Bass drum. What is a Bass Drum (Kick Drum) and a Bass Drum? Bass drum designation in musical notation

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

To find the answers to these questions, we consulted experts who design, build, and prepare drums for musical life. And guess what? Despite the unanimity, even experts do not always agree with each other on some issues. To this day, drum making 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 orchestra drum or a marching drum, both of which 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 the 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 the frequent and radical changes that followed in the second half of the century. Therefore, achieving different sounds was not the main driver of drum design. Secondly, miking drums with microphones did not yet exist in nature, and large drums were simply needed for a high volume level.

But everything changed in the decades after World War II, when the previously popular big dance bands gave way to small musical groups. The need to be heard as part of a large orchestra is no longer paramount. At the same time, drummers, especially those who loved to experiment and play in bebop bands, were looking for a new sound. They found this sound in smaller diameter bass drums (18" and 20"), tuned for a tight and punchy sound.

When rock began to dominate the musical Olympus, all drum sets were equipped with these small bass drums. But drummers soon began to strive for more variety in sound and perhaps a more attractive look for their bass drums. So diameters 22" and 24" became the standard. Interestingly, during all these changes, bass drum depth was not given much importance. Regardless of diameter, most bass drums until the mid-70s were 14" deep, with only a small number being 12" deep. Some time later, 16" deep drums became standard, and this standard remained for the next twenty years.

So where does this lead us in the end? Apparently, evolution is now going in two directions at the same time: both double bass drums and small bass drum risers used in bebop bands are popular. But the ubiquitous 16"x22" size is still used in most "beginner" level setups.

Although small or large bass drum sizes reflect current trends in the music world, experienced drummers understand that there is no longer a standard—and that's a great thing! Now drums use whatever suits the music being played and matches the drummer's specific playing style.

Now the range of bass drums is very wide: diameter can be from 16" to 26", and depth - from 14" to 20". Highly specialized manufacturers have an even wider range of models. In 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 become familiar with them because they help you understand how the bass drum creates the sound that comes from it.

The bass drum is cylindrical, covered on both sides with a resonating membrane (plastic). Hitting a head sends a column of air towards another head, which begins to vibrate after a very short period of time (usually one to two milliseconds). These heads are tunable, and when struck they vibrate at a fixed frequency depending on the tension. If the tension of the heads and their weight are the same, their pitch will be the same. The same tuning of the heads makes it possible to extract the fullest sound from the drum. If the heads are not tuned the same, they will sound at different pitches, which usually gives a mixed sound.

However, in reality everything is not so simple. Impact heads have a much greater effect on sound than resonant ones. The proportion of the influence of the heads depends on the depth of the drum, the type of head and the blow itself. The vibration of a percussion head after impact is sharper (fast attack), while a resonating head has a slightly slower attack and a “wider” sound.

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

As you can see, there are many possibilities to change the sound of a drum. 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 the environment or room changes.

To take these variables out of the equation and give you a feel for all the possible drum characteristics that can be measured, we decided to limit our consideration to diameter and depth. We will look at how these factors affect things close to our hearts, such as pitch, sound attenuation, tone, sensitivity, pedal stroke, and such an elusive but very important point as “pumping” the sound.

We will be assisted by a group of real 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 DrumFrame. Okamoto is Pearl's resident drum wizard and technical expert. Garfield is a Drum Doctor enthusiast, studio drum rental estimator, technical, tuning and drum servicing expert.

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

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

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

"From a physical standpoint, hitting a bass drum moves a larger column of air," says Bob Gatzin. “Think of a 30-inch symphonic drum and how loud it sounds. The drummers behind the first drum kits also used big drums. But with the advent of microphones, they were no longer needed because the microphone was located inside the bass drum.”

Ros Garfield adds that projection also depends on the depth of the drum. “The acoustic projection is proportional to the length of the shell. But this becomes unimportant if the bass drum is backed up.”

Can a bass drum be too big to function effectively? Certainly. The bass drum requires more energy to transmit the impact to the resonating head, and the beater may not have enough energy. This problem is the same for both overly large and overly deep drums, but for different reasons.

“By increasing both the depth and diameter of the drum, the recoil decreases,” says Gene 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 may be subsonic, the response will be slow, and it will take a strong drummer and a long beater pedal to get the sound out. So bass drums are made in sizes that serve practical purposes.”

