Playability of electric snare drum based on the rebound feature

Abstract

The playability of various snare drums has been investigated. Although snare drums are very popular, the differences in their playability have not been reported. Here, the motions in performances using an acoustic snare drum (AD) and three electronic snare drums (ED1, ED2, and ED3) were analyzed, and the relationship between the characteristics of rebound and electromyograms (EMG) on the players’ arms was investigated. The rebound coefficient as the characteristic of rebound was used to obtain the difference in the drumhead for each snare drum. Ten drummers (five professional and five intermediate players) were asked to play single strokes in sixteen measures under five different tempi. Surface EMG signals from their performances on four different snare drums were recorded. Drummers were instructed to play the drums under two different strengths of 40 and 70% of their maximum EMGs by observing their EMGs in real time. (Our system was used to display EMGs.) Surface EMG signals of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and extensor carpi ulnaris muscle of both arms were then measured. EMG signals upon playing ED1, ED2, and ED3 were compared with those for playing AD. Obtained EMGs of intermediate players playing the electric drum with the highest rebound coefficient were found to be stronger than those for playing the acoustic snare drum, whereas those of professional were found to be less, implying that only professional drummers can take advantage of the rebound feature to suppress the physical load when drumming.