below a threshold volume. This allows the sound engineer to use a higher overall volume for the drum kit by reducing the number of "active" mics which could produce unwanted [[Acoustic feedback|feedback]] at any one time. When a drum kit is entirely miked and amplified through the sound reinforcement system, the drummer or the sound engineer can add other [[effect units|electronic effects]] to the drum sound, such as [[reverb]] or [[digital delay]].

===Monitors===

===Tuning equipment===

{{main|Drum key}}

Drummers use a [[drum key]] for tuning their drums and adjusting some drum hardware.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/article-drum-tuning.html|title=Vintage Snare Drums online Ludwig, Slingerland, Leedy, Camco, Gretsch, Sonor|website=vintagedrumguide.com|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref> Besides the basic type of drum key (a T-handled wrench) there are various tuning wrenches and tools. Basic drum keys are divided into three types which allows for tuning of three types of tuning screws on drums: square (most used), slotted, and hexagonal. Ratchet-type wrenches allow high-tension drums to be tuned easily. Spin keys (utilizing a ball joint) allow for rapid head changing. Torque-wrench keys are available, graphically revealing the torque given to each lug. Also, tension gauges, or meters, which are set on the head, aid drummers to achieve a consistent tuning. Drummers can tune drums "[[Playing by ear|by ear]]" or use a digital drum tuner, which "measures tympanic pressure" on the drumhead to provide accurate tuning.

</score>|width=300|align=right|caption=The basic [[common time]] groove with bass (bottom), back beat snare, and cymbal (top) is common in popular music.|max-width=300}}

===Recording===

In the 2020s, drum parts in many popular music styles are often recorded apart from the other instruments and singers, using [[multitrack recording]] techniques. Once the drums are recorded, the other instruments (rhythm guitar, piano, etc.), and then vocals, are added. To ensure that the drum tempo is consistent at this type of recording, the drummer usually plays along with a [[click track]] (a type of digital [[metronome]]) in headphones. The ability to play accurately along with a click track has become an important skill for professional drummers.

* [[Drum Workshop]]

* [[Gretsch Drums]]

* [[Slingerland Drum Company]]

* [[Tama Drums]]