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Types of Musical Drums

By Jacob Workman, eHow Contributor 

1. The drum is one of the most basic and ancient musical instruments, dating back as far as

6000 B.C. Every culture in the world utilizes musical drums whether it's the tribal Indians inSouth America, aborigines in Australia or the garage band in the United States. It is central inmany songs as the rhythmic anchor, and normally the first instrument that many musicproducer/songwriters arrange in making modern songs. Though they are simple in their construction, there are myriad different drums creating a variety of timbres and tones.

Snare Drum

2. The snare drum finds its earliest incarnation in the early 15th century. Known as themedieval tabor, it was used on battlefields as a distraction and psychological tool against theenemy. Used in rock, country, pop, blues and jazz music, the heads are made of fiberglass or

plastic. Across the bottom, a cluster of adjustable stainless steel snares are fastened whichmake the very sharp and bright sound its known for.

Bass Drum

3. Invented between 1795 and 1805, the bassdrum is the backbone of modern music. Coming insizes of 16 to 28 inches in diameter, it is the lowesttuned drum out of all and used in marching bandsas well as symphonies.

Tympani/Kettle Drum

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4. Brought to Europe in the 15th century, the tympani is almost exclusively used in classicalmusic. Also known as the kettle drum, they are made of copper and its diameter can beanywhere from 20 to 32 inches in diameter.

Bongos

5. Bongos can be tracedback to the Cuban musicstyles Changui and Sonwhich orginated in the Orientarea of Cuba in the late 19thcentury. Believed to haveevolved from the Abukuadrum trio 'bonko,' which isstill used in the Abukuareligion in Cuba, they comein pairs,one slightly bigger than the other, usually heldbetween the legs. The larger drum is called a hembrawhile the smaller is the macho (Spanish for female and male).

Djembe

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6. The djembe is an West African drum believed to have come from the Malinke, a culture ofpeople that now occupy Liberia, the Ivory Coast and parts of Guinea. It goes back to 9thcentury during the reign of the Mali empire. Shaped like a Y, its top is stretched over with driegoat skin. It is a popular drum outside of Africa.

Darabukka/Dumbek 

7. Originating in the Middle East andnorth Africa, the dumbek is similar tothe djembe in shape. However, the

head is designed like a snare. Itsusually played under the arm and issecond in world music popularity to thedjembe.

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