A drumline can be part of a marching band or can function independently. Drums and other percussion-type musical instruments are used in both cases. The drumline is made up of several types of drums and is usually divided into three sections: pit, battery, and front ensemble. Electronically amplified keyboards, bass guitars, and xylophones frequently accompany the drumline. Cymbals are also part of a drumline’s makeup, providing a clean, crashing sound to contrast with the snare drums’ sharp rap and the bass drums’ dull thud.
The front ensemble is the stationary percussion unit in most drumline arrangements that is typically positioned in the center, front of the unit. Keyboards, electric bass guitars, and even stationary full drum sets are frequently used. When a marching band is accompanied by a drumline, this front ensemble is common. The drumline provides general support and percussion for the marching band to keep time with. To energise the audience, the front ensemble will occasionally be given the opportunity to feature the drum kit in an extended or high-energy solo.
The battery is the drumline’s most important component. The percussion unit that marches onto the field as a unit is this battery. The snare, tenor, and bass drummers usually make up this section. The cymbals are usually included in the battery as well, and they are often turned to face the drummers so that they can be played with the drummer’s drumsticks, adding yet another sound to the unit’s musical voice. The snare and bass drums are usually played as a single unit, but the tenor drums are usually a three- or four-piece set supported by a large shoulder harness similar to the one used to support the drumline’s large bass drums.
The snare drum is typically worn with a slight tilt and just off center to the drummer; however, due to the angle of the drummer’s drumstick required to strike the tilted drum head, this style of drum support is responsible for some wrist injury and discomfort. As a result, many drummers prefer the more comfortable option of supporting the snare drum flat and level, allowing them to use the traditional drumstick grip. To produce a more complete sound when playing, the bass drums of the drumline are commonly arranged by size, from the largest to the smallest.