Bass drum sizes and sound. What is a bass drum (kick) and bass drum? bass drum

Drum tuning is tricky business. But, you should not be afraid. These 7 tips will help you tune your kick.

1. Do I need a hole in the plate?

Many drummers discuss why and why a hole is needed in a resonant head. A hole is needed if you want to get an accented beater sound, but many people make a hole just because "that's how I do everything." with good setup and the right choice plastic, it is very possible and often very desirable not to make a hole in the front head. If you do make a hole, don't make more than one, and it should be no larger than 5 inches in diameter. More than one hole or a hole larger than 5 inches in diameter will give the same effect as no front head. And yet, a lower sound is achieved with a resonant head without holes.

2. Consider silencing plastic. Do you really need it?

Now we move on to cushioning - pillows, blankets, tape, etc. Top tip, try to think about the environment you're playing in before reaching for the nearest duvet! In most live performance situations you won't need damping, and if you do, it's very light. If you're in the studio, then some muting (especially on big bass drums - 24" or 26") can be quite helpful. Damped bass drums may sound great to you, but to the listener, bass frequencies can get lost in the overall mix.

3. The choice of plastic is very important.

If you choose the right head for your drum for your sonic needs, it will be an effective combination in the first place, no matter what the situation. You will, of course, have to fine tuning drum before each performance, but it won't take long. Place the plastic on the drum and hand-tighten all the bolts in pairs until you can turn them. Then press in the center of the plastic, then check that no bolts are loose. If the plastic is new, you will almost certainly find that one or two bolts have loosened a bit.

4. Starting to set up (finally!)

Ideally, you should set up the impact head first with the resonant head removed. Start tightening the bolts in pairs with your fingers until all wrinkles are removed. After that, using the key, achieve the same tone in the area of ​​\u200b\u200beach bolt.

5. Damping (if necessary).

If you really need it, now is the time to do it. A small rolled up towel placed against the resonant head will suffice.

6. Fine tuning.

Now do all the operations that were performed with the impact head and with the resonant head in order to remove wrinkles from the head and even out the tone. Now put the drum in playing position and install the pedal. You can now ask your bass player to play the drum while you tune it, but if this is not possible, then do the following: lie on the floor in front of the drum and play a slow and steady pulse on the pedals with your hand while pulling the head with your other hand and look for the desired tuning . This will give you a chance to hear the pitch, tone and overall resonance of the drum.

7. Presentation, clarity and focus.

As you tune the resonant head, you will notice two things. At first, not surprisingly, the pitch will start to rise, but perhaps more importantly, clarity and focus will improve. With both heads set the same way, you will most likely get low end rumble, but very little. Some people love it and that's fine, but if you prefer a more focused or shorter and thicker sound, increase the tension of the resonant head.

Hi all! Friends today I want to tell you about what a bass drum is, in addition, you will learn what a bass drum is and why it is often called Turkish =)

What is the difference between Bass Drum and Bass Drum? Many consider them the same, but it is worth separating these concepts, and further I will explain why.

Big Drum.

big drum- this is a wide metal or wooden cylinder, tightened on both sides with skins (sometimes only on one side).

The extraction of sounds occurs by hitting a beater with a massive head, which is usually wrapped in a dense material. Africa is considered the birthplace of the big drum, a little later it appeared in Europe.

The big drum also has the name " bass drum". In Turkey, this drum was very popular, all military campaigns of the Turkish army were accompanied by the sounds of a big drum, in addition, it was an integral attribute of various celebrations and ceremonies. This is where the name comes from.

The big drum is the most important link in a symphony and brass band.

In a brass band, the bass drum usually includes cymbals, one of which is attached directly to the drum itself, and the second is in the drummer's hand.

IN orchestral music bass drum, often plays the role of a "metronome", beating strong beats of the beat.

Bass drum.

The question is often asked: what is the name of the bass drum used in the drum kit, which is located at the bottom?»

So, in modern musical directions such as: jazz, funk, rock, metal, etc. a lower-sounding version of the bass drum, called the bass drum, is used. The musicians themselves call it simply " barrel "But there really is a resemblance!? Round and oblong =)

bass drum- cylindrical shape, closed by a membrane (plastic) on both sides.

