What does a drum kit consist of? A note for beginning drummers. History of drums Drum brief description for children

Percussion musical instruments appeared before all other musical instruments. In ancient times, percussion instruments were used by the peoples of the African continent and the Middle East to accompany religious and warlike dances.

Nowadays, percussion instruments are very common, since not a single ensemble can do without them.

Percussion instruments include instruments in which sound is produced by striking. According to musical qualities, i.e. the ability to produce sounds of a certain pitch, all percussion instruments are divided into two types: with a certain pitch (timpani, xylophone) and with an indefinite pitch (drums, cymbals, etc.).

Depending on the type of sounding body (vibrator), percussion instruments are divided into webbed (timpani, drums, tambourine, etc.), plate (xylophones, vibraphones, bells, etc.), self-sounding (cymbals, triangles, castanets, etc.).

The volume of the sound of a percussion instrument is determined by the size of the sounding body and the amplitude of its vibrations, i.e., the force of the blow. In some instruments, sound enhancement is achieved by adding resonators. The sound timbre of percussion instruments depends on many factors, the main ones being the shape of the sounding body, the material from which the instrument is made, and the method of impact.

Webbed percussion instruments

In webbed percussion instruments, the sounding body is a stretched membrane or membrane. These include timpani, drums, tambourine, etc.

Timpani- an instrument with a certain pitch, having a metal body in the form of a cauldron, in the upper part of which a membrane made of well-dressed leather is stretched. Currently, a special membrane made of high-strength polymer materials is used as a membrane.

The membrane is attached to the body using a hoop and tension screws. These screws, located around the circumference, tighten or release the membrane. This is how the timpani is tuned: if the membrane is pulled, the tuning will be higher, and, conversely, if the membrane is released, the tuning will be lower. In order not to interfere with the free vibration of the membrane in the center of the boiler, there is a hole at the bottom for air movement.

The body of the timpani is made of copper, brass or aluminum, and they are mounted on a stand - a tripod.

In an orchestra, timpani are used in a set of two, three, four or more cauldrons of various sizes. The diameter of modern timpani is from 550 to 700 mm.

There are screw, mechanical and pedal timpani. The most common are pedal ones, since with one press of the pedal you can, without interrupting the game, tune the instrument to the desired key.

The sound volume of a timpani is approximately a fifth. The large timpani is tuned lower than all the others. The sound range of the instrument is from F of the large octave to F of the small octave. The middle timpani has a sound range from B large octave to F small octave. Small timpani - from D small octave to A small octave.

Drums- instruments with an indefinite pitch. There are small and large orchestral drums, small and large pop drums, tom tenor, tom bass, and bongos.

The large orchestral drum is a cylindrical body, covered on both sides with leather or plastic. The bass drum has a powerful, low and dull sound, which is produced with a wooden mallet with a ball-shaped tip made of felt or felt. Currently, instead of expensive parchment skin, polymer film has been used for drum membranes, which has higher strength indicators and better musical and acoustic properties.

The membranes of the drums are secured with two rims and tension screws located around the circumference of the instrument body. The drum body is made of sheet steel or plywood, lined with artistic celluloid. Dimensions 680x365 mm.

The large stage drum has a shape and design similar to the orchestra drum. Its dimensions are 580x350 mm.

The small orchestral drum has the appearance of a low cylinder, covered on both sides with leather or plastic. The membranes (membranes) are attached to the body using two rims and tightening screws.

To give the drum a specific sound, special strings or spirals (a snare) are stretched over the lower membrane, which are activated using a reset mechanism.

The use of synthetic membranes in drums has significantly improved their musical and acoustic capabilities, operational reliability, service life and presentation. The dimensions of the small orchestra drum are 340x170 mm.

Small orchestral drums are included in military brass bands and are also used in symphony orchestras.

The small pop drum has the same structure as the orchestra drum. Its dimensions are 356x118 mm.

The tom-tom-tenor drum and the tom-tom-bass drum do not differ in design and are used in pop drum sets. The tom-tenor drum is attached with a bracket to the bass drum, the tom-tom-bass drum is installed on the floor on a special stand.

Bongs are small drums with leather or plastic stretched on one side. They are part of the pop drum set. The bongs are connected to each other by adapters.

Tambourine- is a hoop (shell) with leather or plastic stretched on one side. Special slots are made in the body of the hoop, in which brass plates are fixed, looking like small orchestral plates. Sometimes, inside the hoop, small bells and rings are strung on stretched strings or spirals. All this tinkles at the slightest touch of the instrument, creating a unique sound. The membrane is struck with the ends of the fingers or the base of the palm of the right hand.

Tambourines are used for rhythmic accompaniment of dances and songs. In the East, where the art of playing the tambourine has reached virtuoso mastery, solo playing on this instrument is common. The Azerbaijani tambourine is called def, dyaf or gaval, the Armenian - daf or haval, the Georgian - dayra, the Uzbek and Tajik - doira.

Plate percussion instruments

Plate percussion instruments with a certain pitch include the xylophone, metallophone, marim-baphone (marimba), vibraphone, bells, and bells.

Xylophone— is a set of wooden blocks of different sizes, corresponding to sounds of different heights. The blocks are made from rosewood, maple, walnut, and spruce. They are arranged parallel in four rows in order of the chromatic scale. The blocks are attached to strong laces and separated by springs. The cord passes through the holes in the blocks. To play, the xylophone is laid out on a small table on rubber pads located along the cords of the instrument.

The xylophone is played with two wooden sticks with a thick end. The xylophone is used both for solo playing and in orchestra.

The range of the xylophone is from the small octave to the fourth octave.


Metallophones are similar to xylophones, only the sound plates are made of metal (brass or bronze).

Marimbaphones (marimba) are a percussion musical instrument, the sounding elements of which are wooden plates, and tubular metal resonators are installed on it to enhance the sound.

