What Is a Tenor Drum?
Marching bands are popular and effective at parades, as the sound made by the instruments carries well outdoors. The tenor drum, an important element in marching bands and drum corps, has been around for centuries and produces a distinct sound.HistoryThe tenor drum developed out of the field drum from the Middle Ages, which itself developed out of the earlier and smaller tabor. It was accepted by orchestras in the late 18th century.FeaturesThe tenor drum makes a sound in the tenor register, producing a pitch between that of a snare drum and bass drum. They produce a dark and somber timbre and are important in the performance of rolls.ConsiderationsThe tenor drum is beaten with either drumsticks or soft mallets in order to produce a specific timbre, according to the Vienna Symphonic Library.FunctionTenor drums feature prominently in military and high school drum corps. They produce a high-pitched sound that can be heard relatively well outdoors.TypesTenor drums come in a variety of size
