Small snare drums
- Thread starter Toolate
- Start date
Lunar Satellite Brian
Senior Member
I have a 10" can't imagine anything smaller than that. Loudness is still an issue, in fact it's probably louder than my old 14". If loudness is your concern it's more about the kind of heads you use and your playing style than the drum size.
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
For low volume just use a 5x14 inch snare with brushes.
Small snares are focused and powerful. That is why they are used as accent snares.
Small snares are focused and powerful. That is why they are used as accent snares.
Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I've done this too, with both brushes and Remo Blasticks (the plastic ones, not the wood Hot Rods). On my brushes I have bent the metal retractable handle at certain points to hold the bristles out at a certain length too, so you can have several different 'spreads'. Small snares, as evident on cocktail drumsets, are quite loud and poppy. It's sounds like what you need is something tuned low and more 'into the mix', like Don Henley with the Eagles
Pocket-full-of-gold
Platinum Member
Can't recall seeing anything smaller than a 10".
You may have some luck with a snare from a cocktail kit. Or the other option would be to make one out of an old tom. Though it will entail having snare beds cut and then finding snare wires short enough and a bottom hoop with a snare gate cut into it may also proove challenging.
You may have some luck with a snare from a cocktail kit. Or the other option would be to make one out of an old tom. Though it will entail having snare beds cut and then finding snare wires short enough and a bottom hoop with a snare gate cut into it may also proove challenging.
bobdadruma
Platinum Member
That's it Bo, Just do like the old jazzers always did. Tune a little dirty and the volume will drop. The plastic Blasticks with the wood handles are great. I use them a lot.I've done this too, with both brushes and Remo Blasticks (the plastic ones, not the wood Hot Rods). On my brushes I have bent the metal retractable handle at certain points to hold the bristles out at a certain length too, so you can have several different 'spreads'. Small snares, as evident on cocktail drumsets, are quite loud and poppy. It's sounds like what you need is something tuned low and more 'into the mix', like Don Henley with the Eagles
Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Yeah, funny story: a friend showed me his blasticks about 20 years ago and I remember back then thinking, "what would I need those for?"- and here I am 20 years later still using them. I guess I did grow up, eh?
So much interest!
I was more asking for the size of the overall container I am dreaming of fitting this tiny kit into. I understand that one can play quietly on a larger drum ( though I have much work to do in this area) but it seems like 10 is the smallest made? I thought I heard mention of an 8" from gretsch but can't find any on their site.
Seems to me that one could play an 8 or even 6 snare if it were in a controlled manor ( and not just plain miss the drum in a fill etc) and a small drum would be easier to tote around. At some point I will make one if someone doesn't come up with a small diameter option.
Was thinking a 6" x 3" piccolo would make a cool sound..... What size would you go if you could?
I was more asking for the size of the overall container I am dreaming of fitting this tiny kit into. I understand that one can play quietly on a larger drum ( though I have much work to do in this area) but it seems like 10 is the smallest made? I thought I heard mention of an 8" from gretsch but can't find any on their site.
Seems to me that one could play an 8 or even 6 snare if it were in a controlled manor ( and not just plain miss the drum in a fill etc) and a small drum would be easier to tote around. At some point I will make one if someone doesn't come up with a small diameter option.
Was thinking a 6" x 3" piccolo would make a cool sound..... What size would you go if you could?
Andy
Honorary Member
What a fantastic picture! Any chance of a video clip featuring your band in action?Hi,Toolate!
I'm always use 8" snare, 10" kick for my gigs!!
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
Another request for a sound file of the Robert Wang Trio
I only have anecdotal evidence - my vintage 14 x 5 Drouyn snare and 14" Rogers Dynasonic snare (sadly sold) are better-sounding than the Rhythm Traveler 10" snare. That little drum sounds surprisingly good for what it is, but I prefer the sound of the regular size drums.
I only have anecdotal evidence - my vintage 14 x 5 Drouyn snare and 14" Rogers Dynasonic snare (sadly sold) are better-sounding than the Rhythm Traveler 10" snare. That little drum sounds surprisingly good for what it is, but I prefer the sound of the regular size drums.
I would like to hear them too!
Seems that small drum could not have snare wires w/o a reso though.
And I hear what you are saying Polly- I would prefer not to lose sound quality totally at the expense of portability but I would prefer, if possible, to be able to play this small kit with sticks of some sort instead of brushes just for the feel/funk possibilities that sticks add to a small kit. I am thinking only snare and bass but maybe one Tom that could end up as some kind of roto Tom or 8" variation but either way the goal is that it could be played with acoustic guitars so quiet is the name of the game. I would be willing to put adhesive foam on the entire bottom of the snare batter head or maybe play with a very thin layer of something on top to cut the sound and still have the playability and fun that sticks provide (I fell like brushes change your style and somewhat reduce/limit hat and snare accents and fills).