Marimba has a soft, rich timbre, has a sound range of four octaves: from a note to a small octave to a note to a fourth octave.

The playing plates are made of rosewood wood, which ensures high musical and acoustic properties of the instrument. The plates are located on the frame in two rows. The first row contains plates of fundamental tones, the second row contains plates of halftones. Resonators (metal tubes with plugs) installed on the frame in two rows are tuned to the sound frequency of the corresponding plates.

The main components of the marimba are mounted on a support trolley with wheels, the frame of which is made of aluminum, which ensures minimal weight and sufficient strength.

Marimba can be used by both professional musicians and for educational purposes.

Vibraphone is a set of chromatically tuned aluminum plates arranged in two rows, similar to a piano keyboard. The plates are installed on a high frame (table) and fastened with laces. Under each plate in the center there are cylindrical resonators of the appropriate size. Through all the resonators in the upper part there are axes on which the fan impellers - fans - are mounted. A portable silent electric motor is mounted on the side of the frame, which evenly rotates the impellers throughout the entire playing of the instrument. In this way vibration is achieved. The instrument has a damping device connected to a pedal under the stand to dampen the sound with your foot. The vibraphone is played with two, three, sometimes four or even longer sticks with rubber balls at the ends.

The range of the vibraphone is from F of the small octave to F of the third octave or from C to the first octave to A of the third octave.

The vibraphone is used in a symphony orchestra, but more often in a pop orchestra or as a solo instrument.

Bells- a set of percussion instruments that are used in opera and symphony orchestras to imitate the ringing of bells. The bell consists of a set of 12 to 18 cylindrical pipes, tuned chromatically. Pipes are usually nickel-plated brass or chrome-plated steel with a diameter of 25-38 mm. They are suspended in a frame-rack about 2 m high. The sound is produced by hitting the pipes with a wooden hammer. The bells are equipped with a pedal-damper device to dampen the sound. The range of bells is 1-11/2 octaves, usually from F to the major octave.

Bells- a percussion musical instrument that consists of 23-25 ​​chromatically tuned metal plates placed in a flat box in two rows in steps. The top row corresponds to black and the bottom row corresponds to white piano keys.

The sound range of the bells is equal to two octaves: from the note up to the first octave to the note up to the third octave and depends on the number of records.

Self-sounding percussion instruments

Self-sounding percussion instruments include: cymbals, triangles, tom-toms, castanets, maracas, rattles, etc.

Dishes are metal discs made of brass or nickel silver. The disks of the cymbals are given a somewhat spherical shape, and leather straps are attached to the center.

When the cymbals hit each other, a long ringing sound is produced. Sometimes one cymbal is used and the sound is produced by striking a stick or metal brush. They produce orchestral cymbals, Charleston cymbals, and gong cymbals. The cymbals sound sharply and ringingly.

Triangle The orchestral one is a steel rod, which is given an open triangular shape. When playing, the triangle is hung freely and struck with a metal stick, performing various rhythmic patterns.

The sound of the triangle is bright, ringing. The triangle is used in various orchestras and ensembles. Orchestral triangles with two steel sticks are produced.

There-there or gong- a bronze disk with curved edges, the center of which is struck with a mallet with a felt tip; the sound of the gong is deep, thick and dark, reaching full strength not immediately after the strike, but gradually.

Castanets- in Spain they are a folk instrument. Castanets have the shape of shells, facing each other with a concave (spherical) side and connected with a cord. They are made from hardwood and plastic. Double and single castanets are produced.

Maracas- balls made of wood or plastic, filled with a small number of small pieces of metal (shot), the outside of the maracas is colorfully decorated. For ease of holding while playing, they are equipped with a handle.


Shaking the maracas produces various rhythmic patterns.

Maracas are used in orchestras, but more often in pop ensembles.

Rattles They are sets of small plates mounted on a wooden plate.

Variety drum kit ensemble

To fully study a group of percussion musical instruments, a specialist involved in their implementation needs to know the composition of drum sets (sets). The most common composition of drum sets is as follows: bass drum, snare drum, double Charleston cymbal (hey-hat), single large cymbal, single small cymbal, bongos, tom-tom bass, tom-tom tenor, tom-tom alto.

A large drum is placed on the floor directly in front of the performer; it has support legs for stability. Tom-tom tenor and tom-tom alto drums can be mounted on top of the drum using brackets; in addition, a stand for an orchestral cymbal is provided on the bass drum. The brackets that secure the tom-tom tenor and tom-tom alto on the bass drum regulate their height.

An integral part of the bass drum is a mechanical pedal, with the help of which the performer extracts sound from the drum.

The drum set must include a small pop drum, which is mounted on a special stand with three clamps: two folding and one retractable. The stand is installed on the floor; it is a stand equipped with a locking device for fixing in a given position and adjusting the tilt of the snare drum.

The snare drum has a release device as well as a muffler, which are used to adjust the timbre of the sound.

A drum set can simultaneously include several different sized tom-tom drums, tom-tom altos and tom-tom tenors. The tom-tom bass is installed on the right side of the performer and has legs with which you can adjust the height of the instrument.

The bong drums included in the drum kit are placed on a separate stand.

The drum set also includes orchestral cymbals with a stand, a mechanical Charleston cymbal stand, and a chair.

Accompanying instruments of the drum set are maracas, castanets, triangles, as well as other noise instruments.

Spare parts and accessories for percussion instruments

Spare parts and accessories for percussion instruments include: snare drum stands, orchestra cymbal stands, mechanical pedal stand for orchestral Charleston cymbals, mechanical beater for bass drum, timpani sticks, snare drum sticks, pop drum sticks, orchestra brushes, bass drum beaters, bass drum leather, straps, cases.

In percussion musical instruments, sound is produced by striking a device or individual parts of the instrument against each other.