Bob Gatzin is not a fan of “standard” drum sizes. “Over time, 22" bass drums became the standard. This is an example of how things have gone wrong. 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 air isn't pumped quickly. 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 and getting some resonance, but changing the tuning a little higher will make the drum sound overly boomy. Because of this, I'm unlikely to ever use 22" drums anymore. I currently use drums between 16" and 20". Recently attended a Phil Collins concert - his 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 as significant for the frequency of the sound as 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 of the sound remains the same. Low overtones are enhanced, adding weight to the sound. The same thing happens when you increase the depth of the bass drum. But even in this situation, there is still a choice, as Jin Okamoto explains. “If you take 22" bass drums with 14", 16" and 18" depths, the deeper drum will sound lower than the rest. However, the air column has to travel a longer distance to reach the diaphragm, so the recoil will be relatively slower compared to shallower drums. Also, it will take more energy to move the air to the membrane in order to achieve full sound. Shallower depth drums will respond to a light strike and will therefore be more sensitive.”

What about sensitivity, in terms of how quickly the drum responds? Let's remember what Jin Okamoto said about deep drums being less sensitive.

Bob Gatzin elaborates: “The shallower the drum, the more sensitive it is, because there is less delay between the moment the beater hits the head and the sound that follows the strike. Think about the snare drum. What's the difference between a 14" piccolo and a 7" x 14" snare? It's all about the delay time. So my usual advice to people playing deep bass drums is to hit the drum harder."

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

“Don't be afraid to buy a 20" bass drum, but not a 14" x 20" - that size won't have enough air force. It's better to buy a 16" x 20".

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

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

Jin Okamoto also values ​​sensation over sound itself. “I always loved the feel of '70s bass drums muffled by a blanket. The rebound was fast and clear - almost like from a pad. Of course, the drum sounded almost like a pad. Today's bass drums, with specially damped heads with damper rings and accessible tuning, have a very different feel than the pad-like counterparts of the 70s. However, drummers are playing faster, thanks in large part to improvements in pedal design and modern playing techniques.”

The “feel” aspect depends on each drummer’s personal performance. There are times when, for example, a quick rebound simply does not suit the style of play. Bob Gatzen believes that sensation is a subjective domain. “Some drummers like 22-inch bass drums with a head that's loosely tensioned so the beater doesn't bounce well. On smaller bass drums they will not be able to play this way as effectively. The plastic area is small, the slap is not the same. So you have a choice depending on the feel, sound and playing style of the drummer. I think the feeling is still more important than the sound.”

We're back to the question: what bass drum configuration will suit your music and your playing style? We assessed the structure of bass drums from a physical point of view and heard some valuable opinions. Take a look around and decide for yourself if you can put the sonic and mechanical attributes together that you can add to the idea of ​​your dream bass drum. But when it comes to “feeling,” remember that this is part of the equation that only your heart (and your feet) can decide.

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 a Bass Drum and a Bass Drum? Many people consider them to be one and the same thing, but it is worth separating these concepts, and then I will explain why.

Big Drum.

Big drum- this is a wide metal or wooden cylinder covered with leather on both sides (sometimes only on one side).

Sounds are produced by striking a beater with a massive head, which is usually wrapped in dense material. Africa is considered the birthplace of the bass drum; a little later it appeared in Europe.

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

The bass drum is the most important part of a symphony and brass orchestra.

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, the bass drum often plays the role of a “metronome,” beating the strong beats of the bar.

Bass drum.

The question is very often asked: “ What is the name of the bass drum used in a drum kit that sits underneath?»

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

Bass drum- cylindrical shape, covered on both sides with a membrane (plastic).

The bass drum is part of the drum kit; sound is extracted from it using a special pedal connected to a beater. Modern metal styles such as; thrash, power, death, black metal and even current heavy metal universally use a cardan (two pedals connected by a shaft with 2 beaters on board, respectively), which allows you to hit the bass drum much faster than a single pedal.

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

Designation of the bass drum in musical notation.

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

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

BIG DRUM is the general name for 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 mallets. It is known about... ... Collier's Encyclopedia

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

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

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

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

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

A; m. 1. A percussion musical instrument in the form of a hollow cylinder with leather-covered bases. Hit b. To play the drums. Pionersky b. March under b. * Then the drums began to crack and the infidels retreated (Lermontov). / Rough. About the big, round... encyclopedic Dictionary

This term has other meanings, see Drum (meanings). Revolver drum: 1 recess (full) for lightening; 2 grooves for clamp; 3 ratchet; 4 chambers ... Wikipedia

drum- a, m. 1) A 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 listened to the alarming beat of a drum from... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

- (State Order of Lenin Academic Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, Bolshoi Theater) one of the oldest Russian. music trov, leading owl. t r opera and ballet. B. t. played an outstanding role in the approval of the national. realistic. traditions of opera and ballet... Music Encyclopedia

Books

• Oligarch from Ursa Major (audiobook MP3), Tatyana Ustinova. Being an oligarch is like playing Russian roulette: at any moment you can end up behind bars. Liza Arsenyeva became convinced of this when she had a neighbor in her dacha - Dmitry Beloklyuchevsky,...

