Acoustic
drum sets are a collection of symbols, drums, and sometimes other
percussion instruments including tambourines. Acoustic drum sets are
arranged by a single drummer for convenient playing and sometimes
more than one kit is on stage during a concert so two drummers can
play an array of percussion instruments. In the 1980s drummers like
Bill Bruford and Neil Peart were adding more pieces to their kits
and began using electronic drums. Before the invention of electronic
drums acoustic drum sets were simply known as drum sets or drum kits
because they needed no qualifier to separate them from any other kind.
After the introduction of electronic music in the new wave during
the 1980s, the word ‘acoustic’ was added for historical
discussion and for musicians who wished to stay away from the new
electronic sound.
One advantage of an electronic drum set is that you can easily control
the volume. This makes them ideal for musicians who must practice
in their home. While there are acoustic drum sets for beginners designed
with pads instead of drums, the sounds of the two are distinctly different.
The components of acoustic drum sets depend on factors like musical
style, financial resources, personal preference, and transportation
options for the drummer. (Unfortunately, if the gigging musician does
not have a van to load drums into, he or she will be limited to a
basic kit.) The term ‘hardware’ is often used by percussionists
to refer to pieces like symbols, hi hat, bass drum pedals, tom-tom
stands, and drummer thrones.
A musician makes noise on acoustic drum sets by striking pieces of
the kit with a variety of implements held in the hand. These include
brushes, sticks, and mallets. However, two pieces of the drum kit
– the bass drum and hi hat cymbals – are operated by a
foot pedal in addition to the normal striking motion.
Acoustic drum sets first came into being when drummers were encouraged
to play as many instruments as possible because of budget and space
constraints in theaters. Previously, drums and cymbals were played
separately in an orchestral fashion. During World War I marching bands
became more popular and drum kits were characterized by very large
marching bass drums that had percussion items hung on and around it.
Acoustic drum sets also became a central part of jazz music. In 1926
hi hat stands appeared.
In the 1930s Gene Krupa streamlined drum kits down to a basic four
piece set standard. He utilized bass drum, tom tom, snare and floor
tom. Krupa also used rim-mounted symbol holders. Jazz musician Max
Roach also revolutionized the use of acoustic drum sets by taking
a harmonic approach as well as a rhythmic approach to his accompaniment
and solos. Musicians before Roach focused on using the drum kit to
keep time; Roach used brushes and sticks and struck the percussive
components in such a way that intricate melodies could be heard during
his acoustic solos.
Acoustic drumming kits became more popular during the 1960s when
Ringo Starr of the Beatles played on American television. Rock 'n
roll then took in excessive approach to using drums with large drum
sets filling the stage and some of the components becoming powered
by electricity. In the 1990s and 2000s, drummers in indie music and
popular music have stripped down their sound and gone back to using
smaller drum kits.