The bass drum is part of the drum kit, the extraction of sound from it is carried out using the beats of a special pedal connected to the mallet. Modern styles metal, such as; thrash, power, death, black metal and even today's heavy metal everywhere use a cardan (two pedals fastened by a shaft with 2 beaters on board, respectively), which allows you to beat the bass drum much faster than a single pedal.

Listen to the sound of the bass drum (online).

The designation of the bass drum in musical notation.

How are you not familiar with musical notation for drummers? Then be sure to read!

We will end here, I also wanted to add the sound of a large single orchestral drum, but I did not find a good recording, if you have one, please send it in the comments, I will definitely add it to the article! =)

What is the history of the drum set? and got the best answer

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: What is the history of the drum set?

Answer from Vl-59[guru]
Percussion instruments are the most ancient on the planet. Drums appeared at the dawn of mankind, and the history of their creation is very interesting and too voluminous, so let's pay attention to its most basic aspects. Various civilizations have used drums or similar instruments to play music, warn of danger, or instruct armies during combat. So the drum was the best tool for such tasks because it is easy to manufacture, creates a lot of noise and its sound travels well over long distances. For example, American Indians used drums made of gourds or hollowed out of wood for various ceremonies and rituals or raising fighting spirit in military campaigns. The first drums appeared around 6000 BC. During excavations in Mesopotamia, some of the oldest percussion instruments were found, made in the form of small cylinders, and the origin of which dates back to the third millennium BC. Cave drawings found in caves in Peru indicate that drums were used to various aspects social life, but most often drums were used in religious ceremonies. The drum consists of a hollow body (it is called a kadlo or a tub) and membranes stretched on both sides. To tune the drum, the membranes were pulled together with animal veins, ropes, and later they began to use metal fasteners. In some tribes, it was customary to use the skin from the body of a killed enemy to make membranes, since these times have gone into oblivion, and now we use a variety of plastics made from polymer compounds. At first, the sound from the drum was extracted by hand, and later they began to use rounded sticks. The tuning of the drum was carried out by tightening the membranes, as mentioned above, with veins, ropes, and later with the help of metal tension fasteners, which tightened or loosened the membranes, and due to this, the sound of the drum changed its tone. IN different times and different peoples had completely different instruments. And in this regard, a reasonable question arises, how it became possible that absolutely different cultures, with their unique drums, came together in one, so to speak, "standard" set that we use today, and which is universally suitable for playing music. different styles and directions? Snare Drum & Tom-toms (Snare Drum & Tom-toms) Looking at the standard setup, probably many people think that tom-toms are the most common drums, but not everything is so simple. Tom-toms originate from Africa and were actually called tom-toms. The natives used their sound in order to put the tribes on alert, to convey important message, as well as for the performance of ritual music. Drums were made from hollow tree trunks and animal skins. And the most interesting thing is that the Africans created various patterns of rhythmic patterns, many of which became the basis for the various styles of music that we play today. Later, when the Greeks came to Africa, approximately two thousand years BC. e. they learned about African drums and were very surprised by the powerful and strong sound of tom-toms. They took some drums with them, but did not find much use for them. They did not use drums very often. Some time later, the Roman Empire led the fight for new lands, and the Catholics moved into crusade. Approximately 200 years BC. e. , their troops invaded Greece and North Africa. They also learned about African drums and unlike the Greeks, they actually found a use for the drums. They began to be used in military bands. But at the same time, when using African drums, the Europeans did not use their rhythms, because they did not have such a sense of rhythm that the Africans developed in their music.