Percussion instruments are divided into membrane, plate, and self-sounding.

Membranous instruments include instruments in which the source of sound is a stretched membrane (timpani, drums), the sound is produced by striking the membrane with some device (for example, a mallet). In plate instruments (xylophones, etc.), wooden or metal plates or bars are used as the sounding body.

In self-sounding instruments (cymbals, castanets, etc.), the source of sound is the instrument itself or its body.

Percussion musical instruments are instruments whose sounding bodies are excited by striking or shaking.

According to the source of sound, percussion instruments are divided into:

Plate - in them the source of sound is wooden and metal plates, bars or tubes, which the musician strikes with sticks (xylophone, metallophone, bells);

Membranous - they contain the sound of a stretched membrane - a membrane (timpani, drum, tambourine, etc.). Timpani are a set of several metal cauldrons of different sizes, covered with a leather membrane on top. The tension of the membrane can be changed with a special device, and the pitch of the sounds produced by the mallet changes;

Self-sounding - in these instruments, the source of sound is the body itself (cymbals, triangles, castanets, maracas).

Basic information Agogo is a Brazilian folk percussion musical instrument, which consists of two different-toned sheep bells without tongues, connected by a metal curved handle. There are different variations of agogo. For example, with three bells; or agogos, made entirely of wood (also with two or three bells). The rhythmic pattern performed by agogo players is the basis of the polyrhythmic structure of the Brazilian carnival samba.


Basic information Asatayak is an ancient Kazakh and ancient Turkic percussion musical instrument. The shape resembles a staff or cane with a flat head, decorated with ornaments and metal rings and pendants. Asatayak had an open and sharp sound. To enhance the sound of the instrument, the bucks used konyrau - bells, which were attached to the head of the asatayak. When shaking the instrument, the konyrau complemented the sound with a metallic ringing. And asatayak,


Basic information Ashiko is a West African percussion musical instrument, a drum in the shape of a truncated cone. They play the ashiko with their hands. Origin The homeland of Ashiko is considered to be West Africa, presumably Nigeria, the Yoruba people. The name is most often translated as “freedom”. Ashikos were used for healing, during initiation rituals, military rituals, communication with ancestors, for transmitting signals over distances, etc. Drums


Basic information Bania (bahia) is a Bengali percussion musical instrument, common in Northern India. It is a small one-sided drum with a leather membrane and a bowl-shaped ceramic body. The sound is produced by striking the fingers and hand. Used together with tabla. Video: Bania on video + sound A video with this instrument will appear in the encyclopedia very soon! Sale: where to buy/order?


Basic information Bangu (danpigu) is a Chinese percussion musical instrument, a small one-sided drum. From the Chinese ban - wooden plank, gu - drum. There is a female version of bangu and a male version of bangu. It has a bowl-shaped wooden body with massive walls, with the convex side facing up. There is a small hole in the middle of the body. The leather membrane is stretched over the convex part of the body


Basic information Bar chimes is a self-sounding percussion musical instrument related to traditional Asian wind chimes. The instrument was introduced into use by percussionists by American drummer Mark Stevens, in whose honor it received the original name Mark Tree, which is widespread in the West. In Russia, the name Bar Chimes is more common. Metal tubes of different lengths that make up the instrument sound when they touch each other


Basic information, device The drum is a percussion musical instrument, a membranophone. Distributed among most peoples. It consists of a hollow cylindrical wooden (or metal) resonator body or frame, onto which leather membranes are stretched on one or both sides (plastic membranes are now used). The relative pitch of the sound can be adjusted by the tension of the membranes. The sound is produced by striking the membrane with a wooden mallet with a soft tip, a stick,


Basics The boiran is an Irish percussion instrument that resembles a tambourine with a diameter of approximately half a meter (usually 18 inches). The Irish word bodhran (in Irish it is pronounced boron or boiron, in English - bouran, in Russian it is customary to pronounce boiran or boran) is translated as “thundering”, “deafening” (and also “annoying”, but this is only in some cases ). Hold the boyran vertically, playing it in a specific way with a wooden


Basic information The large drum (bass drum), also sometimes called the Turkish drum or “bass drum,” is a percussion musical instrument with an indefinite pitch of sound, low register. It is a drum - a wide metal or wooden cylinder, covered with leather on both sides (sometimes only on one side). The sound is produced by striking a beater with a massive head wrapped in dense material. If it is necessary to perform complex


Basics Bonang is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. It is a set of bronze gongs, secured with cords in a horizontal position on a wooden stand. Each gong has a bulge (penchu) in the center. The sound is produced by striking this convexity with a wooden stick wrapped at the end with cotton cloth or rope. Sometimes spherical resonators made of burnt clay are suspended under the gongs. Sound


Basic information Bongo (Spanish: bongo) is a Cuban percussion musical instrument. It is a small double drum of African origin, usually played while sitting, holding the bongo between the calves of the legs. In Cuba, the bongo first appeared in the province of Oriente around 1900. The drums that make up the bongos vary in size; the smaller of them is considered “male” (macho - Spanish macho, literally


Basic information A tambourine is a percussion musical instrument consisting of a leather membrane stretched over a wooden rim. Some types of tambourines have metal bells attached to them, which begin to ring when the performer strikes the membrane of the tambourine, rubs it, or shakes the entire instrument. The tambourine is common among many peoples: the Uzbek doira; Armenian, Azerbaijani, Tajik def; shamanic drums with a long handle among peoples


Basic information A tambourine (tambourine) is a percussion musical instrument, a small metal rattle (bell); is a hollow ball with a small solid ball (several balls) inside. Can be attached to horse harness (“Troika with bells”), clothing, shoes, headdresses (jester’s cap), tambourine. Video: Bell on video + sound A video with this instrument will appear in the encyclopedia very soon! Sale: where


Basic information Bugai (Berbenitsa) is an accompanying frictional percussion musical instrument with a sound reminiscent of the roar of a Bugai. The bugai is a wooden cylinder, the top hole of which is covered with skin. A tuft of horsehair is attached to the skin in the center. Used as a bass instrument. The musician, with hands moistened with kvass, pulls his hair. Depending on the place of contact, the pitch of the sound changes. Bugay is widespread


Basic information Vibraphone (English and French vibraphone, Italian vibrafono, German vibraphon) is a percussion musical instrument related to metal idiophones with a certain pitch. Invented in the USA in the late 1910s. The instrument has wide virtuoso capabilities and is used in jazz, on stage and in percussion ensembles, less often in a symphony orchestra and as a solo instrument.


