A  B  C  D  E  F G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

A

Accelerando – A gradual increase in the tempo of the music.  The opposite is an Retardando.

Accent – Emphasis placed on a particular note that gives it more stress than the others.

Acoustic drums – Drums made of a shell of wood, acrylic, or other synthetic material covered by a skin or membrane that when struck produces sound via vibration.  Also known as membranophones, these drums lack any electronic components.

Aerophones – One of the four main classes of musical instruments.  Aerophones produce sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate.  They are also known as wind instruments and include the trumpet and the flute.  

Afoxé  – An Afro Brazilian musical instrument composed of a gourd wrapped in a net in which beads are threaded.  The instrument is shaken to produce a unique sound.

Agogo  – An instrument that is made from two cone-shaped metal bells of slightly different sizes that are connected by a wire with one positioned on top of the other.  They can be played by striking with a stick, one and/or the other, or by slapping one bell against the other. 

Alfaia  – A wooden cylindrical drum with wood hoops and animal skin heads that are tensioned by ropes laced through holes in the hoops.  It is played with drum sticks, commonly with one slightly larger than the other held in the dominant hand.  

Anvil  – A Blacksmith’s metalworking tool consisting of a large heavy block of steel with a flat top and a cone-shaped protrusion.  It makes a distinctive sound when struck with a metal hammer and can be used as a percussion instrument to add accent in a song. 

Ashiko  – A West African wooden drum made in a cone shape with a calf or goat skin head over the wide end that is tensioned by rope.  It is played with the hands. 

 

B

Backbeat – A consistent rhythm that stresses beats 2 and 4 in common time. In other “common” time signatures, the backbeat will land elsewhere. For example, the backbeat lands on 4 and 10 in 12/8 time.

Band – An instrumental ensemble that combines instruments from different families, including string instruments (violin, viola, cello, etc.), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, etc.), brass (horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, etc.), and percussion (timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, etc.).  Bands are predominately composed of woodwinds, brass, and percussion, but few if any string instruments.  Rock bands, Country bands, and Jazz bands are made up of musicians playing guitars (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and/or bass guitar), piano (or synthesized keyboard), and a drum set.  

Ball joint – A ball joint, or ball and socket joint, is a mechanism that allows a tom arm or cymbal arm to rotate in practically 360 degrees. It is popular on many drum sets and drum hardware accessories. 

Bass drum – The largest, lowest pitched drum in a marching band or with a drum set. As it refers to a drum set, it is also called a kick drum because it is ‘kicked’ with your foot via a foot pedal. A marching bass drum is usually mounted and worn to be played while marching and struck from either side with the hands using a large felt mallet beater.   

Bass drum pedal – The devise used to play a drum set bass drum with a foot.

Bass drum claws – A piece of hardware that fits over the edge of the Hoop to hold it against the head.  A tension rod passes through a hole in the claw and connects to the lug.   

Bass drum spurs – A type of bass drum support that is mounted on the bass drum, one (sometimes two) on each side. They are curved and designed to be retracted into the bass drum through a hole for preference in support.  They can then be retracted almost completely for transport and storage.  Many have a pointed tip that digs into the material the drum is set upon to prevent the drum from moving (creeping) when played.  Often a rubber boot is placed over the end of the spur to prevent bass drum creep without damaging the surface of the material the drum is set upon.   

Bata drums – An hourglass shaped drum, with a top and bottom head, larger on one end.  They are played in the lap or with a strap around the neck, with one head played with the right hand and the other head with the left, each producing a different tone.

Bearing edge – The edge of the drum that the head sits on. Bearing edges are often sharpened to a smaller angle for greater attack, projection and evenness of tone.  The normal bearing edge is cut at a 45 degree angle on the inside of the edge.  

Beat boxing – A percussion technique using the voice and hands to mimic drum sounds, primarily bass drum and snare drum.

Beat displacement – A term that refers to moving forward all beats by an eight note.

Beater – A type of drumstick with a padded end that is used to strike a bass drum.  The striker of a bass drum pedal is a beater.

Bedug – A very large drum made from a hollow log with cow hide heads stretched over both ends that are held in place with pegs.  It is played with large padded mallets.

Bell plate – A thick piece of sheet metal that is played by striking – usually with a metal rod – while suspended.  They can be played in sets of different sizes.

Bell tree – A series of 14 to 28 metal bowls that are made in different sizes with a hole in the center of the bottom.  The bowls are nested inside of each other with a string passing through the holes, suspended on a stand.  It is played by raking a metal rod or mallet down the edges of the bowls.  The effect is similar to playing Chimes.  

Bells – An instrument that consists of tuned metal bars mounted on a rectangular frame such as the glockenspiel, xylophone or marimba.

Bendir – A drum made of a large wooden hoop with a calf skin or goat skin head.  Several strings made of gut are stretched across the hoop just under the head, that vibrate along with the head when struck with the hand, producing a buzzing sound. 

Bianzhong – An ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells that are played melodically using a wooden hammer or metal rod. 

Blast beats – A repeated sixteenth note figure played at a very fast tempo, and divided uniformly among the bass drum, snare, and ride, crash, or hi-hat cymbal.  

Bombo legüero – An Argentine drum traditionally made from a large section of hollow log with cured skins of animals such as goats or sheep stretched over the ends.  They use wooden hoops with rope tensioners.  The fir is left on the hides used for the heads, which makes for a deep, dark sound when struck with a mallet or stick

Bongo – An Afro-Cuban single headed drum played with the hands.  Usually played as a pair in two different sizes.  The player is called a Bongocero.

Bones (or rhythm bones) – A pair of flat wooden sticks (or rib bones), typically about five to seven inches in length, that are held in the hand with a finger in between.  They are manipulated in a way that the ends of the pieces slap together.  

Boom (or boom stand) – An arm that extends from the cymbal stand to allow greater positioning around the drum set. 

Boomwhackers – Lightweight, hollow, color-coded, plastic tubes, tuned to musical pitch by length.  They make sounds when struck against another object.

Bow tie lug(s) – A style of Ludwig drum lug that resembles a men’s formal ware bow tie.  They are made in a small size and a large size.  Many model Ludwig snare drums were made with small bow tie lugs, like the Vistalite snares, and some came with the large bow ties, like the Coliseum snare.

Bougarabou drum – A drum native to West Africa that is made of wood in the shape of a goblet, with a cow skin head on the top only that is rope tensioned.  They are played with the hands and normally in sets of three or four, each a different size.

Brekete –  A cylinder shaped drum originating from Ghana. The brekete drum is tuned by rope like a djembe. It creates a bass sound and can be played with the hand or a stick.

Brushes – A type of drumstick that has wire bristles that fan out.  They are used to produce “snaps” and “sweeps” to create a unique art form known as “brush technique”.

