The percussion section of the marching band includes the snare drum, the tenor drum, the big bass drum, the cymbals and the timpani. The snare, tenor and bass drums are all similar in construction. They have have two drumheads made of calfskin or plastic stretched over a metal frame. The snare drum has catgut or metal wires stretched across its bottom head. Bass drums are held vertically and are beat with sticks covered in sheep's wool. The timpani are made of large copper bowls with calfskin or plastic stretched over the top; the size of the timpani determines its pitch. Cymbals are large, concave brass disks that make a unique crashing sound.
The brass instruments found in a marching band are typically the cornet, the trumpet, the tuba and the French horn. The French horn is made of about 12 feet of tubing wound into a circle. The tuba is the largest and deepest sounding horn, made with about 16 feet of tubing. A trumpet is perhaps the most recognizable of the brass instruments, and it also plays the highest notes. The cornet was first introduced in 1828, and it looks like a big trumpet, but the notes it plays are just a little lower.
Woodwinds make up the final section of the marching band. They typically include the clarinet, oboe, flute and saxophone. The oboe and clarinet are similar, both made of wood, and they are played using metal keys. The oboe, however, has two reeds tied together, while the clarinet has one reed. The clarinet's sound is produced as air passes between the mouthpiece and the reed. The oboe's sound is made by the vibration of the two reeds against each other. The flute is the highest pitched of the marching band woodwinds. It is no longer made of wood, but of gold or silver instead. Like the clarinet, the saxophone's sound is produced by blowing air between a single reed and the mouthpiece. It is the only woodwind made of brass.