What makes a Good Snare Drum Choice?

Snare drums are the trumpet of the percussion section. Everybody hears them, everybody notices them, and just about everybody will think of one if you say the word “drum” to them. Whether it’s your favorite rock band pounding out the rhythm to their souls onstage, or the high school marching bad performing a snappy cadence as they march into the stadium before the game, snare drums set the pace for the piece. So, what makes a good choice when it comes time to select your snare drum?

The basics: A snare drum is an un-tuned drum with two heads: a heavy one on top to withstand the strokes of the stick, mallet or brush used to produce the sound, and a thinner bottom one with metal or gut “snares” (tightly coiled bands) that lightly touch the thin bottom head and vibrate, making a sharp, loud and unmistakable sound.

To choose the right snare drum, you have to know what you want to use the drum for. If you want to use a snare drum for the high school band, you are going to want a snare designed especially for marching. These drums are deeper and heavier than a snare designed for stage or indoor use, to give that large sound needed to carry through the field. These drums will have specially designed snares on the bottom, made of Kevlar-infused gut or metal. Sometimes there is a plastic scoop under the drum, designed to direct the sound towards the audience.

For indoor use, snare drums are a little different. They are smaller, first of all, designed to be held by a stand as the featured part of a drum kit. To determine what constitutes your perfect snare drum, you need to know what kind of sound you want. Do you want a rich, dark mellow sound? Mahogany body construction is going to be your first choice, followed by maple, beech and birch. Oak will give you a nice mid-range all-purpose sort of sound, as will aluminum. For brighter, sharper sounds, brass is your top choice, followed by bronze, steel and copper. It would be fantastic if, in choosing snare drums, a prospective buyer had access to all types of body construction materials. Drum manufacturers like Gretsch use a wide variety of these materials and may give you your best options in selecting which sound you prefer.

There are many other factors to consider when determining your choice of snare drums, including size, porting (holes in the body that allow vibrations to escape) quality and number of lugs, head type and material, construction of the snare wires, and other factors.

When searching for snare drums, your best bet is to go with a reliable dealer who carries reputable, known lines of manufacture. You are certain to find snare drums that will meet your every musical need.

Why Learn the Cajon?

The cajon is a boxlike drum that originated in Peru and has since been very popular in Cuba. This deceptively simple instrument, which could easily be mistaken for a stool or crate, has a surprisingly complex sound. With a cajon, a beginner can start slapping out rhythms in no time, but a skilled musician can play complex beats and tones that could enthrall a concert hall full of music lovers.

The first advantage of the cajon as your instrument is that it is easy to transport. Kopf cajons come in different heights for different sized people and in either straight sided models which are played by sitting on the top slapping the side or slant sided tumba cajon models which are played while holding the drum between the knees and slapping the top conga style. Both types of cajon are lightweight and easy to carry. Carrying bags makes it even easier to tote your cajon along and provide some protection for your instrument. Some drums are heavy and cumbersome to move around, but you will find your cajon coming with you just about everywhere.

A second reason to learn the cajon is the instrument’s versatility. Many cajons have removable snares making the change from playing with a snare sound to playing a more traditional sound very easy. Kopf cajons offer several models with double playing sides, one with snares and one without. The snares are often adjustable so that the tone can be changed. The cajon sounds great by itself, with other drums, or mixed in with other instruments in an impromptu jam session. If you learn the cajon, you are unlikely to find yourself sitting on the sidelines listening to everyone else play. You’ll always be able to get in on the action, even when you are just starting to learn.

Another reason to learn the cajon is its unusual nature. Cajons are still rather uncommon at drum circles. If you are looking for a drum that is sure to be a head turner, the cajon is the way to go. Everyone will be wondering what kind of sound that crate makes, and what it is called. If you choose a cajon with a padded seat, your comfort will be assured too. While others scramble to find a spot to sit, you can plop down on your cajon top and be ready to play. It is fun to share a unique instrument with other drum enthusiasts, opening up opportunities for you to explore other drums as well. Your cajon will get people talking and ensure plenty of social interaction even if you are the new guy at the gathering.

Whether you are looking for your first drum or just a new, unique instrument to add to your repertoire, learning to play the cajon will add versatility, originality, and of course, lots of music to your life.