Basic information Gaval (daf) is an Azerbaijani folk percussion musical instrument. Very similar to tambourine and tambourine. One of those rare musical instruments that has retained its original form to this day. The Gaval device is a wooden rim with sturgeon skin stretched over it. In modern conditions, the ghaval membrane is also made of plastic to prevent moisture. TO


Basic information, structure, structure Gambang is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. It consists of wooden (gambang kayu) or metal (gambang gangza) plates mounted horizontally on a wooden stand, often lavishly decorated with paintings and carvings. The sound is produced by striking two wooden sticks with a flat washer-like winding at the ends. They are held loosely between the thumb and forefinger, the other fingers


Basic information Gender (gendir) is an Indonesian percussion musical instrument. In gamelan, gender carries out a variational development of the main theme set by the gambang. The Gender device consists of 10-12 slightly convex metal plates, fixed in a horizontal position on a wooden stand using cords. Bamboo resonator tubes are suspended from the plates. Gender plates are selected according to the 5-step Slendro scale


Basic information The gong is an ancient percussion musical instrument of a symphony orchestra, which is a relatively large concave metal disk freely suspended on a support. Sometimes the gong is mistakenly confused with tam-tam. Varieties of gongs There are a huge number of varieties of gongs. They differ in size, shape, sound character and origin. The most famous in modern orchestral music are Chinese and Javanese gongs. Chinese


Basic information The Guiro is a Latin American percussion musical instrument, originally made from the fruit of the gourd tree, known in Cuba and Puerto Rico as "higuero", with serifs applied to the surface. The word "guiro" comes from the language of the Taino Indians who inhabited the Antilles before the Spanish invasion. Traditionally, merengue often uses metal guiro, which has a sharper sound, and salsa


Basic information Gusachok (gander) is an unusual ancient Russian folk noise percussion musical instrument. The origin of the gander is very vague and ambiguous. Perhaps it was also played by buffoons, but in modern copies the clay jug (or “glechik”) is replaced by a papier-mâché model of the same shape. The gander has close relatives in different countries of the world. Let's face it, all relatives are very


Basic information Dangyra is an ancient Kazakh and ancient Turkic percussion musical instrument. It was a tambourine: a headband covered on one side with leather, inside of which metal chains, rings and plates were hung. Both dangyra and asatayak were attributes of shamanic rituals, which is why they were not widely used in the musical life of the people. Already since the beginning of the 19th century, both


Basic information Darbuka (tarbuka, darabuka, dumbek) is an ancient percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch, a small drum, widespread in the Middle East, Egypt, the Maghreb countries, Transcaucasia and the Balkans. Traditionally made from clay and goatskin, metal darbukas are now also common. It has two holes, one of which (wide) is covered with a membrane. According to the type of sound production, it belongs to


Basic information A wooden box or wood block is a percussion musical instrument. One of the most common percussion musical instruments with an indefinite pitch. The sound of the instrument is a characteristic clicking sound. It is a rectangular block of ringing, well-dried wood. On one side, closer to the top of the block, a deep slot about 1 cm wide is hollowed out. The instrument is played with wooden or


Basic information The djembe is a West African percussion musical instrument in the shape of a goblet with an open narrow bottom and a wide top, over which a membrane made of leather, most often goatskin, is stretched. Previously unknown to the West, since its “discovery” it has gained enormous popularity. In terms of shape, djembe belongs to the so-called goblet drums, and in terms of sound production - to membranophones. Origin, history of Djembe


Basic information Dholak is a percussion musical instrument, a barrel-shaped wooden drum with two membranes of different diameters. They play the dholak with their hands or a special stick; You can play sitting cross-legged, placing it on your knees, or standing, using a belt. The tension force of the membranes is regulated by a system of rings and rope constrictions. Dholak is common in Northern India, Pakistan and Nepal; very popular


Basic information A carillon is a percussion musical instrument that, through a clock mechanism, forces a series of bells to play a melody, just as a rotating shaft sets an organ in motion. Often used in churches, especially in the Netherlands, in China it was known already in ancient times. The carillon is played “by hand” using a special keyboard. There are 600-700 carillons in the world. Famous musicians


Basic information Castanets are a percussion musical instrument, which consists of two concave shell plates, connected in the upper parts with a cord. The plates have traditionally been made from hardwood, although fiberglass is increasingly being used in recent years. Castanets are most widespread in Spain, Southern Italy and Latin America. Similar simple musical instruments suitable for rhythmic accompaniment of dance


Basic information The cymbal is an ancient oriental percussion musical instrument, consisting of a metal plate (bowl), in the middle of which a belt or rope was attached to be put on the right hand. The cymbal was struck against another cymbal, worn on the left hand, which is why the name of this instrument is used in the plural: cymbals. When the cymbals hit each other, they make a sharp ringing sound. Among the Jews


Basic information The clave (Spanish clave, literally “key”) is the simplest Cuban folk percussion musical instrument. Idiophone of African origin. It consists of two sticks made of hard wood, with the help of which the main rhythm of the ensemble is set. A musician playing the clave (usually a singer) holds one of the sticks in his hand so that the palm forms a kind of resonator, and the other


