The appearance of the drum set is directly linked to the emergence of jazz, placing us in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. In reality, the various elements of this instrument do not originate from this country, as the bass drum and snare drum come from Europe, cymbals from Turkey and China, toms from China, Africa, and Native American territories. The United States contributed this collage created by unknown musicians, first appearing in bars and theaters around 1890.

History of the Acoustic Drum

1900-1910
Originally, orchestras performed with 3 or 4 percussionists, one for each element, but the invention of the snare drum and especially the bass drum pedal (commercialized in 1910 by Ludwig) made it possible to create a kit playable by a single musician, who could simultaneously play multiple elements.
However, the kit created during this period did not resemble the one we know today. The drumheads were made of animal skin, the bass drum was extremely large with small accessories attached to it (bells, woodblocks, small suspended cymbals, etc.). Usually, there was a single tom called the Chinese tom, with two heads mounted directly onto the wooden shell using nails.

The 1920s
During this time, drum manufacturers introduced various technological improvements, such as the first tunable toms and the appearance of the hi-hat pedal stand. Interestingly, the ride cymbal was not yet used to mark rhythm.
Virtuosos like Baby Dodds and Zutty Singleton emerged, and the sound and use of the instrument evolved alongside them.

From the 1930s to the 1950s
This period saw revolutions and changes: Big Bands emerged, material quality improved, the ride cymbal became widespread, and tom mounts (invented by Slingerland) were introduced. A drummer who embodies the evolution of the drum set during this era is Gene Krupa. With songs like “Sing, Sing, Sing,” he made the drum set a fundamental part not just of rhythm but also of a song’s musicality. He wasn’t the only prominent drummer of the time: we recommend listening to Sydney Catlett, “Papa” Jo Jones, and Kenny Clarke. It was a time of great musical explosion when the drummer established their role as a musician.

The 1950s and 1960s
Synthetic drumheads were introduced (first commercialized by Remo in 1957). In 1959, Rogers offered the first truly articulated tom mounting system (attached to the bass drum).
The Rock ‘n’ Roll revolution, which boosted the music industry and entertainment, also helped popularize this instrument. The first drum stars emerged, such as Keith Moon (The Who) and especially the great John Bonham (Led Zeppelin). They exemplified a shift in interpretation, sound, and style, though jazz legends like Buddy Rich remained prominent. This decade brought a completely different approach to understanding the instrument.

From the 1970s onwards
It’s no longer about revolution but development. From the 1970s to today, drum sets have evolved, improving and expanding the sonic possibilities of drums and accessories. A wide variety of woods is used to experiment with different sounds, along with materials like acrylic and steel. Innovative mounting systems allow for massive kits (Monster Kits) featuring numerous toms, two bass drums, and an endless array of cymbals.
The 1970s saw the rise of Japanese manufacturers (Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, etc.), who expanded the market for drum kits, making them more affordable and accessible. Since the late 1970s, technology has brought a proliferation of electronic drums, pre-recorded rhythms, and drum machines, broadening drummers’ creative possibilities.
What’s undeniable is that the spread of the drum set owes much to the emergence of technically and musically exceptional drummers like Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, and Dennis Chambers, among others.
The evolution of this instrument over a century has been incredible, and even more so in recent decades. It would be fascinating to show Gene Krupa the aesthetic finishes and sounds available today.

What Are the Components of an Acoustic Drum Kit?

A drum kit consists of a series of drums, mostly made of wood, covered with synthetic drumheads. These often have an oil layer between two plastic sheets to optimize sound. Drums have two heads: an upper batter head and a lower resonant head. They are tuned by adjusting the tension of the lugs that hold them to the shell via a metal or wooden hoop. Other elements of an acoustic drum kit include cymbals, which vary in shape, size, and material, and various percussion instruments like cowbells, tambourines, rototoms, woodblocks, stacks, and so on, depending on the drummer’s creativity.
The components of a drum kit include:

• Snare drum: A drum with a series of metal wires (the “snare wires”) in contact with the resonant head, giving it a bright, characteristic sound that makes it the heart of the drum kit. Snare drums are available in wood, various metals, and acrylic. The choice of material, shell thickness, depth, and head tension produces different sounds suited to various musical genres. We recommend this guide on snare drum types.

• Bass drum: This drum typically measures 16 to 26 inches in diameter and 14 to 22 inches in depth, though there are no strict rules, and custom drums may vary. Due to its large size, it produces deep bass frequencies. It is played using a pedal operated by the drummer’s foot. In some cases, particularly in Metal and its subgenres, the bass drum is played with a double pedal, utilizing both feet.

• Toms: Their number varies greatly depending on the genre. Most drummers use at least one or two, but some Monster Kits include up to 10-15. They are mounted on the bass drum via brackets allowing height and angle adjustments, or sometimes on separate stands. Toms are deeper than snare drums and lack snare wires. They typically range in diameter from 6 to 15 inches.

• Floor tom or timpani: Larger toms with deeper tones, usually fitted with three legs for ground placement. Drum kits typically include one or two floor toms, ranging from 14 to 20 inches. Toms over 18 inches are often called gong drums.

• Hi-hat: A system with two cymbals (usually 14 inches) mounted on a stand with a pedal, allowing them to move vertically against each other to produce sound. They can be played open or closed, depending on the drummer’s intent and musical style. Fun fact: while known as Hi-hats, in Italy, they are often referred to as “Charleston” cymbals.

• Ride cymbal: A large cymbal, 17 to 28 inches in diameter, used to maintain rhythm as an alternative to the Hi-hat. It’s essential in jazz accompaniment and features a raised bell in the center for accentuating notes.

• Crash cymbal: Used to emphasize strong accents in performance or accompany intense parts. They come in various types, with sound ranging from long and bright to short and dark, and diameters from 14 to 20 inches.

• Splash cymbal: A smaller cymbal, 5 to 13 inches in diameter, used to create rhythmic effects with its sharp and fast sound.

• China cymbal: A powerful cymbal used for special effects, positioned upside-down, with sizes ranging from 10 to 22 inches.

• Pedals: These are used to control elements like the Hi-hat, bass drum, and sometimes small percussion instruments like cowbells and woodblocks. Pedals consist of a platform for the foot to apply pressure, a traction system (usually chain-driven) to transmit motion, and tension to reset the beater. The beaters can be made of plastic, wood, or felt. In recent years, double pedals (a single pedal with two beaters operated with both feet) have become common, allowing drummers to play more complex patterns without a second bass drum.