tenor drum

In a symphony orchestra's percussion section, a tenor drum is a low-pitched drum. It's a little bigger than a snare drum, but it has no snares and is played with soft mallets or hard sticks. Under various names, the drum has been used by composers since the mid-19th century.

tenor drum, cylindrical drum larger and deeper toned than the closely related snare drum and lacking snares. It is usually about 18 inches (45 cm) in diameter and 14 inches (35 cm) in height and is normally beaten with two soft-headed sticks. The heads are tensioned by rope lacings or metal rods.

Tenor Drums (a.k.a quads) are supposed to be notated were the spock is above the staff (like a high g on treble clef), drum 1 is the top space (like a high e on treble clef), drum 2 where a high c would be on treble clef, drum 3 where a would be, and drum 4 where f would be.

A tenor drum is essentially a snare drum with the snare mechanism turned off, creating a more mellow, clear tone. There are many other sizes for snare and tenor drums, including piccolo drums as small as 10 inches in diameter.

The word Tenor comes from the latin tenere, which means "to hold". In medieval polyphonic music, it was the voice that would sustain the fundamental line of the song, the cantus firmus. By the sixteenth century, the “tenor” would be any voice carrying the cantus firmus.

The male voice types, from lowest to highest pitch range, include: Bass: the lowest male voice type with an average range of E2 to C4. Baritone: medium to low male voice type with an average range of G2 to E4. Tenor: highest conventional male voice type with an average range of B2 to G4.

What is a tenor? The tenor is the highest male voice type you will find in a typical choir. This is the voice type with the smallest range, it barely covers two octaves. Despite this fact, tenors are the most sought after choir singers for 2 major reasons.

Snares can sound tight, they can have a crack, they can be snappy, bright, tight, dry. They can be buzzy, loose, flabby, warm, metallic, woody, boxy, rattly, ringy, dead… Bass drums can be boomy, middly, boingy, thuddy, cardboard-box like, slappy, thumpadumpa, round, clicky, dull, resonant, dry…

Tenor drums are numbered 1 to 4 according to pitch. They are set up from left to right: drum 4, 2, 1, 3. This order allows the player to play descending and ascending using a simple alternate stickings.

The tenor drum used in today's orchestras evolved from the field drum, which was widespread in Europe from the late Middle Ages. The field drum had developed in the 15th century from the tabor, a small, double-headed drum with a cylindrical shell of wood and several snares.

The tenor drum used in today's orchestras evolved from the field drum, which was widespread in Europe from the late Middle Ages. The field drum had developed in the 15th century from the tabor, a small, double-headed drum with a cylindrical shell of wood and several snares.

The feel of a tenor drum is more direct, even more urgent. They're excellent for quickly and indelibly getting the point across. Tom-toms are more casually energetic, good for grooves and longer lasting time-keeping.