Drums are used in religious ceremonies and often have a symbolic function. They are also used for communication, by the military, and for their most common purpose as musical instruments.

A wide variety of people use drums in music therapy as they are easy to use, and little or no musical talent is required to produce basic sounds.

A huge range of drums are in use as musical instruments. Some of the most well-known drums are described below.

The bass drum is a large drum that produces a very low pitch and is either a concert bass drum, a pitched bass drum, used in marching bands or drum corps, or a “kick drum” in a modern ‘drum kit’

The bongo drums are made up of two small drums of high pitch attached to each other and are held between the knees and are played by striking the drumheads with fingers and palms. They are generally used for Latin American and Spanish music.

The conga drums (usually two together) are tall narrow single headed drums, also played with hands and palms, and are used in Afro Caribbean, Latin and other popular music.

The snare drum is a two headed drum with strands of wire or snares stretched across the bottom head, and are played by hitting the top head with drumsticks. They are traditionally used in military marching bands, but are also part of the modern drum set used in popular western music.

The tom-tom is a cylindrical drum, these days measuring around 12 inches diameter by 10 inches depth, and has no snare. It is played with drumsticks and is used in the modern drums sets in both a hanging and floor configuration.

Other well known, modern drums include the tambourine, the steel drum, the tenor drum and the timpani.