Buzz roll – A rudiment played by executing multiple bounces in each hand and then speeding up. Other names for this roll are the “crush roll”, the “press roll” and the “multiple bounce stroke”.

 

C

Cabasa – A Latin percussion instrument consisting of a round cylinder on a handle. There are metal beads (actually a chain) that surround a corrugated metal cylinder. It is held with one hand and rubbed with the other to create various rhythms.

Cascara – A Latin percussion pattern often played with the right hand on the side of a timbale. This rhythm can also be played on drum set.

Cajón – A hollow wooden or acrylic box that that is played by slapping the hands on the side of the box, normally while seated upon it.  

Castanets – A pair of concaved sea shells (or pieces of wood carved into the same shape) that are fastened together with string.  They are normally played with a pair held in the hand, with the string looped around the thumb with the castanets held loosely in the palm.  The fingers are used to clasp the two shells together rapidly.

Calung – A number of bamboo sections cut in varying lengths arranged in a series suspended on a frame with ropes.  They are normally played by striking with sticks or mallets.

Celesta – An instrument that is designed like a Piano with keys that actuate strikers.  Instead of hitting varied lengths of wire, the celesta has tuned metal bars. 

Chimes – A row of small tubular bells that are brushed with the hand or a drumstick so that they ring against each other.  

Chime bar – A metal bar mounted to a wooden block.  The bar resonates when struck with a stick or mallet.  They are made in different lengths and thickness to produce a variety of tones.    

China cymbal – A cymbal that has a bell that is cylindrical or shaped like a truncated cone (with its base the top of the bell), an outer rim that is turned up in the reverse direction to the main bow of the cymbal, and very little taper in thickness from bell to rim.  They are typically mounted with the bell inverted so that the up-turned edge is a down-turned edge, affording some sounds options.

Chordophones – One of the four main classes of musical instruments.  Chordophones produce sound primarily by causing a stretched piece of string or wire to vibrate.  Also known as stringed instruments, the chords can be struck (as with a Piano), plucked with the fingers or a pick (as with a Guitar), or scraped with a bow (as with a Violin).  

Cimbalom– A wooden box with metal strings stretched across the top in varying lengths.  It is played by striking the strings with mallets.

Clappers – A pair of long flat pieces of wood that are struck together.

Clash cymbals – A pair of large cymbals that have leather straps affixed to the center holes.  With one cymbal held in each hand they are played by crashing the two together.  Alternately, the player can hold the cymbals clasped together for a snare drummer to play like one would a drum set Hi-hat.  Clash cymbals are common in Orchestras and marching bands.

Claves – A pair of cylindrical wooden sticks (usually around an inch and half thick) that are clicked together to make a high-pitched sound marking clave in Latin music.

Clavicord – A instrument that is similar to a Piano with tuned strung wires that are struck through key actuation.  They have fewer keys than a piano, an lack a dampener system.  They also have less sound projection, making them popular for use in homes and small concert settings.  The Clavinet is an electric version of a clavicord. 

Club Date drum set – A Ludwig drum set that is made with Bow tie lugs.  Large bow tie lugs were used on the bass drum and floor tom, and small bow tie lugs were used on the rack toms and snare.  These sets came with relatively few drums (usually a bass, a rack tom, a floor tom, and a snare) in relatively small sizes. 

Cocktail drum set – A type of drum set that is designed for play in a very small space, with efficient portability and setup.  The set is centered around a floor tom that has a bass drum style foot pedal positioned under it.  The pedal is designed to strike the bottom head of the tom when actuated, producing a bass drum sound, while the top head of the drum is played with sticks or mallets.  A small snare and and a small rack tom are mounted to the floor tom/bass drum, as well as a pair of small cymbals clasped together in the fashion of a hi-hat.  A small crash / splash cymbal is typical, mounted to the floor tom as well, along with a Cowbell and/or Wood block.  The entire drum kit can be moved as a single unit.  

Coliseum snare – A model of Ludwig snare that is made with a 14″ x 8″ shell with twelve large Bow tie lugs.

Common time – 4/4 time, indicating 4 beats to the measure with the quarter note receiving the beat.

Conga(s) – A tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba that is played with the hands.  The shells are mostly made from Staved wood, but they are also made from fiberglass. Congas are typically played in sets of two to four of different sizes.  The highest pitched conga in the set is called the Quinto, while the lowest pitched is the Tumba, and the Tres dos. The player is called a Conguero.

Concert tom – A tom drum that has one head, no tone control, and a clip-on mounting piece.  The concept is to have a tom that can be set up quickly and easily.  What they lack in tuning options, they make up for in sound projection.  The alternative is a Studio tom. 

Condominium set – A drum set that is made with normal size drums that are very shallow in depth.  The 22″x4″ bass drum is mounted off a cymbal stand along with a 12″x3″  Concert tom, forming one assembly, while the 13″x3″ snare drum is mounted off the hi-hat stand as another assembly.  The 16″x4″ floor tom stands alone.  The pitch of the drums is close to the same as regular size drums but with less volume, and the whole set takes up less space.  

Cowbell – A bell that is hung around the neck of a cow in order to keep track of the animal from the clanking sound of the bell.  They are made from metal or acrylic and are played by striking with a mallet or drumstick.  They are available in many different sizes for a variety of tones.

Crash cymbal – A cymbal that is typically smaller and thinner than a Ride cymbal that is used for accent, commonly at the end of a Drum fill.  Crash cymbal sizes range from 14″ to 22″ diameter with varying thickness for a multitude of sound choices.  

Crescendo – A steady, progressive increase in the volume of play to add emphasis to a portion of a song.  Also known as “winding up”.  

Crotales – An instrument made of a number of tuned brass or bronze disks that are thick and flat.  Each disk is suspended on a stem through a center hole (just like a cymbal).  The disks are arranged in line in two rows and are played with sticks or hard mallets for a sound similar to bells but with more sustain.  Neil Peart of the band Rush used a set of crotales for a number of years, featuring them in the intro to the song YYZ.

Crystallophone – An instrument made of a number of tuned glass or crystal bowels.  The player makes sounds by rubbing a wet finger around the rim of the bowls.  

Cymbal – A copper/bronze (or variation of metal alloy) concaved disk that is struck with a drumstick to create a highly sustained vibration sound. They can be crashed (Crash cymbal) or ridden during a beat (Ride cymbal). Two cymbals can also be played together such as in a marching band or hi-hat cymbals. They are made in a wide array of sizes and thickness, sometimes with holes or rivets for a variety of effects.  A small crash cymbal is called a Splash cymbal.  Cymbals are measured in inches diameter – from one edge, straight across the center hole, to the other edge.

Cymbal chain – A small section of metal chain attached to the cymbal stand that lays on top of the cymbal.  When the cymbal is struck, the chain vibrates against the cymbal making a sizzle sound.  Some cymbals are made with metal rivets in holes drilled through the cymbal that make a sound very much like a cymbal chain.  The downside is that the rivets are permanent, while the chain can easily be removed.  

