The snare drum, also called the side drum, is a percussion instrument that makes a sharp, short sound when the top head is struck with drumsticks. This happens because stiff wires, called snares, are tightly stretched across the bottom head. Snare drums are used in orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, parades, drumlines, and drum corps. It is a key part of a drum set, a group of percussion instruments played by a seated drummer in many types of music. Because basic rhythms are easy to learn, even for children, the snare drum is often used in music education for young students and in rhythm bands.

Snare drums are usually played with drumsticks, but other tools like brushes or rutes can also be used to create different sounds. The snare drum is a flexible instrument because it responds well to changes in playing force. It can produce soft sounds even with a wire brush and can play complex rhythms or solos at moderate volumes. The drum can create strong, loud accents with forceful strikes and a sharp, metallic sound when the rim is struck with a stick.

The snare drum evolved from the tabor, a drum that was once used to accompany a flute. Over time, the tabor developed into modern versions like the kit snare (common in drum kits), marching snare, tarol snare, soprano snare, and piccolo snare. Each type has different sizes and playing styles. The snare drum seen in concerts is usually played with a backbeat style, while in marching bands, it is often used for a frontbeat. The marching snare is the largest and heaviest, and it is now made with a Kevlar beater head for strength. Kit and concert snare drums are typically 14 inches wide and 5 to 8 inches deep. The soprano snare is about 7 inches deep but only 12 inches wide. The piccolo snare is smaller, about 13 to 14 inches wide and 4 inches tall, and has a higher pitch. A smaller version, called the "firecracker" snare, is even narrower and only 10 to 12 inches wide. The snare drum is known for its loud, cracking sound when struck firmly with a drumstick or mallet. The sound’s depth and tone depend on the drum’s size, materials, and how it is played.

A snare drum has two heads. Modern drums usually use Mylar plastic for both heads, but older drums used animal skin. The bottom head has snares, which are small beads made of metal, plastic, nylon, or gut. These snares vibrate when the drum is struck, creating the snare’s characteristic sound. In some drums, like the tarol snare, the snares are on the top head, and in the Highland snare, they are on both heads. The top head is called the batter head because it is struck by the drummer. The bottom head is sometimes called the snare head if the snares are there. Tension rods hold the heads tight and allow the player to adjust the drum’s pitch and tone. Most snare drums have a lever, called a strainer, that can turn the snares on or off. When the snares are off, the drum sounds like a floor tom-tom. The rim is the metal or wooden ring around the batter head. It holds the head in place and can be struck during techniques like the rimshot, where the stick hits both the head and the rim at the same time to create a clicking sound.

Playing

When the top head of the snare drum is hit, the bottom head vibrates together, causing the snares to move and creating a sharp, cracking sound. The drum can be played by hitting it with drumsticks, brushes, rute, hands, or other beaters. These methods create softer vibrations from the snare wires. When using drumsticks, the drummer can strike the drum head, the rim (called the counterhoop), or the shell of the drum.

The snares can be turned off using a lever on the strainer, which changes the drum’s sound to resemble a tom-tom. A technique called a rimshot involves hitting the drum head and rim at the same time with one stick. In orchestral music, this is done by placing a stick on the head and hitting the rim with the other stick. In modern music like pop and rock, rimshots are often used for backbeats and strong notes because they create a clear, loud sound.

Another way to play the snare drum is called "cross-stick," "rim click," or "side-stick." This is done by placing the tip of the drumstick on the drum head and hitting the other end of the stick against the rim. The hand is used to mute the head, creating a dry, high-pitched click. This sound is similar to claves and is common in Latin and jazz music.

"Ghost notes" are very quiet notes played between stronger beats in styles like funk and rhythm and blues. A drum roll is made by bouncing the sticks on the drum head in a controlled way. Similar effects can be created by playing fast double strokes (double stroke roll) or quick single strokes (single stroke roll). The snares are important in a pressed (buzz) drum roll because they help blend separate strokes into one continuous sound.

The snare drum is the first instrument to learn when preparing to play a full drum kit. Rudiments are basic patterns often practiced on the snare drum.

Construction

Snare drums can be made from different materials, including wood, metal, acrylic, or composite materials like fiberglass. A common size for snare drums is 14 inches (36 cm) in diameter. Marching snare drums are taller than those used in orchestras or drum kits, often measuring 12 inches (30 cm) in depth. Orchestral and drum kit snare drums are usually about 6 inches (15 cm) deep. Piccolo snare drums are even shallower, at about 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep. Soprano, popcorn, and firecracker snare drums are smaller, with diameters as small as 8 inches (20 cm), and are often used for special high-pitched sounds.

