12 Facts About Snare drum

Snare drum is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin.

The snare drum is a versatile and expressive percussion instrument due to its sensitivity and responsiveness.

The sensitivity of the snare drum allows it to respond audibly to the softest strokes, even with a wire brush.

The snare drum is easily recognizable by its loud cracking sound when struck firmly with a drumstick or mallet.

Snare drum is constructed of two heads—both usually made of Mylar plastic in modern drums but historically made from calf or goat skin—along with a rattle of metal, plastic, nylon, or gut wires on the bottom head called the snares.

Drum can be played by striking it with a drum stick or any other form of beater, including brushes, rute and hands, all of which produce a softer-sounding vibration from the snare wires.

The iconic Snare drum roll is produced by alternately bouncing the sticks on the Snare drum head, striving for a controlled rebound.

The snare drum is the first instrument to learn in preparing to play a full drum kit.

Snare drum seems to have descended from a medieval drum called the tabor, which was a drum with a single-gut snare strung across the bottom.

The Snare drum was made deeper and carried along the side of the body.

Today the snare drum is used in jazz, pop music and modern orchestral music.

Drum rudiments seem to have developed with the snare drum; the Swiss fife and drum groups are sometimes credited with their invention.