Understanding the Modern Drum Kit

Introduction

• The modern drum kit evolved from a collection of instruments played by multiple people.
• Key inventions allowed a single person to play these instruments while seated.

Components of a Drum Kit

The Five-Piece Drum Kit

• Definition: Called a five-piece kit because it includes five drums.
• Materials: Drums are often made from maple or birch, with snare drums sometimes made from metals like steel, aluminum, or copper.
• Sizes: Drums range from 10 inches to 22 inches in diameter. Larger drums produce lower pitches.

Individual Drum Components

Snare Drum

• Structure: Has a shell with two membranes (drum heads) - batter head on top and resonant head on bottom.
• Drum Heads: Modern drum heads are made of plastic.
• Tuning: Adjust tension using a drum key.
• Snares: Metal wires stretched across the bottom head for a crisp sound.
• Adjustment: Can control snare contact for different sounds.

Tom Toms

• Types: High Tom, Middle Tom, and Low Tom (or Floor Tom).
• Construction: Similar to snare but without snares.
• Tuning: High Tom is higher in pitch than Middle Tom; Low Tom is lower.

Bass Drum

• Placement: Sits on the floor with spurs to prevent movement.
• Components: Similar to toms but includes a pedal for playing.
• Sound Modification: Can change sound by adjusting tuning, adding materials inside, or using a microphone.

Cymbals

Types of Cymbals

Hi-Hat Cymbals

• Structure: Consists of two cymbals on a stand with a foot pedal.
• Functionality: Allows for closed and open sounds as well as stick play.

Ride Cymbal

• Characteristics: Largest cymbal, primarily played on the bow.

Crash Cymbal

• Characteristics: Smaller and thinner than ride cymbal, primarily played on the edge for a quick crash sound.

Setting Up the Drum Kit

Positioning and Comfort

• Stool Height: Feet on pedals with thighs parallel to the ground.
• Drum Positioning: Toms and snare should be easily reachable.
• Cymbal Adjustment: Set not too high for easy reach.
• Personal Preference: Experiment to find comfortable setup.

Setup Considerations

• Right-Handed vs. Left-Handed Setup: Mirror image setup may be used for left-handed players.

Conclusion

• Overview of the drum kit components and setup.
• Upcoming topics include holding drumsticks and stroke techniques.