The earliest known predecessor to the bass drum was the Turkish davul, a cylindrical drum that featured two thin heads stretched over hoops and attached to a narrow shell. This instrument produced a sound much deeper than that of any other drum in existence, making it indispensable for war and combat where a deep, percussive tone was needed to ensure forces marched in proper step. The Ottoman Janissaries in the 18th century were one of the first groups to utilize davuls in their music, creating military bands primarily made up of davul, cymbal, and kettle drum players. These drums were ideal for military use because of the unique way they could be carried; Ottoman soldiers hung their davuls at their breasts with thick straps, allowing them to transport instruments from battle to battle with ease. This practice was not limited to the Ottoman Empire, as Egyptian soldiers also braced similar drums with cords to carry them during military movements. Beyond the battlefield, davuls were a major aspect of Turkish folk dances, with davul and shawm players performing together in groups called davul-zurnas, or drum and shawm circles, within Ottoman society.
From Wood to Metal
As the use of the davul spread across Europe, composers and musicians began seeking even deeper tones for their compositions, leading to the introduction of the gong drum in Britain during the 19th century. This narrow-shelled, single-headed drum measured 70 to 100 centimeters in diameter and was deep-shelled, similar to the long drum in both size and construction. When struck, the gong drum produced a deep sound with rich resonance, but its immense size and lack of a second head to balance the sound meant it produced a definite pitch. This characteristic made it nearly impossible to incorporate into an orchestra in any meaningful way, causing it to fall out of favor with many composers. Music makers then began building smaller gong drums that would not carry a definite pitch, creating the prototype for the modern orchestral bass drum. The modern bass drum is double-headed, rod-tensioned, and measures roughly 40 inches in diameter and 20 inches in width, typically situated within a frame that allows it to be positioned at any angle.The Pedal Revolution
In 1900, the Sonor drum company introduced its first single bass drum pedal, but it was William F. Ludwig who made the bass drum pedal workable in 1909, paving the way for the modern drum kit. A bass drum pedal operates much like the hi-hat control, where a footplate is pressed to pull a chain, belt, or metal drive mechanism downward, bringing a beater or mallet forward into the drumhead. The beater head is usually made of felt, wood, plastic, or rubber and is attached to a rod-shaped metal shaft. The pedal and beater system are mounted in a metal frame, and like the hi-hat, a tension unit controls the amount of pressure needed to strike and the amount of recoil upon release. This innovation allowed drummers to play the bass drum with their feet, freeing up their hands for other instruments and transforming the role of the bass drum from a stationary orchestral instrument to a dynamic component of the drum kit.