The Marching Band Drum Line

Marching bands come in all sizes and include instruments such as the horn and woodwind sections, but the powerful beat of the music comes from the percussion section, better known as the drum line. The following is a list of drums used.

The Snare Drum. The snare drum is considered the lead of the drums and can have up to a dozen drummers, depending on the size of the marching band. The drum head can be thirteen or fourteen inches in diameter and the weight of the drum averages eighteen pounds. An over-the-shoulder harness worn by the marcher holds the snare, which rests at waist level and is hit with sticks or wire brushes known as dreds.

The Tenors, more commonly known as the Quints, are five drums connected together, the smallest having the highest pitch, surrounded by four more drums, each having a deeper pitch. The quints weigh approximately thirty-five pounds. The Sextet tenor has two smaller drums, making this a six-piece instrument. The Marcher wears an over-the-shoulder harness for these drums as well. The drums sit at waist level and sticks and mallets are used to strike these drums. Quads and Trios are smaller versions of these drums, having four and three drums, weighing much less, but are not commonly used.

The Bass Drums are usually a five piece section, the smallest weighting approximately ten pounds and the largest weighing approximately thirty pounds. The bass is played in a vertical position and rests directly in front of the marcher, close to eye level on a harness as well. Mallets are used for playing the bass. The Bass drum players usually stay in group formation, however, they do mix in with the other drummers as well.

The Pit section is the stationery group of players that perform up in front of the band. Instruments played may include chimes, bells, gongs, marimbas, keyboards, guitars and drums. The drum types used in the pit are timpani, kettle drum and free-standing bass drums. Pit drum players usually switch around playing several of the percussion instruments during the course of each song performed.

Drum keys are used to tune each drum which loosen or tighten the drum head to obtain the correct pitch desired. All the drums can be placed on stands for stationery playing for practice times. Stick bags can be attached to the sides of the drums for storing additional sticks and mallets.

Marching bands are found in high schools, colleges, the Marines and other military groups, and drum and bugle corps with Drum Corps International (DCI - up to age 22) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA - all ages), which tour in the U.S. and compete for the championship title during the summer.

Most high schools hold auditions and have summer practices. Performances are played at footballs games and also at competitions, if available. Drum Corps auditions begin in the Fall and practices begin in late May, and depending on what corps you choose to audition for, you may be on the road all summer touring.