Lighted Drumhead
Posted in Uncategorized on 01/29/2006 05:36 am by admin
Lighted Drumhead
![]() |
The Drumhead: From Rawhide To Kevlar
If you're anything like me, you think of a drum as a single entity, an easily definable instrument of simple construction. Yet the fact is that drums really consist of at least three separate and distinct parts: the shell, the "hoop" or "rim" and the drumhead. And it is this last component that produces the sounds we all associate with the drum, the rolls and resonances that so strongly characterize the instrument. The drumhead is the thin membrane that is stretched over one or both open ends of the drum shell. It can be struck with a variety of instruments, including the empty hand, which causes it to vibrate. The vibrations then resonate through the shell of the drum, producing sound.
The drum is a very ancient instrument, and its existence predates recorded history. The first drums we know of used the skins of animals, or rawhide, to create drumheads. A wide variety of rawhide was used in ancient times, often depending on the culture and the animals readily available. The skins of kangaroos, moose, deer, lizards and other animals were all used. Sometimes other parts of animals, such as the intestines of whales, were also utilized. Although there are a number of manmade options available in modern times (more on this in a moment), animal skins are still used in the construction of some drums, many of them hand drums such as congas and bongos. However, the problem with animal skin drumheads is that they tend to be susceptible to environmental conditions, such as excessive heat or humidity.
As mentioned, the majority of drums made today have drumheads of manmade material. There are several different options, the most common of which is the plastic drumhead. These are made from polyester and were developed by Remo Belli and Sam Muchnick. These gentlemen called their invention "mylar," and in 1957, Belli used it to found Remo, a highly successful drumhead company still in existence today. Remo produces the Weatherking drumhead series, which is used by orchestras and marching bands, as well as in drum sets.
Aramid fibers are also commonly used to create drumheads. These synthetic fibers are strong, light and heat-resistant; the most well-known of them is probably Kevlar, which is famous for its use in military applications, such as body armor fabric. Aramid fibers are useful in producing drumheads that require increased durability, such as those commonly used in marching percussion situations.
It should also be mentioned that although it is the drumhead that creates the vibrations that are the source of the drum's sound, it is the drum rim that controls those vibrations. A drum hoop, which can be of metal, wood or some other material, is used to hold a drumhead against the drum shell. The drumhead is attached to the hoop with bolts. These bolts, called "tension rods," are screwed into threaded nuts, or "lugs." The lugs allow the bolts to be tightened, usually by means of a "drum key," a type of wrench specific to the purpose. By tightening the bolts, a drummer is able to control and tune the drumhead.
About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for drums, drumheads, sheet music, guitar tabs, and home theater audio.
|
|
Sabian Drumhead Repair Kit $9.99 Sabian Drumhead Repair Kit |
|
|
Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 20 $44.18 Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 20" |
|
|
Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 22 $47.6 Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 22" |
|
|
Evans ESS13KB DrumHead 13 $31.99 Evans ESS13KB DrumHead 13" |
|
|
Evans ST Drumhead 14 $18.24 Evans ST Drumhead 14" |
|
|
Remo Ambassador Drumhead ProPack $45.86 Remo Ambassador Drumhead ProPack |
|
|
Evans Ess13kb Drumhead 13 $31.99 Evans ESS13KB DrumHead 13" |
|
|
Remo Ambassador Drumhead Propack $41.99 Remo Ambassador Drumhead ProPack |
|
|
Evans St Drumhead 14 $18.24 Evans ST Drumhead 14" |
|
|
Evans Bdrgcw Drumhead 20 $44.18 Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 20" |
|
|
Evans Bdrgcw Drumhead 22 $47.6 Evans BDRGCW DrumHead 22" |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 14inch $14.98 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 14inch |
|
|
Attack Terry Bozzio Drumhead 6-Pack $109.99 Attack Terry Bozzio Drumhead 6-Pack |
|
|
Evans EMAD 5-Piece Drumhead Pack $120.3 Evans EMAD 5-Piece Drumhead Pack |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 13inch $18.81 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 13inch |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 16inch $22.23 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 16inch |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 15inch $21.09 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 15inch |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 8inch $15.96 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 8inch |
|
|
Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 18inch $26.51 Evans Onyx 2-Ply Drumhead 18inch |
|
|
Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 10 $15.39 Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 10" |
|
|
Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 13 $17.1 Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 13" |
|
|
Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 14 $18.24 Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 14" |
|
|
Evans EC2S Frosted Drumhead 6 $14.25 Evans EC2S Frosted Drumhead 6" |
|
|
Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 12 $15.96 Evans EC Resonant Drumhead 12" |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 12 In $15.99 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 12 In |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 10 In $14.29 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 10 In |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 13 In $17.29 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 13 In |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 8 In $13.69 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 8 In |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 14 In $18.29 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 14 In |
|
|
Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 18 In $24.29 Aquarian Super-2 Clear Drumhead 18 In |
|
|
Evans ES B14HB DrumHead 14 $19.95 Evans ES B14HB DrumHead 14" |
|
|
Evans ES B14HBG DrumHead 14 $19.95 Evans ES B14HBG DrumHead 14" |
|
|
Evans ES BDRA DrumHead 18 $41.04 Evans ES BDRA DrumHead 18" |
|
|
Evans ES BDGB3 DrumHead 24 $57 Evans ES BDGB3 DrumHead 24" |
|
|
Evans ES BDGB1 DrumHead 24 $57 Evans ES BDGB1 DrumHead 24" |
|
|
Evans ES ET DrumHead 26 $79.84 Evans ES ET DrumHead 26" |
|
|
Evans ES ET DrumHead 29 $84.8 Evans ES ET DrumHead 29" |


US $9.99


