I guess, as usual, that my o.p. Was not a complete question without the intended use of thhe drum. I like to hit drums maybe a little bit hard but really play and get into it so I will need to quiet my drum instead of my playing if you know what I mean. Hoping to get somewhat close to standard drum sounds in a small package.
Seems that small drum could not have snare wires w/o a reso though.
And I hear what you are saying Polly- I would prefer not to lose sound quality totally at the expense of portability but I would prefer, if possible, to be able to play this small kit with sticks of some sort instead of brushes just for the feel/funk possibilities that sticks add to a small kit. I am thinking only snare and bass but maybe one Tom that could end up as some kind of roto Tom or 8" variation but either way the goal is that it could be played with acoustic guitars so quiet is the name of the game. I would be willing to put adhesive foam on the entire bottom of the snare batter head or maybe play with a very thin layer of something on top to cut the sound and still have the playability and fun that sticks provide (I fell like brushes change your style and somewhat reduce/limit hat and snare accents and fills).
I guess, as usual, that my o.p. Was not a complete question without the intended use of thhe drum. I like to hit drums maybe a little bit hard but really play and get into it so I will need to quiet my drum instead of my playing if you know what I mean. Hoping to get somewhat close to standard drum sounds in a small package.
2 more thoughts:
Am I wrong about brushes? I have played with very loose feeling wire brushes and they just felt too jazzy to be funky on the hats or do faster snare rolls.
Looks like Wonder1 has a set of uses hats on his little rig. Hope he comes back w sound file and description of the kit w sizes.
Am I wrong about brushes? I have played with very loose feeling wire brushes and they just felt too jazzy to be funky on the hats or do faster snare rolls.
Looks like Wonder1 has a set of uses hats on his little rig. Hope he comes back w sound file and description of the kit w sizes.
Pollyanna
Platinum Member
There's the tradeoff - sound or convenience. I have an RT because it's convenient ... it's easy to carry, it's light, it's cute, and it's not too loud. But there's no way its best sounds can compare with those of larger small kits like the Catalina or Safari. You find workarounds for the limitations.
I've spent 2 years trying to change from hitting to tapping. I really trained hitting hard into myself. So I understand the wish to keep a slamming style and use mellow gear to allow that all that energy and craziness into more refined musical situations.
It depends on the song. Sometimes a song really works with slammed brushes. Others are better off with light sticking instead. It depends on your ideas and skillset.
alparrott
Diamond Member
Yamaha used to make an 8x5 cocktail snare for the Club Jordan cocktail set:
http://en.euroguitar.com/view_images_132653
They don't make 'em anymore, your best bet would be Craigslist or eBay.
http://en.euroguitar.com/view_images_132653
They don't make 'em anymore, your best bet would be Craigslist or eBay.
Hi,Toolate!
You can go to Youtube and check up the short Video clip.. taken last year Penang Jazz Fest.
just type : The Roger Wang Trio
The other is "The Roger Wang Trio -PromoVideo.
There's a home-made snare wire attached on that 8" mini Snare drum. The Kick drum is just 10".(I'm using Audio Technica drum mic for my drums).The total weight for this mini drum plus hard-case is just 18.4kgs!(Check-in cargo only allow 20kgs).The 8" tom & other crash/ride cymbal are supply from the Jazz Fest!
Thanks!
Peter(wonder1)
You can go to Youtube and check up the short Video clip.. taken last year Penang Jazz Fest.
just type : The Roger Wang Trio
The other is "The Roger Wang Trio -PromoVideo.
There's a home-made snare wire attached on that 8" mini Snare drum. The Kick drum is just 10".(I'm using Audio Technica drum mic for my drums).The total weight for this mini drum plus hard-case is just 18.4kgs!(Check-in cargo only allow 20kgs).The 8" tom & other crash/ride cymbal are supply from the Jazz Fest!
Thanks!
Peter(wonder1)
Looks great Alparrot- pink sparkle is my absolute favorite too (36 yr old construction worker male-not so much). That is what I was thinking but it seems like it would/could really be loud if tuned/played the right way.. Perfect size for what I am planning though so thanks.
Great playing and suprisingly good sound from that little kit Peter. Seems like you make it work for your band perfectly. That snare really cuts when you get on it.
Great playing and suprisingly good sound from that little kit Peter. Seems like you make it work for your band perfectly. That snare really cuts when you get on it.