Snare drums produce sound by combining the hollow sound shaped by the shell and the batter head with the sound generated by an internal set of snare wires and the resonant head. When used as part of a drum kit, a snare is usually mounted on a snare drum stand and combined with a bass drum, toms, cymbals, pedals and other drum hardware. Used in symphony orchestras, rock ensembles and marching bands, snare drums can differ in size (indicated in inches), shell material, type of tension hoop, type of batter head, the bearing edge angle and other important specifications that ultimately decide what any model sounds like.
How Do Snare Drums Produce Sound?
Like most other drums, snare drums have a batter drumhead and a resonant drumhead. What sets the snare apart from something like a tom is the set of snare wires fitted inside the shell. The 'snares' rattle against the resonant drumhead whenever the batter head is struck, creating that signature snare drum sound. The snare wires can also be turned off via a little lever on the side the drum for a fuller, deeper sound.
Snare Drum Shells
A snare drum is made up of a shell, a batter head, a resonant head, a set of snare wires, a snare strainer, a tension hoop and lugs. Just like other drums, snares are usually made of wood or, in rare cases, metal. Since the resonant drumhead and batter head have a big influence on the overall sound of the snare, it's recommended to swap out the factory-installed drumheads after a little while. Not only do they wear out, but you might also want to try a different make and model to get closer to the sound you want. In addition, it's important that you learn to 'tune' both the top and bottom drumhead. Experimenting with the tension will lead to you to discover a wide range of sounds. For more tips and info, check out our blog: How to Tune Your Drum Kit.
Picking Out the Right Snare Drum
Marching drums are not the same snare drums that a drummer in a rock band uses. Marching band drums are generally deeper and tuned to a higher tension. The material of the shell is also important to think about: wooden shells sound warmer and deeper, while all-metal snare drums sound bright and sharp. Then there's the snare wires, where fewer wires result in a tighter sound and a faster response, while more snare strands get you a richer attack and increased resonance. The last thing to think about is the size. The most popular snare drums for drum kits are 14 by 5.5-inch models and, as a rule of thumb, remember that the smaller the diameter (first number), the higher-pitched the snare will sound while, the deeper (second number) it is, the richer it will sound. See our Snare Drum Buyer's Guide for more help picking out what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snare Drums
What are the different types of snare drum?
Snare drums can be roughly divided into two categories: marching snares and 'standard' snares. Marching snare drums are deeper and have tighter-tensioned drumheads than standard snares.
What does snare drum mean?
A snare drum is a drum shell with snare wires mounted on the undeside, so they actually touch the resonant head. When the batter head is struck, the wires resonate which is what creates that classic snare sound.
What's the best snare drum?
If you're not sure which snare to pick, grab any versatile snare like a wooden 14-inch model with a depth of 4.5 to 6.5 inches. The type of drumheads and the way they're tuned greatly influences the overall sound, and there's ample room to experiment
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