PERFECT SNARE Drums FOR MUSIC Genres:

There are no hard and fast rules about what kind of snare you can use with which genre. Rock music has gone through times where a crisp, clear sound was the norm (think Led Zeppelin or Red Hot Chili Peppers). Alternative rock bands like Nirvana used looser and lower-tuned snare strings, creating a more relaxed and messy feel. Your snare sound is part of what makes you unique, no matter what genre you play. The biggest changes to snare happened when drummers tried something different from what they were hearing.

Adjustment and head are also always an important factor. A heavy metal drummer could pick up a high-end steel snare like the Pearl Joey Jordison Signature , but they wouldn't get the most out of it without seasoned heads and fine tuning. . So whatever drum type you choose, you'll want to make it your own. If you play a particular genre of music, we have some snare recommendations that will make that process easier.

Rock'n'roll

Rock music is as varied as the genres that make it up, so your snare sound will depend on the type of drum you're playing. Two of the most common snare sounds in rock music are the crisp "pop" of copper and the deep, resonant "crack" of maple. Drummers often have both metal snare and wooden snare to cover these bases. You can rely on adjustments and accessories to get a wide range from both. We chose two sturdy rock snares—one in brass and one in maple.

If you're looking for a sturdy, classic maple snare, we recommend the TAMA SLP G-Maple . It's incredibly thick with 13 layers, giving you enough space to really focus on your beat. Molded rings don't have any annoying ringing. The extra-deep 7" case helps with that too, ensuring you always get a warm response. That's all that makes the TAMA SLP series a gem.

TAMA SLP G-Maple Snare Drum

We'll say it again: you can't go wrong with Ludwig Supraphonic Black Beauty . That goes double for rock music. This drum has spawned countless successful albums. The warmth, balance and sheer presence of this drum are legendary. Some instruments have personality far beyond their specifications, such as the Les Paul guitar or the Hammond organ. Black Beauty is one of those instruments. That is the gold standard.

Jazz

For many contemporary genres, overtones are the enemy. Brightness and sharpness are excellent, but many pop and rock drummers will do anything to avoid the harsher frequencies that come with pitch tuning. Jazz is a different story. Professional jazz drummers often tune their snare high and wide, playing them almost like a melodic instrument, using the full range of timbres available. The ping of a rimshot with the tip of a stick. Dry shaving brush on the head. The position of the ghost notes to reverse the space between silences. The drums below—one metal and one wood—are perfect for the task, with classic style to boot.

No one has more jazz drums than Ludwig, and the Ludwig Jazz Fest cashed in on that credibility in the best way. The original version of this drum was called the "Buddy Rich Model" in the 1950s. The current model today keeps all the authentic vintage touches. That starts with the shell made from mahogany, a hardwood with powerful bass. It used to be the leading drum wood, and this model has really stood out in recent years. With its thin 3-layer construction, this drum takes full advantage of the dark mahogany tones. It also has a "baseball bat"-style internal silencer that can be adjusted from the outside. This keeps the overtones from the thin crust under control. In keeping with its status as a collector's item, the Jazz Fest snare offers stunning mod, glitter, and flashy finishes.

Ludwig Jazz Fest Snare Drum

Everything we said about the DW Performance Series steel snare also applies to the maple version. It's one of DW's coolest drums. Like the Jazz Fest snare, the wood is all about low-grade energy, except in this case, it's North American maple. This drum is built with a full 10 ply, which means it's better suited for larger stages than the Ludwig. Accompanied by jazz drummers, the sparkling finish and classic-sounding pearls.

Funk Music

Funk music can be great to help people relax, but drumming is all about precision. Here are three meticulously crafted drums—two snare used by the greatest of all time and another made by a company that specializes in handcrafted snare drums.

The Ludwig Supraphonic LM400 might be the greatest funk snare ever made, thanks in large part to one man: James Brown's drummer Clyde Stubblefield. A self-taught musician, Clyde first learned rhythm from beats around him, such as factories and trains in his hometown of Tennessee. This gives him a natural drumming feel that breathes life into James Brown's songs. Together with fellow drummer John "Jabo" Starks, Stubblefield crafted the tunes that have shaped funk music for generations. Throughout his career, he remained loyal to Ludwig Supraphonic chrome, which gave him the bright "pop" that marked the return of hits like "Funky Drummer".

Ludwig Supraphonic LM400 Snare Drum

Pork Pie Brass Patina leans towards the deep tones that set brass apart from other metals. The Pork Pie's custom cord keeps the snare responsive, but when you hit it hard, you'll feel 7 inches of depth. In funk music, a lot of the fun comes from rapid dynamic changes. This snare can power through a pounding chorus and then transition to a subtle tune. And that's not to mention the interesting rust on the outside. It is made by hand.

The Gretsch Vinnie Colaiuta Signature Maple Snare was created for perhaps the most versatile drummer ever to play. Vinnie was at home with great jazz musicians, funk masters, and classic rock legends. Gretsch has set these two signature drums as his primary and secondary snare. While they will work, Vinnie's creative mind is devoted to funk. Like himself, these drums have a quiet confidence, backed up by impeccable performance. The 6-ply maple case, molded belt, clean blue finish, simple badge with Vinnie's signature—look for a flaw in this drum. We bet you.

