The drum sound depends on a number of factors.
Firstly, the sound will vary according to the type of material used to construct the shell, together with its size, shape and thickness. As the sound is caused by vibrations resonating in the drum shell, a larger volume and a wider circumference will result in a lower pitch, and also different types of wood, (such as birch, maple and mahogany), will affect the frequency of vibration, and thus the pitch.
Drumheads also have a marked effect on the sound. Thicker drumheads produce a lower pitch and can be very loud, whereas thinner heads will produce a higher, softer sound. Drumheads may be covered with a white, plastic coating to muffle some of the overtones, producing crisper, cleaner sounds, and yet other drumheads will have central dots or perimeter “sound rings” to reduce the overtones still further.
Tension rods are also critical in determine the sound of the drum. As the tension rods are tightened, the amplitude of the sound is reduced, causing the pitch to be higher, and the volume lower.
By use of these variables, drums can be manufactured to produce the sounds desired by different drummers. For example a jazz drummer may want sounds that are soft and crisp, and a rock and roll drummer may prefer sounds that are loud and deep.
Firstly, the sound will vary according to the type of material used to construct the shell, together with its size, shape and thickness. As the sound is caused by vibrations resonating in the drum shell, a larger volume and a wider circumference will result in a lower pitch, and also different types of wood, (such as birch, maple and mahogany), will affect the frequency of vibration, and thus the pitch.
Drumheads also have a marked effect on the sound. Thicker drumheads produce a lower pitch and can be very loud, whereas thinner heads will produce a higher, softer sound. Drumheads may be covered with a white, plastic coating to muffle some of the overtones, producing crisper, cleaner sounds, and yet other drumheads will have central dots or perimeter “sound rings” to reduce the overtones still further.
Tension rods are also critical in determine the sound of the drum. As the tension rods are tightened, the amplitude of the sound is reduced, causing the pitch to be higher, and the volume lower.
By use of these variables, drums can be manufactured to produce the sounds desired by different drummers. For example a jazz drummer may want sounds that are soft and crisp, and a rock and roll drummer may prefer sounds that are loud and deep.