![]() ![]() In general, shallow shells respond faster and can produce a lighter sound.īass drums designed for use in drum sets come in a variety of diameters ranging from 18 to 26 inches, with average depths from 14 to 18 inches. Deeper shells also provide increased projection, produce more overtones and add extra “boom” to the sound. What’s Your Size?Īs is the case with any drum, the fundamental pitch of a bass drum is determined by the diameter and depth of the shell: larger and deeper shells generally produce a lower pitch. Claws are used to hold wood hoops onto a bass drum. The tension rods used with these claws can have T-handles to facilitate tuning or can be adjusted with a drum key. Unlike snare drum and tom hoops, bass drum hoops are made from wood and use “claws” or “hooks” to hold the hoop onto the drum. ![]() This unique construction maximizes projection and increases the vibration of the drum head. Yamaha PHX (pronounced “phoenix”) drum shells are made from plies of jatoba, kapur and North American maple woods. In addition, weights studded in the bass drum at the lug points attenuate low-mid frequencies for a tight, focused sound. Live Custom Hybrid Oak shells are made from a sandwich of oak plies surrounding a dense phenolic layer - a design that emphasizes attack while increasing the drum’s dynamic range. Oak, used in Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak drums, produces a round tone, mellow highs and an extended, warm low end with plenty of volume and projection. Absolute Hybrid Maple shells use an interior layer of wenge, a hard and heavy type of wood that combines with maple to produce a rich, clear tone at all dynamic levels. It yields a warm low end, balanced low and high frequencies, and slightly boosted mid frequencies. Maple is a very popular wood for making drum shells and is used in Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple and Tour Custom drums. Birch projects very well and can easily cut through a mix. It emphasizes the low and high frequencies, providing a bright, lively sound with slightly reduced mid frequencies. They can also be made from fiberglass, stainless steel and acrylic, but wood is by far the most popular material.īirch is used to manufacture shells for Yamaha Recording Custom and Stage Custom drums. Construction Boomīass drum shells are typically constructed from multiple plies of wood such as birch, oak or maple. The idea of having a single drummer in a band spread from the Big Band era and continues today - though there have been popular bands with two drummers simultaneously playing separate kits. Eventually, composers such as Berlioz and Verdi used the bass drum in their works, and it became an important part of the orchestral percussion section.Īt the beginning of the 20 th century, the invention of the foot pedal revolutionized drumming by making it possible for one drummer to simultaneously play a bass drum, a snare drum and a cymbal. In the 18 th century, Turkish troops and military bands made their way into Europe, where the davul was incorporated into music written by Gluck, Mozart and Haydn. It was used by Ottoman military bands, but was also an important part of non-military music in that part of the world. The davul was a double-headed, rope-tensioned drum with a diameter of 26 to 28 inches and was played with a wood stick or by hand. The bass drum is a descendant of the davul or tabl turki (Turkish drum) dating back to the 1300s, making it one of the oldest percussion instruments. In classical music, the bass drum provides dramatic thunder, and marching bands use it as a means of setting the tempo of the march. ![]() In jazz, the bass drum is often played very lightly to provide a pulse that is more felt than heard, but is also used to drop “bombs” (strong accents). In contemporary music, the bass and snare drums are the most important components of the drum set, with the bass drum providing the “downbeat” on the one and three while the snare drum counters on the two and four. The bass drum is front and center.īass drums are used in just about every musical style, from jazz and classical to death metal - though they are used differently depending upon the genre. It typically sits on the floor, laid on its side, with the front head facing the audience. Also known as a “kick” drum, the bass drum is usually the largest drum in a set and the only one played with a foot pedal. In this installment, we’ll take a look at the Big Daddy of Bottom End, the bass drum. In The Modern Drum Set, Part 1, we learned about the origins of the snare drum and how it became an important part of contemporary music. In this multi-part series, we take a closeup look at each of the components of the modern drum set. ![]()
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