To every drum enthusiast out there… have you ever wondered: how are drums made? From classical symphonies to death metal, drums are an integral part of almost all music created across the globe. The drum belongs to the family of percussion instruments. They mostly consist of a stretched membrane (referred to as a head) covering one or both ends of the drum’s hollow body, which is referred to as a shell. 

Every passionate and aspiring drummer would be intrigued to understand the drum structure. Drum construction is a beautiful and intricate process. This article delves deeper into the various components of the drum and the materials used. If you’re wondered what a drum is made, these common answers will help you understand.

FAQ’s

What material is a drum made from?

Drum shells are chiefly made from birch, maple, and poplar wood, though metal and synthetic variations are also available now and are taking over in some respects. Steel, aluminum, brass, and bronze are regularly used in the construction of these, and plastic is used in synthetic shells.

Brushed aluminum is the material often used and mounting lugs are made of die-cast metal such as steel. Other various parts of hardware can be created from brass, wood, and strong plastic. 

Drum rims or hoops are made from both metal and wood. Metal rims are created from die-cast, aluminum wooden rims are made from maple or birch and mounting lugs are made of die-cast metal such as steel. Other various parts of hardware can be created from brass, wood, and strong plastic. 

Don’t forget about cymbals! These are mostly made from a casting of tin, copper, and silver. According to the weight, the castings are shaped in a rotary oven burning at about 815°C (1499°F). The softened metal is then rolled and flattened. Check out the factory tour at DW Drums to see how some of this works:

What is the coating on drum heads?

 The question, “What are drum heads made up of?” has likely crossed the mind of every drummer. Gone are the days when drummers depended on authentic animal hide for their drum skins. Nowadays, drumheads are commonly made of mylar plastic, providing cost efficiency, better durability, and improved tuning stability. The top of a drum head is called the batter head and the bottom is called the resonant head. They are usually manufactured from mylar and polyester – or a mix of both. Drum heads can be widely classified into the following types:

Single Ply Heads:

The most commonly used drumhead is the single-ply. These heads are made from a single sheet of mylar. The thinner the head, the more overtones and high-end rings. Single-ply heads are generally quite sensitive, making them the least durable of all batter heads. 

Double Ply Heads:

Most double-ply heads consist of two layers . They have different thicknesses to produce distinct tones. In general, double-ply heads have a deeper and more controlled sound with fewer overtones, a more defined attack, a shorter sustain, and a fatter punch than single-ply heads. 

Coated Heads:

There are many different types of coatings used on drumheads. Some models are sprayed with a translucent coating, some are sprayed until coated solid black or white, and some are etched to create a textured surface. 

Clear Heads:

Unlike coated heads, clear heads tend to sound brighter and more open. A clear head can be a double-ply or a single-ply. Clear heads tend to lack texture, compared to one with a coated head. This is especially noticeable when a player is using brushes on the snare drum. 

What is traditional drum head material?

All drum heads are made of resilient materials to avoid wearing out, or getting damaged from heavy playing. If you’re wondering – what are drum heads made of? -The raw materials used in the manufacture of drums have changed drastically over the last century.

Let’s dive deeper into it… What are drum skins made of: Until the 1950s, drum heads were predominately made of animal skin. Now, it’s more common to see polyester or mylar. The most common form of polyester that is used is polyethylene terephthalate, due to its strong nature and resistance to moisture, heat, and sunlight. Polyethylene terephthalate is composed of chemical compounds – ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid – substances derived from petroleum.

What is the best material for drums?

Wood drum shells

Wood is the most common material used for drum shells. These types of shells produce a wide variety of sounds, ranging from warmer tones to sensitive, articulate sounds.

Maple

Maple is an all-purpose, versatile wood when used as a drum shell. It produces a nice, even amount of high and mid-level tones with a slightly warmer low-end. 

Mahogany

Mahogany is a great choice for jazz drummers, offering warm, rich, and vibrant tones. The highs can be somewhat muted, but there’s an incredibly smooth midrange and a rich, warm low tone. 

Birch

Birch shells are incredibly versatile as they can be tuned to suit most drumming styles. Because of this, they’re extremely popular with beginner and intermediate drummers learning a range of drumming techniques and styles.

They’re also incredibly durable, making them an even stronger choice for hard-hitting beginners.

Oak

Another all-purpose wood, oak offers exceptionally warm tonal qualities and a full-bodied presence when tuned high.

Walnut

Walnut is often favored by furniture makers for their beauty and durability, which is why they make for great drum shells.

Beech

This is much less common. However, beech is an ideal choice for drummers looking for a more unique tone. With pronounced highs and mids and a good low-end punch, beech wood offers a sensitive and focused sound. 

Cherry

Cherry wood projects an extremely warm tone and features boosted highs, a punchy midrange, and an average low-end. 

Bubinga

If you’re a rock or metal drummer, this one’s for you. Bubinga is extremely punchy and sensitive, with an even level of mid and high frequencies and a very rich low-end tone.

Popular

Poplar offers soft highs and mids with a boosted low-end warmth. The sound is smooth and even, making it suitable for a range of styles. Regardless of how hard you hit a poplar drum, the sound will be clear and controlled.

Metal drum shells

Metal drum shells produce a very different sound from their wooden counterparts. They’re typically welded, cast, or handspun.

Like wood shells, there are a lot of different metal alloys to choose from. Again, it’s important to consider the style of drumming you’re interested in, as this will have a great impact on which shell material is right for you.

Aluminium

Aluminum drum shells have a sensitive and colorful sound quality. The midrange is open and warm with crisp highs and low-end definition. Aluminum is well-known in the drumming world for providing a powerful yet dry tone. 

Brass

Brass shells are vibrant and warm, with open highs, mids, and lows. They’ve been a favorite amongst drummers for many years due to their versatile sound, response, and aesthetics. 

Copper

Copper snare drums are a rising feature in the drumming world. They are a hybrid between wood and metal, with a deep low end and organic warmth.

Titanium

Compared to other metal shells, titanium has a less metallic sound. It delivers a clean and focused tone along with distinct highs and mids, a boxy bottom end, and remarkable projection when struck hard. 

Bronze: 

Many well-known drummers, including Dave Grohl and Danny Carey, love bronze drum shells because they are so melodic.

Carbon-based materials

For drummers seeking a controlled and arid tone, carbon fiber is an excellent option. With more warmth in the low end, it provides a balanced range of highs and mids.

Acrylic

Acrylic drum shells are visually striking and feature great attack. 

Now you can answer: “What is a drum made out of?” – so share this with another drummer who should be in the loop on the nuances of drum materials and learn what’s under the hood.