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 Home > Learning Center > Drum set

Drum set

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Virtually every genre of popular music utilizes the drum set, in one form or another. Everything from jazz to heavy metal relies on this instrument as an integral part of the rhythm section. In fact, it is hard for many people to imagine listening to music without the steady beat of the drums. Despite its prominence in modern music, the drum set as an instrument is only about a century old.

The percussion family of musical instruments has a longer history than any other category. Drums have been used by humans since the dawn of civilization, if not longer. However, the drum set didn’t evolve until the early 20th century, coinciding with the introduction of jazz music. The drum kit is unique in that it isn’t a single instrument, but is rather a collection of several different, yet similar components. This gives the player the opportunity to adjust the sound of the kit to nearly any style of music; an advantage that few other instruments can claim.

There are some basic components common to any drum set. The snare drum is at the heart of most kits. The 14th century European “tabor” drum is generally considered to be the earliest form of the modern snare drum. This instrument was a double-headed drum that used a single “snare” (at the time called a Tabor, and thus the name), strung along the bottom head. This drum eventually evolved into the field drum that was used by the military. Varying rhythms were played as a means of relaying directions on the field of battle. By the 19th century, these drums were being included in the music of many of Europe and America’s most famous composers.

Another common component of any drum set is the kick, or bass drum. This instrument also has its roots in Medieval Europe, but wasn’t used as a common percussion instrument until the 1700’s. Traditionally struck with a hand-held mallet, when applied to a drum kit it is instead struck with a foot-operated pedal. When the drummer pushes down on the pedal with his/her foot, a beater strikes the head of the drum, thereby producing its signature sound. The term “kick drum” comes from this use of a foot pedal.

Cymbals are also an important part of any drum set. There are two basic types of cymbal used on today’s drum kits; a suspended cymbal and the hi-hats. A suspended cymbal (usually referred to as a crash or ride cymbal) is a single, specially formed piece of metal that is attached to a stand via a small hole in its center. They can be used for creating rhythmic accents, or as a static time keeper. Hi-hats consist of two small cymbals that are made to clap together through a foot operated device. As the drummer pushes down on the pedal, a metal rod brings the two cymbals together; and when the pedal is let up, the cymbals separate. They are commonly used to create the “back beat” in many genres of popular music.

Other components such as tom-toms, wood blocks and cowbells are often added to this basic set-up to create unique textures. Many drummers create their signature sounds by finding creative ways to combine many of these components. The possible sounds that can be created within a drum set are virtually limitless.

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