How to Play a Marching Snare

The snare drum is an essential element of any band. Playing the snare drum in a marching band is quite different from playing it as part of a drum kit, or even by itself in a band--even the drum itself is bigger and deeper in order to project sound across a large field. With these steps, you'll learn how to play the marching snare with good posture, technique and sound.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Marching snare drum
• Drum harness
• Marching drum sticks

1. 
    
   A Trixon Field Series marching snare and harness

   Put on the harness and drum. The drum should sit comfortably just below your waist. You should be able to walk and march easily. If the drum is too low, it will interfere with your ability to move. Hold your shoulders up and back and keep your chest open. Always look ahead at the drum major or bandmaster, not at the drums, your hands, or your feet.

2. Hold the marching drum stick in your right hand so that it balances between your thumb and index finger. This is called "creating a fulcrum" for the stick. Wrap the rest of your fingers loosely around the stick, and turn your hand to face palm down.

3. Hold the other marching drum stick in your left hand between your thumb and index finger, creating the fulcrum, and turn your hand over so that your palm is facing up. This grip is called the traditional grip. If your bandmaster asks you to hold the marching drum sticks in a matching grip, just turn your left hand back over so it matches your right.

4. Keep your fingers and wrists loose and flexible. Almost of the motion of your playing should come from the wrists and fingers, not the arms or shoulders. Make sure that you beat with the desired stick height as directed by your drum major or bandmaster.

5. 
    
   The Vikin March Band drum corps of Fremd High School

   Play the marching snare as you would the standard concert snare, with the exception of making sure that your stick height is consistent with the other marching snare drummers in the line. Technique and rhythms are the same on the marching drum as they are on the concert snare.