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Drum hardware

Drum hardware refers to equipment and parts, often metal, used to build or play a drum or drum kit. Hardware can be generally described as the, conventionally, non-percussive elements of the drum kit.

Drum parts

Drum head

A drum "hoop" or "rim" may be made of metal, wood, or other materials and is used to hold a drumhead against a drum shell, either with bolts through metal "claws" attached directly to a hoop, or bolts through holes in a flanged rim. The bolts, called "tension rods," are screwed into threaded "lugs" attached to the drum shell, in order to tighten and tune the drumhead. A "drum key" is a type of wrench often used to screw the tension rods into the lugs.

Drum badge

Drum "badges" are labels attached to a drum shell used to identify the manufacturer of a drum. Often the serial number of the drum will also be on the badge, and the "vent" hole for two-sided drums is often placed through the badge with a grommet.

Bass drum

Bass drums have two "spurs" which are legs attached by clamps to either side of the drum, used to keep it from rolling sideways or sliding forward when played. Bass drum pedals are also considered to be drum hardware.

For details on bass drum pedal hardware, see Bass drum pedal

Tom drum

tom-toms have clamps attached to the shell to mount them on stands and holders. Rim-mounted clamps are known as "Rims" or "ISS" mounts. floor toms have clamps to hold their three legs.

Snare drum

Snare drums will often have a "strainer" on one side and a "butt plate" on the other to hold the snare wires to the drumhead. Snare tension is controlled with a screw on the strainer. A strainer may also have a "throwoff" lever to deactivate and move snares away from the drumhead if a tom-tom sound is desired.

Stands and holders

Metal stands and holders are used to support percussion instruments or microphones. Floor stands are often tripods and telescoping. Snare drum stands have three arms as a "basket" to cradle the drum. Tom-Tom stands and holders may sit on the floor or be clamped through a mounting bracket on top of a bass drum, and have extending rods which attach to clamps on the tom-tom. Cymbal stands have a threaded bolt or "cymbal post" to hold a cymbal down with a nut. Cymbal "stackers" allow additional cymbals to be added to an existing stand.

Tom-tom and cymbal stands may have a "boom arm" attached to extend holder reach, and a "tilter" to move instruments into a desired position. Smaller "clamp holders" may also be used to attach more instruments to existing stands. Drum "racks" are stands surrounding a drum kit onto which percussion instrument holders may be clamped. "Memory locks" are clamps used to make drum and telescoping positions permanent.

Hi-hat stands, remote hi-hats, and X-hats are also considered to be hardware.

For details on hi-hat stand hardware, see Hi-hat

Drum throne

The drum "throne" is a three or four-legged padded seat or stool the drummer sits on while playing. Thrones may be shaped like round cushions or in a saddle design. Throne heights may be adjusted to accommodate the drummer.