Snare Drum Sizes and Sounds Defined

Snare Drum Sizes and Sounds

It seems that the most common snare drum size offered on drum sets today is 14" in diameter by 5.5" deep. Why is that? Maybe because this size is "middle of the road" in tone and volume.

Regardless of why 14" x 5" snares are so common, it would be wise for drummers to be aware of other sizes used. Let's take a look at sizes and materials used to create a sea of sounds.

What's In A Name?

So everyone is familiar with what a snare IS and what it's used for, but are you familiar with the names used to classify the various sizes?

There are two dimensions used for any drum: diameter and depth. Considering the depth first, there are 3 groups that the size ranges are broken into-

	Piccolo- 3" - 4.5" deep
	Standard- 5" - 5.5" deep
	Deep- 6"- 10" deep

There are also 3 groups for the diameter. 10" snares are called "popcorn" snare drums; 12" - 13" diameter snares are labeled as "suprano", and 14" diameter snares are plain jane 'standard'.

Now for the confusing part. You can find mixing of the two dimensions. For instance a snare drum can have a diameter of 12" and a depth of 5" OR a depth of 3". Some drum makers will use diameter when applying the name. In this case it would be a "suprano". BUT if they used depth as the guide, technically the 5" deep snare qualifies as standard and the 3" deep snare qualifies as piccolo.

If your mind gets as muddled over the names as mine, then don't worry because the sound is really the only thing that matters...right?!

Snap - Crackle - Pop

When it comes to drum shells, the rules for diameter and depth apply the same to a snare drum as they do to toms. Diameter has THE GREATEST affect on tone. So a 10" diameter snare will have a much higher pitch than a 14" snare.

This fundamental increase in pitch robs the snare's ability to cut through the mix effectively. So what is done to make up for this? Make the 10" snare deeper than a standard snare to increase projection. Ta-daaaaa! You end up with a sharp and quick snare "crack"- great for fills and accents.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the big snares. They have a standard 14" diameter shell but range from 6" to 12" deep. The deep snares have great projection but much lower tone, which can be described as dark or fat.

Naturally you can find every sound in between with other sizes. Plus, don't forget about how much tuning affects sound. A typical 5.5" X 14" snare can have a fat or sharp sound, depending on head tension. However, it is best to look for the fundamental tone of the shell (with the snares off), and change your overall snare sound by used other sizes.

Shell Materials Matter

Simply put, there are two standard materials used: wood & metal. Wood is generally warmer in tone than metal. Maple tends to be the most popular wood used for snares. The sound of maple is described as warm or dark. Woods of other densities will results in tones that may be either brighter or darker.

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Steel is the most common metal used for snares but brass, copper, aluminum, and bronze models can also be found.

Drum Workshop (DW Drums) actually has a model that uses a 10-ply maple shell in the center and heavy-gauge brass on the outer edges. This "Edge Series" snare makes a lot of sense given that maple is warm and metal is bright. Could the result be a perfect blend?

Tricks of the Trade

It would be good to give an "honorable mention" to innovate designs that enhance the sound of a snare drum.

The first is called venting a snare. Basically the shell is opened by either drilling large holes in the side of the shell, or literally having a gap in the shell.

The vented snare came about in the 1970's when Ludwig was trying to figure out a way to make a louder marching snare drum. Through experiments they found that creating a way to let the air out of the shell faster will result in the bottom head being louder (which of course is where the snares are located).

spaun slotted snare drum Another interesting result of the slotted snare is that it has a crisper sound that is more sensitive since the shell isn't allowed in infulence the sound.

As you can see in the picture of a Spaun slotted snare drum (to the left), the use of two smaller shells accomplishes this task in a cool way.

However, some companies prefer to use holes in the shell. The picture below shows a snare drum made by Orange County Drums and Percussion (OCDP).

Another snare drum construction method uses a "free floating" shell. Meaning the shell can actually be rotated when the drum is fully assembled. This approach is the opposite of venting since it enhances the shell's resonance and resulting affect on sound. I haven't included a picture of this snare type since it's difficult to tell that the snare is tricked out unless you're physically touching it.

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