BIG DRUM is the general name of numerous percussion musical instruments, consisting of a hollow cylindrical body with skin (membrane) stretched over it. The drums are beaten with hands, sticks or special beaters. Known about... Collier Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Drum (meanings). Drum ... Wikipedia

This is a very ancient and very common instrument. Its ancestor is a simple stone or wooden mallet, which was still used primitive people. However, over time, they noticed that the sound becomes more booming if the beat is not solid ... ... Music dictionary

- (Kotoshikhin 151), probably borrowed. from Turkic, cf. tat. daraban - the same (Radlov 3, 1627), whence with the dial. t: Polish, Ukrainian taraban, rom. darabană (Tiktin 2, 505); see Mladenov 17. On the other hand, Tur., Crimea was also considered a source. tat. balaban… Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language by Max Fasmer

BIG- The names of instruments or organ registers connected with the word big (big drum, big flute, etc.), see under simple names ... Riemann's musical dictionary

Drum (probably Turkic), percussion instrument, common among most peoples; a hollow body or frame over which skin is stretched on one or both sides. Sound is extracted by blowing the membrane, sometimes by friction; the pitch is indefinite. WITH… … Great Soviet Encyclopedia

A; m. 1. Impact musical instrument in the form of a hollow cylinder with leather-covered bases. Beat in b. To play the drums. Pioneer b. March under b. * Here the drums crackled And the infidels retreated (Lermontov). / Rough. About the big, round... encyclopedic Dictionary

This term has other meanings, see Drum (meanings). Revolver drum: 1 recess (dol) for relief; 2 groove for the latch; 3 ratchet; 4 chamber ... Wikipedia

drum- a, m. 1) Percussion membrane musical instrument, consisting of a hollow round resonator body, covered with leather on both sides. To play the drums. Beat the drum. Having made several loops, the whole company, under the alarming drum beat from ... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

- (State Order of Lenin Academic Grand Theatre USSR, SABT) is one of the oldest Russian. music t ditch, leading owls. t r opera and ballet. B. t. played an outstanding role in the approval of nat. realistic. traditions of opera and ballet art ... ... Music Encyclopedia

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Would a large diameter bass drum like 24" or even 26" be right for you? Judging by the way in Lately big bass drums are for sale, many drummers will answer yes to this question. But what if your musical needs are better suited to the sound of a deeper drum than the standard 16" x 22"? And what about those 18" bass drums that are so plentiful these days? Are they capable of doing their job to the fullest?

To find answers to these questions, we consulted with experts who design, build and prepare drums for musical life. And you know what? Despite the unanimity, even experts on some issues do not always agree with each other. Until now, the creation of drums remains more of an art than a science. But first, a little history.

Let's go back to the beginning of the 20th century. At the time, "bass drum" meant either an orchestral drum or a marching drum, and both were of modest depth but much larger in diameter than modern bass drums. When the first truly practical bass drum pedal was invented in 1909, it was fitted to bass drums of the day. Bass drums in drum kits remained large and shallow for the next 40 years for a number of reasons. First, in the first half of the 20th century musical styles did not experience such frequent and radical changes that followed in the second half of the century. Therefore, achieving different sounds was not the main driving force behind drum design. Secondly, the sounding of drums with microphones did not yet exist in nature, and big drums were needed simply for a high volume level.

But that all changed in the decades after World War II, when the once popular big dance bands gave way to smaller ones. musical groups. The need to be heard in the composition large orchestra ceased to be paramount. At the same time, drummers, especially those who like to experiment and play in be-bop bands, were looking for a new sound. They found this sound in smaller bass drums (18" and 20"), tuned for a tight and punchy sound.

When rock began to dominate the music scene, all drum kits were equipped with these little bass drums. But soon the drummers began to strive for more variety in the sound and, perhaps, more attractive appearance your bass drums. So diameters 22" and 24" became the standard. Interestingly, during all these changes, the depth of the bass drum was not given of great importance. Regardless of diameter, most bass drums until the mid-70s were 14" deep, with only a handful of 12" deep ones. Some time later, 16" deep drums became standard, and this standard continued for the next twenty years.

So, where did this lead us in the end? The evolution seems to be going in two directions at the same time: both double bass drums and small bass drum risers used in be-bop bands are popular. But the ubiquitous 16" x 22" size is still used in most beginner level setups.

While small or large bass drum sizes reflect existing trends in the world of music, experienced drummers understand that the standards no longer exist - and that's great! Now the drums use whatever fits music played and corresponds to a certain drummer's playing style.

Now the range of bass drums is very wide: the diameter can be from 16" to 26", and the depth - from 14" to 20". Highly specialized manufacturers have an even wider the lineup. In the light of such almost inexhaustible possibilities, the question arises: what should a drummer do, what should he choose? Let's take a look at the physics of the bass drum.

