Cylindrical drums are a standard piece of equipment for a western orchestra. This category includes side drums, bass drums and tenor drums. Popular since the late 1700s, cylindrical drums vary in shape from shallow and wide to thin and tall. Larger cylindrical drums have a lower pitch than smaller cylindrical drums.
Take a look at a barrel drum to see how it got its name. This particular type of drum is characterized by its barrel shape. It has a bulge in the middle and is often open at the bottom.
Use your hands to play the conga drum in a sitting or standing position. Made out of wood or fiberglass, the conga drum originated in the western part of Africa. It has a single head is is generally tall and narrow. The conga drum is popular in Latin music and reggae.
The waisted drum is also called the hourglass drum. It has an hourglass shape. Laces link the top of the drum head to the bottom of the drum. During a performance, a performer squeezes the laces on the waisted drum to alter the pitch.
The goblet drum is played by holding it on your lap, generally under your left arm. You strike the drum with fingers from both of your hands. When you play Middle Eastern rhythms, you play the heavier beat with your right hand and use your left hand to fill in accents and other beats.
Timpani is a type of drum that looks as if it has a membrane stretched over a large copper bowl. Modern-day timpani instruments are made of lightweight fiberglass. They are played by striking a head with a timpani mallet or drumstick. Performers produce specific pitches by tightening or loosening tuning screws.