Drum terminology: Your Drumming Reference Guide

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Hey groovers! Today, we’re diving deep into the world of drumming with a comprehensive A-Z list of terms every drummer should know. Whether you’re a budding drummer or a seasoned percussionist, mastering these terms will enhance your understanding and performance. Let’s roll through the rhythmic language that forms the backbone of drumming.

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A

• Accent: Emphasis on a note to give it more prominence than others.
• Acoustic Drums: Traditional drums made from wood or synthetic materials, without electronic components.
• Attack: The initial sound made when the drum is struck.
• Axatse: A smaller relative of the shekere, this is a gourd instrument wrapped in beads, used in various African music traditions.

B

• Backbeat: The emphasis on the second and fourth beats in common time, essential in many modern music genres.
• Ball Joint: A mechanism allowing for 360-degree rotation, commonly used in drum hardware to enhance setup flexibility.
• Bass Drum: Also known as the kick drum, it’s played with a pedal and forms the low-end pulse of the drum set.
• Brushes: A pair of wire brushes used to produce a softer, sweeping sound on drums.

C

• Clave: Rhythmic pattern fundamental to Latin American music, often played with claves, a pair of wooden sticks.
• Cross Stick: Technique where the stick is laid across the snare drum and struck against the rim, producing a distinct click.
• Cowbell: A bell made of metal attached to a drum kit, known for its high-pitched, ringing sound.
• Cymbal: Thin, round metallic instruments that produce a sustained sound when struck.

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D

• Dampening: Technique or material used to reduce the resonance or sustain of a drum.
• Drum Kit: Set of drums and cymbals arranged for convenient playing by one drummer.
• Double Stroke Roll: A rudiment involving two strikes per hand, creating a sustained sound.
• Djembe: A rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
• Downbeat: The first beat in a bar, usually emphasized in most musical forms.

E

• Edge Hit: Striking the rim of the drum with a drumstick to produce a percussive sound.
• Electronic Drum Kit: A set that uses digital samples and triggers for sound production, useful for practice and electronic music.
• Endorsement: Agreement between drummers and manufacturers where the drummer promotes a brand’s instruments for benefits like free gear or publicity.
• Ewe Drums: Traditional African drums used in various cultural musical expressions.

F

• Fill: A short drum pattern that breaks the regular rhythm, often used to lead into a new section of the music.
• Flam: A drumming rudiment where two strokes are made in quick succession with alternate sticks, giving a thicker sound.
• Foot Pedal: A lever used to play the bass drum or hi-hat cymbals, operated by the drummer’s foot.
• Fulcrum: The point on a drumstick where the drummer holds for optimal balance and control.

G

• Ghost Note: A note played very softly and subtly, often on the snare drum, to add texture without significant audible impact.
• Grip: The way a drummer holds their sticks, important for technique and comfort.
• Groove: A repeated rhythmic pattern that forms the backbone of a song, creating the feel and swing of the track.

H

• Hi-Hat: A pair of cymbals mounted on a stand, controlled by a foot pedal, essential for keeping rhythm in most drumming styles.
• Hardware: The collective metal stands and fittings that support cymbals, drums, and other percussion instruments.
• Head: The part of a drum that is struck by the stick, traditionally made of animal skin or synthetic materials.

I

• Independence: The ability of a drummer to manage different rhythms with each limb, crucial for complex drumming styles.
• In-Ear Monitor: Personal audio monitors that allow drummers to hear the mix they need to perform optimally.
• Interval: The gap between two strokes, often used in discussing rhythm or timing.

J

• Jam Block: A percussive block made typically of plastic, used for its sharp, cutting sound.
• Jazz Drumming: A style known for its improvisational elements and complex rhythms, foundational in jazz music performances.
• Jingle: Small metal discs on instruments like tambourines that produce a bright, shimmering sound when shaken or struck.

K

• Keyed Tuning: Using a drum key to tighten or loosen the tension rods on a drum to change the pitch.
• Kick Drum: Another term for the bass drum, especially prominent in rock and pop music setups.
• Kit Configuration: The particular setup or arrangement of drums and cymbals in a drummer’s drum kit.

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L

• Lick: A brief sequence of notes played by a drummer, often used to showcase skill.
• Linear Drumming: A method where no two drums or cymbals are hit at the same time, allowing for clear rhythmic patterns.
• Lug: The tensioning hardware mounted on the shell of a drum that holds the hoop and drumhead in place.

