THE CONCERT SNARES
Drum is the oldest musical instrument. It is a member of the percussion family, which consists of instruments that are played by striking them with the hand, sticks, or other objects. Drums have also been used for various nonmusical purposes. For example, people of many cultures have used drums to communicate over long distances.
The shell (body) of a drum may be shaped like an open cylinder or a kettle. A thin covering called a drumhead is stretched tightly across the opening. Drumheads may be made of either calfskin or plastic. A cylinder-shaped drum generally has two drumheads. A kettle-shaped instrument has one.
A musician strikes the drumhead with sticks, with mallets, or with the hand to create vibrations that produce a sound. This sound resonates (increases) inside the shell of the drum.
The three most popular types of drums are the snare drum, the bass drum, and the timpani. Only the timpani can produce definite musical notes. The other types are used primarily as rhythm instruments.
The snare drum consists of a metal or wooden cylinder with a drumhead covering each opening. The drumhead used for playing is called the batter head. The opposite one is called the snare head. About 12 gut or wire strings called snares stretch across the snare head. A drummer strikes the batter head with two wooden sticks. The snares vibrate against the snare head, producing a full, crisp sound.
There are many different kinds of snare drums. A few examples are the orchestral and the piccolo snare drum. The material the shell and the type of snares can make the drum differ in sensitivity. Highly sensitive snare drums are good for pianissimo type of playing.
The orchestral snare drum (orchestral snare 1) has a deep but crisp sound that fades away not slowly, but is noticeable. This drum is good for playing songs that differ in dynamics.
The piccolo snare drum (piccolo snare 1) has a high pitched sound that almost instantly disappears. This drum is good for fast songs where you need to be able to hear each individual hit.
THE MARCHING SNARES
The marching snare drum is like the normal concert snare in many ways but has its differences. Its shell is always made of metal to ensure durability through many years of marching. The batter head and snare head are also harder to keep from breaking under the stress of the larger and harder sticks. Also, its snares are tubular instead of corkscrewed wire. Although it is a deeper design, the sound you get is very loud and high pitched. The harder heads and tubular snares create this. (marching snare 1,2, and 3)
The drum is held onto the marcher by a carrier that is strapped over his/her shoulders (carrier 1,2, and 3). Some marching band drum lines even use slings to look more traditional (sling).
Kimball also sent me some pictures of both concert and marching snare drums, but I haven't figured how to transfer them onto my page, yet. Be watching, though!