What percussion instruments are in a pipe band drum section?
In the modern pipe band, there are several percussion instruments. The main “voice” in the drum section is the snare drum. These are high-tension marching snare drums with Kevlar heads. Snare parts are written to compliment the bagpipe part of a tune. There are usually four to eight snare drummers per band, and one “lead drummer” that the rest watch to maintain focus and unison. Additionally, there are tenor drums. These are tom-like drums that are tuned to a musical note. There are usually between one and four tenor drummers, and each player plays one drum. Usually there is more than one tenor drummer, and the drums are tuned in harmony with the others. The parts written for the tenors are meant to compliment the melody line of the pipes, as well as the rhythms of the snares. Some players only “flourish” (spin their sticks in visual patterns), some only play (known as rhythm tenors), and others do both. Rhythm tenors often play “split” parts, not unlike that of marching band bass line
