Is a drum a musical instrument?

**Janszoon** · 11-01-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJStew

1. percussion instrument is a subset of musical instruments, in the same way wind instrument, brass instrument and all the other ones are.
2. I don't think I even need to answer this one, it's just not true.
3. I'm not sure if you could really play a melody on a drum, but I did find some talk on the internet of a few drummers who had played melody with very big drum kits i.e. lots of drums and symbols of different tuning.
But whether you can or you can't it's beside the point, that wouldn't determine whether it's a musical instrument or not.

So anyway please let me know what you all think and vote on the poll

Cheers
Pete

I think you're completely right and your coworker is dumb.

Just for shits and giggles though, here's my response to his arguments:

Quote:

1. A drum is not a musical instrument, it's a percussion instrument.

Percussion instruments include not just drums but also things like pianos and xylophones. Does he think pianos are not musical instruments too?

Quote:

2. You can't tune a drum or a drum doesn't go out of tune.

Yes you can tune a drum and yes they do go out of tune. What does this guy think a drum key is used for?

Quote:

3. You can't play a melody with a drum.

Really now? What about steel drums?

!Blink! · 11-03-2009, 07:18 PM

Yes, of course! Music today, drums play a role other than keeping a beat, take a song without the drums. Sounds horible. you need the drums in a song. Just my opinion.

Malicious Wakizashi · 11-03-2009, 09:13 PM

Duh

bandteacher1 · 12-03-2009, 02:56 PM

I do think that this is my area of expertise.

A drum, any kind for that matter, is in fact a musical instrument. You're co-worker is DEAD WRONG on his three points. Percussion is a class of instruments, just like woodwinds or brass. You can tune drums. And they do go out of tune. Take quads for example. When my marching band takes them out in the cold of Mass, the drums have to be tuned down some, so that the risk of breaking the head is drastically reduced. Marching snares, are tuned aprx. to an A. And percussionists are musicians. It takes a tremdous amount of skill in order to play percussion. For one, percussionists keep the beat. They have to right on the beat, every single time, or the other members of the ensemble take the percussionist(s) tempi.

cornandbeans · 12-04-2009, 11:19 PM

Believe or not, drums do have a tone, just not a sustained one. It's a collection of frequencies and harmonics just as much as a piano or a guitar.

OceanAndSilence · 12-07-2009, 02:34 PM

hmm, you work with stupid people.

Stone Birds · 12-07-2009, 05:31 PM

actually you can tune a drum, and play varied notes on a drum (excluding kick)
pretty much if it's something that can make a sound it can be a musical instrument

annapurna · 12-07-2009, 05:53 PM

You can, in fact, play a melody with steel pan drums.

bandteacher1 · 12-09-2009, 08:10 AM

So I think this has been settled once and for all.

Just because it doesn't entirely carry the melody, doesn't mean it's not an instrument
Drums are entirely tuneable
Melody is a very important part of all music, yes, but so is the harmony and the rythem
Percussionists are in fact musicians; other wise, how could one obtain a doctorite degree in percussion?
Percussion may be simple instruments in the theory of music evolution, but they add a different spice, a different color to the music
And percussion can have the melody. Keyboard instruments are still in the percussion family

FadedMyxomatosis · 12-09-2009, 10:53 AM

What the hell?

Drums can fall out of tune just like stringed instruments. The tenser the drum skin is; the brighter the tone. Same with stringed instruments. This guy is a dumbass.

View Poll Results: Is a drum a musical instrument?
Yes	59	93.65%
No	4	6.35%
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll

11-03-2009, 07:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
!Blink! Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New England Posts: 34	Yes, of course! Music today, drums play a role other than keeping a beat, take a song without the drums. Sounds horible. you need the drums in a song. Just my opinion. __________________ Don't Tread On this. Wenis "You Aint Cool Til' Ya Peed Da Pants"

11-03-2009, 09:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Malicious Wakizashi Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 203	Duh __________________ . ..a love sour ... ..a diesel supreme http://soundcloud.com/stoondtje-jupiter http://soundcloud.com/couldnthaveaparadesoimad

12-07-2009, 02:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
OceanAndSilence i write and play stuff Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 239	hmm, you work with stupid people. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/chrisneto - tune in to chill out

12-07-2009, 05:31 PM	#17 (permalink)
Stone Birds myspace.com/stonebirdies Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conor Oberst Was/is Here Posts: 1,401	actually you can tune a drum, and play varied notes on a drum (excluding kick) pretty much if it's something that can make a sound it can be a musical instrument __________________ Silk & Tree Records //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V //\\//\\/\\/\/\/\\\\\\\\///\/\/\/\/\\////\/\\\\\///\V soundcloud.com/stonebirds [Link removed by mod, no advertising] ... Damn those mods are always gettin ya :)

12-03-2009, 02:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
bandteacher1 Le professeur de musique Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mass. Posts: 66	I do think that this is my area of expertise. A drum, any kind for that matter, is in fact a musical instrument. You're co-worker is DEAD WRONG on his three points. Percussion is a class of instruments, just like woodwinds or brass. You can tune drums. And they do go out of tune. Take quads for example. When my marching band takes them out in the cold of Mass, the drums have to be tuned down some, so that the risk of breaking the head is drastically reduced. Marching snares, are tuned aprx. to an A. And percussionists are musicians. It takes a tremdous amount of skill in order to play percussion. For one, percussionists keep the beat. They have to right on the beat, every single time, or the other members of the ensemble take the percussionist(s) tempi.

12-04-2009, 11:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
cornandbeans Groupie Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 24	Believe or not, drums do have a tone, just not a sustained one. It's a collection of frequencies and harmonics just as much as a piano or a guitar.

12-07-2009, 05:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
annapurna Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 63	You can, in fact, play a melody with steel pan drums.

12-09-2009, 10:53 AM	#20 (permalink)
FadedMyxomatosis Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: New York State. Posts: 51	What the hell? Drums can fall out of tune just like stringed instruments. The tenser the drum skin is; the brighter the tone. Same with stringed instruments. This guy is a dumbass. __________________ .................... Last.fm http://imagegen.last.fm/SidebarPlain...contourmac.gif