Nothing But Drums

The bass drum (also known as the ‘kick’) is one of the essential parts of the drum kit, and in most music will be the lowest frequency instrument heard. It is the foundation of most popular music, and should be felt as the driving force behind a song, as it is linked closely with the bass line. The kick drum is struck with a beater which is attached via a chain to a pedal, enabling it to be struck with the foot alone. The beater is usually made of wood or plastic, and is often covered in some sort of cloth – similar to an orchestral mallet.

The standard size for a bass drum is 20” or 22”, both of which are suitable for most kinds of modern music. Drummers who play heavier music often enjoy the benefits of using lager bass drums, such as 24” or even 26” or 28” diameter kicks. Jazz players however are prone to using smaller 18” or 16” bass drums, which give more of an accent-type thud, and are quieter in acoustic situations. It is also possible to convert a tom or floor tom into a bass drum using special conversion tools, which can provide a unique sound for certain types of music. Bass drum depth is also important, as deeper kick drums produce ‘boomier’ tones, while shorter depths produce a more sudden, quicker sound. In recent years, the normal depth for most bass drums has increased from 14”, to 16”, with rock-style bass drums often being 18” deep. To stop bass drums from resonating too much and producing a ‘booming’ sound, some drummers put a pillow inside their bass drum to muffle the tone.

In heavier styles of rock music, two bass drums are often used to allow for faster and more complicated kick patterns. Most players use identical bass drums so that the difference between the two bass drums is inaudible, but some players experiment with different sized bass drums, or even three or more bass drums in a single kit. ‘Double pedals’ are a recent invention which simulate the effect of two bass drums by using two separate beaters on one bass drum, which is useful for live situations where there may be a lack of space. In the studio or at home though, most players use two actual bass drums so that notes can articulate more clearly through two dedicated kick drums.

The following bass drums are currently available through Ebay:

got beat decal sticker drums bass sound bump    US $3.00

Mapex Drums Saturn Manhattan Kit Lacquer 18 Bass drum    US $1,494.00

True Playaz Drum n Bass Listen    US $8.99