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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Drummers can do a lot with drum heads (also called drum skins) to influence their sound.
They perhaps make even more difference than changing the drum itself. Certainly getting it right can improve the sound of an average drum no end.
But what do you need to know about different types of drum head to make the right choice?
The three key aspects of drum heads are the material, the number of plies, and the thickness. Here’s 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.
Check out our list of the best snare drum heads for jazz here.
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.
Should you 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 level of durability you want from your gear.
Each material has its unique characteristics and can affect the sound and feel of the drum.
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 or kevlar.
Coated drumheads are ideal for genres like jazz, blues, and classic rock.
Snare drum batter heads are typically coated. Tom heads are sometimes coated in vintage styles of music.
Check out this Ambassador tom skins pack by Remo which is a solid choice for coated heads:
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.
Check out this Evans G2 drum head pack which includes clear tom heads and a coated snare head.
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 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 for full low end, cut through and durability. Check out this Evans Onyx pack of tom heads:
Hydraulic drum heads:
Hydraulic drumheads 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 Silentstroke drum heads
Remo is a popular brand for drum heads and they 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.
What does drum head ‘ply’ mean?
Ply is another important property of drumheads, which refers to the number of layers of material that make up the drumhead.
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. The example below is a coated Ambassador that would suit a 14 inch snare drum.
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.
The Remo Controlled Sound series are single-ply but are slightly thicker at 10mm, making them more durable and heavy duty and popular for rock and styles where power and focussed sound are important.
Whereas the Remo Fiberskyn Diplomat is thinner at 7.5 mm, single-ply, and is a popular choice for jazz styles.
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.
Tuning batter heads and resonant heads differently
It’s important to consider the relative tuning of the batter and resonant heads.
Matching the tones between the two creates a balanced sound with a consistent pitch.
Some drummers opt for tuning the resonant head slightly higher than the batter head. This makes the drum more resonant, with a ‘singing’ type quality. Pop drummers might use this approach to increase 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 makes the drum sound punchier with high attack., and hence is often used in funk and RnB where drummers look for a tighter sound.
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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