Top 9 Best Snare Drums for Every Style and Budget
Are you ready to make some noise? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your drumming journey, finding the best snare drums for your sound is important. This crucial piece of percussion can define your entire performance. In this guide, we’ll dive into the world of snare drums, exploring the top options that’ll have you sounding like a rock star in no time. From thunderous rimshots to delicate ghost notes, let’s roll!
Understanding Snare Drum Basics
So, what exactly is a snare drum? Well, it’s basically the heartbeat of your drum kit. It’s that crisp, sharp sound you hear in pretty much every song. You know, that distinctive “crack” that cuts through the mix? That’s your snare drum doing its thing. In a typical drum beat, it’s usually played on the second and fourth beats, giving that backbeat that makes you want to tap your foot.
First up, you’ve got the shell. This is like the body of the drum. It can be made from different materials like wood, metal, or even acrylic. Each material gives a different character to the sound. Wood tends to be warmer, while metal can be brighter and more cutting. I remember playing on a brass snare once – talk about loud!
Then you’ve got the heads. There’s one on top (the batter head) and one on the bottom (the resonant head). The batter head is where you hit, and the resonant head vibrates in sympathy. Changing these can dramatically alter your sound.
The snare wires are what give the snare drum its signature sound. They’re stretched across the bottom head and vibrate against it when you hit the drum. Adjusting the tension of these wires can make your snare more or less “snappy”.
Last but not least, there’s the hardware. This includes the tension rods, the rim, and the strainer mechanism. The strainer is particularly important – it’s what lets you engage or disengage the snare wires.
All these components work together to create the final sound of your snare drum. The way the drum is constructed has a huge impact on its tone. For example, the bearing edge (where the head meets the shell) can be cut at different angles. A sharper angle generally gives you more attack and sustain, while a rounder edge can produce a warmer, fatter sound.
Snare drums come in all sorts of dimensions, and each size has its own character. The standard size is usually around 14 inches in diameter and 5-6 inches deep. But you can go smaller for a tighter, higher-pitched sound, or deeper for more body and low end.
Remember, every drum has its own personality. Get to know yours, and you’ll be well on your way to finding your unique voice behind the kit.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Snare Drum
When it comes to drum shells, wood is the granddaddy of ’em all. There’s just something about the warmth and richness you get from a well-crafted wooden drum that’s hard to beat.
Now, let’s break down some of the most popular wood types. First up, we’ve got maple. They’re versatile as heck and sound great in pretty much any genre. The tone is very balanced and sweet, with just the right amount of punch.
Then there’s birch. These bad boys are known for their brighter, more focused sound. This tonewood is great for use in tom toms as the balance of high and low frequencies means they have a very punchy tone.
Beech is kinda like the underdog of drum woods, as is my personal favorite. Beech shells have a punchy, articulate sound that’s great for recording. The low, mid, and high frequencies are all equal so it sounds “naturally EQed” as they say.
And then there’s mahogany and bubinga. If you want warm, deep tones that’ll make your heart melt, these are your go-to. These are a great choice for floor toms and kick drums due to the lower fundamental tone (even more so than maple).
But here’s the thing about wood shells – they all have their own unique personalities. Maple’s got that balanced, all-around great tone. Birch gives you clarity and projection. Beech offers punch and articulation. And mahogany brings the warmth and depth.
Choosing a wood shell comes down to personal preference and the kind of sound you’re after. Once you find that perfect wood shell, it’s like meeting your soulmate. The connection is real. So get out there, try different woods, and let your ears be your guide.
Best Snare Drum For Beginners
Pearl Modern Utility Snare Drum
First is the Pearl Modern Utility snare drum. It’s got a poplar shell that gives a nice, balanced tone – not too bright, not too dark.
Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum
You should also consider the Yamaha Stage Custom birch snare. The birch shell gives you a punchy, focused sound that’s great for pretty much any style of music and records well.
TAMA Black Oak Snare Drum
The Tama Black Oak snare is a good all-rounder with its 14″ x 6.5″ dimensions.
Mid-Range Snare Drums
Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum
First up, I’ve gotta mention the Ludwig Black Beauty. This drum is a legend for a reason and is one of the most iconic and most recorded snare drums in history. So no doubt you have heard these, even if you were not aware of it at the time. It’s a brass shell with a black nickel plating that gives it this incredible sensitivity and range. You can whisper on it or crack it like a whip, and it just sings.
Ludwig Supraphonic Snare Drum
This is the sound that fueled the most hit recordings in history – the Ludwig Supraphonic is the snare choice of the pros.
The USA-made chrome-plated, seamless, beaded aluminum shell produces a bright, crisp attack with the perfect balance of full resonant tone and snare crack.
Sonor Benny Greb Signature Beechwood Snare Drum
Benny Greb favors Beech, and that’s what gives the Drum its transparency, warmth and a wide tuning range with a fat sound. The outer veneer is Scandinavian Birch which adds a timeless look to the drum.
