Drums

Perhaps no other instrument provides as many possibilities for microphone combinations, and therefore presents as much of a challenge, as the drums. Several different components make up a drum set—at least a bass drum, a floor (low-pitched) tom-tom, medium- and high-pitched tom-toms, a snare drum, a hi-hat cymbal, and two overhead cymbals.

Characteristics

Drums consist of at least one membrane (drumhead) stretched over a cylinder and, usually, a second membrane that resonates with the struck head. Drums produce loud sound levels and steep transients. They are not considered pitched instruments, although drumheads can be tuned to a musical pitch; and the pitch relationships of the floor, medium, and high tom-toms must be maintained. Also, various sonic effects can be achieved by tuning the top and bottom heads to different tensions relative to each other.