Tuning drums is difficult. But there is no need to be afraid. These 7 tips will help you tune your kick drum.

1. Do I need a hole in the plastic?

Many drummers discuss why and why a resonant head needs a hole. The hole is necessary if you want to get an accentuated sound from the beater, but many people make a hole just because “that’s how I do everything.” With good tuning and the right head selection, it is very possible and often very desirable to avoid making a hole in the front head. If you do make a hole, don't make more than one and it should be no more than 5 inches in diameter. More than one hole or a hole larger than 5 inches in diameter will have the same effect as no front head. And yet, a lower sound is achieved with a resonant head without holes.

2. Consider jamming the plastic. Do you really need this?

Now we move on to cushioning - pillows, blankets, tape, etc. Top tip, try to think about the environment you're playing in before you grab the nearest duvet! In most cases, in a live performance, damping will not be needed, and if it is needed, it will be very light. If you are in a studio then some kind of muting (especially on larger bass drums - 24" or 26") may well be useful. Damped bass drums may sound great to you, but to the listener the bass frequencies may get lost in the mix.

3. The choice of plastic is very important.

If you choose the right head for your drum based on your sonic needs, it will be an effective combination no matter what situation you're performing in. You will, of course, have to fine-tune your drum before each performance, but it won't take much time. Place the head on the drum and hand tighten all the bolts in pairs until you can turn them. Then press down on the center of the plastic and check that none of the bolts are loose. If the plastic is new, then you will almost certainly find that one or two bolts have loosened a little.

4. Let's start setting up (finally!)

Ideally you should tune the striker head first with the resonant head removed. Start tightening the bolts in pairs with your fingers until all the wrinkles are removed. After this, using a wrench, achieve the same tone in the area of ​​​​each 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 carry out 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 place the drum in the 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 pedal with your hand, and at the same time pull 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.

When tuning the resonant head, you will notice two things. Initially, not surprisingly, the flow will begin to improve, but perhaps more importantly, clarity and focus will improve. With both heads tuned the same, you will most likely get rumble in the low end, but very little. Some people love this, and that's fine, but if you prefer a more focused or shorter, thicker sound, then increase the tension on the resonant head.

What is the history of the drum kit? 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 kit?

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 we will 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 battle. Therefore, the drum was the best tool for such tasks because it is easy to make, creates a lot of noise and its sound travels well over long distances. For example, American Indians used drums made from gourds or carved out of wood to perform various ceremonies and rituals or to raise morale during military campaigns. The first drums appeared around six thousand years 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 paintings discovered in Peruvian caves indicate that drums were used for various aspects of social life, but most often drums were used in religious ceremonies. The drum consists of a hollow body (called a casserole or tub) and membranes stretched on both sides. To tune the drum, the membranes were tied together with animal tendons, ropes, and later metal fasteners were used. In some tribes, it was customary to use the skin from the body of a killed enemy to make membranes, fortunately these times have passed into oblivion, and now we use various plastics made from polymer compounds. At first, the sound from the drum was extracted by hand, and later they began to use round-shaped sticks. Tuning of the drum was done 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. At different times and different peoples there were instruments that were completely different from each other. And in connection with this, a reasonable question arises: how did it become possible that completely different cultures, with their unique drums, united in one, so to speak, “standard” set that we use today, and which is universally suitable for playing music of different styles and directions ?Snare Drum & Tom-tomsLooking at a standard kit, many people probably think that tom-toms are the most ordinary drums, but it’s not that simple. Tom-toms come from Africa and they were actually called tom-toms. The aborigines used their sound to bring the tribes into combat readiness, to convey an important message, and also to perform 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 any special use for them; they did not use drums very often. Some time later, the Roman Empire began to fight for new lands, and the Catholics went on a crusade. Approximately 200 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, Europeans did not use their rhythms, since they did not have the same sense of rhythm that Africans developed in their music.