How to Choose Drum Heads: Ultimate Beginners’ Buying Guide
What are the different types of drum head?
How do you choose the right ones for you?
And how can you use tone modifiers to get your perfect sound?
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The legendary bass player Ron Carter once said “I bring my sound to the gig, the other guys bring their gear”. As drummers we should take heed. Being the best drummers we can be not only means technical ability; it means developing a way of playing that is distinctly us, an expression of our personalities and emotions, while serving the music we play.
Our gear choices make a big difference here.
Drum heads, or drum skins, can make a huge impact to influence a drummers’ sound.
They perhaps make even more difference than changing the drum itself. Certainly choosing the right heads can improve the sound of an average drum no end. And making the right choice is part of your artistic discretion.
Over the years I have experimented with many different drum heads, and have changed regularly as my preferences and style of music I play has changed.
In this guide I’ll talk through the different things to consider when you make a choice of drum head. But remember experimenting for yourself is the best way to know for sure what suits your sound and artistic preferences.
In this guide: So how do you choose the right drum head?
In this guide we take a look at everything you need to know for selecting the right drum heads for you, whether you play jazz, pop, rock, country, worship, metal or something else. You can skip between the sections using these links, or read on for the full story:
What are batter and resonant heads?
Clear, coated and other drum head materials
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Batter heads and resonant heads
Firstly let’s get to grips with some common terminology. What are “batter” heads and “resonant” heads?
You will hear the top head - the one you hit - called the ‘batter head’.
The bottom head is called the ‘resonant head’.
This is because it resonates when the top head is struck creating the harmonic tones of a drum sound that give it warmth, body, pitch bend and other aspects of the drum’s overall sound.
The coated ‘batter head’ of a snare drum. Batter heads are the top heads, that are struck with the stick to create the attack and stick definition parts of a drum’s sound.
The clear ‘resonant head’ of a snare drum. Resonant heads are found on the bottom of the drum and are so called because they resonate when the top (batter) head is struck.
Both the batter and resonant head make a big difference to a drum’s sound in terms of head choice and tuning. You can experiment with different combinations of heads and tuning to find the right sound.
Let’s take a quick detour to look at tuning:
Matching the tones between the batter and resonant heads creates a balanced sound with a consistent pitch and long sustain.
Tuning the batter and resonant heads at different pitches adds some pitch bend, and reduced sustain.
Some drummers opt for tuning the resonant head slightly higher than the batter head. This gives the drum a ‘singing’ type quality where the pitch bends slightly. Pop drummers might use this approach to reduce the sustain of the drum and add cut through.
On the other hand some drummers will tune the resonant head slightly lower than the batter head. This also reduces sustain, making the drum sound punchier with high attack, with a noticeable pitch bend on big drums, and is often used on toms in funk and RnB for fat tom sounds.
Should you use clear or coated drum heads?
There is no right or wrong answer to whether you should use clear or coated drum heads. The choice of drumhead material depends on the style of music you want to play, the sound and feel you want to achieve, and the durability you want from your gear. Most importantly, ultimately it depends on what you want to sound like.
Let’s take a look at the differences between coated and clear drum heads:
Coated drum heads
Coated drumheads have a textured surface that provides a warm, mellow sound.
They are made by applying a layer of coating to the drumhead, which can be made of materials like mylar.
The warm sound of coated drumheads makes them a favourite for drummers in genres like jazz, blues, and classic rock.
Snare drum batter heads are typically coated. Tom heads are sometimes coated in vintage styles of music.
The most popular coated drumheads in the world are Remo Ambassadors due to their balance of warm open tones with the distinctive response you would want from a snare drum.
You can read more about this in our guide to the best snare drum heads for jazz.
Clear drum heads
Clear drumheads have a smooth, transparent surface that produces a bright and crisp sound.
They are made of a single-ply material like mylar or a multi-ply construction that offers durability and depth.
Clear drumheads are well-suited for genres like rock, pop, and metal.
Evans G2 drum heads are a great example of double-ply clear heads that provide a big warm sound for toms.
Beyond coated and clear heads
Other than simply coated or clear heads there are other choices of materials to consider when picking drum heads:
Ebony and onyx drum heads:
Ebony drumheads such as Evans Onyx are similar to coated drumheads but have a black, glossy finish. They are known for their warm, rich sound and are a popular choice for genres like R&B and funk as well as rock and metal for full low end, cut through and durability.
Hydraulic drum heads:
Hydraulic drumheads such as Evans’ Hydraulic Tom Heads have a thin layer of oil between two plies, which dampens the sound and produces a deep, punchy tone. They are commonly used in rock and metal genres. Check out this Evans hydraulic tom drum head pack.
Animal skin drum heads:
Historically, drumheads were made from animal skins, such as cowhide or goatskin. These materials produce a warm, organic sound and are still used today in some traditional styles of music.
Calftone and Fiberskyn: synthetic animal skin heads
Evans also produce a ‘Calftone’ range which is a synthetic alternative to traditional animal skin drum skins, designed to mimic their quality with modern materials. These heads are often used by jazz drummers.
Remo produce a ‘Fiberskyn’ range which is also designed to emulate traditional animals skin heads and is often used in jazz.
Low volume mesh heads for practicing
Mesh drumheads are made of woven synthetic materials and produce a low-volume, quieter sound.
They are ideal for electronic drum kits and practicing.
You can mount these heads onto an acoustic kit so that you can play with your preferred set up, but make less noise to annoy the neighbours. Ultimately this means you’ll be less tentative about practicing, and can therefore practice more effectively.
