Drumhead
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
Originally, drumheads were made from
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,
Despite the benefits of plastic heads, drummers in
Another common material used for drumheads is aramid fiber, such as kevlar. Kevlar heads are also used in marching percussion.[3]
Mesh heads
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
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
Drummers occasionally muffle their drums using special drumheads. Some drumheads come pre-muffled. Most muffling is done by external muffles.
See also
- Vibrations of a drum headfor an illustrated mathematical treatment
- List of drum manufacturers
References
- ^ 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
- 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