Musical Instruments
| Timpani | Drum Set | Gong | Cymbal | Triangle |
| Xylophone | Glockenspiel | Bass Drum | Snare Drum | Tambourine |
Drum Set
Drum sets are also called drum kits. They are composed of different kinds of manualand pedal instruments of different tones. A basic drum kit includes a bass drum, a snare drum, two tom-toms, a floor tom, hi-hat cymbals, and two cymbals.
Cymbals
Cymbals could also be distinguished ascrash cymbals, ride cymbals and Chinese cymbals, used to produce effect sounds, splash cymbals and crash rides (crashes /ride cymbals).
Bass Drum
Bass drums are also called "kick drums." They range from 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 inches in diameter and 14, 16 and 18 inches in depth. It is often played with pedals to produce sounds. Smaller bass drums are often used in the drum set.
Snare Drum
Snare drums are named after their snare wires at the bottom. They are 13 to 14 inches in diameter and 3 to 8 inches in depth.
Tenor Drum
Tenor drums are cylindrical and sound like snare drums without snare sounds. They are evolved from African drums and are placed above bass drums.
Floor Tom
Floor drums are drums with legs and are put beside the bass drums. There are types of floor drums ranging from 14, 16, and 18 inches in diameter and 14 to 16 inches in depth.
Hi-hat Cymbal
Hi-hat cymbals are used to control the music beats. They come in 13, 14 and 15 inches in diameter, with hi-hat cymbals of 14 inches as the standard. A stand sets the hi-hat cymbal to the left of the drum set. One plays the hi-hat cymbal by pedaling, which controls the opening and closing of the upper and lower cymbals. Drum sticks could also be used to play the hi-hat cymbals.
Crash Cymbal
Crash cymbals are often used to explode the accumulating energy of the music piece. Usually they are played with strong power and make strong and continuing noise. They are often made from 16 to 19 inches in diameter. Crash cymbals with 14 and 20 inches in diameter are found in certain occasions.
Ride Cymbal
The ride cymbal is mainly used to keep the beats, but sometimes it is used as a crash cymbal. It is usually 20 to 24 inches in diameter, with 20, 21, and 22 inches as the most common. It is usually thicker than a crash cymbal.
Crash/Ride
It's made for special effect, with the combination of the crash and the ride cymbal. It is often 16 to 18 inches.
Chinese cymbal
Chinese cymbals are made for special effects, which look broad cymbals in Chinese folk music. The pitch of Chinese cymbals is lower than crash cymbals.
Splash Cymbal
Splash cymbals are made for special effects. They are often 8 to 12 inches in diameter.
(Please move your mouse to the left corner in the video and click play bottom to watch.)
Drum Set, performer: Hong-Yu Chen
Do you want to learn more?
Interview with concertmasters
Hong-Yu Chen, Drum Set concertmaster
Source: Innovative Musical Notes
