What Is a Side Drum?

A side drum is a small drum with drum heads on both sides. On one side of the drum strings are stretched across the face of the drum to produce its distinctive sound. These strings are known as snares, and so the side drum is commonly referred to as a snare drum. The side drum is considered among the most important in a drum set, and is commonplace in popular music.

Identification

A side drum looks very similar to most other drums in a set, except for the snares stretched across the drum head. The snares, in earlier ages made of strings, are commonly made of metal wire, metal cable, gut cords or different types of plastic cables. These snares are stretched over one or both of the covered drum heads. On most snare drums, the snares are stretched over the bottom of the drum, opposite the striking surface.

Features

Typically composed like other drums, the side drum features a hollow frame covered by two stretched drum heads, and usually a rim around the drum heads. They are often made of plywood that is compression-molded into a cylinder. Reinforcement hoops are then added to keep the side drum perfectly round, and its sound consistent.

Function

Producing the distinctive snare sound of the side drum are the cords stretched across the bottom of the drum. When the side drum is struck from the top, the bottom of the drum will vibrate against the snares on the bottom. This vibration produces a cracking sound. The drum can be struck with a drumstick, or with other drumming instruments, such as a brush. The brush produces a much softer sound, and can be complemented with strikes on the rim or shell, which will also produce the snare vibration.

Significance

Levers on the side drum can help to mute the snare sound from the cables, or can help to pronounce it more clearly. The snares can be loosened and tightened to produce different effects. Another capability of the snare drum is the rim shot, which produces a louder, higher sound, popular at rock concerts. Some side drums, also, are equipped with internal snares on the inside of the bottom drum head to help produce a more clear sound.

History

Side drums are used in many different types of music, and have been played for centuries by musicians worldwide. The pipe and tabor, a medieval instrument, was a type of side drum. Side drums were also popular throughout Brazil during the settlement age, and since have been featured prominently as a military or marching drum. The side drum can also be found in orchestral, piccolo, and soprano variations, and has been used as an essential drum in rock and roll drum sets. The syncopated backbeat, essential to popular music since the 1930s, is usually played by the side drum on quarter notes.