First you need to study some scientific calculations. It's important to get familiar with them because they help you understand how the kick drum creates the sound that comes out of it.

The bass drum is a cylindrical shape, closed on both sides by a resonating membrane (plastic). Hitting a plastic sends a column of air towards the other plastic, which begins to vibrate after a very short period of time (usually one to two milliseconds). These heads are adjustable, when they are struck, they vibrate at a fixed frequency, which depends on the tension. If the tension of the heads and their weight are the same, they will sound the same pitch. The same tuning of the heads makes it possible to extract the greatest fullness of sound from the drum. If the heads are tuned differently, they will sound on different height, which usually gives a mixed sound.

However, in reality, everything is not so simple. Impact plastics have a much greater effect on sound than resonant ones. The proportion of head impact depends on the depth of the drum, the type of head, and how it is hit. The shock head oscillates more sharply after the impact (fast attack), while the resonating attack has a somewhat slower and "wider" sound.

Also, plastics can have different weight. They may include damper rings that attenuate certain overtones and change the pitch of the underlying musical tone. Such damper rings can be different for impact and resonating heads. Also, one or both plastics can be with a hole. And finally, there remains the third element of the "system", which determines the sound - the body of the drum itself.

As you can see, there are many possibilities to change the drum sound. This explains why each drummer's bass drum has a unique sound. We will even leave aside why the same drum can sound completely different when you change environment or premises.

To take these variables out of the equation and let you feel everything possible characteristics drum that can be measured, we decided to limit ourselves to considering the diameter and depth. We'll look at how these factors influence things close to our hearts like pitch, decay, tone, sensitivity, pedal travel, and that subtle but very important point like “pumping” the sound.

Helping us out is a group of true drum industry gurus: Bob Gatzen, Gene Okamoto and Ross Garfield. Gatzin is a drum designer, recording engineer and producer, and the creator of, among his other drum inventions, the stable DrumFrame. Okamoto is a permanent magician in the world of Pearl drums and a specialist in technical matters. Garfield is a Drum Doctors enthusiast, studio drum renter, expert on technical issues, tuning issues, and drum service.

You think that a large diameter bass drum will always produce a deeper basic musical tone. From a physical point of view, the larger the diameter, the more likely it is to achieve lower tones, but this is only if other factors are not taken into account. “An obvious observation about pitch,” says Ros Garfield, “is that as the diameter increases, a lower sound is extracted. But to a large extent it also depends on the tuning of the drum. I can tune a 22" drum lower than a 24" drum. But 24" will be much easier to tune into low frequencies.”

Bob Gatzin agrees, but notes the differences between the pitch of the underlying musical tone and its strength. "A large diameter drum will produce low tones," says Bob. “But you can get more pitch on smaller heads. The larger the diameter - the larger the surface area of ​​the head - the less you hear the basic musical tone of the drum. If you compare the 10" and 16" diameters, the main musical tone will be more obvious on the smaller drum. This is also important for a bass drum: with a larger diameter, you lose in the sound of the fundamental tone.

So, we have established that, other factors being equal, large drums give low tones, and smaller ones will have a better ratio of fundamental musical tone and overtones. But is high level sound volume is also the reason for using large diameters? For the most part, yes.

“Physically speaking, hitting the bass drum moves a larger column of air,” says Bob Gatzin. "Think of a symphony drum 30", how loud it sounds. Drummers behind the first drum kits also used big drums. But with the advent of microphones, the need for them has disappeared, since the microphone is located inside the bass drum.

Ros Garfield adds that the projection also depends on the depth of the drum. “Acoustic projection is proportional to the length of the shell. But it doesn't matter if the bass drum is being played."

Can a kick drum be too big to be effective? Certainly. The bass drum needs more energy to deliver the hit to the resonating head, and the beater may not have enough energy. This problem is the same for both oversized and overly deep drums, but for different reasons.

“As both the depth and the diameter of the drum increase, the recoil decreases,” says Jin Okamoto. “If the drum is too deep, it will be very difficult, even almost impossible, to get air to move from one membrane to another. If the drum is too large in diameter, the sound can be "subsonic", the response will be slow, and a strong drummer and a pedal with a long beater will be needed to produce the sound. So bass drums are made in sizes that serve a practical purpose.”

