Drum shells can be made of a wide variety of materials, the most common being metal and wood, but traditionally would be made from trees, such as the African slit drum which is made from a hollowed out tree trunk.
Typically, the drum shell would have a circular opening at one end over which a drum skin is stretched, but the shape of the rest of the shell can vary widely. In most modern western drums, the shell is either cylindrical or bowl shaped (in the case of the timpani). Other common shapes are truncated cones (Bongos), goblet shaped, and joined truncated cones.
Drums with cylindrical shells may be open at one end or may have two drumheads - one at either end of the cylinder. In both cases, the shell forms a resonating chamber which produces the drum’s unique sound, and drums with both ends covered usually have a small hole half way between the heads which facilitates the sound. Some two-headed drums will also have strands of wires, called snares, held across either or both heads, and are known as snare drums.
Modern drums, which are used in bands and orchestras, have a hoop over which the drumhead is stretched. The hoop is then affixed to the shell with a “counter hoop” which is held is place by a series of tension rods, usually numbering 6 to 10, which are positioned around the circumference of the shell. The tension of the drumhead and its resultant sound is then adjusted by tightening or loosening the tension rods around the drumhead.
Typically, the drum shell would have a circular opening at one end over which a drum skin is stretched, but the shape of the rest of the shell can vary widely. In most modern western drums, the shell is either cylindrical or bowl shaped (in the case of the timpani). Other common shapes are truncated cones (Bongos), goblet shaped, and joined truncated cones.
Drums with cylindrical shells may be open at one end or may have two drumheads - one at either end of the cylinder. In both cases, the shell forms a resonating chamber which produces the drum’s unique sound, and drums with both ends covered usually have a small hole half way between the heads which facilitates the sound. Some two-headed drums will also have strands of wires, called snares, held across either or both heads, and are known as snare drums.
Modern drums, which are used in bands and orchestras, have a hoop over which the drumhead is stretched. The hoop is then affixed to the shell with a “counter hoop” which is held is place by a series of tension rods, usually numbering 6 to 10, which are positioned around the circumference of the shell. The tension of the drumhead and its resultant sound is then adjusted by tightening or loosening the tension rods around the drumhead.