A snare drum is a musical instrument from the percussion family with tight bands of snares stretched across the drum’s head. The sound produced the drum is affected the location of the snares and the material used to make them. To make a snare drum, gather the necessary materials and cut, sand, and coat the drum’s shell. The bearing edge where the drum head and the shell attach is then cut, with holes drilled in specific locations for hardware and snare wires. The hardware and snare wires are then connected.
It takes some practice, patience, and time to build a snare drum, but once the steps are mastered, it’s a relatively simple process. A circular piece of wood or metal with the same thickness all the way around is used to make the drum shell. If wood is used, it must be sanded, dyed if desired, and then protected with a urethane coat. A heavy duty compound is then used to glue the shell into its circular shape.
After the shell has been prepared, the drum must be marked for hardware installation. The drum parts will be held together these screws and nuts. The placement of the hardware has an impact on the drum’s sound, so pieces should be evenly spaced around the shell. To complete this step, many drummers choose to use a snare drum template, which can be found online. Taping the drum at intervals to indicate where holes should be drilled is a common method.
Drilling the holes can be done with hand drills or drill presses. It’s important not to bend or warp the shell. The bearing edge is the point where the snare drum head and the shell meet. This is a crucial step in creating a good-sounding snare drum. A router is typically used to cut the bearing edge at a 45-degree angle.
The drum’s major components and hardware are assembled at this point. The top of the drum is where the butt plates, strainer, and hoop are attached. The butt plates hold the snare wires on the fixed side, while the strainer holds them on the other side with a release switch. The hoop is a ring that holds the drum head in place and creates tension on the drum. Metal screws are used to secure each piece through the holes drilled in the previous step.
Attaching the snare wires is the final step in building a snare drum. These are attached to the butt plates and strainer and are the same width as the drum shell. Metal, plastic cable, and gut fibers can all be used to make wires. The drum will be finished and ready to play once this is completed.