A research project sponsored by the Furman Advantage Program at Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
Percussionists are faced with a multitude of choices when selecting batter heads for snare drums. The drum head industry has developed a wide collection of synthetic drum heads to meet the various tastes and demands of the performing percussionist. With the dozens of choices available, selecting the correct batter head for a specific application is not an easy task. Ideally the percussionist would attempt to personally sample each head. But this ideal is financially and logistically impossible for most performers. In lieu of that opportunity, the player turns to opinions of others and the manufacturer's descriptions. However, the language used to describe these heads range from marketing hyperbole to ambiguous adjectives which vary in meaning from one individual to the next. Descriptors such as "dry," "mellow," "dark," "wet," "warm," and "punchy" lack the objective precision to have any universal meaning.
The purpose of this research project was to offer an objective "picture" of the tonal characteristics of a variety of popular snare drum batter heads. Through a program which does frequency spectral analysis we can have a visual representation of heads' tone color. Tone color is defined by the strength of the various frequencies contained in a particular sound. Each drum head displays a unique spectrum, with some heads producing many high frequencies while others do not.
Although this project provides the objective results of the frequency spectral analysis, it will be up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions about tone. The discussion under "Results" offers some guidelines which are valuable in interpreting the spectra as well as understanding the limitations of this study. Please e-mail Lewis or Beckford any comments concerning this study.
Special appreciation is extended to Pecknel Music Company of Greenville, SC, Remo, Inc. and HHS a Division of Hohner for their material support of this project. Please view their websites as well as other activity at Furman University's Undergraduate Reseach Programs.
Results
Frequency Spectra (graphs)
Side-by-Side Menu for Spectra Comparisons
Methodology and Procedure
Equipment and Resources
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Authors' Biographies
This webpage is maintained by Dr. John S. Beckford, Professor of Music,
Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613
john.beckford@furman.edu