Drum info

Drum Information
written by: Gavin Wills

The drum is a member of the percussion class of musical
instruments,
it is made of a membrane called a drumhead or drum skin that stretches
over the hollowed out piece commonly referred to as the shell. The
drum is played by being struck using drum sticks or directly with a
player's hands, to produce sound. They are one of the oldest and most
familiar musical instruments and their design has managed to remain
unaltered throughout thousands of years. Ancient communities used
drums hundreds of years ago as a means of communication and during
ritual dances, as entertainment sources and while worshiping their
gods, one such community is the Djembe which traces its roots in
Africa. Archaeologists have also uncovered some cylindrical drums
dated about 3000 BC in Mesopotamia, ancient cave paintings in Peru
depict the indigenous community playing drums over a number of
ceremonies and rituals.
Much like the ancient times, drums are still used for practically the
same purposes, in the modern society however, they are primarily used
for entertainment unlike in the past when they were used for
communication purposes as well. They can still be found in present day
churches and accompany modern forms of worship. Of the many benefits
of drums, is providing beautiful beats we can hum to while doing our
normal day to day routines, music is a relaxing and sometimes a form
of therapy. Research shows that drumming stimulates relaxation,
reducing fatigue, anxiety, emotional disorders and a vast number of
physical ailments. It is said that drumming induces the production of
endorphins (morphine-like substances produced by the body which
stimulate pleasure and restrict pain) and thus reduces pain in the
human body. Playing drums is a very physical exercise and often helps
burn calories from working the muscles; the health benefits are vast
and appealing. The convenience of drums, found in almost every garage
tucked away somewhere, makes then a very useful tool for improving
health if well utilized.
Although the drum has maintained its original design, some major
improvements have been made on it, from the hollow tree trunks and
animal hides in ancient tribes to the state of the art casting
elements which make the shell and high quality synthetic fibers which
make up the drumhead. The tuning of the modern day drum is far more
superior to the ancient versions as different sound pitches can be
produced with great clarity.
Electronic drums have also hit the market; they consist of a set of
pads mounted on a stand. The pads are disc like plates with a rubber
like coating with a sensor underneath it, they work by emulating a
normal acoustic drum kit.
The regular drum set completely came together in 1935, it all started
in New Orleans where marching bands used to entertain people, a couple
of years later the modern drum set had been compiled. It consists of
the following; drums, 2-3 tom-toms, 1 snare drum, 1 bass drum,
cymbals, 1 ride cymbal, 2 Hi Hat cymbal and stands to hold all these
parts together. Drums have been a part of our lives for the longest
time and by the looks of it, their popularity is not about to fade.