Cymbal bell – The raised center of the cymbal, usually about 4″ or so in diameter. This part of the cymbal creates a sharper, more defined cutting sound. Drummers often use it to play accentuated passages.

Cymbal stacker – A piece of drum hardware that allows a cymbal to be stacked on top of another cymbal.

Cymbal stand – Typically chromed metal structures used to suspend a cymbal conveniently for a player of a drum set.

 

D

Decrescendo – A steady, progressive decrease in the volume of play to add emphasis to a portion of a song.  Also known as “winding down”.  

Den-den daiko – A Japanese instrument made from a small wooden double headed drum with a round wooden peg handle attached to the bottom of the drum shell.  A bead or pellet is hung from a string, one one each side of the drum.  The den-den daiko is played by holding the handle between the palms of the hands and moving the back and forth.  The drum turns and the beads hit the heads creating a high pitched sound in a quick rhythmic pattern that is much like a single stroke roll.  The instrument was played in the Led Zeppelin song Ramble On.

Dholak – A Mango wood drum with two heads that are rope tensioned.  One head is smaller than the other and made from goat skin, while the larger head is made from buffalo skin that has a compound applied to lower the pitch.  The small head has a much higher pitch and is played with one hand while the large head is struck with a stick.  The drum produces a combination of treble and bass with rhythmic high and low pitches.

Die cast – This refers to a manufacturing process for creating metal objects such as drum rims and lugs.  Molten metal is poured into a mold (or die) to form the desired part.  It is considered superior to metal crimping.  

Djembe drum – A goblet-shaped, single headed wooden drum of African origin that is most often rope-tensioned.  It is typically played with the hands while positioned between the knees.

Djun djun – A bass drum originating from West Africa that is rope tensioned and played with a stick.

Double bass – The use of two bass drums with a drum set – one played with the left foot and the other played with the right.  Alternately, on can use a twin pedal (or Double bass pedal) where both strikers hit one bass drum.  

Double braced hardware – Drum hardware like snare stands, cymbal stands, and tom stands that have legs with two metal supports rather than just one.

Doumbek – A middle eastern drum that is goblet-shaped and made of ceramic or metal with a single head.

Double-stroke roll – A drum rudiment that is played with two individual strokes in each hand.  The player strikes twice with one stick then twice with the other.

Downbeat – The “main” pulse as it relates to the rest of the measure. If you have 8 eighth notes in a bar of 4/4 time, beats 1, 2, 3 and 4 would be considered the downbeat. The “and” of 1, “and” of 2, “and” of 3, and “and” of 4 would be the Upbeat.

Drum basket – The three metal arms, normally tipped with a protective rubber coating, that hold a snare drum or tom drum in place on a stand.

Drum brain – (or drum module) The central electronic guts or “brain” of a standard electronic drum set. This brain houses the sound sources and controls drum sensitivity, tempo, drum beats, drum patterns, and songs.

Drum finish – The exterior surface of the drum shell.  There are many choices for drum finishes.  They can be left raw to feature the natural exterior of the wood of the shell, but they are more commonly coated with a clear sealant or paint for protection.  The wood can be tinted or stained before being clear coated.  Commonly wood drums are wrapped in a vinyl material in solid colors or with colored glitter, or the look of cracked glass, satin material, animal skins, bowling balls, or just about anything else imaginable.  They can also be wrapped in sheets of chrome metal.  Drums made from metal can be shined or left natural; cleared for protection or left natural to oxidize, acquiring a desirable patina.  Acrylic drums are made in colors and patterns, the end result of which is referred to as their finish.  

Drum fill – An intentional break from a drum groove that provides a transition into a new measure or section.  A drum fill can be as simple as a couple of tom tom hits or a blistering, machine gun-like burst of notes. Drum fills can range from 1 beat to 8 measures (or more) in length.  They are a good opportunity for the player to demonstrate their ability on the instrument.

Drum grip – The technique used for holding the drum sticks or mallets.  The Traditional grip is a one type that originated from playing a drum while marching.  The rudimentary means used to strap the drum in front of the body meant that the drum would list to one side.  Playing the drum this way was easier with the stick held in one hand similar to using a fork to eat.  In the other hand the stick is held like a music conductor using a wand.  With the Matched grip, the sticks are held like a wand in each hand.  This method works well when the drum is positioned relatively evenly in front of the player.  

Drum groove– A repetitive drum pattern that changes very little throughout a section of music. It is done in order to maintain a steady tempo (keeping time).   

Drum head – The covering or membrane that stretches over the drum to produce it’s sound when struck. Originally drums were made using animal skin for he head and they are still used for many types of drums today.  Drum heads are commonly referred to as “skins”.   In modern times drum heads are mostly made using synthetic plastics.  The invention of clear acrylic drums was coupled with the invention and use of clear drum heads.  A signature drum head of the Ludwig Vistalites is a clear head with a silver dot in the middle.  This dot adds strength to the head and offers the player a target in the center of the head.

Drum key – A small “T” shaped wrench, typically made of metal, that is used to tighten or loosen the rods that tension the drum head.

Drum line – The section of a band that is comprised of the drums and other percussion instruments such as cymbals, chimes, tambourine, shakers, etc.

Drum roll – A two handed drum technique where each stick is bounced off the head multiple times before switching to the other stick to produce a continuous sound.  A drum roll is most commonly played on the snare drum or a ride cymbal.  

Drum rudiment – A short musical phrase for percussion instruments that trains the musician in fundamental physical and rhythmic techniques.  There are forty drum rudiments and they are the basis for learning to play the instruments in a drum set.

Drum set – A number of percussion instruments arrayed around a single person with the intent of being played using all four limbs while seated. The size of a drum set is denoted by the number of drums in use.  In building a drum set, the most basic part is the Bass drum and Snare drum.  The use of a Hi-hat cymbal is nearly universal, and at least a Crash cymbal.  Next one would include a Floor tom, and a Ride cymbal.  Add a Rack tom or two and the set would by the most common in use.  The number of additional instruments that can be incorporated into a drum set are nearly limitless.  Popular manufacturers of drum sets over the years have been Ludwig, Slingerland, Pearl, Premier, DW (Drum Workshop), Tama, Mapex, Yamaha, Gretsch and Sonor.

Drum shell – The structural part of a drum that the head is stretched over, bound to, and then struck in order to produce a sound.  The material used in making the shell and its shape largely determine the sound the drum will make. 

Drum shield – A structure made from sheets of clear plexiglass that is placed around the front of a drum set (or percussion section) to reduce the sound projection.    A Drum cage (or enclosure) is a plexiglass shield that fully surrounds the drum set including a roof.  They are designed to allow very little sound projection.  Drum mics are required when the drum set is fully enclosed.

