Drumhead: Difference between revisions
→Manufacturers: Adding an existing drumhead manufacturer. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
Restore original lead photo which is a better depiction of a drumhead (as opposed to a drum as a whole). Add some missing history. |
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{{short description|Membrane stretched over the ends of a drum}} |
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{{other uses}} |
{{other uses}} |
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[[File:Drumhead.jpg|thumb|right|Drumhead with coating on a [[snare drum]]]] |
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[[Image:Drumhead Coated on Tom Drum 01.png|thumb|right|Drumhead with coating on a [[tom drum]]]] |
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[[Image:Drumhead Coated on Bass Drum.png|thumb|right|Drumhead with coating on a bass drum]] |
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[[Image:Anatomy of a Drumhead.jpg|thumb|right|Anatomy of a drumhead for drumming]] |
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A '''drumhead''' or '''drum skin''' is a [[diaphragm (acoustics)|membrane]] stretched over one or both of the open ends of a [[drum]]. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands, so that it [[oscillation|vibrates]] and the [[sound]] [[resonance|resonates]] through the drum. |
A '''drumhead''' or '''drum skin''' is a [[diaphragm (acoustics)|membrane]] stretched over one or both of the open ends of a [[drum]]. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands, so that it [[oscillation|vibrates]] and the [[sound]] [[resonance|resonates]] through the drum. |
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Additionally outside of percussion instruments, drumheads are also used on some string instruments, most notably the [[banjo]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Originally, drumheads were made from [[animal hide]] and were first used in early human history, long before records began. |
Originally, drumheads were made from [[animal hide]] and were first used in early human history, long before records began.<ref name=REMO/> The term ''drumhead'' is first attested in English in 1580, in the writings of the soldier [[Thomas Churchyard]], who mentioned how "Dice plaie began ... on the toppe of Drommes heddes".<ref>"[https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/58019 drumhead, n.]", ''Oxford English Dictionary Online'', 3rd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2015) (accessed 21 August 2020).</ref> |
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In 1957, [[Remo Belli]] and Sam Muchnick together developed a polymer head (also known as [[Mylar]]) leading to the development of the [[Remo]] drumhead company. |
In 1956, Chick Evans invented the plastic drumhead. Plastic drumheads made from polyester are cheaper, more durable, and less sensitive to weather than animal skin. In 1957, [[Remo Belli]] and Sam Muchnick together developed a polymer head (also known as [[Mylar]]) leading to the development of the [[Remo]] drumhead company.<ref name=REMO>{{cite web |url=http://remo.com/portal/pages/about/history/About+Remo+History.html |title=Remo - About Remo - History |access-date=2015-05-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526094703/http://www.remo.com/portal/pages/about/history/About+Remo+History.html |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}</ref> |
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Despite the benefits of plastic heads, drummers in [[historical reenactment]] groups such as [[fife and drum]] use animal skin heads for historical accuracy. Rawhide heads are also popular with musicians performing in the jazz, orchestral and early music genres due to their preference for period correct sounds and instruments. Real hide heads are used on most [[hand drum]]s, including [[djembe]]s, [[frame drum]]s, [[bongo drum|bongos]], and [[conga]]s, and also some [[Banjo]]s. In recent years, companies have begun manufacturing synthetic counterparts (most notably [[FiberSkyn|Fiberskin]]) for certain [[hand drums]] such as congas, and also banjos. There has also been a resurgence in the use of genuine rawhide heads by drum kit players, with companies such as AF cueros orquestales from Argentina, AK Drums, Buchler Trommelbau and Kentville Drums or the Austrian Drumhead Company offering goat, calf and kangaroo hide drumheads respectively. |
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Another common material used for drumheads is [[aramid]] fiber, such as [[kevlar]]. [[Kevlar]] heads are also used in [[marching percussion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://realdrumsamples.com/ |title=The Complete History of Drumming |access-date=10 November 2014}}</ref> |
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===Mesh heads=== |
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Mesh heads - drum heads that are usually constructed from a weave of synthetic material - were traditionally used on [[electronic drum]]s, as they provide a very similar playing feel to traditional heads.<ref name="musicradar"/> Over time, however, manufacturers began to produce mesh heads that are attachable to acoustic drums, in order to create a playing experience that has a very similar feel and sound to playing a traditional drumkit, but at a drastically reduced volume, making them suitable for either practicing in a place where noise is a concern, or even recording using [[Trigger (drums)|drum triggers]].<ref name="musicradar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/mesh-drum-heads-vs-rubber-pads|title=Mesh drum heads vs rubber pads: which are better for electronic drummers?|author1=Stuart Williams|date=February 17, 2022|website=MusicRadar}}</ref> |