Basic information A bell is a metal percussion musical instrument (usually cast from so-called bell bronze), a sound source that has a dome shape and, usually, a tongue striking the walls from the inside. There are also known bells without a tongue, which are struck with a hammer or a log from the outside. Bells are used for religious purposes (calling believers to prayer, expressing solemn moments of the Divine service) and in


Basic information Orchestral bells are a percussion musical instrument of a symphony orchestra (idiophone). It is a set of 12-18 cylindrical metal tubes with a diameter of 25-38 mm, suspended in a stand frame (height about 2 m). They hit them with a mallet, the head of which is covered with leather. The scale is chromatic. Range 1-1.5 octaves (usually from F; notated an octave higher than it sounds). Modern bells are equipped with a damper. In the orchestra


Basic information Bells (Italian campanelli, French jeu de timbres, German Glockenspiel) are a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. The instrument has a light ringing timbre in the piano, brilliant and bright in the forte. Bells come in two varieties: simple and keyboard. Simple bells are a set of chromatically tuned metal plates placed in two rows on a wooden


Basic information Congo is a Latin American percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch from the genus of membranophones. It is a barrel elongated in height, with a leather membrane stretched from one end. Used in pairs - two drums of different diameters (one is tuned lower, the other higher), often the congo is played simultaneously with the bongo (assembled on the same percussion set). Congo height 70-80


Basic information Xylophone (from the Greek xylo - wood + background - sound) is a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. It is a series of wooden blocks of different sizes, tuned to certain notes. The bars are struck with sticks with spherical tips or special hammers that look like small spoons (in the jargon of musicians, these hammers are called “goat legs”). Xylophone tone


Basic information Cuica is a Brazilian percussion musical instrument from the group of friction drums, most often used in samba. It has a creaky, sharp timbre of a high register. Kuika is a cylindrical metal (originally wooden) body, with a diameter of 6-10 centimeters. The skin is stretched over one side of the body, the other side remains open. On the inside, to the center and perpendicular to the leather membrane, it is attached


Basic information Timpani (Italian timpani, French timbales, German Pauken, English kettle drums) are a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. They are a system of two or more (up to five) metal boilers, the open side of which is covered with leather or plastic. There is a resonator hole in the bottom of each boiler. Origin The timpani is an instrument of very ancient origin. In Europe, timpani, close


Basic information Spoons are the oldest Slavic percussion musical instrument. In appearance, musical spoons are not much different from ordinary wooden table spoons, only they are made from harder wood. In addition, musical spoons have elongated handles and a polished impact surface. Sometimes bells are hung along the handle. The play set of spoons may include 2, 3 or


Basic information, device A snare drum (also sometimes called a military drum or “working drum”) is a percussion musical instrument that belongs to the membranophones with an indefinite pitch. One of the main percussion instruments of a symphony orchestra, as well as jazz and other genres, where it is part of a drum kit (often in several copies of different sizes). The snare drum is metal, plastic or


Basic information Maraca (maracas) is the oldest percussion-noise musical instrument of the indigenous inhabitants of the Antilles - the Taino Indians, a type of rattle that produces a characteristic rustling sound when shaken. Currently, maracas are popular throughout Latin America and are one of the symbols of Latin American music. Typically, a maraca player uses a pair of rattles, one in each


Basic information Marimba is a keyboard percussion musical instrument consisting of wooden blocks mounted on a frame, which are struck with mallets, a relative of the xylophone. The marimba differs from the xylophone in that the sound produced by each bar is amplified by a wooden or metal resonator or a pumpkin suspended underneath it. Marimba has a rich, soft and deep timbre that allows you to achieve expressive sound. The marimba arose in


Basic information Musical pendant (breeze) is a percussion musical instrument. It is a bunch of small objects that produce a pleasant chime when the wind blows, widely used in landscape design, especially when decorating porches, verandas, terraces, awnings, etc., adjacent to the house. It is also used as a musical instrument. Musical pendants are most widely used in the southern regions as an anti-stress remedy and


Basic information Pkhachich is an Adyghe and Kabardian folk percussion musical instrument, a relative of the rattle. It consists of 3, 5 or 7 plates of dried hardwood (boxwood, ash, chestnut, hornbeam, plane tree), loosely tied at one end to the same plate with a handle. Typical tool dimensions: length 150-165 mm, width 45-50 mm. Pkhachich is held by the handle, pulling a loop,


Basic information The cencerro (campana) is a Latin American percussion musical instrument of indefinite pitch from the ideophone family: a metal bell without a tongue, played with a wooden stick. Its other name is campana. Modern cencerros have the shape of a bell somewhat flattened on both sides. The appearance of the sencerro in Latin American music is associated with the ritual bells of the econ of Congolese religious cults. It is believed that in


Basic information Tabla is an Indian percussion musical instrument. The big drum is called baina, the small one is called daina. One of the most famous musicians who glorified this instrument throughout the world was the legendary tabla player Ravi Shankar. Origin The exact origin of the tabla is unclear. But according to existing tradition, the creation of this instrument (like many others, whose origin is unknown) is attributed to Amir


Basic information Tala (or talan; Sanskrit Tala - clapping, rhythm, beat, dance) is a South Indian paired percussion musical instrument from the category of percussion, a type of metal cymbal or cymbal. Behind each of them there is a silk or wooden handle. The sound of the tala is quite soft and pleasant. Video: Tala on video + sound Video with this instrument coming very soon

Every musician should be at ease with his instrument. Drummers are no exception. To be a professional, of course, you need to know what a drum kit is made of.

The composition and appearance of the drum kit has changed and evolved over the course of 120-plus years.

Let's see what a classic drum kit looks like today. Its main components are cymbals and drums.

