Technology

Modern day marching snare drums are made from a variety of different woods. A large number of drums today use birch, maple, or oak wood. All of these woods produce a distinct sound. That is why it’s important that the right wood is chosen for the right purpose. To shape the wood into a hoop, highly trained professionals must use a process of steam heating. What they do is heat the wood to a level to where it can be bent. After the water inside the drum dries out, it hardens in that shape. This process is repeated many times until they get the desired shape (How it’s Made).

After the wooden shell is made, all of the other parts are added on. First, the lugs are screwed on to the sides. Most snare drums have either 10 or 12 of these. Next, the actual drum head is placed on the rim. A metal hoop is then set on top of the head. Aluminum tension rods usually hold the hoop down which will in turn tension the drum head. The snare mechanism is then strung through the bottom of the drum which gives the distinct sound of a snare drum.