The surdo is a large bass drum with a skin at each end. In samba, the surdo is played with one single felt-tipped mallet and one hand. The surdo provides the basic rhythm—the heartbeat—of the samba. In samba-reggae, the upper head can also be played with two mallets.
There are three sizes of surdo, each with its own specific musical function:
1) Surdo de primeira (marcacao): the largest surdo with the lowest tone
2) Surdo de segunda (resposta): slightly smaller bass drum with a slightly less deep tone. These two surdos provide the basic rhythm.
3) Surdo de terceira (cortador): the surdo with the smallest diameter and the highest tone. This surdo has more of a solo role and takes care of the swing.
In Rio de Janeiro surdos are generally 60 cm deep, and in north-eastern Brazil they are commonly more shallow, 40/45cm deep. Surdos are carried with a waist belt or shoulder strap, with the heads roughly positioned horizontally. The bottom head is not played.
If you like a deeper, warmer sound with more sustain, we advise you to replace the original upper head with a synthetic leather drumhead (napa/korino).