Chief of skeet...

The variety of plates is very large - there are hundreds of types of plates. They differ in diameter, alloy, shape and other parameters. The main classification of plates includes the following types:

  • Hi-hat (het). Double plate mounted on one rod. Often the main rhythm is driven precisely with the help of a hat. The hi-hat is mounted on a special stand equipped with a pedal. As a rule, the duration of the hi-hat sound is adjusted with the left foot.
  • Crash (crash). A cymbal that gives a powerful, rich sound. Used for both leading line and emphasis.
  • Ride. It has a ringing and dry sound. Compared to other cymbals, it usually has less sustain (duration of sound).
  • Splash (splash). A small diameter cymbal that produces a rich, sharp sound.
  • China Curved plate. It has a loud and harsh sound.

What drums are included in a drum kit?

Drums include:

  • Bassdrum (bass drum, “barrel”). To play, a pedal with a beater attached to the drum is used. Gives a powerful, dense sound, which, as a rule, is the basis of the party.
  • Snaredrum (snare, snare). One of the main elements that make up a drum kit. It has a ringing, slightly “rattling” sound.
  • Tom-tom (tom-tom). These are suspended or floor drums. The sound of tom-toms depends on the size. Generally, the larger the size, the lower the sound of the drum.

What a drum kit consists of is determined by each drummer himself. Equipment may vary depending on musical style and playing technique. The minimum set for a drum kit is a bass drum, a snare drum, and a hi-hat.

Additional drum kit components

Of course, a drum kit consists of more than just cymbals and toms. The equipment is supported by racks and fixtures. In addition, some drummers use additional cowbell and other percussion elements: xylophones, gongs, tambourines etc.

There are also many other interesting elements that are not included in the classic drum kit. As a rule, these are ethnic instruments - bongos, shakers, tablas and others. Well, perhaps, what a drummer definitely can’t do without is – !

Setting up for success

As you can see, the basic kit of a drum kit is not that big. Drummers have the opportunity to choose different configuration options. It is possible to purchase a ready-made installation, or a prefabricated version - for example, buying the tools you like from different manufacturers for one set.

Of course, a lot depends on the configuration of your drum kit. The quality of the extracted sound, the possibilities, the variety of sounds. However, no matter what your drum kit consists of, you will not be able to achieve serious success in your business without constant and persistent training. Being a drummer is hard work, and you shouldn't forget about constant growth and development.

Drum kit(drum kit, drumkit from English. drumkit) - a set of drums, cymbals and other percussion instruments, adapted for convenient play by a drummer. Commonly used in jazz, rock and pop music.

Individual instrument instruments are played with drumsticks, various brushes and mallets. Pedals are used to play the hi-hat and bass drum, so the drummer plays while sitting on a special chair or stool.

Different genres of music dictate the stylistically appropriate composition of instruments in a drum kit.

Origin of drums and percussion instruments.

So, perhaps, the first prerequisites for the appearance of drums were, surprisingly, we are people! This is how, when our great-great-ancestors lived in caves and fought for life while hunting, they knocked on their chests, throwing out all their emotions - creating a dull sound. But if you think about it, we are modern drummers, we also throw out these same emotions, only by playing the drums. Amazing, isn't it!?

Time passed, and people gradually learned to extract sounds from things at hand, and devices reminiscent of today's drums appeared. It is interesting that the first drums were designed almost the same way as they are now: a hollow body was taken as a basis and membranes were stretched over it on both sides. The membranes were based on the skin of animals and tied together with their own veins, later with ropes, and in our time special metal fastenings are used.

The first mention of drums.

More recently, in the caves of South America, scientists discovered cave paintings in which people beat their hands on objects resembling drums, and during excavations in Mesopotamia, some of the oldest percussion instruments were found, made in the form of small cylinders, there are suggestions that these events are more than 6000 years ago ad.

In addition, drums found in Moravia, Ancient Egypt and Sumer date back to 5000, 4000, 3000 BC respectively.

Since ancient times, drums have been used not only to create music and accompany various ritual rites, dances and ceremonies, they were also widely used as signaling instruments for transmitting messages during military processions and actions, and even as a warning of danger. The drum was the best tool for such tasks because it was easy to make, made a lot of noise, and its sound travels well over long distances.

Compound

Drum kit

A standard drum kit includes the following elements:

  • Dishes:
    • Crash - a cymbal with a powerful, hissing sound.
    • Ride - a cymbal with a ringing but short sound for accents.
    • Hi-hat (hi-hat) - two cymbals mounted on one rod and controlled by a pedal.
  • Drums:
    • The snare drum is the main instrument of the kit.
    • 3 tom-toms: high tom-tom, low tom-tom (middle tom-tom) - both are colloquially called violas, floor tom-tom (or simply tom, floor tom-tom).
    • Bass drum (“barrel”, bass drum).

1. Plates | 2. Floor tom-tom | 3. Tom-tom
4. Bass Drum | 5. Snare drum | 6. Hi-hat

The history of the drum set as a whole.

Looking at a standard drum kit, it is very difficult to understand how it came to be? How did it become such a unified mechanism for producing sounds? As I said, I’m already surprised myself ;D
Therefore, in order to structure the information in your head, first consider the drum kit not as a whole, but in parts:

Bass drum.

What immediately catches your eye when you look at a drum set? That's right, it's massive" barrel "=) or in other words, the bass drum, in itself it has quite impressive dimensions and a low sound.

For a long time, the bass drum was an element of various orchestral performances, and was used during military operations and marches.

In the 1500s, the bass drum was brought from Turkey to Europe, where it became very popular due to its powerful sound, and later began to be used in various musical events.

Tom-toms and snare drum.

