A bass drum is a large drum that produces a note of low definite or indefinite pitch.
Bass drums are percussion instruments and vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished.
- The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum (in Italian: gran cassa, gran tamburo). It is the largest drum of the orchestra.
- The kick drum, struck with a beater attached to a pedal, usually seen on drum kits.
- The pitched bass drum, generally used in marching bands and drum corps. This is tuned to a specific pitch and is usually played in a set of three to six drums.
The bass drum was imported from the Middle East.
Read more about Bass Drum: Description, Names, Mounting, Strikers, History, Bass Drum Pedal, Double Bass Drum, Pitched Bass Drum in Marching Band Use, Audio Samples
Famous quotes containing the words bass and/or drum:
“How are we to know that a Dracula is a key-pounding pianist who lifts his hands up to his face, or that a bass fiddle is the doghouse, or that shmaltz musicians are four-button suit guys and long underwear boys?”
—In New York City, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“It shall be said that gods are stone.
Shall a dropped stone drum on the ground,
Flung gravel chime? Let the stones speak
With tongues that talk all tongues.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)