Drum solo – A rhythmic break in the song where only the drummer plays.  It can be as short as a Drum fill, or it can be many minutes long.  The drummer really has an opportunity to demonstrate their talent and the diversity of sounds that they can produce from their drum set.  

Drum sticks – An identical pair of devices used for striking percussion instruments that are not tipped in padding, which would make them Mallets.  About one foot long, slender pieces, each consisting of a Butt (the part gripped by the player), the Shaft (the majority of the length), the Shoulder (the tapered portion near the end), and the Tip (the part that makes contact with the instrument).  Originally, drum sticks were made from wood, and that is the most common material used today.  However, they are also made from aluminum, graphite, fiber glass, and acrylic.  Drum sticks are made optionally with a nylon material covering the tip.  The material used on the tip makes a big difference in the sound made when striking the instrument, especially the cymbals.  Drum sticks come sized in three categories.  Class A denotes Orchestra and they are the lightest.  Class B denotes Band and weigh in a bit heavier.  Class S denotes Street and are the heaviest.  An accompanying number relates to the circumference of the stick, with the most common being two, five, and seven.  The larger the number, the thicker the stick.  The size 7A stick is very popular for use on a drum set.

Drum machine – An electronic device that contains recorded percussion instrument and other sounds.  They are designed to be programmed to play rhythm patterns and to aid musicians in keeping time, to practice, and in music production.

Drum tech – A person who sets up and maintains a drum set (or set up) for the drummer.  The drum tech is usually very knowledgeable about drums and can tune and tweak them to their maximum sound potential.  They do all of the work to prepare a drum set for the drummer prior to a concert, and make needed adjustments or repairs throughout the show.

Drum throne – A short stool used by the player of a drum set.  They are typically made of a circular pad mounted on a chrome metal frame.  Normally, the pad swivels and is removable, the height is adjustable, and the legs fold conveniently for storage.  They are also made from a tube that is made of the same material and finish as the drums in the set.  These add greatly to the look of the drum set, but they lack any swivel ability or height adjustment.  They do provide for a neat place to store drum sticks and mallets.  

Drum dynamics – The art of playing soft at times and loud at others in keeping with the flow of the song.

Drummer – The player of a drum set – typically the sexiest member of any band.

Dunun – A West African rope tuned cylindrical wooden drum with cow or goat hide heads on each end.  It is traditionally played with one hand using a stick while playing a bell (called a Kenken) that is typically mounted to the drum.

 

E

Egg shaker – A simple instrument made of hollowed plastic or wood in the shape and size of a chicken egg.  The cavity is partially filled with beads, seeds, or similar objects that make noise when the egg is shaken.  

Electronic drums – An instrument that consists of a sound module (Drum brain) that is programed with synthesized or sampled percussion sounds and a set of pads that are equipped with electronic sensors (or triggers) that send a signal to the sound module via wires.  The drum pads are typically made of rubber in the shapes and sizes to resemble an acoustic drum set.  Some upgrade model electronic drums have a drum shell with a mesh head that provides for a more acoustic drum look and feel to the player. The sound made when striking a pad is generated by the electronic module, amplified, and then projected through speakers.  Common electronic drums companies are Pintech, Roland, and Hart Dynamics.

Electrophones – One of the four main classes of musical instruments.  With electrophones, sound is generated electronically, as with a Synthesizer or an Electronic drums.  Some instruments make sound conventionally but are then electronically amplified, as is with an Electric guitar

Effects cymbals – Cymbals with different designs and shapes to create unique sounds different from regular cymbals.  

Ewe drums – A small hand drum that originates from West Africa played by striking with the other hand or with a stick.

 

F

Ferrinho – A Scraped Idiophone that is made from a metal bar about three feet long that is held with one end in the palm of a hand and the other end resting on the shoulder.  It is played by scraping a metal rod or bar along the surface in rhythm.  

Finesse – Playing music with extreme delicacy, skill, and artful management; in perfect time, at the correct tempo, while including excellent fills where appropriate, with creative grooves, and with well chosen usage of the instruments in the drum set.  When a drummer does all of these things in a way that is very complementary to the other musicians in the band and to the song performed, they are said to have finesse.  

Finger cymbals – A pair of tiny cymbals mounted on the hand and played by striking together. Common in belly dancing and mid-Eastern music.

Flam – A drum rudiment played by striking softly with one stick right before striking hard with the other hand on the primary beat.  The name is derived by the sound that is made – Flam!  A Flam tap is another one of the forty drum rudiments that is a flam followed by another light stroke, or tap.

Flexatone – An instrument made from a small metal sheet suspended in a stiff wire frame shaped to form a handle.  A wooden ball is suspended on a flexible piece of wire, one attached to each side of the sheet.  It is played by holding the handle and moving it back and forth so that the strikers hit the sheet.  Pressure can be applied by the free hand to the end of the metal sheet to change the pitch of the sound made.  

Floor tom – A tom that uses three legs mounted on the drum to set it on the floor.  Floor toms are normally larger and deeper than the largest Rack tom.

Foot pedal  – The accessory that is depressed by the player’s foot, such as with a bass drum pedal or hi-hat cymbals.

Four-four time (or 4/4 time) – A time signature indicating 4 beats to the measure where the quarter note receives the beat.

Frame drum – A drum made from a wooden hoop with a skin head stretched over on end.  There are numerous variations on this simple theme.  Some frame drums are string tensioned with the strings woven into a pattern in the back so that they can be used to hold the drum.  They can be played by striking with the hands and/or fingers, a stick or a mallet.  

Free floating – A term used to describe a drum that does not have mounting hardware permanently attached to it.  A Rim mount suspension system is used that attaches to several of the tension rods and does not touch the shell of the drum.  The rim mount is then attached to a tom mount or stand.

Friction drum – An instrument that is made similar to a regular drum, but the sound is generated by causing the membrane (drum head) to vibrate by rubbing it (with a hand, a stick, a sponge, or cloth) instead of striking it.  A length of cord or stick is attached to the center of the drum head – either from the top or bottom – that is rubbed to produce sound as well.  The head is pressed with a thumb to change the pitch of the sound being produced.

Fulcrum point – The center balance spot on a drum stick.  

 

G

Gandingan – A Philippine instrument made of four large bronze or metal gongs hung from strings on a frame in graduating series.  They are played in melodic fashion by striking with wooden mallets. 

Geophone – A instrument that is made by using a normal wooden drum average size and adding a number of small lead pellets or pebbles to the inside.  It is played by swirling the pellets around the bottom head.  

Ghatam – An instrument made in India.  It is a fat round clay pot with a narrow mouth that is made specifically as a musical instrument.  The clay is mixed with brass or copper filings with some iron filings, and the walls are made very uniform in thickness.  The ghatam is played while holding it in the lap with the mouth facing the stomach by hitting the bottom with hands, palms, and fingers.  The pitch is altered by the distance of the mouth from the stomach.