Most wooden snare drums are made from layers of wood that are heated and pressed into a cylinder. Steam-bent shells are made from a single piece of wood that is shaped into a cylinder and glued along one seam. Reinforcement rings, called "re-rings," are sometimes added inside the drum to keep it round. Segment shells are made from multiple pieces of wood that are stacked, glued, and shaped on a lathe. Stave shells are made by gluing vertical pieces of wood together into a cylinder, which is then shaped on a lathe. Solid shells are made from a single piece of hollowed wood.

Snare drums have two heads: a batter head (the top surface used for playing) and a resonant head (the bottom surface). The resonant head is usually thinner than the batter head and is not struck during playing. Modern drums often use plastic (Mylar) skins that are about 10 mils thick, sometimes with two layers of 7 mils for the batter head. Tone control rings or dots can be placed on the head’s surface to manage overtones and sound quality. These are often placed in the center or near the edges. Resonant heads are very thin, allowing them to respond to the batter head’s movement. For pipe bands, a Kevlar-based head is used to achieve very high tuning and a sharp, high-pitched sound.

A new method called symmetrical venting is used to improve sound quality during snare drum construction. Instead of a single vent hole, this method allows air to move smoothly through and around the drum, creating a clearer and stronger sound.

History

The snare drum came from a medieval drum called the tabor, which had a single-gut snare stretched across the bottom. It is slightly larger than a medium tom and was first used in war, often played with a fife (a type of pipe). The player would play both the fife and drum (see also "Pipe and tabor"). Tabors were not always double-headed, and not all may have had snares. By the 15th century, the snare drum grew larger and took on a cylindrical shape. This simple drum with a snare became popular with Swiss mercenary troops who used the fife and drum from the 15th to 16th centuries. The drum was made deeper and carried along the side of the body. In the 17th century, screws were used to hold the snares in place, creating a brighter sound than loose snares. During the 18th century, the snare drum was improved to enhance its sound. Metal snares appeared in the 20th century. Today, the snare drum is used in jazz, pop music, and modern orchestral music.

Most of the snare drum's development and its playing techniques are closely connected to its use in the military. In his book, The Art of Snare Drumming, Sanford A. Moeller (of the "Moeller Method" of drumming) wrote, "To understand the true nature of the [snare] drum, it is necessary to study military drumming, for it is essentially a military instrument and its true character cannot be brought out with an incorrect method. When a composer wants a martial effect, he instinctively turns to the drums."

Before radio and electronic communication, the snare drum was used to send messages to soldiers. American troops were woken up by drum and fife music, such as the well-known piece "Three Camps." Drum pieces like "Peas on a Trencher" or "Roast Beef" called troops to meals. A piece called "Tattoo" signaled that soldiers should return to their tents, and the "Fatigue Call" was used to clean the camp or remove people from the area.

Many of these military pieces required strong knowledge of rudimental drumming. Moeller stated, "They [the rudimental drummers] were the only ones who could do it [play the military camp duty pieces]." He also said, "No matter how well a drummer can read, if he does not know the rudimental system of drumming, it is impossible for him to play 'The Three Camps,' 'Breakfast Call,' or any of the Duty except the simple beats such as 'The Troop.'"

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the military bugle replaced the snare and fife for signals. Most modern militaries and scouting groups use the bugle alone to make bugle calls that announce events (from "First Call" to "Taps"). While most modern military signals use only the bugle, the snare is still used for some signals, such as the "Adjutant's Call."

Snare drumheads were originally made from calfskin. The invention of the plastic (Mylar) drumhead is credited to a drummer named Marion "Chick" Evans, who made the first plastic drumhead in 1956.

Drum rudiments seem to have developed with the snare drum; the Swiss fife and drum groups are sometimes credited with their invention. The first written rudiment was created in Basel, Switzerland, in 1610. Rudiments with familiar names—such as the single paradiddle, flam, drag, ratamacue, and double stroke roll, also called the "ma-ma da-da" roll—are listed in Charles Ashworth's book in 1812.

Definitions

• Military drum/field drum: A type of snare drum with a diameter of 14–16 inches and a depth of 9–16 inches. It has a shell made of wood or metal, and two drumheads stretched using screws. The drum includes a lever that turns the snares (at least eight metal, gut, or plastic strings) on or off. The name was first used in 1837 after the invention of the screw mechanism for tightening the drumheads. It is often placed on a stand but can also be played without one in a marching setup. It is called Tamburo Militare in Italian, Militär-Trommel in German, Tambor in Spanish, Tamboer in Dutch, Tambour Militaire or Tambour D'ordonnance in French, or sometimes a Street Drum in English.

