All PARTS of the BATTERY

When we enter the world of a musical discipline, we begin to notice that the desire to invent arises to continue exploring all the possibilities. Music is a wide world in which objects have been created to implement our interpretation of art, we call these instruments and allow us to explore sound. One of those instruments is the drums, which over time has been collecting elements to fulfill its musical function to the fullest. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will talk about battery parts.

The battery is a percussion musical instrument, made up of not one but several parts and pieces of different types that in turn are considered instruments by themselves. Before learning about its parts we must understand the concept that drums actually consist of a set that allows us to increase the possibilities of rhythmic performance.

Because of this, the battery can vary not only in type and brand, but also in combinations of its components. This will depend on the musical style and the musician's own taste.

instagram story viewer

Although the parts of the drums can vary, by inheritance of history the drums have certain basic parts that every set has. In general we can divide them into drumsticks, drums, plates and assembly parts and mechanisms.

Drumsticks

The drumsticks are two thin rods with which the rest of the pieces of the battery corresponding to the hands are struck. Standard drumsticks are made of wood and come in different thicknesses. Depending on the style and genre of music, the drummer sometimes chooses to use "Brushes" instead of drumsticks, which are a series of thin metal wires that are deployed at one end (like a broom).

Drums

They are circular instruments generally made of wood with metal rings, which have two taut heads, one at each end (top and bottom). The drum is struck on one of the surfaces and the sound resonates within it. The drums can be of different diameters and depths. The patches can also change type and material.

Inside the drums we find the following:

• Box: It is the central drum played by the hands. Unlike the rest of the drums this one has a staff or talk (a series of metallic strands) that is taut at the bottom of the head to produce a distinctive sound.
• Drum: It is the largest drum and is placed horizontally on the ground, in the center of the drums. This drum is played with the foot, using a pedal that has a mechanism to operate a hammer that hits the head of the bass drum. In some drum sets the player chooses to have an additional pedal.
• Toms: They are the drums suspended above the drums. The toms are of different sizes to have various tunings available. Usually 1 or two toms are used but there are those who use 3 or more.
• Goliath / Floor Tom: It is also a tom but it is supported by a mechanism of metal rods on the ground. Of the toms it is the lowest in tuning.

Dishes or Saucers

They are another of the best known parts of the battery. As their name indicates, they are shaped like plates and made of different metals. They change in diameter and shape to fulfill different functions. There is a lot of variety in terms of dishes but the basic types are the following:

• Hi-Hat or Charles: They are two cymbals that have a pedal-operated mechanism to open and close and cause the dishes to collide with each other.
• Ride: It is the largest type of cymbal in diameter and has a more solid and punctual sound. In the center it has a bulging area like other dishes, but it tends to be larger.
• Crash: It is the equivalent of the suspended plate in orchestras. It is scandalous but of a fine and sharp sound.

Assembly parts and mechanisms

By this we mean all the parts that are used to place the drums as a whole and to operate some parts with the feet (in the case of the kick and hi-hat pedals). These pieces are made of metal and have mechanisms that can be modified with keys to change the position in terms of height or angle. A whole set of metal parts is sometimes called ironwork. The pieces that serve to place drums or cymbals are called foot, stand or pedestal.

Now you know all the parts of the drums, a powerful, versatile and fun instrument. Since you know its parts, it would be necessary for you to find one to be able to see them in person and to be able to interact with them to understand them better.