- Learn more about different types of snare drums.
- Understand the crucial differences in construction, design, & tone.
- Discover special effects snare drums that can spice up your playing.
From its use in the military to carry out special instructions, to being a special effect instrument in the orchestra before cementing itself at the heart of jazz and rock — its significance has consistently grown.
The snare drum plays a unique role in each setting that it’s part of. That’s the reason different types of snare drums exist.
In this article, we’ll go over the various types, showcasing each of their features and sonic differences.
Types Of Snare Drums
Concert Snare Drums
If you’ve ever been to an orchestral performance, chances are you’ve seen and heard concert snare drums. They are also referred to as orchestral snare drums for the same reason. Although their build and design vary, these don’t look much different from drum set snares.
Construction
Concert snare drums generally have a configuration of 5″ x 14″ or 6.5″ x 14″. You will likely see these drums fitted with either triple-flanged or die-cast hoops.
These typically feature shells made of maple, brass, and steel, among other materials. They also have more than one snare wire set beneath the playing surface and advanced snare strainers for maximum control.
Traditionally, most orchestral snare drums have employed calf skin drumheads instead of plastic. The downside is that they wear down quickly and are sensitive to humidity and temperature.
In the modern age, however, drumheads such as the Remo Diplomats have become popular for concert needs. Coated heads are used for the batter side, while thin clear heads are used as resonant heads.
Since an orchestral performance features several instruments with different timbres, drummers often need to avoid unwanted snare buzz (it’s quite common to notice a horn section in an ensemble setting them off).
As mentioned, these come equipped with a combination of different snare wire types to address this challenge. Common types of wires include coiled snare, cable, and coated wires.
Concert snare drums are mounted on a snare stand, and drummers play it standing.
Tone & Tuning
A concert snare drum sounds quite drier than many of its counterparts. Having a dynamic role in an orchestral ensemble, these drums are finely tuned and are often quite high-pitched. This allows orchestral drummers and percussionists to produce a wide range of articulation.
Some popular concert snare drums include the Pearl Philharmonic Solid Maple Snare Drum and the Black Swamp Multisonic Concert Snare Drum.
Marching Snare Drums
Marching snare drums are designed specifically for marching bands and drumlines. Their sturdy design makes them excellent for long-term outdoor use. These drums are quite different from the usual drum set snares.
Construction
For starters, the shell depth of marching snare drums is significantly deeper. They usually come in configurations of either 9” x 14”, 10” x 14”, or 12” x 14” and are generally made of wood shells fitted with die-cast hoops. Another key difference is the presence of retractable legs and a carrier. This allows marching drummers to strap it to their body and play the drum while being in motion.
Marching snare drums use a combination of different snare wire materials. These range from synthetic gut, carbon steel, and nylon to nickel-wound guitar strings (yes you heard that right!).
These types of snare drums also feature additional (between 2 – 6) air holes, augmenting their response to stick articulation.
Tone & Tuning
When it comes to tone, these have a dark and dry sound, offering very little sustain. However, due to the nature of its build, they offer great sonic projection.
Being a larger drum, the marching snare’s tuning process is more complex than others. The process begins with tuning each wire independently with a screwdriver (to get them to the same pitch).
Once done, the vertical and horizontal aspects of tuning come into play. This is done to achieve crisp rudimental coordination amongst a percussion ensemble.
Marching snare drums come with drum keys with longer handles for easier rotating at higher tension. One such key is the Pearl Hi-tension Tuning Key for Marching Drums.
Some popular marching snare drum options include the Yamaha MS-9414 SFZ and the Pearl Championship Maple.
Piccolo Snare Drums
Piccolo snare drums are commonly used as a side-snare option by drummers. It’s an adorable little snare drum that packs a powerful punch. ‘Piccolo’ literally translates to “small” in Italian.
Construction
A piccolo snare drum is typically 13 inches in diameter and about 3 inches or less deep. Built from wood and metal shells, it is quite similar to a regular snare drum in its build. These snare drums most commonly come with triple-flanged hoops and coiled snare wires.
