How to Play Drum Quads

Drum quads are a set of four drums of different sizes mounted on a frame that allows the drummer to play intricate rhythms. They are a prominent feature in marching bands and drum corps. A specialized type of drum, quads can be played with both sticks and mallets. Drummers typically use matched grip (sticks held with the same hand and fingers) to facilitate techniques, such as sweeps, scrapes, and crossovers that are unique to quad drumming.

In order to effectively play a set of quad drums, it’s important to be as loose as possible and avoid any tension in the hands or arms. A tight arm can cause a wrist to lock, which inhibits movement of the stick and prevents the drum from playing correctly. Similarly, any tension in the hands or forearm can cause misalignment and inconsistent hits. Drummers can improve their playing by being aware of these issues and addressing them through practice.

Another way to help keep the arms relaxed is to focus on keeping the elbows high, rather than letting them drop. This helps with consistency and avoids the choppy sound often heard from young quad drummers. Keeping the arms elevated can also prevent the left side of the set from sagging, which can affect balance and stability.

Crossovers are an integral part of tenor drumming and can be done on 3 basic types: Fulcrum to fulcrum, shaft to shaft, or forearm to forearm. Forearm to forearm crossings are usually the most difficult because it requires a lot of coordination and is best performed by a drummer with excellent hand-eye coordination.

A good set of quads can provide a huge variety of rhythmic and melodic figures to an ensemble, as well as add an element of visual flair. Drummers should be sure to take the time to study a piece of music and look for specific beats, accents, and rhythms that can be incorporated into their own style. Using these rhythms as inspiration, drummers can create their own creative and individualistic style of playing that’s truly distinctive.

There are a variety of options for purchasing a set of quads, and they can be as affordable or as high-end as a drummer desires. Ready-made sets of quads range from the practical, budget-friendly Sound Percussion Labs Marching Tenor Drums Quad Sonic Cut with Carrier to the top of the line Pearl Championship CarbonCore Marching Tenor Drums Quad Sonic Cut. Regardless of which set a drummer chooses, it’s essential to have a high-quality tenor drum carrier and a pair of matched tenor drum mallets to accompany the quads.

Marching multiple tenor drums can be extremely heavy, which can be a challenge for new players. For this reason, drummers often opt to purchase a tenor drum practice pad, which is a specialized tool that mimics the layout and setup of actual tenor drums in marching bands and drum corps. These pads can vary in number and arrangement, but most are designed to resemble the setup of quads to make it easy for drummers to practice the transitions and crossovers that are vital to tenor drumming.