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Despite the benefits of plastic heads, drummers in [[historical reenactment]] groups such as [[fife and drum]] use animal skin heads for historical accuracy. Skin heads are used on most [[hand drum]]s, including [[djembe]]s, [[frame drum]]s, [[bongo drum|bongos]] and [[conga]]s, although in recent years, companies such as Remo have begun manufacturing synthetic counterparts for certain [[hand drums]] such as congas. Another common material used for drumheads is [[aramid]] fiber, such as [[kevlar]]. [[Kevlar]] heads are also used in [[marching percussion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://realdrumsamples.com/ |title=The Complete History of Drumming |accessdate=10 November 2014}} </ref> |
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==Tuning== |
==Tuning== |
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[[Image:Drum clamp rim lug butt.jpg|thumb|right|1 Holder clamp, 2 Rim, 3 Tension rod, 4 Lug, 5 Snare butt]] |
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| ⚫ | A [[drum]] "hoop" or "rim" may be made of metal, wood, or other material and is used to hold a drumhead against a drum shell, either with bolts through metal "claws" attached directly to a hoop, or bolts through holes in a [[flange]]d rim. The bolts, called "tension rods", are screwed into threaded "lugs" attached to the drum shell, in order to tighten and tune the drumhead.<ref>International House of Blues Foundation. [http://www.ihobf.org/download/Making_a_Drum.pdf "Making a Drum"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206061800/http://www.ihobf.org/download/Making_a_Drum.pdf |date=February 6, 2009 }} 2003</ref> A "drum key" is a four sided [[wrench]] used to screw the tension rods into the lugs.<ref> |
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{{main|Drum tuning}} |
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| ⚫ | A [[drum]] "hoop" or "rim" may be made of metal, wood, or other material and is used to hold a drumhead against a drum shell, either with bolts through metal "claws" attached directly to a hoop, or bolts through holes in a [[flange]]d rim. The bolts, called "tension rods", are screwed into threaded "lugs" attached to the drum shell, in order to tighten and tune the drumhead.<ref>International House of Blues Foundation. [http://www.ihobf.org/download/Making_a_Drum.pdf "Making a Drum"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206061800/http://www.ihobf.org/download/Making_a_Drum.pdf |date=February 6, 2009 }} 2003</ref> A "drum key" is a four sided [[wrench]] used to screw the tension rods into the lugs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepatentsonline.com/7244882.html|title=Drum key}}</ref> |
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== Muffling == |
== Muffling == |
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Drummers muffle their drums using special drumheads. Some drumheads come pre-muffled |
Drummers occasionally muffle their drums using special drumheads. Some drumheads come pre-muffled. Most muffling is done by external muffles. |
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[[File:Anatomy of a Drumhead.jpg|thumb|Anatomy of a Drumhead<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://remo.com/experience/post/know-how-is-the-difference-in-drumheads/|title=Know-How Is The Difference In Drumheads|newspaper=Remo|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>]] |
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==Manufacturers== |
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* [[Remo]] |
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* [[D'Addario|Evans]] |
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*[[Emin Percussion]] |
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* [http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/ Aquarian] |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160119082239/http://www.universalpercussion.com/attack.html Attack] |
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* [[Kentville Drums]] |
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* [[Coreelo]] |
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* [[Slam (drum manufacturer)|Slam]] |
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* [[Code (drum manufacturer)|Code]] |
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* [[Earthtone]] |
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* [[Brixton (drum manufacturer)|Brixton]] |
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* [[Honsuy]] |
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* [[RMV Drum heads|RMV]] |
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* [[Stern Tanning]] |
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* [[TJS Custom Drums]] |
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* [[WS Drumheads]] |
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* [https://www.swissdrums.ch Imperial Drums] |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Vibrations of a drum head]] for an illustrated mathematical treatment |
* [[Vibrations of a drum head]] for an illustrated mathematical treatment |
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*[[List of drum manufacturers]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [https://remo.com/experience/post/know-how-is-the-difference-in-drumheads/ Know-How Is The Difference In Drumheads] Know-How Is The Difference In Drumheads - Anatomy of a Drumhead |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030250/http://www.accessoryfetish.com/gear-links/drum-accessories/drum-heads/ Accessory Fetish] A Complete List of Drum Head Manufacturers |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030250/http://www.accessoryfetish.com/gear-links/drum-accessories/drum-heads/ Accessory Fetish] A Complete List of Drum Head Manufacturers |
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* [http://www.thenewdrummer.com/resonant-head-explained/ Resonant Drum Head Explained] |
* [http://www.thenewdrummer.com/resonant-head-explained/ Resonant Drum Head Explained] |
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[[Category:Drumming]] |
[[Category:Drumming]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Musical instrument parts and accessories]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:38, 17 March 2024
A drumhead or drum skin is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands, so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.
