Choosing the Right Type of Drum Head

Whether you’re playing acoustic drums or an electronic kit, a drum head is the one piece of equipment that can make the biggest difference to your sound. Originally made from animal skin, drum heads are now primarily manufactured using plastic and come in a wide variety of sizes. Choosing the right type of drumhead is essential to your overall drum tone, and can help you make your kit sound fuller or more focused.

The most basic and common drumheads are clear (uncoated). They’re simple in construction, which allows the characteristics of the shell and bearing edge to shine through. They’re ideal for lighter music styles and tunings, as they allow the high frequencies to cut through and project. Coated drumheads offer a bit more sustain than their clear counterparts, as the coating absorbs some of the high frequency overtones.

Drumheads are also available with added features that cater to specific musical purposes. Specialty heads include center-dot models, which are designed to produce a more focused tonality with less vibration and additional durability. Kevlar heads are among the strongest models on the market, which makes them great for hard-hitting playing situations like heavy metal and drum corps.

Thickness is another important factor when deciding on the best drumheads for your setup. Thicker drumheads have more mass, which means they vibrate at a slower rate and dissipate sound energy at a lower velocity. Thicker bottom drumheads are ideal for recording and rock scenarios, as they have a deep tone with a shorter decay time, but may require a solid set of ears to balance out the sound with other drums in a live setting.

Double-ply drumheads have a thicker consistency than single-ply heads, offering more resonance and a longer sustain. They can sound bright and articulate, or warm and deep depending on the model you choose, but be sure to test them out for yourself to determine if they’re a good fit for your style.

Many drummers also opt for a thicker top head, which can be used to alter the pitch of your drums. By tuning the batter head an octave above or below the bottom head, you can create a fuller sound and minimize the amount of overtones you hear from each individual drum. This method can be tricky to perfect, as it requires a lot of ear training and precise tuning skills.

There are a few telltale signs that it’s time to replace your drum heads. A decrease in the quality of your sound or a loss of resonance are both indications that it’s time to swap them out for fresh ones. Other telltale signs are cracks, dents or tears on the heads, which can shorten their life and affect the sound they produce. It’s also a good idea to change your heads if you’ve been using them for an extended period of time and they’ve started to lose their tension. This is usually due to the elements or a gradual wear and tear over time.