Percussion/Drumset

The drum kit is a combination of different percussion percussion instruments for rhythmic sound production and belongs to the genre of idiophones & membranophones. In the course of history, a different demand for instruments with different arrangement and construction possibilities developed depending on the style of music, which were finally combined in their entirety to form a “drum set”, the structure of which was largely standardized over time. Today’s standard set includes a snare drum, a bass drum, usually several hanging and standing tom-toms (floor tom), a hi-hat, various other cymbals (cymbals) and occasionally small percussion such as a wood block, cowbell or jingle bell. This combination can be put together and varied individually by each musician and arranged according to their playing style with the help of stands and mounting devices.

Colloquially, the terms drum kit and drumset are used synonymously, but scientifically, drum kit is a synonym for percussion, the generic term for all percussion instruments in the symphony orchestra. Percussion notes are notated in standard musical notation. The neutral clef is used for identification.

History

The invention of the first bass drum pedal in 1887 by George R. Olney was important for the development of drums. This was followed in 1899 by the manufacture of the first mass-produced product by William F. Ludwig and, culturally, the “No-Drumming-Laws” in the USA. These prohibited slaves from playing their traditional hand drums and led to the strongly rhythmic African music culture being cultivated with European and oriental percussion instruments. The first complete drum set was launched on the market in 1918 by the Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Company.

As in many other sectors of the economy, the manufacture and sale of drums became increasingly internationalized and globalized. Until the 1960s, the top products mainly came from the USA (Ludwig, Gretsch), Great Britain (Premier) and Germany (Sonor, Trixon).

From the 1960s onwards, there was increasing competition from much cheaper products. Cheap drums initially came from Japan, later from Taiwan and South Korea. Japan and Taiwan were already offering high-quality products in the 1970s (Tama, YamahaPearl), which pushed the premium drums from the USA, Great Britain and Germany out of the market and gradually took large market shares away from the traditional manufacturers.

Over the course of the 1980s, Taiwan in particular increasingly became the cheapest hardware supplier for almost all drum manufacturers in the world. With globalization from around 1990, the international dependency relationships were reversed: Former top producers became dependent on former low-cost producers (e.g. Sonor became dependent on Chinese capital).

Percussion instruments

Snare drum / snare drum

The snare drum, also known as the snare drum, is the centerpiece of the drum set and has its origins in European military music, where it developed from various forms of marching and stirring drums. Its shell, which often consists of six to ten layers of wood or metal, is covered with skins on both sides. The upper, usually rough and white or light gray coated batter head contrasts with a smooth, thin resonance head on the underside.

A characteristic feature is the snare carpet, an arrangement of parallel wires running along the resonance head. This carpet is activated with every stroke, produces the unmistakable tone and ensures a dense, full sound when the drum is tossed. The carpet can be deactivated using a ratchet. The flexible adjustment of the tension allows a variety of timbres. Common diameters are 14 inches with shell depths of 5.5 or 6.5 inches, other sizes are 13 × 6.5 inches and 15 × 3.5 inches. Piccolo drums with 8 or 10 inch diameters are increasingly used as additional snare instruments.

Bass drum / bass drum

The bass drum, also known as the bass drum or kick drum, is the second central instrument of the drum kit. Its large, double-sided wooden shell stands on its side and is supported by folding legs at the front end. It is operated by a foot machine, which is attached to the hoop with a tensioning device. A double pedal can alternatively be used for two bass drums to enable playing with both feet on one drum.

Typically, the resonance head is perforated at the front to reduce reverberation and allow direct sound pickup with a microphone. microphone microphone. Cushions or blankets are often placed in the drum for damping. In the past, drums with a diameter of 28 or 30 inches were common, but today a diameter of 16 to 26 inches is preferred, depending on the style. The bass drum rosette, a mounting clamp that makes it possible to attach cymbals and toms to the drum, can be omitted depending on preference, allowing some drummers to achieve a sound that is perceived as more open and lively.

Tomtoms

Tomtoms are drums that are usually covered with heads on both sides and have a diameter of 6 to 18 inches. There are two main types of tom toms: suspended toms, which require a mount on the bass drum, and floor toms, which stand on their own feet on the shell. High-quality toms are often suspended from cantilever systems such as RIMS in order to develop their full sound potential. However, modern, more affordable models are increasingly equipped with vibration-neutral suspensions.

The ratio of shell diameter to shell depth varies greatly, with floor toms often being deeper than suspended toms of the same diameter. Rototoms, a special form without a shell, allow a glissando by rotating the frame while playing. Some drummers prefer toms without a resonance head (concert toms) for a clearly defined pitch. The number of toms in a set varies depending on the style of music: pop and classical jazz often get by with two or three toms, while jazz rock and heavy metal use up to eight toms. Sound variations are achieved primarily through the choice of drumheads and their tension.

Basin

The five most important cymbal types are hi-hat, ride cymbals, crash cymbals, china cymbals, china cymbals and splash and effect cymbals. Each type of cymbal has a unique sound characteristic and fulfills different functions in the drum set. The ride cymbal offers a clear attack with a defined ping and is often used for continuous rhythms. The hi-hat enables different sounds by opening and closing with the foot and plays a decisive role in the rhythm. Crash cymbals create explosive accents, while China cymbals produce a dirty, explosive sound. Splash cymbals are small, bright and are used for short, lively accents. Each of these cymbal types contributes to the versatility and dynamics of the drum set.