Ghost note (or stroke) – A strike on drum that is played very quietly. It is sometimes called a grace note.

Glasschord – An instrument that is made similar to a piano with keys that actuate strikers.  Instead of striking stretched metal wires, the glasschord has a series of tune glass bars.

Glockenspiel – An instrument that is made from a series of metal bars in progressively larger lengths that are mounted on a rectangular frame.  It is played by striking the bars with mallets to obtain bell-like sounds of varying pitch. 

Gourd – A type of fruit that include squash and melons that has a rather thick, tough skin.  When hollowed out and dried, the skin becomes very hard, and the product can be used in many ways.  One use is to make a unique percussion instrument by cutting a series of grooves on the outside of the gourd.  It is then played by raking a stiff metal rod across the grooves. It creates a “zip” type of sound often used in Latin music.

Gong drum – A drum made from one large drum head that is suspended from a rack.  It is most often struck with a large felt mallet.

Gong – A very large oriental cymbal that is suspended from a rack.  It is most often struck with a large felt mallet.

Groove – In music, groove it is the sense of effect (“feel”) changing pattern in a propulsive rhythm or a sense of “swing”.  It can be felt as a quality of persistently repeated rhythmic units, created by the interaction of the of the music played by a band’s rhythm section.  When the music is played right and is pleasing to the ears, it and the musicians would be considered to be groovy.

 

H

Hand bells – A series of tuned bells, each with an internal clacker and handle.  The player simply shakes a bell to make it sound.

Hand-repique – A small cylindrical, single headed drum made of metal, wood, or acrylic that is played using the hands to hit the drum head and the drum shell.  

Hand drums – Drums that are played with the hands such as congas, bongos, djembes, etc.

Hi-hat (cymbals) – An essential drum set instrument that has two cymbals on a stand that are opened and closed together by the player using a foot pedal. They make a wide variety of sounds when struck with the drum sticks with the cymbals held in different positions (tightly closed, lightly closed, or open).  They can also be played by “chomping” the cymbals together.  Drummers often use a type of Tambourine that is designed to mount to the top of the hi-hat, that gives a jingle when the instrument is moved up and down.  

Hi-hat drop clutch – An optional part for a hi-hat cymbal that allows the player to quickly flip a lever (with a drum stick) that detaches the top cymbal from the center rod so that it drops down against the bottom cymbal.  This is done so the foot can be switch over to a bass pedal (in double bass drumming) while still allowing for the player to hit the hi-hat with the sticks.   Without this drop clutch, the two cymbals would separate and loose the hi-hat sound.

Hoop(s) – The round disc, made of metal, wood, or acrylic, that holds the drum head onto the drum. The hoops are held in place and tightened by tension rods screwed into lugs that are affixed to the drum.  Most hoops are made with holes that the tension rods fit through.  Alternatively, the hoop is made with no tension rod holes, and is held in place by metal claws that the tension rods fit through.  This is most commonly the method used for bass drum hoops.  

 

I

Idiophone – One of the four main classes of musical instruments.  Idiophones make sound primarily from the vibration of the instrument itself.  They include cymbals, chimes, wood blocks, cow bells, etc.  There are two types of idiophones; Struck idiophones are hit with another object such as a stick or rod to generate sound, and Scraped idiophones that make sound by rubbing or raking an object against their surface.

Isolation mounting system – A method of mounting tom drums via a bracket that is connected to the rim of the drum, not the shell of the drum. This allows the drum to resonate more freely.  Mounted this way, the drum is said the be Free floating.

 

J

Jam block – A hard plastic block that is hollowed, with hardware to attach it to a stand.  It is struck with drum sticks or mallets.  It is designed on the same concept as a wood block, with a similar sound.   

Jazzet drum set – A drum set that has relatively few drums (usually a bass, a rack tom, a floor tom, and a snare) in relatively small sizes, with just one or two cymbals.  

Jingles – A small pair of metal disks mounted loosely together so that they crash against each other when shaken.  They are used on Tambourines.  Jungles are also made of a small hollow metal enclosure with a metal ball inside that crashes against the inside of when shaken.  This type of jingle is used on a Monkey stick.

 

K

Kakko drum – A double headed drum with a wooden shell made in the shape of an hour glass.  Each head skin is stretched over a metal hoop that is larger than the rim of the shell, and they are tensioned by ropes.  It is laid sideways and played with sticks, one on each head.

Kettle drum – A very large drum made of copper or brass that is shaped like an open-fire cooking pot.  It is most often used in orchestras and symphonies. A foot pedal is attached to the head mechanism which is tightened when depressed (and loosened when released) resulting in a wide array of tones or notes.  It is also known more formally as a Timpani.

Khim – A string instrument of the orient that is made of a butterfly shaped wooden structure with a dozen or so brass wires of varying lengths stretched across.  It is played with two thin, flexible bamboo sticks with soft leather covered tips that are used to strike the strings to produce soft tones.

Khol drum – A two headed drum from India that is made with an earthen shell.  The heads are made from layers of skin stretched over the rims of the shell and tensioned with a multitude of bamboo strips.  One head is much smaller than the other, one producing a much lower tone than the other.  

Kidi drum – A drum that is similar to the conga drum but incorporates pegged tuning and the bottom of the drum is solid. It is also more commonly played with sticks.

Kundu drum – A large bass drum of Northern Ireland that that is made of a wood cylinder with rope tensioned 

 

L

Lambeg drum – A drum set playing style in which no two instruments are played at the same time. 

Linear drumming – A drum set playing style in which no two instruments are played at the same time. 

Log drum – Traditionally carved from hollowed-out trees and hit with sticks, these were the very first drums.  

Ludwig Drum Company – A US-based musical instrument manufacturing company that focuses on percussion instruments.   It was founded by William F. and Theobald Ludwig in 1909 and is a leader in the business to this day.  Click here to visit their web site  at www.ludwig-drums.com Ludwig Drums :: Home (ludwig-drums.com)   The company makes Vistalite drums that have 6mm thick acrylic shells.  Their Classic Maple drums have shells made from 7-ply, 6mm thick North American Maple wood.  Their Legacy Maple drums are made with one ply of maple, one ply of poplar, and another of maple, then maple reinforcement rings on the inside at the bearing edges.  Their Legacy Mahogany drums are made with one ply of mahogany, one ply of poplar, and another of mahogany, then maple reinforcement rings on the inside at the bearing edges. The Classic Oak series drums are made with five ply shells – one ply of oak, a three ply maple core, and an inner oak ply.  They also have a NeuSonic series using 5mm thick shells of three ply maple then three ply cherry inside.  The company also offers the Evolution, Breakbeats, and Accent drums that are geared for the entry level drummers (and/or those with a tighter budget) that utilize wood ply shells made from less expensive hardwoods.  Ludwig drum sets come in several configurations.  The Fab set (named for the “Fab Four” Beatle’s drummer, Ringo Star’s preferred configuration) consists of a 22″ bass drum, a 13″ rack tom, and a 16″ floor tom.  The  Pro Beat is a 24″ bass, 13″ rack tom, and 16″ floor tom.  The Zep set (named for Led Zeppelin’s drummer John Bonham’s preferred configuration) consisting of a 26″ bass, a 14″ rack tom, a 16″ and an 18″ floor tom, plus a chrome snare.  The company also makes Bells and Chimes, Concert drums, Marching drums, Timpani drums, Marimbas, Vibraphones, and Xylophones.

