Drums

Drums are percussion instruments that produce sound when a membrane vibrates after being struck. They are typically hollow shells with a membrane stretched across one or two ends. The vibration is caused by sticks, mallets, or hands. Drums range from single-headed to double-headed, with each head possibly tuned to different pitches. The most common type in modern music is the drum set, which combines a bass drum, snare, tom-toms, and cymbals controlled by a drummer.

Drums come in many sizes and materials. Shells can be wood, metal, or composite, and heads are usually made of synthetic plastics, although animal skins appear in traditional contexts. Tension and muffling adjust pitch and sustain. Snare drums have a set of wires (snares) on the bottom head that produce crisp, rattling sounds. Timpani are tuned orchestral drums with adjustable pitch. Drums are played with sticks, brushes, or hands, and technique influences tone and dynamics.

Drums are among the oldest musical instruments, found worldwide in ceremonial, military, and communication roles. In many cultures, drums accompany dances, rituals, or storytelling. In Western music, the drum set emerged in the early 20th century, enabling a single musician to provide rhythm and sometimes melody. In contemporary music, drums appear across genres from rock and pop to jazz, world music, and electronic contexts.