If it is agreeable that music is as old as man himself; then it shouldn't be debatable that drums, as the belief of many, is the oldest musical instrument in the world.

Drums which are percussion instruments are of thousand types around the world. Some of which are playing by hands or sticks.

Hence, this article is aimed at establishing drums into simple and understandable categories.

Just keep reading.

 

TYPES OF DRUMS

 

1 - DRUM SET

Modern drum sets come in different sizes although the most common of them all is a 5-piece drum set which consists of:

BASS DRUM

The Bass drum is also known as the kick drum. It is the big drum that sits on the floor and is usually played using a pedal attached to a beater.

It provides a low tone which is responsible for driving the beat of a song.

FLOOR TOM

This is the second-largest drum found in the drumset it produces a low-end booming sound they have legs that make them stand on the floor.

SNARE DRUM

A snare drum is a round medium-sized drum with wire snares around it which makes it give a snappy high-end tone when hit.

RACK TOMS

Rack tom has two drum heads which are often used in concerts. It produces an open, resonant sound when struck and is often louder than the floor tom.

HI-HAT

This piece consists of two smaller symbols controlled by a foot pedal and is often used in rock music.

 

2 - FRAME DRUMS

Frame drums are animal skin stretched over a wooden hoop. They are often used in karaoke. Examples are:

PANDEIRO

The Pandeiro is a tambourine-like drum that originates from Brazil. It is a thin wooden shell surrounded by steel or copper cymbals with an animal skin drumhead.

GOBLET

Goblet, like the name, implies, takes the shape of a goblet whose origin can be traced back to Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

It has a hollow shell that could be made of wood or metal with a rim of goatskin stretched over the top.

The pitch of the sound produced depends on where you hit them. An example is Djembe or Darbuka.

BODHRAN

Bodhran is an Irish frame drum made from wood with a goatskin drum head only on one side.

You can use your hands to play this.

TAMBOURINE

The tambourine is the most popular frame drum. Early ones were made with animal skin over a shell but the modern ones now have cymbals around them which makes a distinct sound instead of usual animal skin.

 

3 - HAND DRUMS

Hand drums can be played with hands, mallets, or tippers. Each type has its distinctive pattern and playing techniques. Some of the examples are:

CONGA

Conga is beautifully carved wooden drums that produce deep tenor sounds when struck.

They originate from Cuba and are now very popular among Latin music.

It can be played while standing or sitting on a high chair

TABLA

Tabla is prevalent in India. It consists of two drums covered with animal skin.

It produces a more resonant sound when played with the fingers and heel of the hand.

CAJON

Cajon also known as box drum is originally from Peru.

It is a wooden box that can be sat on by the player while playing with hands, brushes, or drumsticks which makes it portable and versatile as an instrument.

It is commonly used in live acoustic performances.

BONGO

Bongo drums are small and are made of conical or slightly tapered wooden shelves.

It is often used in salsa and cha-cha music because of the high energy produced and is played using the fingertips and the palm.

 

4 - AFRICAN DRUMS

The beauty of Africa is in its diversity in music, cultures, dances, and food. This is no different in their drums. Some of which are:

TALKING DRUMS

Talking drums are taped hourglass wooden drums with goatskins on both ends and a thick rope for support.

It is played by wrapping your hands around the instrument while beating the animal skinhead with a mallet. It is famous in West Africa.

UDU

Udu is a clay pot drum that is originally from Nigeria.

The presence of one or more holes in it allows the player to create a beautiful sound by striking and covering the holes simultaneously. You can also add a little water to the ports to alter the pitch of the sound produced.

 

The world of drums is quite enormous and will always be up for more exploration.

Hopefully, this article has helped your drumming adventure!