What causes the sound of a drum beating?

Introduction

The sound produced by a drum when it is beaten is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors including the vibration modes of the drum heads, the materials used, and the striking position. Understanding these factors can help in optimizing drum design and performance.

Key Insights

Vibration Modes and Sound Radiation:
- The sound of a drum is primarily generated by the vibration modes of the drum heads, which can include dipole, quadrupole, and higher multipole components .
- Higher modes of vibration, such as the third mode, can produce specific pitches and are often responsible for undesirable ringing sounds .
Material and Construction:
- The materials used in drum construction, such as the membrane and any additional loading materials (e.g., starch, iron oxide), significantly affect the harmonic partials and overall sound quality.
- The interaction between the drum heads and the shell, as well as the support stand, also plays a crucial role in the sound produced.
Striking Position:
- The location where the drum is struck affects the sound quality, with higher pitches being produced when the drum is struck near the rim due to the dominance of higher modes of vibration.
Dampening Techniques:
- Various dampening techniques, such as placing materials on the drum head or using internal dampening devices, are employed to control and eliminate undesirable sounds like the edge ring .
Haptic Feedback:
- Haptic feedback, such as vibrations felt by the player, can enhance the perceived quality of drum sounds and improve the overall experience of playing the drum.

Conclusion

The sound of a drum beating is influenced by the vibration modes of the drum heads, the materials used in its construction, and the position where it is struck. Higher modes of vibration can produce specific pitches and undesirable sounds, which can be managed through various dampening techniques. Additionally, haptic feedback can enhance the perceived quality of the drum sound. Understanding these factors is essential for optimizing drum design and performance.

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What causes the sound of a drum beating?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Acoustics of snare drums

Snare drums produce distinct sounds due to the interaction of the head, shell, and support stand, with higher frequencies involving more independent head vibrations.

Vibration modes of the snare drum batter head

The edge ring sound on snare drums is caused by the third mode of vibration, which can be dampened using various methods.

Modes of vibration of Indian drums

The harmonic partials of Indian drums are produced by carefully loading the membranes with pastes of starch, iron oxide, charcoal, or other materials, resulting in nine modes of vibration.

Sound analysis of a cup drum

The cup drum's tapping sound is influenced by standing waves and plate vibration, with the frequency and amplitude varying depending on the cup's location over, on, or under a water surface.

Sound Quality and Striking Position of a Conga Drum

The rim of a conga drum produces higher-pitched sound due to higher modes of vibration dominating the impact, compared to other locations on the drum head.

Dampening vibration modes of the snare drum batter head.

Dampening devices on snare drum batter heads can effectively reduce the undesirable "edge ring" sound caused by the third mode of vibration, resulting in a more pleasant sound.

Haptic Vibration Improves the Perceived Quality of Drum Sounds

Haptic stimulation improves the perceived quality of drum sounds and enhances the prefrontal cortex's hemodynamic response to these sounds.

Why different drums can sound the same

Different drums can sound the same, indicating that the shape of a drum does not affect its sound, and this finding has implications for quantum chaos and boundary conditions in acoustics and electromagnetism.

Sound-structure interactions in a Japanese drum

The vibration of the wood barrel in a Japanese drum significantly affects its acoustical characteristics, and this study demonstrates the importance of considering both membrane and barrel vibrations in sound-structure interactions.

Sound and hearing

Vibrations in objects cause vibrations in the air, which in turn cause sounds to be heard by the human ear.

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