Bass drum
The Turkish davul emerged as a cylindrical drum with two thin heads stretched over hoops and attached to a narrow shell. A person would strike the right side of this instrument with a large wooden stick while hitting the left side with a rod. This unique tone produced a sound much deeper than other drums in existence during that era. Ottoman Janissary military bands utilized these instruments extensively in the 18th century for marching songs. Soldiers hung their davuls at their breasts using thick straps to carry them easily from battle to battle. Egyptian soldiers also used similar drums braced with cords for military movements. The Ottoman Empire stretched from Vienna down to northern Africa, spreading these cultural aspects worldwide. Indigenous populations in Africa took the basic idea of the davul and increased its size significantly. They changed the material from a thick shell to a hollowed-out tree trunk. These long drums measured approximately 2 meters in length and 50 centimeters in diameter. Africans soaked cow hides in boiling hot water to stretch them out over the frame. While both drums were played similarly, long drums served primarily religious purposes unlike the davul.
Music makers began building smaller gong drums that did not carry a definite pitch after earlier versions fell out of favor. This smaller version is today called the orchestral bass drum and serves as the prototype most people recognize. The modern drum measures roughly 40 inches in diameter and 20 inches in width while being double-headed and rod tensioned. Most orchestral bass drums sit within a frame allowing them to be positioned at any angle. Composers have much more freedom in how they use this instrument compared to other genres. Common uses include providing local color or creating climactic single strokes during performances. Drummers may employ keyboard percussion mallets, timpani mallets, or even drumsticks to strike the head. Some performers use their hand or fingers directly on the surface for specific effects. Rolls, repetitions, and unison strokes remain standard playing techniques available to musicians. Bass drums sometimes function as sound effects like thunder or an earthquake in theatrical productions. The instrument remains the largest drum found within any orchestra setting.
William Ludwig created a workable bass drum pedal in 1909 which struck a two-headed bass drum similarly to a drumstick. In a typical drum kit the bass drum is much smaller than traditional orchestral instruments measuring around 22 inches in diameter. Sizes range from 18 inches to 26 inches while depths vary between 14 inches and 18 inches with 18 inches being normal. Vintage bass drums are generally shallower than the current standard of 18 inches depth. Sometimes the front head features a hole to allow air to escape when struck for shorter sustain. Muffling can be installed through this hole without removing the front head entirely. The opening also allows microphones to be placed inside the drum for recording and amplification purposes. Professional drummers often choose customized front heads displaying their band logo or name. The kit bass drum may be more heavily muffled than classical versions using pillows or blankets inside. Different beaters made of felt, wood, or plastic produce varying sonic effects on the instrument. Some kits feature tom-tom mounts attached directly to the top of the bass drum shell.
Sonor drum company introduced its first single bass drum pedal in 1900 before Ludwig made it workable nine years later. A footplate presses down to pull a chain belt or metal drive mechanism bringing a beater forward into the drumhead. The beater head usually consists of felt wood plastic or rubber attached to a rod-shaped metal shaft. The pedal system sits within a metal frame where a tension unit controls pressure needed to strike. Recoil upon release is managed by springs allowing for rapid repeated strikes. Double bass drum pedals operate similarly but with a second footplate controlling a remote beater alongside the primary mechanism. Most designs attach via a shaft to a secondary beater mechanism rather than using two separate drums. One notable exception involves the symmetrical Sleishman twin bass drum pedal which uses a different configuration. Drummers can opt for two separate bass drums each with a single pedal for similar results. When using double pedals the hi-hat foot moves to control the second bass drum pedal instead. A drop clutch keeps the hi-hat closed even when that foot leaves the pedal entirely. Three primary techniques exist for playing single strokes including heel-down and heel-up methods.
The first person to popularize the double bass drum setup was jazz drummer Louie Bellson who conceived the idea while still in high school. Ray McKinley utilized this setup as early as 1941 according to Metronome magazine advertisements. Rock drummers Ginger Baker of Cream and Keith Moon of The Who popularized double bass drums during the 1960s. After 1970 Billy Cobham and Narada Michael Walden used double kick drums with Mahavishnu Orchestra. American thrash metal band Slayer's former drummer Dave Lombardo earned the title godfather of double bass from Drummerworld magazine. Death metal genres use double kick drumming extensively often incorporating blast beat techniques focusing on speed and endurance. Some tempos are only possible with double strokes when triggers or sample replacement systems are employed. Notable players include Rod Morgenstein Tim Waterson Tomas Haake Chris Adler and Derek Roddy. These musicians mastered fast double strokes using heel-toe slide or swivel techniques allowing two hits per movement. Terry Bozzio introduced ostinato patterns in educational DVDs playing rudiments on feet while hands play freely. Virgil Donati became the first drummer to successfully use inverted double strokes with both feet simultaneously.
The bass line is a unique ensemble consisting of graduated pitch marching bass drums found in bands and corps. Each drum plays a different note giving the line a task distinct from simple timekeeping roles. Skilled lines execute complex linear passages split among multiple drums adding melodic elements to percussion sections. The line typically contains between three and five drums though some groups use as many as seven. Drums measure between 16 inches and 32 inches in diameter with larger ones producing lower notes. Individual drums tune higher than other bass drums of the same size for clear articulation of rapid passages. Unlike snare or tenor drums these instruments mount sideways facing horizontally rather than vertically. Bass drummers face perpendicular to the rest of the band so their bodies do not face the audience directly. Players point their drums at the back of the bass drummer ahead to align heads for optimal sound output. The bottom fifth bass serves as the heartbeat maintaining pulse throughout an entire ensemble performance. The fourth bass functions tonally similar but plays slightly more rapid parts off the beat within phrases. Top or first bass starts or ends phrases using high tension heads allowing snare-like difficulty levels.
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Common questions
What is the historical origin of the bass drum?
The Turkish davul emerged as a cylindrical drum with two thin heads stretched over hoops and attached to a narrow shell. Ottoman Janissary military bands utilized these instruments extensively in the 18th century for marching songs.
When was the first workable bass drum pedal created by William Ludwig?
William Ludwig created a workable bass drum pedal in 1909 which struck a two-headed bass drum similarly to a drumstick. Sonor drum company introduced its first single bass drum pedal in 1900 before Ludwig made it workable nine years later.
Who popularized the double bass drum setup in jazz and rock music?
The first person to popularize the double bass drum setup was jazz drummer Louie Bellson who conceived the idea while still in high school. Rock drummers Ginger Baker of Cream and Keith Moon of The Who popularized double bass drums during the 1960s.
How large are modern orchestral bass drums compared to kit versions?
The modern orchestral bass drum measures roughly 40 inches in diameter and 20 inches in width while being double-headed and rod tensioned. In a typical drum kit the bass drum is much smaller than traditional orchestral instruments measuring around 22 inches in diameter.
What distinguishes the bass line ensemble from standard marching bands?
The bass line is a unique ensemble consisting of graduated pitch marching bass drums found in bands and corps where each drum plays a different note giving the line a task distinct from simple timekeeping roles. Drums measure between 16 inches and 32 inches in diameter with larger ones producing lower notes.