The Bass Drums

A Brief History

For centuries, the marching drum was a shallow-depth, large-diameter drum. With the large diameter drums producing the lowest possible pitch, and the shallow drums being lighter and more comfortable to play. Although many ensembles had only one bass drum, larger drumlines often used up to four drums, all tuned to the same pitch, for increased volume. By the 1980's, the bass drum was no longer just the lowest voice and rhythmic foundation but it began to replace the multiple voicing of marching tympani to contribute melodically to the drumline. 4 to 5 drums of sequential diameter (16-32 inches) and larger shells (14 inches) were tuned to different pitches, and the drumheads muffled to increase articulation. These new drums allow melodic phrases to be created by the bass drum section, and have led to the development of much more interesting and challenging repertoire. 

What does a pro sound like?

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Parts of the Bass Drum