• Side drum: A term used in Britain and the Scottish Highlands for a snare drum. It is also called Piccolo Cassa or Tamburo Piccolo in Italian, Kleine Trommel in German, Caja in Spanish, or Caisse Claire in French. In the United States, it usually refers to an orchestral snare drum, while in countries like the United Kingdom, it refers to a marching snare drum.

• Tabor: A large drum with one snare on the top head, used in the Middle Ages and sometimes played in orchestras. It is also called a Tenor Drum, Tamburello in Italian, Tamburin in German, or Tambourin Provençal in French. It should not be confused with the Scottish pipe band tenor drum, which does not have a snare.

• Guillotine drum:

Types

There are many types of snare drums, for example:

• Marching snare ("regular" and "high tension")

Marching snares are usually 12 inches (30 cm) deep and 14 inches (36 cm) wide. Their larger size creates a deeper sound, which works well for marching bands. These snares are often built to handle high tension, tightened using a drum key. They are typically played with heavier, thicker sticks called "marching sticks." The snare wires are often made of nylon or gut.

• Pipe band snare

Pipe band snares are similar to marching snares but are deeper and tuned tightly. A key difference is that they have a second set of snare wires under the batter head, in addition to the normal wires on the resonant head. This creates a sharper, crisper sound. Snare drummers in pipe bands play music that matches the tunes of bagpipes. They work with a bass drummer and tenor drummers, who also perform visual movements called "flourishing." Playing pipe band snares requires advanced skill and often uses the traditional grip.

• Drum kit snare

Drum kit snares are usually one-third to one-half the depth of a marching snare. They are typically 14 inches (36 cm) in diameter and 5, 5 + 1⁄2, 6, 6 + 1⁄2, or 7 inches (13, 14, 15, 17, or 18 cm) deep, with some models reaching 8 inches (20 cm) in depth. These snares usually use coiled metal snare wires.

• Piccolo snare

A piccolo snare is a type of snare used to create a higher-pitched sound. Because it is narrower than a marching snare, it produces a sharper, "popping" sound. However, this sound can be harder to record because it travels farther and is picked up by microphones from a distance. Piccolo snares come in different sizes, such as popcorn snares (10 inches or 25 cm), soprano snares (12–13 inches or 30–33 cm), and standard piccolos (14 inches or 36 cm). A famous user of the piccolo snare was Neil Peart, the drummer of Rush, who used a 13-inch (33 cm) X Shell Series Piccolo.

• Orchestral snare

Orchestral snare drums are similar in size to drum kit snares but often have heads made of calf skin or synthetic materials that mimic natural skin. They typically use snares made of metal cable, gut, synthetic cord, or nylon. Some models allow for three different snare materials to be used at the same time, with each set tuned separately.

• Tabor

The tabor snare dates back to the 14th century and was used for marching rhythms during wars. It is a double-headed drum with a single snare strand and was often played with a three-holed pipe flute. Its size varies depending on the type, but it is typically 4 + 1⁄2 inches (11 cm) wide and 11–13 inches (28–33 cm) in diameter.

• Tarol

The tarol snare has similar dimensions to a drum kit snare. The main difference is that the snares are placed on the top head instead of the bottom head.

• Caixa malacacheta

"Caixa" means "box" in Portuguese. This snare is 12 or 14 inches (30 or 36 cm) in diameter and 8 inches (20 cm) deep. It is commonly used in Samba music in southern Brazil and is made of aluminum or steel. The snare wires are on the top head, and the drum can be played using a sling or "em cima" (on the shoulder) to help project the sound.

Famous solo works

• "Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum" by Warren Benson
• "Drum Suite" by Siegfried Fink
• "American Suite for Solo Snare Drum" by Guy Gauthreaux II
• "Prím" by Áskell Másson
• "March-Cadenza" by Gert Mortensen
• "Twelve Studies for Snare Drum" by Jacques Delécluse

Famous orchestral repertoire

• "Lieutenant Kije" composed by Sergei Prokofiev
• "Scheherazade" composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
• "The Stars and Stripes Forever" composed by John Philip Sousa
• "Polovetsian Dances" composed by Alexander Borodin
• "Fifth Symphony" composed by Carl Nielsen
• "Ionisation" composed by Edgard Varese
• "Bolero" composed by Maurice Ravel
• "Seventh Symphony, 'Leningrad'" and "Eleventh Symphony, 'The Year 1905'" composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
• "Concerto for Orchestra" composed by Béla Bartók
• "Mars, the Bringer of War" composed by Gustav Holst

Popular brands

Here is a list of well-known drum companies:
1. Brady Drum Company
2. DW
3. Fibes
4. Gretsch
5. Ludwig
6. Mapex
7. Pearl Drums
8. Pork Pie Percussion
9. Premier
10. Remo
11. Rogers
12. Slingerland
13. Sonor
14. Tama
15. Yamaha