Remo, a popular brand for drum heads, offer a Silentstroke range. These are effective drum heads for creating a realistic feel, but creating minimal noise which makes them a great choice for practicing. They come in a range of sizes to suit different drums around the drum set.
How does the number of plies impact drum heads?
The number of plies, or layers of material, that drum head is constructed of is another important property that impacts sound, feel and durability.
Drumheads can be made of a single-ply or multiple-ply construction.
Single-ply drumheads are made of a single layer of material and are known for their sensitivity and responsiveness. They produce a more open and resonant sound than multi-ply drumheads and are often used in jazz, fusion, and other styles that require a lot of articulation. Remo Ambassadors are a popular choice of single ply drum head.
Multi-ply drumheads, as the name suggests, are made of multiple layers of material, most commonly two plies. These drumheads are more durable than single-ply drumheads and produce a warmer, more focused sound. They are commonly used in rock, pop, and other styles that require a lot of projection and power. The Remo Pinstripe is a good choice of double-ply drum head, such as the example below.
Is the thickness of drum heads important for the sound?
Another important property of drumheads is the thickness or gauge of the material used.
Thicker drumheads produce a louder, more durable sound with less sustain, while thinner drumheads produce a more open and resonant sound with more sustain.
If you're looking for a deep, fat sound then opt for thicker heads. If it's a bright and crisp tone you're after, then go for thinner heads. Remember that the ply and material will also impact this.
For example if we take a look at the ever-popular Remo Ambassador drum heads, they offer a standard medium thickness 10mm that is used across genres; an ‘Ambassador Vintage’ range which is 7mm with an additional 3mm reinforced ply and is great for jazz and blues due to being more delicate and sensitive; and an ‘Ambassador X’ range which is thicker at 14mm, providing more durability and slightly bigger sound.
What are the best drum head brands and ranges?
The two key drum head brands are Remo and Evans. Here is a rundown of their key drum head ranges:
Remo Ambassadors
Remo Ambassadors are some of the most popular drum heads going.
They are single ply and come in either coated or clear. Ambassadors are great for open and bright sounds and the high tunings that jazz players often go for.
Remo also offer a vintage version which is specially designed for thinner vintage drums.
Remo Pinstripes
Remo Pinstripe: As the name suggests Pinstripes are identifiable by a stripe around the edge of the head.
These heads are double ply and designed to control overtones, with a little more low end projection and short decay. These heads are great for fatter sounds. Again these are available coated or clear.
Remo Emperors
Remo Emperor: Double ply alternative to Ambassadors, making them more durable and fatter sounding. Emperors may be more versatile for modern drummers who want to play a range of styles.
As with Ambassadors there is also a Vintage range of Emperors.
Evans G1
Evans G1: Single ply, making it ideal for brighter tones in jazz. Available in coated or clear, an equivalent to the Remo Ambassador.
Evans G2
Evans G2: The double ply alternative to G1s, making it more durable and beefier with a shorter sustain. Good for musical situations the require warm and full bodied sounds.
Evans UV2
Evans UV heads are coated with a unique formula designed to make them highly durable and keep the sound consistent.
This makes them ideally suited to heavier styles such as rock and metal.
UV1s are single ply, whereas UV2s are double ply.
Evans Calftones
Calftones are synthetic imitations of traditional animal skin heads. They produce a warm vintage sound and traditional look, making them ideal for styles such as jazz.
Choosing different Batter heads and resonant heads
Batter heads refer to the top head, the side that the drummer hits. Most of the discussion in the article is really about choosing the batter head. However there are heads on the bottom of the drum too. These are called resonant heads.
While many drummers like to experiment with different combinations of the batter and resonant head, typically the resonant head will be a clear, single ply skin.
The resonant head is important for determining the drum’s resonance and tone, so often drummers pick heads that resonate freely.
Remo heads are available in coated/clear bundles that you can use as the batter and resonant head of a snare drum respectively.
Altering the sound of drum heads
Of course, the tension of the drumhead drastically alters the sound. Some drums and heads just perform better at certain tensions.
However it’s important to experiment to find you sound. In general drummers will look to match the tension of each lug around the drum to achieve a consistent and clean tone, rather than a pitch bend.
Check out our short video on how to change a drum head here:
A new head can sometimes sound abrasive and can lose tuning quickly. Some drummers will break the head in by securing it to the drum and pressing down. You will hear the glue cracking, but this will allow the head to become more stable.
Some drummers stand on the drum to achieve this, but this carries the risk of warping the shell or bearing edges. Read our guide to preparing a new head here.
Another method, particularly if you are playing with brushes can be to lightly sand a new snare head. This removes some of the abrasiveness from a coated head which can sound and feel nasty when playing brushes.
You should be careful not to remove too much of the coating, so if you are going to sand a new head make sure to use a fine grit sandpaper.
Tone modifiers
There are also a range of accessories available to modify the tone of a drum head.
Big Fat Snare Drum offer products which make the drum sound fatter by placing a sheet on top of the head.
Snareweight is an accessory that attaches to the drum hoop and sits on the head to control overtones, dampening the drum to make the sound more focussed and full.
Moongel comes as a small box of rubbery pads that stick to the drum head to control overtones and dampen a drum. They are a highly flexible way to control the tone of your drum and can be removed easily and modified throughout a playing session.
Ultimately, when it comes to choosing drum heads it's all about personal preference. You might think the latest and greatest snare head on the market is the best choice, but it could end up sounding completely wrong for your playing style.
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, take your time and find out what works best for you - it's worth it in the long run! Who knows, you might even discover a new sound that you like better than anything else out there.
For guidance on what to look out for when choosing a drum kit check out our article here, or for more on the best snare drum heads for jazz, check out our article here.
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