Metal music

Heavy metal is about a different kind of precision. The speed and complexity of contemporary metal demands a precise snare. Just like a thick cymbal built to ride heavy, the snare drum needs to absorb every hit and turn it into a clear, penetrating note. This is an area where wood snare is rarely available.

In the chaos of a heavy metal performance, the drummer's job is to cut through the noise and control the rhythm. That's where MAPEX Black Panther Persuader excels: projection. The brass case is 1.2 mm thick—thick for the heavy hitters—and forged across the entire surface. The hammer marks create more surface area, causing the brass to vibrate more when exposed to air and force more of that sound out of the case at high volumes. Another benefit for metal drummers is the Sonic Saver washer design, which has a round molded shape without adding weight, allowing the drums to "sing" while you hold the rod with ease.

Mapex Black Panther Persuader Snare Drum

Religious music (worship)

There is no music more expressive than worship. Contemporary religious pop music has filled everything from small churches to great halls. In a musical sense, worship music has all sorts of practical considerations—will you be playing in a small church or a large church with a professional PA system? Whatever guides you to express your beliefs through music, make sure you choose the right snare to convey your message.

Inspired by Black Beauty, the Ludwig Black Magic snare features a brass case with a nickel finish that matches the hardware. This look gives the drum a sophisticated vibe. The tubular lugs are an old-fashioned replica of the gaudy Art Deco lugs on the Black Beauty. Compared to other brass nickel snares, the Black Magic comes with an added benefit: a cast ring. If you're playing in a religious place where volume is a consideration, these bangles will give you powerful recoils without the overwhelming ringing.

Ludwig Black Magic Snare

There isn't much to be said about the DW Collector's Series Snare Drum Black Nickel Over Brass snare drum, except for the content in the name. Collector's Series means it's packed with DW's absolute best hardware, including a 3-position grip plate that lets you change the tension of your snare instantly at the touch of a button. It is especially useful for worship services that cover different moods. The 1mm thick brass case is the industry standard, and the black nickel finish keeps things underrated.

Hip-Hop/R&B Music

After an era when prototypes and drum machines dominated hip-hop, drummers are making a comeback thanks to visionaries like Anderson, Paak and Questlove. At the heart of hip-hop and R&B is rhythm — and the most moving beats come from a live drummer, breathing with their own heart. Rooted in blues and church music, these genres speak less about musical complexity than human complexity. They talk about our emotions, feelings, and dreams. That's why we started with two wooden drums. Their deep, rich tones have room for expression.

The Eric Hernandez Signature Maple PDP snare sets its own style. As one of the famous drummers of the rap, pop and hit genres, Hernandez knows how to keep the air cool when setting the beat to some of the best songs on earth. This drum is built to keep overtones hard to come by, with maple reinforcement rings and a 2-layer ebony top on top. With a matching black finish, gold-plated hardware, and a custom "E-Panda" badge, this drum looks like it was made by a fashion designer.

The Yamaha Recording Custom Birch is the first birch snare on this list, and there's a reason we chose this wood for hip-hop and R&B. As two genres come to life in the studio, they benefit from the balanced sound of birch, which is superior to other woods. This balances out the sound and places it somewhere between metal and bass-heavy woods like maple and mahogany. Some players claim that birch has a "pre-EQ" sound, meaning it doesn't need editing to fit the mix. In genres that involve too much processing, birch allows you to start with a clear medium.

Yamaha Recording Custom Birch Snare Drum

All that being said, the sampling rhythms come to life as well - they're all performed by a drummer sometime, somewhere. In fact, the most sampled drummer of all time is Clyde Stubblefield, James Brown's legendary funk drummer. His beats appear on tracks from NWA, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Beastie Boys... In a way, Clyde is the most influential drummer in hip hop. So, if you want to play traditional hip-hop beats with an acoustic drum, there's a good reason you should just pick a Ludwig Supraphonic. You've probably heard Clyde play that drum all your life, whether you know it or not.

Folk music (folk)

Folk music does not have as many instruments as other genres. Rooted in oral tradition, folk music uses percussion to tell stories through music. This makes folk one of the most poetic and folk genres. For a drummer, that means your snare will need to stand on its own, unaided by any other instrument. For that reason, we love uniquely balanced wooden snares. You want a drum that sounds realistic on the mic or busking in the street without any processing.

The most important elements of folk drums are (1) bass and (2) the ability to play at lower volumes. The Yamaha Tour Custom Maple snare meets those needs with an all-maple finish that's thin enough to unfold in a set of sounds. The DynaHoop is a clever innovation with a sharper, rounder rim that excels in the crisscross technique, a popular technique among folk.

Yamaha Tour Custom Maple Snare Drum

While the Yamaha is a simple classical drum, the TAMA Starclassic Walnut/Birch snare is an innovative drum that could have been customized for folk music. The materials sound like a jungle excursion: 4 layers of European birch, 2 layers of American black walnut and an oriental red cedar outer layer. Birch brings balance to the sound, great for acoustic tracks without much editing. Walnuts have a maple-like end. Cedar is an exotic wood that produces a remarkable rustic look at this price point. Also notable for the price are the cast rings. For folk drummers, the molded material outperforms the cross-knife technique and produces a quieter chime without the bells.