M Many people, looking at the toms, can say that these are the most ordinary drums, and this is partly true. Tom-toms appeared in Africa and they were called at that time tom-toms . They were made from hollow tree trunks, which served as the shell of the drum, and animal skins were used as membranes. The sounds made by tom-toms were used to bring their fellow tribesmen into combat readiness or to create a special state of trance during rituals and ceremonies.

But as for the snare drum, it is known that its prototype, which is often called the military drum, or snare drum, was borrowed from the Arabs who lived in Palestine and Spain. Later it became an integral part of military operations.

The drum set has changed greatly over time and is constantly changing. Popular musical styles, famous musicians and designers, as well as the development of instrument production technology play a significant role in the development.

At the end of the 19th century, jazz appeared. Around 1890, New Orleans drummers began adapting their drums to suit the stage so that one player could play multiple instruments at once. Early drum kits were known by the short advertising name "trap kit". The bass drum of this set was kicked or used a pedal without a spring that did not return to its original position after being struck, but in 1909 F. Ludwig designed the first bass drum pedal with a spring return.

In 1920, Gretsch began producing drum shells using laminated wood technology. The first shells were three-layer, later this technology was improved: in the early 1940s the company changed the structure and method of connecting the shells, this method is still used today.

In the early twenties, the “snowshoe” or Charleston was popular - a foot pedal consisting of two foot-sized plates with two cymbals attached to them. Around 1925, drummers began using "low boy" or "sock" cymbals. These paired plates were located on a short rod and were also controlled by the foot. In 1927, the first “high boys” or “high hat” appeared, allowing the performer to play it with either a pedal or sticks, or a combination of both methods.

In 1918, the first Ludwig “Jazz-er-up” drum kit went on sale. The kit included a 24'x8' bass drum (with beater and wood block attached), a 12'x3' snare drum, and a hanging cymbal. Drummers began using customizable tom-toms, stands for mounting various instruments. In 1931, Ludwig and Slingerland began producing cast drum fittings. The components of the installation were selected and developed, and the assembly became of higher quality.

In 1935, Gene Krupa, drummer for Benny Goodman's orchestra, first began using a "standard" 4-drum kit manufactured by Slingerland. The playing technique developed, and Gene performed for the first time as a full-fledged soloist of the orchestra.

In 1940-1960, another significant change occurred - jazz and rock drummers added a second bass drum to their kit. Around the same time, another event occurred: Chick Evans and Remo Belli independently invented plastic drum heads to replace leather ones. New heads made it possible to tune the drum more accurately and were not affected by weather or humidity fluctuations.

In 1962-1964, Ringo Starr, as part of The Beatles, performed on American television on the Ed Sullivan Show. Beatlemania had begun. Ludwig drum production doubles

The next stage (1970-1980) is associated with the origin and development of hard rock. The musicians began to search for a new sound for the drum kit: they began to use toms without resonant plastic, increase the depth of the drum and add new drums to the kit. The sound became louder, more piercing. Drum recording technology began to develop widely. Drum synthesizers and drum machines appeared, but they could not replace live drummers.

The first double bass drum pedal was released by Drum Workshop in 1983. Now drummers don't have to use two bass drums, but simply install one and play it with two pedals at once.

1990 Pearl and Tama invent the RIMS mounting system, which mounts the tom to the stand without drilling an additional hole in the drum. This avoids unwanted vibrations and unnecessary holes in the housing.

Hi-hat and other plates.

In the early 1920s, the first prototype of the modern hi-hat appeared, the so-called “ Charlton pedal " - a device that combines a foot pedal on a stand with small plates attached on top. Other names " short boy " or " sock plates ».

However, this invention was very low and the plates were of small diameter, which in itself is very inconvenient, and already in 1927, an improved hi-hat model appeared, popularly called “ tall hats ».

Now the hi-hat stand is higher and the hi-hat cymbals are larger, which gives the drummer the opportunity to play with his feet, hands, or combine performance options, which means complete freedom of action.

Against the backdrop of all this, more and more people began to get involved in playing percussion instruments. New people and new ideas, as a result, new types of cymbals began to appear, playing on which the drum patterns were well “decorated”, experiments were carried out with different sizes and shapes of cymbals, and later alloys, thereby obtaining more and more new types of sounds produced.

Bass drum pedal.

To this end, drummers and instrument manufacturers began to develop mechanisms to control the bass drum, such as various levers controlled by the hands or feet.

The first bass drum pedal, similar in design to the modern one, was invented by William F. Ludwig in 1909. The invention made it possible to play the kick drum more easily and quickly - there was some freedom of hands to concentrate on the snare drum and other instruments.

You will not believe! But the very first pedal was invented and patented in 1885 by George R. Olney.

Up to this point, a full performance required a minimum of 3 drummers: one to play the snare drum, another to play the cymbals, and a third to bang the bass drum.

Olney's device consisted of a pedal that was attached to the rim of the bass drum, and a leather strap attached the base of the pedal to a ball-shaped mallet. By pressing the pedal, the strap pulled behind it a beater, which in turn beat the bass drum.

The history of pedals does not end there; already in 1909, William F. Ludwig and his brother Theobald patented a completely new model of bass drum pedal, which changed the drum world forever.

It was the first raised-shaft floor pedal and had unique features such as:

  • return beater,
  • direct drive system (in modern language - direct drive) pedal plate.

An additional cymbal beater, it was connected to the pedal, but it was possible to change its position to allow the drummer to play only the bass drum. Later, other pedal models appeared, such as Ludwig - Super Speed, New Speed ​​(the use of bearings in the shaft began with them).

Drumsticks.

A few words about drumsticks. Drumsticks as such did not appear immediately - initially the sound from the drums was extracted by hand. Later they began to use drumsticks wrapped with thick fabric on one side.