Lug(s) – The metal hardware attached to the drum shell that receives a tension rod (or screw) that is run through a hole in the hoop.  The lugs are anchor points for the application of tension to the drum head.

 

M

Mach lug(s) – A style of drum lug made by Ludwig that were first designed for marching drums where it was desirable to have high tensioned heads, and were also offered on drum for sets.  They are basically two large classic lugs cast together in one unit.  This design reinforced the lugs and spread the holes out further to better distribute the stress on the shell from higher tension.  They were made in three different lengths for use on a range of drum sizes.  

Mallet(s) – A type of drumstick used to strike a percussion instrument that has a padded tip.

Marching drum(s) – A drum that is designed to be held by the player while marching on a field while playing.  These drums have special hardware for comfortably resting the drum against a leg, and for attaching a strap that runs around the neck.  They often lack any hardware for mounting to a stand that drums have that are used in Drum sets or Concert drums.

Marching snare – A drum that is designed to be held by the player while marching on a field while playing.  They have special hardware for comfortably resting the drum against a leg, and for attaching a strap that runs around the neck.  Marching snare drums are much deeper (normally ten inches) than a snare used in a drum set or concert, and many are made 15″ diameter.  They also have ten or twelve high tension Mach lugs and more snare wires than a normal snare.  

Maraca(s) – A hollowed out gourd or wooden object that is filled with seeds or pebbles and played by shaking. 

Marimba – An instrument made of a large frame holding a series of wooden resonator bars of varying lengths that are struck with mallets.  Pipes (called resonators) are suspended underneath the bars to amplify the sound.

Marimbula – A Cuban instrument made of a wooden box with a sound hole cut in the center.

Membranophones – One of the four main classes of musical instruments.  Membranophones produce sound by striking a tightly stretched head or skin.  Timpani drums, headed tambourines, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, bongos, congas, timbales, and djembes are some of the instruments that are included.

Metronome – An electronic device that emits a click or beep at a steady tempo.  The tempo speed is adjustable over a wide range, measures time in beats per minute (BPM). Primarily used in practice, a metronome can help a musician learn to keep a steady time.

Microphone(s) or Mics – A device that converts sound into an electrical signal for amplification and/or recording.  

Moeller method – A controversial hand technique for drums that allows greater fluidity through the whipping of the wrist combined with rebound strokes. Developed by Sanford Moeller and popularized by renowned drummer and educator, Jim Chapin.

Monkey stick – An instrument made from a wooden shaft with Jingles attached along the shaft.  It is played by shaking and by striking the end of the shaft against the floor.  

Musical saw – A hand lumber saw used as a musical instrument.  The player holds the saw handle between the knees while flexing the saw blade with one hand and striking it with a hammer held in the other hand.  Changes in the flex of the blade produces different tones.  A wooden rod can be drawn like a bow over the saw blade edge to produce a very unique sound.

 

N

Ngoma – A barrel-shaped African drum that sits on the floor and is struck with large wooden beaters.

North drums – A style of drums for use in drum sets that have shells made of fiberglass that are shaped like a horn with a head on the small end only.  The were invented by drummer Roger North in the late 1960s and produced through to the early ’90s.  The shell where finished with solid color paint, typically in bright colors like artic white, yellow,  red, and green.  The shape was practical for use live as they projected the sound very well towards the audience.  This feature became less necessary as Drum mics became more affordable and common.   

Notation or note – A symbol that represents a single musical sound.  The key rhythmic durations in drum music are the Whole note, the Half note, the Quarter note, the Eighth note, and the Sixteenth note.  

 

O

Ocean drum – An instrument made of a frame with a single drum head.  It is held with the head horizontal and metal beads are rolled over the head to produce a sound similar to waves rolling onto shore.  

Octobans – Drums that are made from elongated tubes of relatively small diameter – usually six or eight inches – with just a batter head.  Traditionally played in sets of eight (hence the name, as octo means eight), with each tube made progressively shorter than the others. 

Octoplus drum set – A drum set configuration that has eight rack toms.  

Off beat – The beats that are not stressed. This term is also used to describe a musician that may play out of time.

Odd time – Referring to an odd or uneven time signature (not 4/4), such as 7/4 or 5/8.

Onomatopoeic – Refers to something that is named for the sound that it makes.  A Drum is a good example, and many other percussion instruments are named this way.  

Orchestra – An instrumental ensemble that combines instruments from different families, including string instruments (violin, viola, cello, etc.), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, etc.), brass (horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, etc.), and percussion (timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, etc.).  Orchestras are predominately composed of string instruments with few woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Orchestra pit – In stage productions the musicians in an orchestra are positioned below the front of the stage, out of sight of the audience.  This area is referred to as the pit.  Also, in marching bands, sometimes instruments are used that can’t be marched with on field.  These musicians remain stationary on the sideline at center field.  This area is referred to as the pit.  

Ostinato – A musical rhythm or phrase that is repeated over and over again.

 

P

Pandeiro – A percussion instrument that is made from a solid, round frame (usually 8 to 12 inches diameter) inset with pairs of tiny cymbals that clank together when the instrument is shaken, slapped against the palm or leg, or struck with a stick.  Traditionally made of wood, the frames are made from a variety of materials today like aluminum or acrylic.  A goatskin or a plastic head is stretched over one edge with and there are lugs and a rim so that the head can be tightened.  The cymbals are placed cupped together like Hi-hat cymbals.

Pang cymbal – A type of cymbal that has a small bell and a flat or upturned outer flange.   

Paradiddle – One of the more important of the 40 drum rudiments, it is played RLRR, LRLL with accents on the first beat of each group.

Pattern generator – An electronic or computerized device or program that generates a multitude of rhythms.

Percussion clef – In sheet music, it is the staff commonly used in percussion (as opposed to bass clef) where it is not necessary to notate pitched instruments.

Percussion instrument – An instrument that is played by strucking with the hands or an object such as a drumstick or mallet, to produce sound.  Percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, tambourines, bells, triangle, etc.

Permutation – A term popularized in drumming over the last 10 years. It refers to beat displacement where all beats will move forward say, one eighth note. This method will create numerous variations of rhythmic possibilities.