M

• Metronome: A device that produces an audible click at set intervals to help musicians keep a consistent tempo during practice.
• Muffling: Techniques or materials used to reduce the sustain or resonance of a drum.
• Mallets: Tools used to strike percussion instruments, typically consisting of a handle and a head made of hard or soft material.

N

• Node: The point on a drumhead that does not vibrate when struck, crucial in tuning drums.
• Notation: The method of writing down music for drums, which involves specific symbols for different drums and cymbals.
• Nylon Tip: A type of drumstick tip that produces a brighter, more precise sound on cymbals compared to wood tips.

O

• Octobans: Small, tunable drums, typically used in sets for high-pitched melodic fills.
• Open Hi-Hat: When the hi-hat cymbals are played without pressing the foot pedal, creating a sustained, sizzling sound.
• Overhead Mics: Microphones placed above the drum kit to capture the overall sound of the drums and cymbals.

P

• Paradiddle: One of the essential rudiments, consisting of alternating single and double strokes: RLRR or LRLL.
• Pedal: A lever operated by the foot to play certain drums or cymbals, such as the bass drum or hi-hat.
• Polyrhythm: The simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, common in advanced drumming.

Q

• Quadruple Stroke Roll: A rudiment consisting of four consecutive strikes by each hand.
• Quadruple Time: Time signature with four beats per measure, standard in most Western popular music.
• Quarter Note: A note that lasts for one beat in common time, fundamental in drumming rhythms.
• Quintuplet: A group of five notes played within the duration normally given to four, adding a unique rhythmic flavor.

R

• Rimshot: Striking the drumhead and the rim simultaneously, producing a sharp, accentuated sound.
• Ride Cymbal: A large cymbal used for playing steady, articulate patterns, typically with the tip of the drumstick.
• Rudiment: A basic pattern used as a foundation for drumming, such as rolls, flams, and paradiddles.

S

• Snare Drum: Known for its crisp sound due to wires stretched across its lower surface, fundamental in all drum kits.
• Stick Control: The ability of a drummer to manage the dynamics, timing, and speed of drumstick movement.
• Splash Cymbal: A small cymbal that produces a quick, sharp sound, often used for accents.

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T

• Timbale: A shallow drum with a high-pitched tone, originating from Cuban music but integral to Latin jazz and salsa music.
• Tom-Tom: A cylindrical drum with no snares, varying in size, and used to extend the range of a drumkit.
• Triple Stroke Roll: A rudiment consisting of three consecutive strikes by each hand.
• Timbre: The quality or tone color of a drum, influenced by factors such as drumhead material, drum size, and tuning.

U

• Udu Drum: A percussion instrument of African origin made from clay, producing a deep, resonant sound.
• Unison: Two or more drum parts played at the same time, often used to emphasize a beat or part of a rhythm.
• Upbeat: The unaccented beat in 4/4 time, usually the “and” counts, which are key for syncopation in various music styles.
• Upstroke: A type of drumstick movement that prepares the drummer for the next note by lifting the stick after a strike.

V

• Velocity: The speed with which a drum or cymbal is struck, affecting the volume and tone of the note.
• Vibraphone: A percussion instrument with metal bars and resonators, played with mallets, known for its ethereal sound.
• Vintage Drums: Older drums, often sought after for their unique sounds and historical value.

W

• Wire Brushes: Brushes used in place of sticks to create a softer, swishing sound on the drums, commonly used in jazz.
• Wood Block: Percussion instrument made of a hollow block of wood that produces a sharp clack when struck.
• Woods: Drumsticks made from various types of wood, each offering different weights, feels, and sounds.
• Wrap: A covering over the drum shell, often made of plastic, used for aesthetic purposes and to protect the shell.

X

• Xylophone: A mallet instrument with tuned wooden bars, used in various musical genres for its bright, percussive sound.

Y

• Yellow Drum: A hypothetical term for a colorful addition to a percussion set, emphasizing aesthetics as much as sound.
• Yield: The responsiveness of a drum or cymbal to different playing techniques.
• Yielding: Refers to the give-and-take dynamic within ensemble playing, where drummers may alter their intensity and volume.

Z

• Zero Ring: A plastic ring used on drums to control overtones and focus the sound, enhancing clarity and tone control.
• Zig-Zag: A pattern played across the drum set moving in a non-linear manner to create a complex rhythmic texture.
• Zil: Short slang for cymbals, used informally among drummers.

Mastering these terms will not only deepen your appreciation for drumming but also enhance your ability to communicate and perform within any musical ensemble. Keep grooving to the rhythm and embrace the diverse language of drumming!

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