Tenor drum

A tenor drum is a special kind of drum that makes music without using snares. It is a type of instrument called a membranophone, which means it creates sound by hitting a stretched surface, usually made of animal skin or plastic. Tenor drums are different from other drums like the floor tom, so it’s important not to mix them up. There are many kinds of tenor drums, each with its own shape and sound, used in many kinds of music around the world.

Early music

Early music tenor drums, also called long drums, are cylindrical drums without snares. They were used in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. These drums are made from a wooden cylinder with skin heads on both ends, tightened by ropes. They are played with two sticks and can produce different pitches depending on their size.

Orchestral music

In a symphony orchestra's percussion section, a tenor drum is a low-pitched drum, similar in size to a field snare but without snares. It is played with soft mallets or hard sticks and is larger in diameter than depth. The sound of the tenor drum is midway between a bass drum and an unsnared snare drum. Famous composers like Berlioz, Wagner, Strauss, and Elgar all used the tenor drum in their music. It also appears in works by 20th-century composers such as Stravinsky, Honegger, Milhaud, Benjamin Britten, William Walton, Aaron Copland, and Samuel Barber. Witold Lutoslawski used it in his Concerto for Orchestra, and Arnold Schoenberg included it in his Gurrelieder.

Multi tenor drums (United States and Latin America)

Tenor drums are used in marching bands to add extra musical color. They are sets of 4 to 6 drums that one person can carry and play at the same time. These drums come in different names depending on how many there are, like "duos" for 2 drums, "quads" for 4 drums, and "sextets" for 6 drums. The most common setup has four main drums, either 8, 10, 12, and 13 inches across, or 10, 12, 13, and 14 inches across. There are also smaller drums called accent drums, usually 6 or 8 inches across, which are tightened very tightly for special effects. Sometimes, other instruments like cowbells or cymbals are added too.

Tenor drums help make music more interesting in big marching bands. They often play similar rhythms to the snare drums but can also create melodies because each drum has a different pitch. Players use special techniques like moving their hands across the drums to create different sounds and patterns. The drums are played with mallets or drumsticks, and players use a matched grip to perform these moves easily. The drums are tuned tightly to have a bright sound that can be heard well outside.

Pipe band tenor drum (United Kingdom)

Further information: Scottish tenor drum

The pipe band tenor drum is a special kind of drum used in both military and civilian pipe bands. It helps keep the beat, adds extra music, and looks impressive.

There are three main types of tenor drums used today in pipe bands:

1. Flourishing tenor: Drummers use long sticks with beaters tied to their fingers. They swing these sticks in patterns while playing the drum to make a show.
2. Alto tenor: This drum plays with the bass drum to add more sound and keep the beat. Not every band uses this type.
3. Rhythm tenor: This drum adds extra beats to match the snare drum. It is usually played all the time.

These drums are used in pipe bands all over the world and are often part of solo competitions. The "flourishing tenor" style is the most common, and it is usually part of the middle section of the band.

Marching band single-head tenor drums

In many countries, including the United States, the Philippines, and France, special drums called single-head tenor drums are used in marching bands, military bands, and other musical groups. These drums look like snare drums but do not have snares. They can be tuned to high pitches so that a group of drummers can play different parts together.

In the U.S., especially at historically Black colleges and universities, these drums are very popular. They can be played in two ways: knee tenors, similar to how snare drums are played, or upright tenors, similar to bass drums. These drums are carried using slings or a shoulder harness and can be hit with sticks or mallets. Some drummers play special solos, like fanfares, during football games.

In countries like Spain and Italy, these drums are played with a single soft mallet, much like in some traditional pipe band styles. The French Republican Guard Band uses one single-head tenor drum played with hard sticks as part of its drumline.