Phrasing – How drum beats are distributed by the player around the drums in context to the song or drum solo.P

Pianissimo – Playing an instrument very softly.

Piccolo snare – A relatively small and thin (usually 13″ x 4″) Snare drum that produces a higher pitch.

Polyrhythm – A drumming technique where more than one rhythm or time signature is played at the same time, such as 3 against 2.

Popcorn snare – A very small (usually 10 x 6″) Snare drum with a highly tensioned head.

Practice pad – A pad designed to allow drummers a quieter and more compact surface to practice sticking patterns such as drum rudiments. Drum practice pads come in many different types of styles, shapes and configurations.

Projection – The ability of an instrument to produce and transmit sound to the audience.  The projection of a drum is determined by the shape and size of the drum.  A drum with only a top head, with the bottom of the drum left open, will have more sound projection than one with a bottom head or a closed bottom.  Ludwig Concert toms with no bottom heads were designed to promote sound projection, and the North drums took the concept a step further with shells shaped like horns. 

Pulse – The consistent “heartbeat” of a rhythm.

 

Q

Quadraplus drum set – A drum set configuration that has four rack toms.  

Quadruple time – A time signature that has four beats per measure.  Also known as 4/4 time.

Quads – A set of four drums.  They can be four rack toms on a drum set, or four toms in an array that are carried by a player in a marching band or drumline.

Quints – A set of five drums. They can be four rack toms on a drum set, or four toms in an array that are carried by a player in a marching band or drumline.

Quinto – The smallest, highest pitched Conga drum in a set, played along with a medium pitched Tres dos and a low pitched Tumba.

 

R

Rack tom – Tom drums that are mounted to a stand, a bass drum, or a drum rack.  

Rain stick – A long hollowed out piece of wood that is filled with beads or pebbles. A series of pins or thorns are inserted and arranged helically on the inside.  When turned upside down, the pebbles fall to the other end, bouncing off of the internal protrusions to create a sound similar to rain falling. 

Rhythm – the manipulation of strong and weak beats, creating a flowing and/or syncopated pulse. If you were given the gift of rhythm, you might just be playing drums or a percussion instrument.

Ride cymbal – A relatively large (18″ to 24″) and thick cymbal standard on a drum set that is played as an alternative to the hi-hat in maintaining a steady rhythmic pattern.  The typical Ride cymbal has a large bell that the drummer can strike for an alternative sound.  It is not typically used for accent as one would a Crash cymbal or Effects cymbal.  

R.I.M. (or RIM System) – It stands for Rim Isolation Mounting.  It is device that attach to the rim of a tom drum and has a tom mount attached to it that is then installed on the tom stand. This system will allow for greater sustain and natural tone from the drum.

Remote hi-hat – An alternative system to a Hi-hat stand where the top part of a hi-hat (where the cymbals come together) is attached to a tom stand or cymbal stand and a sleeved cable attaches to a foot pedal.  on a different part of the drum set. The drummer can actuate the hi-hat as one would with a regular hi-hat stand, but position the cymbals in an “remote” location.  Some are made without a cable and foot pedal actuation and is simply used in closed position only.  These can be used in conjunction with a regular hi-hat, using a smaller pair of cymbals.  

Rack – A metal assembly that surrounds the drummer and holds the top parts of cymbal stands as well as percussion holders. The are designed to save space as opposed to multiple individual tom and cymbals stands, and they make setups quicker and easier.

Rack toms – Toms that are mounted on the bass drum, on a stand, or on a drum rack.  The alternative tom is a Floor tom.

Rakatak – An instrument made of a hollowed piece of wood attached to a handle.  A wood peg with balls at each end is passed loosely through holes in the hollow end.  The player holds the handle and shakes back and forth causing the balls to strike the sides to produce a rhythmic sound. 

Ratchet – An instrument designed on the principle of a gear ratchet.  A gearwheel is mounted to a handle with a device holding a plank that freely rotates around the wheel.  The player holds the handle and swings the whole mechanism around, dragging the plank clanking over the gears to produce sound.  They are made most commonly of wood or plastic and are often used as noise makers at festivals.

Resonant head – The bottom head of a drum.  It vibrates along with the top (Batter) head to help extend the sound made when struck.

Retardando – A gradual decrease in the tempo of the music.  It is most common used as a way to end a song.  The opposite is an Accelerando.

Rim – A metal ring with eye holes that keeps the drumhead in place and tight.  Screws (or tension rods) fit through the holes in the rim then attach to the lugs. 

Rimshot – A technique where the drummer hits the snare head with the butt of the stick and the snare drum rim with the shaft of the stick at the same time. Alternatively, the drummer can hit the rim with the shaft of the stick with the butt resting against the head.  Or, he can rest the butt against the head and the shaft against the rim, and strike the stick with the other stick.  Each produces a different sound for varied effects.  

Roto-toms – A type of drum that has a head mounted to a frame without a shell.  It is designed where the frame can be rotated to quickly tighten or loosen the head to produce changes in pitch.  They are normally played in sets of three, each a different diameter.  

Ruff – A single stroke with one hand accompanied by two lighter strokes with the opposite hand just preceding it. 

 

S

Salsa – A generic musical term describing a wide range of Latin American music and dancing. Salsa emerged on the New York club scene in the early 70’s and revolves around a high-energy dance style of music. Salsa drumming would consist of the many Latin rhythms made up of traditional Latin clave.

Sanding block(s) – A wood or rubber rectangular block with sand paper attached.  They can be used as an instrument by holding one in each hand and rubbing them together to produce a scratching sound.  

Second line drumming – A style of drumming originating from funeral processions in New Orleans funeral.

Seisplus drum set – A drum set configuration that has six rack toms.  

Shaker(s) – A percussion instrument made from a hollow container filled with beads, seeds, or pebbles that make a sound when manipulated by hand in rhythm.  The containers are made in a variety of shapes and of varying materials to obtain different sound effects.

Shekere – A large hollow gourd surrounded by woven beads that is played by shaking. 

Single stroke roll – The first, and most important, of the 40 drum rudiments, it is played one stroke per hand alternating R L R L, R L R L.

Snare drum – A drum that has a series of parallel wires called Snares that are stretched across the bottom head to make a “buzz” sound when the top head is struck.  The standard size is 14″ diameter by 5 1/2″ in depth, but there are many variations on this theme. The drum head on the bottom of a snare drum is normally thinner to allow the snares to vibrate more. Snare drums have a Throw that is designed to add tension to the snare wires, which changes the sound of the drum when played.  The snare’s throw has a lever that allows the tension on the wires to be removed totally, either for storage or to get a snare-less sound from the drum.  

Snares – The long wiggly shaped wires stretched across the bottom of a snare drum. These wires create a preferred buzz sound.

Solo – A section of music where a particular instrument is featured, or plays alone.  

