drumhead

Drumhead mounted on a stand

A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.

History

Originally, drumheads were made from animal skin and were first used in early human history, long before records began.

In 1956, Chick Evans invented the plastic drumhead. Plastic drumheads made from polyester are cheaper, more durable, and less sensitive to weather than animal skin . In 1957, Remo Belli and Sam Muchnick together developed a plastic head (also known as Mylar) leading to the development of the Remo drumhead company.

Despite the benefits of plastic heads, drummers in historical reenactment groups such as fife and drum use animal skin heads for historical accuracy. Skin heads are used on most hand drums, including djembes, frame drums and congas. Another common material used for drumheads is aramid fiber, such as kevlar. More durable fiber heads are used mostly in marching percussion.^{[citation needed]}

Tuning

1 Holder clamp, 2 Rim, 3 Tension rod, 4 Lug, 5 Snare butt

A drum "hoop" or "rim" may be made of metal, wood, or other material and is used to hold a drumhead against a drum shell, either with bolts through metal "claws" attached directly to a hoop, or bolts through holes in a flanged rim. The bolts, called "tension rods," are screwed into threaded "lugs" attached to the drum shell, in order to tighten and tune the drumhead.^[1] A "drum key" is a type of wrench used to screw the tension rods into the lugs.^[2]

Muffling

Drummers muffle their drums using special drumheads like double-ply heads, "control ring" heads, and "hydraulic" heads, or various materials placed on the drumhead like o-rings, duct tape, muffling clamps, and a product called Moongel which is a blue, sticky, gel-like substance also used to dampen cymbals. Drummers also place foam, pillows, or blankets inside the bass drum to reduce overtones.^[3]

Manufacturers

• Aquarian

High-quality drum heads for orchestra, marching, and drum set.

• Attack

Product line includes “Glue-less” drum heads and Jingle Head (tambourine jingles riveted to drum head).

• Bear Percussion

Manufacturer of high-end drum heads.

• Columbia Products International

Manufacturers leather-skin vellum drum heads. Available in goat, cow, calf, and buffalo skin.

• Coreelo

Mexican drum head manufacturer makes heads for drum set and marching drums.

• Cozmo Graphics

Custom bass drum heads. Full color printing on Evans and Remos drum heads.

• Custom Skins

British company prints your hi-res graphics on a Remo bass drum head.

• Drum Art

Makes custom graphic bass drum heads.

• Drum Workshop

DW heads are made by Remo. They feature pressed counter-hoops and a sharp angle around the bearing edge.

• Earthtone

Real skin drum heads mounted on aluminum rims.

• Evans

One of the largest drum head manufacturers. Huge variety of drum heads.

• HeadFx

Standard graphic bass drum heads.

• Head First

Custom printed bass drum heads.

• Honsuy

Spanish plastic drum head manufacturer.

• Ludwig-Musser

Makers of Weather Master drum heads.

• Remo

King of drum heads! Makers of Pinstripe, Ambassador, and Emperor drum heads, among others.

• Rockenhedz

Owned by Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche. Standard and custom drum heads with hi-res graphics.

• RMV

Brazilian drum head maker. English website coming soon.

• Vellum Head Co.

Manufactures vellum drum heads in any size. Available in goat, calf, cow, and buffalo skin.

• Vintage Logos

Makes a lot of cool custom bass drum heads. They’ll print your graphics on a bass drum head, or on a removable sticker.

• Yamaha Drum Heads

References

1. ^ International House of Blues Foundation. "Making a Drum" 2003
2. ^ Drum Key Patent [1]
3. ^ Caldwell, Lyle. " Drum Treatment - Muffling " 1999

External links

• Accessory Fetish A Complete List of Drum Head Manufacturers

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