Drumsticks as we see them now appeared not so long ago, only in 1963, when Everett “ Vic» Vic Firth, seeing how inconvenient and large they were, and often different in weight, proposed a new standard for sticks, distinguished by the fact that the sticks were made even and identical, both in size and weight, and it is important that each of sticks in a pair produced a sound of the same tonal color and timbre when struck.

Now the choice of sticks on the market is huge, every drummer can find a suitable pair of sticks for himself

Kinds

Installations are conventionally divided in terms of quality and cost:

  • sub-entry- are not intended for use outside the classroom.
  • entry level- designed for beginner musicians.
  • student- good for practice, used by non-professional drummers.
  • semi-pro- quality of concert performances.
  • pro- standard for recording studios.
  • custom hand built drumsets- Best sound, look, wood, quality, attention to detail. Drum kits assembled specifically for the musician.

According to the sound production mechanism Drum sets are divided into the following types:

Electronic drums Roland V-drums

Drum kit muted for practice

Hydrogen drum machine

Acoustic(live)

Sound production occurs due to air vibration created by the membrane and reinforced by the drum body.

Electronic

Instead of instruments, more compact and silent pads are used. The pad is similar to a cylinder, with a diameter of 6 to 12 inches, with a height of 1 to 3 inches, in which a sensor (or several) is located that “removes” the blow. Signals from the sensors are sent to an electronic module that processes the shock. The module can generate the sound itself or transmit MIDI data to the sequencer. It is convenient to practice on electronic drums at home, since they are silent and you can adjust the sound volume.

Electronic single-module

The implementation scheme is the same as in electronic drums. Only everything is implemented in one small case within 20x10x5 inches.

Acoustic with electronic components

Sound production is the same as in acoustic ones, however, sensors are attached to the membranes that convert the vibration of the membrane into an electrical signal, which can then be processed (recording, amplification, distortion). It is also possible to use electronic installation components in conjunction with an acoustic installation.

Training

Externally similar to electronic ones. Instead of pads, rubber-coated metal plates or acoustic drums with silent heads and plugs are used. They do not have an electronic module and do not make sounds, since the main purpose is training. Often used at home for activities that do not disturb others. You can also use an electronic one with headphones for training, but the training setup is much cheaper.

Digital

Most often this is a set of MIDI sounds in special programs or hardware and software systems (drum machine). Even someone who doesn’t know how to play drums can pick up a drum part and use it during a performance or for recording. As a rule, all individual drum machines (one program) are of poor quality [source not specified 1798 days] Therefore, there are special VST plugins for programs such as Cubase or FL Studio. At the moment, the most advanced VST plugin is Superior Drummer.

The role of the drum kit in music

The main function of the drummer as part of the rhythm section of a musical group is to create a rhythmic pattern (together with the bass guitar and keyboards). As a rule, drummers use repeatedly repeating figures. The rhythm is based on the alternation of a low bass drum sound and a high, sharp snare drum sound.

In addition to this main function, the drummer embellishes, emphasizes the main accents and changes in the melody. This uses mainly cymbals, especially crash or roll on the snare drum. Some pieces feature drum solos while other instruments fade into the background.

Mickey Dee, Motörhead drummer, said in an interview:

On stage, the energy and the stage show itself are as important as the act of playing the instruments. Playing the drums is only part of the profession of a drummer, for expressiveness you need to be a showman, and I always remember this during performances. The public wants to see a show, not just a group of musicians performing some kind of body movements.

Differences between drum parts in different styles

Jazz It is distinguished by complex patterns, small breaks and sections of compositions specially designated for solos.

Drum parts rock more expressive, strong, with large fills and energetic transitions.

For metal Characterized by playing at high speed, using a blast beat, two bass drums or a double pedal.

In styles such as progressive rock and progressive metal, drummers widely experiment with time signatures and complicate meter and rhythm.

IN hip hop, rap the rhythm is often programmed using a drum machine or sampled.

IN pop music drums are used very sparingly, at one volume and at the perfect tempo.


Notation (notation in sheet music)

Initially, the drum set was notated in the bass clef. Nowadays, a neutral key of two parallel vertical lines is usually used. On a standard staff of music, the drum part can be written in different notations. Usually at the beginning of each game there is a decoding of the location of the instruments and all the symbols encountered. In some cases (quite often - in exercises) the fingering is indicated - the order of alternating hands when striking. Below is the most common version of drum notation.

Drums

Dishes

Other tools

Game techniques Rim click hitting the rim of the snare drum with the back end of the stick (other names - side stick) Rim shot hitting the rim of the snare drum with the tapered end of the stick (the shoulder of the stick), followed by muffling the plastic Stick shot hit with a stick on a stick lying on the plastic Brush sweep rustling the brushes on the plastic in a circular motion. Accents

Dimensions

Sonor 1007 drum kit with Paiste 101 cymbals

The size of drums is usually expressed as diameter x depth, in inches. For example snare drums are often 14×5.5. Some manufacturers use the reverse order of depth x diameter, including Drum Workshop, Slingerland, Tama Drums, Premier Percussion, Pearl Drums, Pork Pie Percussion, Ludwig-Musser, Sonor, Mapex, and Yamaha Drums.

Standard rock kit sizes are 22" x 18" bass drum, 12" x 9", 13" x 10" overhead toms, 16" x 16" floor tom, and 14" x 5.5" snare drum. Another common combination is “fusion”. It includes a 20" x 16" bass drum, 10" x 8", 12" x 9" mounted toms, a 14" x 14" floor tom and a 14" x 5.5" snare drum. Jazz drum kits often lack a 2nd tom.

Bass drum sizes also differ for different styles. In jazz, small bass drums are used, since the role of this drum in jazz is more of an accent than a heavy beat. And for metal, hard rock, very large bass drums (often several) are used for a heavy, resonant tone.

Plate sizes are also measured in inches.

The smallest cymbals are splash (6-12 inches), the largest are ride (18-24 inches)