A percussion instrument is a piccolo snare drum. It looks and feels like other snare drums, and it’s made of the same basic materials, but it’s smaller. This produces a distinct sound that can be recognized by trained ears. Piccolo snare drums are less versatile than larger snare drums, but they are useful for creating specific percussive effects.
The depth of a piccolo snare drum ranges from 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4.5 inches (11.43 cm). In comparison, a traditional orchestra or band snare drum measures 6 inches (15 cm), so a piccolo snare is only about half the depth of a traditional orchestra or band snare drum. A marching snare’s depth is usually around 12 inches (30.48 cm), so the piccolo snare’s depth is only a quarter to a third of that of a marching snare.
Because of its smaller depth compared to other snare drums, the piccolo snare has a higher pitch. When a drummer needs a big effect, the piccolo snare is a good choice. It has a more cutting sound and a very loud, distinct “crack.”
Because of the distinct sound of a piccolo snare drum, most drummers prefer to use larger snare drums for the majority of their playing. When choosing between a larger drum and a piccolo, the larger drum is recommended because it can be used in a wider range of musical styles and settings. Players who can afford a piccolo in addition to the larger drum use it as a “accent” drum, only using it for special effects or key moments.
One disadvantage of a piccolo snare is that it has a greater tendency to “bleed.” Microphones and other audio equipment designed for one instrument picking up the frequencies of another are referred to as bleeding. With a drum, bleeding is undesirable because it makes track mixing for a recording more difficult.
Because drums can be classified by depth or diameter, which can be mixed, there is some confusion about what constitutes a piccolo snare drum. Drums with diameters of 10 inches (25.4 cm), 12 to 13 inches (30.48 to 33.02 cm), and 14 inches are available (35.56 cm). “Popcorn” snares are 10 inches long, while “soprano” snares are 12 to 13 inches long. “Standard” snares are 14 inches long. A 12-inch diameter snare with a depth of 3 inches, for example, could be classified as either a piccolo or a soprano depending on whether the player looked at the diameter or the depth first.