Splash cymbal – A small cymbal, from 6″ to 14″ diameter, that is used for accents, similar to a Crash cymbal, but played different in that it is commonly struck at the same time as the snare.  A splash cymbal is not normally used at the end of a drum fill as one would use a crash.  

Spoons – A simple instrument made by holding two metal spoons together in one hand, slapping them against the other hand or some other part of the body.  

Stave drum – A drum construction method whereby the shell is made of vertical strips of wood, as opposed to one solid piece of wood, or wood ply. Stave drums are constructed in the same fashion as a wooden barrel or keg.  Drums that are often made from stave construction are Congas, Bongos, and Snare drums.

Steel pan drum (also known as Pans) – A percussion instrument that is made of metal in a concave shape (similar to a large cooking pan) that is hammered flat in multiple sections.  Common in the Caribbean Islands, the instrument is played by striking the flattened sections with mallets.  When properly tuned, each hammered section produces a different pitch or note.  

Straight cymbal stand – A cymbal stand that does not have an extension or boom arm.

Stomp box – A wooden box that is played by taping or stamping with a foot to produce a bass drum sound.

Studio tom – A tom drum that has a top and bottom head.  It has a mounting piece with a hole that fits over a rod and is clamped tight with a nut or wing nut.  Many are equipped with a tone control (as is the case with vintage Ludwig Vistalite drums).  They do not project as much as a Concert tom, but they offer more tuning options.  They take more time to set up, but are intended for drum sets that remain stationary as is typical in a studio.  

Sustain – The length of time that a percussion instrument vibrates or resonates after being struck.

Swing rhythm – This rhythm and variations of it is the driving force behind swing (jazz) music.  It is played with eighth notes interpreted unevenly as a pattern of long-short durations (subdividing the quarter notes into threes).

Syncopation – A musical term meaning a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music.  When musicians in a band are not playing well together (out of time, etc.), they are said to be “out of sync”.

 

T

Talking drum – A drum originating from West Africa, it is made in an hourglass shaped and is bound with animal skin and rope in such a way that, when the rope is squeezed between the arm and the body, it changes the pitch of the drum back and forth. It is played with an “L” shaped stick.

Tamborim – A small frame drum with a lug tensioned head.  It is played with a stick by striking the head and/or the frame.

Tambourine – A percussion instrument that is made from a solid, round frame (usually 8 to 12 inches diameter) inset with pairs of tiny cymbals that clank together when the instrument is shaken, slapped against the palm or leg, or struck with a stick.  Traditionally made of wood , the frames are made from a variety of materials today like aluminum or acrylic.  Some tambourines have a goatskin head stretched over one edge.  Modern models tend to have plastic heads, and are sometimes made where a portion of the frame is a handle.  They are also made in a design that is attached to the top of a hi-hat. 

Temple blocks – A set of tuned wood blocks played with mallets or drumsticks.

Tempo – The speed of the rhythm or song.

Tension rod(s) – The screws that attach the drum rim to the Lugs on the shell of the drum, with the drum head under the rim. The drum is tuned by tightening (or loosening) the tension rods.  Each tension rod should be adjusted evenly around the drum.

Tone control – A device with a pad that presses against the head of a drum to reduce the vibration of the head when struck, dampening the sustain.  They are normally installed inside of the drum with a nob that is turned to increase or decrease the tension of the pad against the head.  

Timbale(s) – A drum made with a shallow metal shell and only one head.  They are normally played in pairs using drum sticks, with highly tensioned heads.   

Timpani – A very large drum made of copper or brass that is shaped like an open-fire cooking pot.  It is most often used in orchestras and symphonies. A foot pedal is attached to the head mechanism which is tightened when depressed (and loosened when released) resulting in a wide array of tones or notes.  It is also known informally as a Kettle drum.

Tom drum – A cylindrical drum with no snares.  Toms normally range in sizes 6″ diameter to 20″ diameter, with Rack toms normally 6″ to 16″ and Floor toms 14″ to 20″.  

Tom stand – A stand that holds rack toms.

Trap set – An early type of drum set that was centered around a bass drum and snare.  Different percussive instruments were mounted to the bass drum, like a Cymbal, Wood blocks, Triangle, and Cowbell.  

Train beat – A beat and rhythm played with consecutive 16th notes on the snare drum with accents so that it resembles the sound of a train in motion. It was made popular in country music but also used in rock and pop.

Tres dos – The Conga drum in a set that is played with a higher pitched conga called a Quinto, and a lower pitched conga called a Tumba.

Triangle – A percussion instrument used for special effects. It is a metal bar actually bent in the shape of a triangle and struck with a small metal mallet.

Triplet – A rhythm that uses groups of three per beat. These can be subdivided many different ways, as in quarter note triplets, eighth note triplets, etc.

Tubular bells – A member of the chimes family, tubular bells are long metal tubes (around 5′ or more) that are struck with a special hammer. This percussion instrument is common in school bands, marching bands (pit), and orchestras, as well as symphonies.

Tumba (or tumbadora) – The largest, lowest pitched Conga drum in a set, with a high pitched Quinto, and a Tres dos in between

Tympani – A different spelling of Timpani.

 

U
Udu drums – A drum made of a large clay pot with a small hole on top, and another hole on the side.  It is played by striking with the hands, producing a variety of sounds.    

 

V

Vibraphone (or vibes) – An instrument made of a series of tuned metal bars that is played by striking with a mallet.

Vibraslap – A percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire connecting a wooden ball to a hollow wooden box that has metal pieces inside.  The ball is positioned close to the wood block so that it strikes the block when the wire is hit with a hand, producing a unique sound.  

Virgin – A drum with a shell that has no hardware for mounting.  A virgin bass drum with no mounting holes for the tom bracket.

Vistalite – A line of acrylic drums made by the Ludwig Drum Company starting in 1972.

 

W

Washboard – An instrument that produces sound by rubbing an object (like a spoon, a stick, a bottle top, etc.) across a ribbed metal surface.  

Whistle – An instrument that produces sound from a stream of air.  It can be operated by mouth, or powered by compressed air or steam.  There are a wide variety of whistles, producing a multitude of sounds from a high pitched squeal to a locomotive train or tug boat whistle.  

Wing nut – A wing-shaped nut that is commonly used on drum set hardware.  Wing nuts can be loosened or tightened by hand without the use of a tool. 

Wood block – A percussion instrument made from a block of wood that is hollow in the center that is played by striking with a stick or mallet.  There are many different shapes and sizes of wood blocks, each creating a specific pitch.  

World drumming – A style of drumming that incorporates rhythms from around the world, utilizing world instruments originating from their prospective countries. Examples would be Afro-Cuban rhythms, Indian rhythms, Caribbean rhythms and so on.

 

X

Xylophone – A musical instrument made of a series of tuned wooden bars that are played by striking with mallets.

Y

Z