This snare drum includes a 9-ply/5mm Beech shell, 45-degree bearing edges, 2.3mm steel hoops, 18 stainless steel snare wires, and a personalized Benny Greb badge. It’s unique 13″ x 5.75″ dimensions and thin shell give it an amazingly versatile sound, making it one of the best-selling Sonor snare drums.
The other great thing about this snare drum is that it has two internal dampeners built in which you can turn on or off to varying degrees depending on the sound you need.
High End Snare Drums
Sonor Artist Tineo Snare Drum
The Sonor Artist Tineo snare is very heavy with a beechwood shell over an inch thick! The 13″ x 5″ dimensions make it ver versatile and a great choice for jazz, funk or R&B.
Sonor Artist Cottonwood Snare Drum
If you were looking for a high quality all rounder snare, which suits heaps of different styles of music, the Sonor Artist Cottonwood Snare Drum is a great option. It’s a 14 x 6″ medium maple wood shell, which is 9 plies (6mm thickness) and blends in well with any musical style you care to throw at it.
Sonor Artist Bronze Black Snare Drum
I love this snare! The Sonor Artist Bronze Black Snare Drum is the heavyweight of the artist series of Sonor snares. It’s made of a 14 x 6″ cast bronze shell which is 3mm thick in the middle, with 5mm edges at the top and bottom. Similar to the cymbal-making process, this shell is made of one single piece of bronze for optimal resonance and full projection. Offering maximum volume, it is the ideal drum for music requiring a sharp, loud and powerful snare.
Customizing Your Snare Drum Sound
Over the years, I’ve learned that customizing your snare drum sound is like painting – you’ve got a whole palette of tones to work with. Let me share some of the tricks I’ve picked up along the way.
First off, let’s talk about tuning. If you want a fatter sound, try tuning the bottom head a bit lower than the top. It gives you this awesome “crack” with a bit more body.
Now, let’s chat about drum heads. Choosing the right head is like picking the right strings for a guitar – it can totally change your sound.
These days, I’m a big fan of coated heads for my snare. They give you this warm, focused sound that’s great for most genres. The Remo Ambassador Coated is my go-to. But if I’m playing metal or need something really punchy, I’ll switch to a double-ply or dotted head.
Dampening is super important too! This is how you control those unwanted overtones and really dial in your sound.
Last but not least, let’s talk about snare wire adjustments. This is something I wish I’d learned about earlier in my drumming journey. The snare wires are what give your snare that characteristic “snare” sound, and adjusting them can make a huge difference.
If you want more sensitivity, try loosening the snare wires a bit. This is great for ghost notes and lighter playing. On the flip side, if you tighten the wires, you’ll get a more pronounced “snap” with each hit. This can be great for rock or when you really need to cut through a mix.
Remember, all these adjustments work together. You might find that changing your tuning affects how your dampening works, or that a new head changes how you need to adjust your snare wires. It’s all about experimenting and finding what works for you.
Maintaining Your Snare Drum for Optimal Performance
Your snare drum is like a magnet for dust, sweat, and all sorts of gunk. I make it a habit to wipe down my drum after every session or gig. Just a soft, dry cloth will do for daily cleaning. But every few months, give it a proper clean.
For the shell, check out products like Shell Shine. It’s fine to use on semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes too.
Now, lubrication is key, especially for all those moving parts. The tension rods, strainer, and throw-off mechanism all need a little love now and then. I use a small amount of gun oil on these parts every few months. Just a tiny bit will do.
Let’s talk about drum heads and snare wires. These are the parts that really affect your sound, so knowing when to replace them is crucial. I change my batter head (that’s the top head) about every 3-6 months, depending on how much I’m playing. If you start seeing dents or hear a loss of tone, it’s time for a new head.
The resonant head (the bottom one) lasts longer, but I still change it once a year or so. As for snare wires, I replace these when they start to lose their snap or if I notice any broken wires. Usually, this is about once a year or more for me. Changing heads and wires isn’t too tricky, but it takes some practice.
Check our this article on drum transportation. Your snare drum is tougher than it looks, but it still needs some protection. These days, I always use a padded case for transportation. It’s worth the investment, trust me.
Pro Tip: If you’re getting unwanted buzzing, check your snare wires. They might need tightening or replacing. If your drum sounds choked or dead, your heads might be too tight or you might have too much muffling.
Remember, a well-maintained snare drum not only sounds better but also lasts longer. It’s like taking care of a car – regular maintenance prevents bigger problems down the road. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about sitting down behind a kit that’s in perfect working order. It just makes you want to play!
So take some time to show your snare some love. Clean it regularly, replace parts when needed, and protect it during transport.
Well, we’ve marched through the exciting world of snare drums, covering everything from budget-friendly beauties to professional powerhouses. Keep practicing, stay passionate, and most importantly, have fun making music.
Drum kits come in many different forms and variations. Check out these articles for help on choosing a drum kit, the best drum sets for beginners, and the best electronic kits if you need to keep the noise down.
