Loud snare drums -- What for?!?

[pattrahan]

Here's a question I've been asking myself for a few years: Why would someone look for an "OVERLY" loud snare drum? I personally have standard snare drums that are loud enough to my taste. I even sold a Noble&Cooley Horizon 14x6½ because I nor the other musicians on stage could stand the volume and I don't play that loud believe me (though I play rimshots)

I see a lot of posts on how this or that snare drum is loud, or this one even louder, I mean, what's the point; you're either miked in studio and live and the snare drum's gonna bleed in all the other mics. Plus the fact that you might go deaf in a few years of playing those "shotguns" or "hand grenade".

So what your point of view regarding loud snare drums

Thanks guys
Patt

[mR.dnA]

Let me preface this by saying I'm pretty new to drumming - but I've spent a lot of time reading the same kind of stuff you've mentioned.

I think a lot of it comes from viewing the snare as a part of the instrument that can really stand out when you want it to - definitely moreso than a really cutting cymbal. Now granted, it seems that even with a 'regular volume' snare this can be done relatively easily, throwing a rimshot in or whatever, but maybe it feels better to know that you have this total machine gun at the ready. Kind of like having a performance car as a daily driver - whether it's in traffic or on the open road, you know you have that power at your disposal.

Personally, I'm kind of intimidated by an overly loud snare - probably because my technique is so lacking :rolleyes: - check back with me in a year or so on that. For now I prefer instead a good -CRACK- more of a specific sound than that sound plus volume.

Could also be a lot of people seem to be playing in punk-style bands where the guitarist always has the amp set to 12, so you gotta have that Howitzer to be heard. :D

[Dman]

You guys have a good question here. I've been playing for over 20 years and out of all the drummers I've known, no one has ever searched for a loud snare. I'm not sure if I know why, maybe I'm too old, LOL. I think DNA is right. The snare should blend as part of the kit, shouldn't be that excessively loud or it would seem out of place. Rimshots give you the accent/power when you need it. I'll wait for other replies so maybe I can figure it out.

[Dylan]

My standard snare is just fine for me. I like a good crack, just so you know it's the snare and not a tom. I would, however, like to have a 3X13 brass piccolo just for a different sound sometimes.

Later-
DS

[mR.dnA]

My snare is the 5x13 that comes with the Rhythm Traveler, and to be honest it seems loud enough - and sounds pretty good compared to other snares I've checked out - although more of a -CRACK- would be nice. Maybe when my skill level finally warrants it, I'll get a nice metal snare of some sort. :cool:

[Pyrotechnic]

The reason you dont get that "CRACK" is probably because theres not enough snare wires, i had 16 strand snares wires on my 6.5x14 steel and the drum was louder than the snare wires, but i put some 20 strand snares on and it's pretty balanced now.

If you want more snare sound, just use snare wires with more strands.

[mR.dnA]

Originally posted by Pyrotechnic

If you want more snare sound, just use snare wires with more strands.

I'll have to try that out - thanks!

[giantmink]

I like a loud snare because I play loud. I want it to blend with the rest of my kit, and I do almost all rimshots. I love to play quietly but I just like more volume out of my kit when I am thrashing. Besides, drums are made to reflect a sound of a user, just because you or the bandmates don't like loud snares doesn't mean not everyone else plays a quieter style of music. I have a Copper Free Floater and I have never had a problem with it beeding in large or small venues.

Ben

[Hoody]

What about hihat mikes picking up snare. You have to turn hihat mike off and settle for hihats through snare mike, which then gives you ****ty sounding hihats because mike snare is for snare sound. Loud snares are like hot rods, look good sound better but pretty impractical.

[elmo]

Hoody,

In those cases I think the engineer (if any) would use gates. It would certainly reduce the amount of bleeding from one mic' to another.

[Clairvoyant]

This is addressed to Dman: What size/material drum do you recommend to 'blend' with the kit?

[giantmink]

To reduce the bleeding, one thing that helps is minking the hi-hats from above and putting the snare mic underneath the snare. Besides, to match my loud snare I have Sabian AAX Metal Hats. So MY SET BALANCES with the snare.

[elmo]

my point of view with my sane (10 ply maple MW) is that, I dont have to play it loud all the time. It sounds great when your playing it at "normal" levels, but the good thing is that is has the potential to really cut above all the other instruments when the music calls for it. Using a 10 ply snare, i find myself not hitting as hard anymore to get a nice volume from it. It makes my job alot easier as a drummer and less stressing on my wrists and fingers.

just my thouhts.......:)

[Jamie]

I agree-if you have a quiet snare, then it will be fine for quiet settings, but if you have a louder snare, then you can make it quiet by hitting it softly, but there is always the capacity for more volume-obviously this has it's limits, but anyway. Its comparable to owning a powerful car in someways-you dont have to drive it fast, but there's always the capacity for more speed, whilst if you drive a slow car, it will only go slowly. Also, some drummers play in loud settings-metal, hardcore, punk etc. So saying that a loud snare is a waste of time is pretty stupid really, because it is in many ways more versatile than a quiet snare, and is used in as many settings as a quiet snare, if not more.

[valtemand]

i would like a powerfull snare, as a sub snare, just to get extreme accents when i want, that way i have the option, but i'm not playing it all the time

[spikeman23]

In some cases the snare should blend with the kit, but i play hard rock and once you start getting into music like that to metal or even punk that snare has to be very loud and as far as playing goes for me playing hard is not about volume it's just my style as it is for most drummers is other areas of rock.

[Chris0288]

depends what you play really, some songs/beats really do need a uber snare do just CRACK and get your head banging, know what I mean

[nkDRUM]

you dont want the cymbals to be as loud as the drums. You want the drums to be louder so people can hear more of the groove of the snare and bass hence the loud snare.

Instead just the hi hat strokes.

[nkDRUM]

or just the crash being heard. you want the intricacy of the groove by the snare to be herd.

[TempesT68]

for the most part a normal volume snare will be fine in any music situation besides metal, when you have two marshall stacks blasting, a 18" bass amp and vocals belive me you need a snare to cut that. also the snare is the most important drum on the kit and it needs to be heard clearly by not only you but the whole band (thats what the drummer is for :D)

[t.huval]

I agree-if you have a quiet snare, then it will be fine for quiet settings, but if you have a louder snare, then you can make it quiet by hitting it softly, but there is always the capacity for more volume-obviously this has it's limits, but anyway. Its comparable to owning a powerful car in someways-you dont have to drive it fast, but there's always the capacity for more speed, whilst if you drive a slow car, it will only go slowly. Also, some drummers play in loud settings-metal, hardcore, punk etc. So saying that a loud snare is a waste of time is pretty stupid really, because it is in many ways more versatile than a quiet snare, and is used in as many settings as a quiet snare, if not more.
well said jamie.my thoughts exactly. :cool:

[Full Collapse]

The shows I play, the only mics used are for singing. Loud snare drums are essential.

[andyman1970]

Just to be perfectly clear, there must be a well-defined difference between a snare that is loud and a snare that projects well. I think all of us REALLY want the latter cause a loud snare doesn't imply it sounds well. Ya dig?

[Lynn]

A I know is my New Beats played open will over power the snare and I end up doing nothing but rim shots. A slightly louder snare would be nice.