Are Snare Drum Heads Different?

Are snare drum heads different? What’s the difference?

Snare drums and toms have a drum head on the top and bottom of the drum

. The striking side of the drum is known as the batter head, and the bottom head, or non-striking surface, is called the resonant head. The latter affects the tone and how long the drum rings.

Is there a difference between snare drum heads and tom drum heads?

There really is no such thing as a tom head

….for the most part, nor is there “batter” or “reso” heads (save for snare side resos and one or two dedicated resonant heads by Evans). But generally speaking, heads are just heads….to be used where you best see fit.

Are all snare drum heads the same size?

Snare drum diameters range from 6” and 8” “Micro Snares”, through the more commonplace 10”, 12”, 13” and 14” sizes, and up to 15” and 16” drums, often referred to as “Ballad Snares”

.

How do I choose a snare drum head?

Are all drum heads the same?

At some point, every drummer changes their drum kit head or adds new ones for different sounds. However,

not all drumheads are created equal

. Each serves a purpose in giving the drummer the sound they need.

Are top and bottom drum heads the same?

The batter head (Sometimes referred to as the “top head”) is the part of the drum that you actually hit. The resonant head is the head of the bottom that responds to the batter being struck

.

How often should you change a snare drum head?

They recommend always changing your drum heads before you start recording. Otherwise, if you’re just practicing and playing normally, you should find yourself replacing heads

every six months or so

. Six months isn’t a hard rule, and for some could be a risky amount of time to wait.

How do I know what size drum heads to buy?

Drum head sizes are measured by diameter. Simply

take some tape measure and measure the distance across each drum head

. Don’t forget to write them down! There are all kinds of different drum heads so shopping for them can be a little overwhelming!

Does snare side head matter?

With a thick resonant snare head, your snare will sound boxy, dark, and the snare wires will only respond when you beat the hell out of it. If you’re looking for this sound, then by all means go ahead and try it. For general purpose drumming though,

it’s a bad idea to use a batter head on the snare side

!

How do you know what size drum heads you need?

What should I look for when buying a snare drum?

1. MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING. An expensive snare doesn’t inevitably sound better than a lower priced one. …
2. ONE SNARE = ONE SNARE SOUND. …
3. THE PRICE OF FAME. …
4. SIZE IS IMPORTANT. …
5. FIND THE RIGHT EDGE. …
6. USE YOUR EARS. …
7. STAY IN TOUCH. …
8. TRY TO MAKE IT WORK.

What is the bottom head of a snare drum called?

Snare Head: The bottom head, also known as the

resonant head

, is thinner than the batter head (the head on the top). Snares are stretched over the snare head to allow them to vibrate when the batter head is played.

Are coated drum heads better than clear?

Coated drumheads tend to muffle the sound a little bit while clear options offer brighter, more open sounds

. Coated options are great options for snare drums and a must if you play with brushes. You won’t be able to achieve that sandpaper sound with a clear snare head.

Do resonant heads wear out?

Resonant heads will also naturally wear out over time, even if you don’t hit them

. This is because they’re constantly being “hit” by vibrations from the batter head… This slowly affects them, meaning they won’t perform as well as they should.

Can you use top snare head for bottom?

With the exception of heads like snare-side heads,

any head can go on top or bottom

.

Are batter and resonant heads the same?

The batter head is the one that is struck (top head) and the resonant head is the one that vibrates as air in between the two heads is compressed and expanded (bottom head)

.

Can you flip drum heads?

It is not recommended to rotate a head once it’s been seated on the tom

(the seating is when you initially overstretch the head a bit so that it fits the geometry of the tom), because the geometry of the contact surface of the head and the tom will be affected. The same goes for switching sides.

Do snare drums wear out?

What drum heads are best?

The best drumheads for High volume drumming:

2-ply

2-ply drumheads (also known as dual ply or double ply) are the best choice for louder types of music. These will give you a better attack, and will cut through in loud environments like rock, metal, or punk music.

How do I know if I need new drum heads?

What size is a snare drum head?

For a good reason, the most common snare size is

14′′x 5′′ or 5.5′′

as it’s an easy drum to tune and play in every way.

What is the standard snare drum size?

A common, snare drum diameter is

14′′

. If you’re looking for a naturally lower pitched snare drum go with one larger than 14′′. If your looking for a naturally higher pitched snare drum then go with a diameter smaller than 14′′. I love having two snare drums set up at the same time.

How do I measure a snare drum?

In short, snare drums are measured

by taking the diameter and the height

. Most often, snare dimensions are stated as height by diameter of the shell itself without the hoops. In addition to that, drum heads are sold by diameter so you’d need to know the diameter of the snare drum before acquiring a new head.

Why does my snare drum sound weird?

How tight should my snare be?

For most styles, you want the snare-side head

very tight

. Not only does it give you that nice crack that most of us love, but you get the added benefit of greater response from the head. Loose snare heads have a place, too.

How do you make a snare sound better?

Can you use a 22 inch bass drum for jazz?

As Jazz has progressed over the years, the bass drum is more so used as another voice or comping instrument.

There is no need for a big punchy 22-inch bass drum that would be necessary for Pop or Rock music

. 18 inches is the perfect bass drum size for a Jazz drum setup.

How big is a floor tom?

14 inches (36 cm) × 14 for jazz and fusion kits, and very occasionally with a 16×16 as well

. 18×16; that is, 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter and 16 in depth, the most common size for a second floor tom, used with a 16×16. 16×18, a rarer size sometimes used for a second floor tom, also with a 16 × 16.

What are the standard drum sizes?

Standard: Typically, a standard-size set features a

22” bass drum, 16” floor tom, and 12” and 13” mounted toms

. Standard-size drum sets are preferred by drummers who like to play loud.

What is a Tom Head?

What are the best drum heads for toms?

Determines tuning range

All things equal,

a smaller snare drum diameter (10- to 13-inch) will exhibit a brighter, higher-pitched sound

. A larger snare drum diameter (14- to 16-inch) will yield a deeper, darker sound. Note that these differences pertain to shells of the same construction, thickness, tuning, etc.

What makes a great snare drum?

A good snare drum sound will come from

a well tuned drum that respects its diameter in relation to the pitch it’s tuned to

. You can crank up a larger diameter drum so it’s high pitched, but the sound quality can drop off fast.

What is a Tom Head?

What are the best drum heads for toms?

Which drum heads should I use?

If you’re a heavy hitter (or use very thick drumsticks), choose a more durable drumhead

(this means a thicker head, usually 2-ply). Thicker drumheads are best for rock, metal, punk, and anything that requires hard and loud drumming.

What drum heads are best?