Bob Gatzin is not a fan of "standard" drum sizes. “Over time, 22" bass drums have become the standard. This is an example of a misunderstanding. I find 22" heads to be inert and difficult to tune. This brings us back to physics: you can't make plastic vibrate quickly because the air isn't pumping fast. If you leave the head loose when tuning, you will get a slapping (popping) sound. You can probably fix this by changing the tuning to a quarter note and getting some resonance, but turning the tuning up just a bit will make the drum sound unnecessarily boomy. Because of this, I now hardly ever use 22" diameter drums. I currently use drums between 16" and 20". I recently attended a Phil Collins concert - he's an 18" bass drum sounds incredible!" .

Let's move on to the depth of our "cylindrical resonant body". Is depth really important to pitch? Yes, but to some extent. But the effect is not so significant for the frequency of the sound, but for the overall sound. Listen to a recording of a bass drum or bass guitar on your tape recorder, adjusting the bass on the equalizer - the sound is richer and deeper, but the actual pitch has not changed. The low overtones were boosted, adding "weight" to the sound. The same thing happens when you increase the bass drum depth. But even in this situation there is a choice, as Jin Okamoto explains. “If you use 22" bass drums with a depth of 14", 16" and 18", the deeper drum will sound lower than the others. However, the air column has to travel a longer distance to reach the membrane, so the recoil will be relatively slower compared to shallower drums. Also, it will take more energy to move the air up to the membrane in order to achieve a full sound. Shallower drums will respond to a lighter hit and therefore be more sensitive."

And what about sensitivity, in terms of quick response of the drum? Let's remember the words of Jin Okamoto, about the fact that deep drums are less sensitive.

Bob Gatzin elaborates: “The shallower the drum, the more sensitive it is because there is less delay between the moment the beater touches the head and the sound that follows. Remember the snare drum. What's the difference between a 14" piccolo and a 7" x 14" snare? It's a matter of delay time. So my usual advice to deep bass players is to hit the drum harder."

If shallow drums have such wonderful sensitivity, what is the use of deep drums? In the ability to get a dense, rich sound from a deep drum body. “The greater cabinet depth will make you feel like you're adding more weight and breadth to the sound,” Gatzin says.

"Don't be afraid to buy a 20" bass drum, not a 14" x 20" bass drum - there won't be enough air force at that size. A 16" x 20" is better.

How does all of the above relate to the inner comfort we feel when we sit down to play a new bass drum? In answering this question, our experts agreed on one thing: you'll get faster recoil from a drum with a smaller diameter. But is it really the best choice? This question also has several answers.

Ros Garfield says that an 18" reel will give more rebound than a 20", 22" or 24". “That means you can play faster with more strokes. But that doesn't mean you'll feel better than playing "When the leevee breaks" behind a 26" drum.

Jin Okamoto also prioritizes sensation over sound itself. “I've always loved the feel of '70s bass drums drowned out by a blanket. The rebound was fast and crisp—almost like a pad. Of course, the drum sounded almost like a pad. Today's bass drums, with specially muffled heads with damper rings and accessible tuning, are very different in feel from their too pad-like counterparts of the 70s. However, drummers are playing faster, thanks in large part to improvements in pedal design and modern technology games".

Such an aspect as "feelings" depends on the personal playing of each drummer. There are times when, for example, a quick rebound just doesn't suit the style of play. Bob Gatzen believes that sensation is a subjective realm. “Some drummers like 22″ bass drums with loose heads so the beater doesn't bounce well. On smaller bass drums, they won't be able to play as effectively this way. The plastic area is small, the slap is not the same. So it's up to you to choose depending on the feel, the sound and the playing style of the drummer. I think the feeling is more important than the sound.”

We're back to the question: what bass drum configuration will suit your music and your playing style? We took a physical look at bass drum construction and got some valuable feedback. Take a look around and decide for yourself if you can put together the sonic and mechanical attributes that you can add to the idea of ​​your dream bass drum. But when it comes to "feeling," remember that it's part of an equation that only your heart (and your feet) can decide.