Tone & Tuning
Appearances can be deceiving — you’ll be blown away by the bright and crisp ‘pop’ of a piccolo. Owing to the close proximity between the batter and resonant heads, they also boast an incredibly fast response.
The tuning approach to these drums is similar to that of regular snare drums. Depending on the musical context, these can be tuned high, medium, or low. They are ideal for funk, neo-soul, reggae, and hip-hop styles.
Popular piccolo snare drums include the Pearl B1330 Brass Effect Piccolo Snare and the Mapex MPX Steel Piccolo Snare Drum.
Drum Kit Snares
When most people think of or mention a snare drum, they mostly refer to a drum kit snare drum. These have been central to most ensemble playing since ragtime and blues. Be it for marking down the backbeats of 2 and 4 in rock or for a colorful, textural role in jazz.
Construction
Drum set snare drums resemble concert snare drums quite closely. These often come in standard configurations of 5” x 14”, 5.5” x 14”, or 6” x 14”. There is a wide array of options for modern drummers to choose from when it comes to shells.
Common shell materials include maple, birch, oak, steel, brass, copper, and acrylic. Each of these shells has unique offerings and works great in different styles.
Depending on the manufacturer and the specific model, some of the most common types of hoops you are bound to come across are triple-flanged, die-cast, S-hoops, and wood hoops. These drums feature a uniform set of coiled snare wires. You can buy these in groups of 16, 20, 30, and 40.
You may want to sift through the anatomy of a snare drum for a deep dive into the individual components of a snare drum.
Tone & Tuning
The tone of a snare drum largely depends on the shell material and thickness. While wood shells often provide a warm, muffled tone, metal shells are known for their explosive power, especially with rimshots. You can create a wide range of tones from having a collection of 3 – 4 snare drums.
These drums have no fixed tuning style, as they are meant to cater to different styles. A high-pitched snare sound with plenty of overtones is ideal for folk, Latin, and reggae styles. In jazz contexts, a medium or low-pitched snare drum is great for highlighting the snare wires’ color.
When it comes to rock and metal, a medium to high-pitched snare drum with massive projection is typically used.
Some popular snare drums include the Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum, DW Collector’s Series Snare Drum, and the Mapex Black Panther Snare Drum.
Other Special Effects Snare Drums
If you want to add spice to your kit sound, consider adding an auxiliary snare drum. Also called special effects snares, these snare drums are generally smaller in diameter than a regular snare (10” – 13”) and come in varying depths.
Soprano Snare Drum
The Pearl M1270, also called the Soprano Snare Drum, is a special effects snare drum developed by Pearl. With a 12-inch diameter and 7-inch shell depth, the Soprano Snare is an optimal blend of the dry ‘barky’ tone of a piccolo paired with a ‘deep crack’.
Made of 8-ply maple wood and fitted with triple-flanged hoops, these drums are ideal for high-pitch tuning and sound great in funk, reggae, and Latin styles.
Fire Cracker Snare Drum
The Fire Cracker Snare is another special effects snare featuring an 8-ply poplar shell designed by Pearl. Also available in steel shells, this snare comes in a 12-inch diameter and is 5 inches deep. If you want to turn up the heat at your next live performance, add a Fire Cracker snare and explode!
Short Fuse Snare Drum
Another great example of a secondary snare is the Short Fuse Snare Drum. Developed by Pearl, this snare features a 9-ply poplar shell. Of all the special effects snare drums mentioned so far, this is the most compact.
With a 10-inch diameter and 4.5-inch shell depth, the short fuse will seamlessly blend into your setup. The short fuse will serve your musical needs if you’re into fast-tempo styles such as DnB.
Before You Go
Just as different types of snare drums exist, many different kinds exist worldwide. For an in-depth understanding of drums across different cultures and communities, see the guide to all types of drums and percussion.
If you’re a drummer who’s stuck, pondering which snare to add to your drum set, our recommendations on choosing the right snare drum can be of great help.