Hi-Hat

The hi-hat, a pair of cymbals operated with a foot pedal, can be opened and closed with the left foot to produce different sounds. Closed, it sounds quiet like a cabasa, half-open it produces a rougher sound, open it resembles a loud crash cymbal. It is often used as a tonal alternative to the ride cymbal.

Ride basin

The ride cymbal, typically 16 to 24 inches in size, offers various attack options. It can produce a defined “ping” with background noise. The crest produces a clear bell tone, while the rim stop increases the overtone content. Special shapes such as sizzle rides with rivets or flat rides without a dome offer variation possibilities. Frequently used for rhythmic figures.

Crash cymbals

Compared to ride cymbals, crash cymbals are generally thinner and smaller (approx. 13 to 20 inches in diameter) and are designed to produce a significantly higher proportion of “white noise”. Their sound is rather noisy. They are therefore often used for accents or (e.g. with felt mallets) for swelling crescendo effects. Depending on their size, shape and material thickness, different crash cymbals resonate for different lengths of time.

China basin

The China basin, also known as the “Chinese basin”, differs significantly from the other basin types in its culturally determined shape. The top is often cylindrical or truncated in a cone shape, with a distinctly upturned rim. With a diameter of 14 to 24 inches, it produces a shorter, “dirtier” sound, similar to a crash cymbal. It is used for explosive accents or staccato figures and in metal as an accent or replacement for hi-hat and ride. Larger China cymbals with sizzle are also used as ride cymbals in jazz and big band music.

Splash and effect cymbals

Splash cymbals, comparable to crash cymbals, are significantly smaller with a diameter of approx. 6 to 12 inches. Their sound character is bright, lively and hardly fades, which makes them ideal for short, brilliant accents. Musicians such as Stewart Copeland and Manu Katché have significantly influenced the use of splash cymbals. There are also various effect cymbals with special shapes, holes or jingles that reflect the creativity of the cymbal manufacturers. With names such as “cups”, “bells”, “stacks”, “mini chinas” or “jingle hats”, they expand the sound spectrum of drums in a variety of ways.

Playing technique

The main function of the drums in a band is to create a basic rhythm that carries the band and, together with the other instruments in the rhythm section (bass and keyboard) to form the underlying groove. To do this, the drummer usually uses a fixed sequence of beats that he constantly repeats. The basis of the supporting rhythm is the alternation between the low sound of the bass drum, the high sound of the snare drum and the metallic, continuous pulse of the hi-hat or ride cymbal.

In addition to this basic function, another aspect becomes increasingly important as the music becomes more complex: the drums add embellishments, accentuate and emphasize passages with effects and distortions such as rhythmic fills. Crash cymbals or other effect cymbals are usually used here. The use of swirls and rudiments on the snare drum also aims to achieve this effect. The highlight of the ornamentation and accentuation is the drum solo, in which the other instruments in the band fade into the background.

Instrument of the year 2022

The percussion was voted Instrument of the Year 2022 by the state music councils. This special award is a tribute to the importance and versatility of the percussion instrument and its outstanding role in music.

List of drum manufacturers

• Al Jackson, Jr.
• Benny Benjamin
• Buddy Rich
• Charlie Watts
• Dave Grohl
• Ginger Baker
• John Bonham
• Keith Moon
• Neil Peart
• Ringo Starr
• Stewart Copeland

List of drum manufacturers

• Akai
• DW Drums
• Gretsch
• Ludwig
• Mapex
• Pearl
• PDP (Prodigy by Pearl)
• Roland
• Sonor
• Tama
• Yamaha

Cost of a drum kit

The price of a drum set can vary greatly and depends on many factors that should be taken into account before buying. Above all, the quality of the set plays a major role. There are very inexpensive beginner sets for beginners, while professional sets from well-known brands are significantly more expensive. You should therefore ask yourself what the drumset is intended for. If you want to play for a long time, you should opt for a mid-range or professional set.

Another point that influences the price is the size and number of drums. The more drums, cymbals and additional hardware such as stands and foot machines are included in a set, the higher the price. Especially with large drum sets for advanced players, the number of components can drive up the price.

The material used also plays an important role. Drums made from high-quality woods such as maple or birch often sound better and cost correspondingly more than sets made from acrylic or cheaper types of wood. Metal drums, which often have a special sound, are also more expensive.

Last but not least, the brand determines the price. Well-known names such as DW, Pearl or Yamaha stand for quality, which is also reflected in the price. There are cheaper alternatives from no-name manufacturers, but these often cannot keep up in terms of sound and durability.

Another cost factor is the additional hardware. A complete set consists not only of drums and cymbals, but also stands, foot machines and other important parts. These increase the total price of the set, but are essential for a complete playing experience.

If you want to get an overview of what a drum set can cost, you can use the following rough price ranges as a guide: You can get a simple beginner’s set from around 300 euros. For a solid set of medium quality, you should budget between 500 and 1500 euros. If you want a professional set from a renowned manufacturer, you can easily spend several thousand euros or more.

Also think about additional costs such as cymbals, which are often sold separately and can quickly become expensive. A good drum chair and a rug to protect the floor are also recommended. If you are a beginner, it may be worth investing in drum lessons to make faster progress.