Your drum heads are probably the most important element of your drummer set. Why? It plays a role in the sounds produced during a drumming session, and if you’re a beginner, you have to know how to buy the right heads. No matter how expensive your set might be, it will sound unpleasant with an old or incorrect head. Different drum sizes have changed slightly throughout the years, depending on your set.
Getting the measurement wrong can affect the quality of sound your instrument produces. To prevent this, you need to be able to measure the span accurately. Let’s discuss a step-by-step method for measuring the heads of different drum sizes. Measuring drum heads will definitely feel easy after you read this article.
Before You Start Measuring Drum Heads
Before you start, you need a couple of tools. The steps below highlight the answer to the: “how to measure drum heads?” You will also have to follow the steps if you want to replace the existing ones with new heads. The following tools are needed:
- Drum keys or wrench
- Measuring Tape
Step 1 – Loosen and Remove the Drum Head
Firstly, a drum key is a must-have tool for every newbie or experienced drummer. Not only can you use it to loosen your heads, but you can also use the keys to tune your drums if they slacken. To remove the head, you need to:
- Use the key to unscrew the lug screws on the top of your set. These lug screws are all around the top of the drum and help hold the head tight and firm.
- Once you have unscrewed the lugs, remove the metal ring that holds the head in place.
- Now, you can take out the drum head.
- You must do this before measuring the head size. Leaving it on during the process can mess up your diameter.
Step 2 – Measure the Shell or Exterior Circumference
Once you’ve removed the drum head, the next step is to measure the exterior or shell diameter. To do this, all you need do is:
- Take the tape measure and put it across the open shell from one edge to the other to get a reading for the width or diameter of the shell.
- For example, if the exterior of your bass drum is 28 inches, you’ll be looking to buy a 28-inch head. You can also use your tape measure for the internal diameter of the rims. It might be smaller by a few inches due to the external shell’s width in some instances.
- If you go this route, round the figure up to the closest inch, and you are ready to get a new head for your set.
Step 3 – Measure the Depth
Finally, you’ll need to figure out the depth of the drum’s interior. Use your tape measure to read the height from the top edge to the bottom edge. Now, you have the complete dimensions of the head. When writing down the measurements, it is usually common to write the depth before the width.
There are various ways of displaying your measurements, depending on the type (snare, bass, etc.) and what manufacturer or country made the model in question. For example, bass heads are different from snare heads.
Some Tips to Lookout for When Measuring Drum Heads
When measuring the heads of your set, please do the following:
- Ensure you measure the head after removing the metal ring and former covering. Leaving these parts on could result in erroneous readings.
- When measuring the shell’s span, take care not to damage or scuff the body. Otherwise, you risk degrading your new drum sets in the long run.
How to Measure Correctly
If you’re unsure of what the sizes of your current drums are, there are two options to follow up with. Firstly, you could look up the make of your drum set online. You’ll be able to match pictures with the kit you have, and those will typically tell you what the sizes of your shells are.
Standard Drum Head Sizes
In most conventional drum sets, the snare drum is commonly 14 inches in diameter, while the kick drum head is likely to have a diameter of 22 inches.
Rock Drum Head Sizes
The typical rock drum head measurements are as follows:
22” Kick Drum
14” Snare Drum
12” Hi-rack Tom
13” Medium-rack Tom
16” Floor Tom
Jazz Drum Head Sizes
Here are typical jazz drum head dimensions for modern drum kits:
18” Kick Drum
14” Snare Drum
12” Rack Tom
14” Floor Tom
Fusion Drum Head Sizes
The size of the kick drum head is the most notable difference. At 20”, it’s not quite as small as the 18” head used for a jazz kick drum, but is not as large as the 22” kick drum heads commonly used for rock kits. In most cases, fusion drum sets use three toms which are 10”, 12”, and 14” in measurement. This makes it more punchy and compact for gigging.
Rock/Fusion Drum Head Sizes
The kick drum is usually 20-22” in diameter, while the snare is 14”. The toms are where we see the biggest difference, with the hi-rack tom head measuring 10”, the mid-rack tom 12”, and the floor tom 16”.
Compact Drum Head Sizes
The common sizes for a compact drum kit are:
18” Kick Drum
13-14” Snare Drum
10-14” Toms
Bass Drum Head Sizes
The answer to “how to measure bass drum head” is as follows: Bass drum head sizes designed for use in drum sets come in a variety of diameters ranging from 18 to 26 inches, with average depths from 14 to 18 inches.
Measuring a Conga Head
The important aspects of how to measure conga heads are provided below:
Step 1: Find the playing surface diameter if the conga head is attached:
The flat area of the congo drum head is the playing surface. Center the ruler or tape measure flat across the widest part of the drum and check the measurement in inches.
Step 2: Check the diameter of the bearing edge if the head is missing.
The bearing edge is at the top 1⁄4 in (0.64 cm) of the drum shell. Find this part of the conga if there’s no drum head on the shell. Hold a ruler or measuring tape against the bearing edge and center it across the widest part of the drum to find the diameter. Record the measurement so you can buy the correct replacement size later on.
Step 3: Measure the conga’s hoop rim if you don’t mind removing it.
Unscrew or unlatch the conga hoop rim. Place a ruler or tape measure across the widest section of the hoop rim and record the diameter.
FAQs
What are the dimensions of a 14 drum?
A 14″ diameter classic fit drumhead, has an inner diameter (from aluminum flesh-hoop) of 14.130 inches. This is standard for most snare drum sizes.
Are drums measured in diameter?
Yes, drums are measured in diameter, but they are also described by their depth. Drum sizes are typically expressed as diameter x depth in inches. For example, a drum with a diameter of 14 inches and a depth of 8 inches would be described as an 8” x 14” drum.