Additionally outside of percussion instruments, drumheads are also used on some string instruments, most notably the banjo.
History
[edit]Originally, drumheads were made from animal hide and were first used in early human history, long before records began.[1] The term drumhead is first attested in English in 1580, in the writings of the soldier Thomas Churchyard, who mentioned how "Dice plaie began ... on the toppe of Drommes heddes".[2]
In 1956, Chick Evans invented the plastic drumhead. Plastic drumheads made from polyester are cheaper, more durable, and less sensitive to weather than animal skin. In 1957, Remo Belli and Sam Muchnick together developed a polymer head (also known as Mylar) leading to the development of the Remo drumhead company.[1]
Despite the benefits of plastic heads, drummers in historical reenactment groups such as fife and drum use animal skin heads for historical accuracy. Rawhide heads are also popular with musicians performing in the jazz, orchestral and early music genres due to their preference for period correct sounds and instruments. Real hide heads are used on most hand drums, including djembes, frame drums, bongos, and congas, and also some Banjos. In recent years, companies have begun manufacturing synthetic counterparts (most notably Fiberskin) for certain hand drums such as congas, and also banjos. There has also been a resurgence in the use of genuine rawhide heads by drum kit players, with companies such as AF cueros orquestales from Argentina, AK Drums, Buchler Trommelbau and Kentville Drums or the Austrian Drumhead Company offering goat, calf and kangaroo hide drumheads respectively.
Another common material used for drumheads is aramid fiber, such as kevlar. Kevlar heads are also used in marching percussion.[3]
Mesh heads
[edit]Mesh heads - drum heads that are usually constructed from a weave of synthetic material - were traditionally used on electronic drums, as they provide a very similar playing feel to traditional heads.[4] Over time, however, manufacturers began to produce mesh heads that are attachable to acoustic drums, in order to create a playing experience that has a very similar feel and sound to playing a traditional drumkit, but at a drastically reduced volume, making them suitable for either practicing in a place where noise is a concern, or even recording using drum triggers.[4]
Tuning
[edit]
A drum "hoop" or "rim" may be made of metal, wood, or other material and is used to hold a drumhead against a drum shell, either with bolts through metal "claws" attached directly to a hoop, or bolts through holes in a flanged rim. The bolts, called "tension rods", are screwed into threaded "lugs" attached to the drum shell, in order to tighten and tune the drumhead.[5] A "drum key" is a four sided wrench used to screw the tension rods into the lugs.[6]
Muffling
[edit]Drummers occasionally muffle their drums using special drumheads. Some drumheads come pre-muffled. Most muffling is done by external muffles.
See also
[edit]- Vibrations of a drum head for an illustrated mathematical treatment
- List of drum manufacturers
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Remo - About Remo - History". Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
- ^ "drumhead, n.", Oxford English Dictionary Online, 3rd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2015) (accessed 21 August 2020).
- ^ "The Complete History of Drumming". Retrieved 10 November 2014.
- ^ a b Stuart Williams (February 17, 2022). "Mesh drum heads vs rubber pads: which are better for electronic drummers?". MusicRadar.
- ^ International House of Blues Foundation. "Making a Drum" Archived February 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine 2003
- ^ "Drum key".
External links
[edit]- Know-How Is The Difference In Drumheads Know-How Is The Difference In Drumheads - Anatomy of a Drumhead
- Accessory Fetish A Complete List of Drum Head Manufacturers
- Resonant Drum Head Explained