Exploring the
ORCHESTRA
Bass Drum
Musical Section:
Percussion (Instruments that produce sound by hitting, shaking or scraping. Other instruments in this family include: celesta, chimes, crotales, cymbals, glockenspiel, maracas, marimba, piano, snare drum, Tam Tam, triangle, tambourine, vibraphone, xylophone and lots of others!) . Other instruments in this family: Celesta, Chimes, Cymbals, Piano, Tambourine, Timpani, Triangle, Xylophone
About the Bass Drum
What it looks like
The bass drum is a large, round instrument. It makes a deep, booming sound that can make the floor vibrate! Composers use the bass drum when something dramatic and exciting is happening in the music.
The bass drum is used in orchestras, marching bands, and rock bands to provide a powerful beat.
Did you know? The bass drum is one of the oldest instruments with roots all the way back to ancient times.
How to Play
Both Maestros
You play the bass drum by hitting it with a big, padded mallet, which is like a soft hammer. You hit the center of the drum to make a strong, deep sound.
The bass drum is usually unpitched, which means it doesn’t play a specific note. It just makes that nice soft growling sound! This makes it different than its cousin, the timpani, which plays a specific note.
Hey You in the Third Row, Don’t Fall Asleep!
Composer Joseph Haydn was tired of people falling asleep during the second movement of his symphonies, when the music is typically slower and softer. So in his Symphony No. 94, he lets the audience get good and sleepy, then, bang! There’s a sudden loud hit to wake everyone up. One of the instruments that creates the musical alarm clock is the big, bass drum!
