Percussion instruments play a unique rhythmic role in every genre of music. With a history that dates back to centuries ago, these instruments have evolved to fit every musical style. From early days, drums have been made from gourds and have been transformed into the electronic drums of today.

In this article, I will be discussing the history of drums and the five common types of drums we have today.

Where was the drum invented?

With no precise location of the drum invention, Artifacts from China suggest that alligator skins were used to play drums as far back as 5500 BC. Drums were later seen being used in religious ceremonies in Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. After that, the hand drum and the drum played with a beater evolved simultaneously.

A History of Drums

Ancient drums trace back to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The main basis of the drum set—cymbals and drums—was seen in ancient Syria and Greece. Throughout the world, people have created ways to fashionably design drums with animal skins.

Drums are classified into five types.

1.   Drum sets

The drum sets are primarily divided into three types: acoustic, electronic, and hybrid.

Acoustic drum sets.

This type of drum is recommended if you want to produce dynamic sounds with a lot of variance. These drums will help you get the best depth out of sounds. A proper drum set usually contains:

• A snare drum is usually placed at the center of the drummer. It’s what gives a loud cracking sound.
• The head of this drum uses a beater and a kick pedal.
• Tom-Toms: It comes in different sizes to create various pitches.
• Hi-hat and crash cymbals.
• Cowbells, tambourines, and jam blocks

Electronic Drums

Unlike acoustic drums, electronic drums are much quieter due to their noise resistance. They have a wider array of sounds and are a great option for beginners. This drum set usually contains a drum module, cymbal pads, pedals, and hardware.

A hybrid drum set

Just like the name suggests, they are a combination of acoustic and electronic. It is usually built by the drummers themselves. It contains an electric drum, an acoustic drum, hybrid cymbals, and drum triggers.

2.   Marching Drums

Ever hear of a fashion snare on a drum set? Marching drums function similarly. Snare wires are placed under the drums to give them that crackling sound once they get hit.

3.   Hand Drums

Hand drums are popular in South America as they are part of local folk music. Popular drum types in this category are: congas, bongos, cajons, tamboras, and blenera.

4.   Fame Drums

The Fame drum is a popular hand drum that can be found in various music genres and cultures. It can be found in folk music, rock, and is even used in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Popular drum types in this category are: tambourines, bodhran, daf, ghaval, ocean drum.

5.   Goblet Drums

These type of drums are popular in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Common goblet drum types are Djembes, ashiko, and bougarabou.

The African Djembes are the most popular goblet drums in Africa made from hard and dense wood these instruments offer a variety of sounds.

Drums are one of the ancient musical instruments know to humanity. They have an important role in various music genre and culture.