Bass Drum

The bass drum is one of the largest drums in a drum set. Alternatively, it can be a standalone drum too. It is also the drum that emits the lowest frequency sounds. This drum is responsible for the thunderous ’boom’ that is heard in the background during many orchestras and rock concerts both live and on radio. With skin covering both ends of the cylindrical drum, the resonance achieved when the drum is struck provides a foot tapping beat to any song.

In popular music, the bass drum is generally of three types; the concert bass drum, kick drum and pitched bass drum. The concert bass drum is held in the upright position with the drum heads laterally oriented. The kick drum is part of a drum kit and is played by the drummer with his feet pressing against a pedal connected to a beater that ’beats’ against the drum skin. The pitched bass drum is most often included as part of the regalia of marching bands.

The double bass drumming technique used in some jazz and heavy metal performances use either two separate kick drums or a single kick drum with two pedals operated by both the drummer’s feet. While the bass drum is connected to a drum kit or placed on stand in most stage concerts, a marching band bass drum is slung on the body of the drummer, with the surface to be hit being easily accessible to the musician’s hands.