The history of drums ranges back from the age when it was primarily a device to communicate and an instrument used to perform during any rituals or ceremony. The jungle tribes have been using it as a means to send signals to other people of the same tribe or different tribes. Same is the case in the history of Latin drums.

Due to the simple nature of a drum structure, the use of drum has been a worldwide phenomenon. The music, as the saying goes, is without any boundaries. And thus Latin drum that has its influences and origin from the Africa and the indigenous South America is popular around the world.

Recent years have seen the growth in the popularity of the Cuban music, and in turn it has brought a lifeline in the Latin form of music and also in the exposure of Latin drums. The Salsa and the Samba once again have gained popularity throughout the world. The globalization effect has increased the popularity of instruments like, congas, bongos and timbales.

Latin drums include the likes of Bongo, Cajon, Conga, and Timbales. If one considers the name of Latin drums and percussions then we will have a list including instruments as Agogos, Blocks, Bongos, Cabasas, Castanets, Congas, Cow Bells, Cuicas, Egg Shakers, Guiros, Maracas, Pandeiro, Single Reco, Kelly Shaker, Surdos, Tambourines, Tamborim, Timbales and Tubanos.

The above list certainly gives a lot of names to the ordinary drummer who is trying to create a custom drum set. However, such variety is one exciting element, for which drummers all over the world has tended to taken a liking for creating their custom drum kits. Drummers all over the world have been using drums from different parts of the globe. The collection, when played, can generate wonderful music.

Bongo generates the sound when being struck in the low and high pitch sound areas. It’s compact size and lightweight has made it one of the favorites among the Latin drums users.

Cajon is used to produce convincing sound and snare effect. Drummers use their hands or use rods and brushes to play this instrument. It, generally, needs a floor stand to keep on the ground.

Blocks are usually made of wood. The block comes in all three variations, viz. small, low and high pitch. Their size is small so it is quite convenient for the drummers to use their hands.

Cowbells come in pairs but it is on the preference of the drummer to use more than two in his collection. Two sticks also come in association with this piece of Latin drum.

Macaras are used to play with two hands in use. They provide style to the collection of the drummer.

To use such a wide range of Latin drums in his collection the drummer also needs to have a good knowledge on the pieces of hardware he uses. There are even more devices that a drummer can use in his already wide compilation of different drums and percussion devices.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, acoustic guitars, latin drums, bonjo, cajon, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Drum kit (or drum set or trap set) consists of drums, cymbals and at times other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, set for the aid of a single drummer to manage it all by himself. A typical cymbal consists of bell, bow, edge or rim.

Cymbals (Fr. cymbales; Dutch Bekkens; Ger. Becken; Ital. piatti or cinelli; Por. pratos) are the current percussion apparatus. Cymbals of today are of indefinite pitch while small cup shaped cymbals designed on ancient examples sound a definite note. Cymbals generally are made of thin round plates of various cymbal alloys.

There is extensive use of cymbals in modern orchestras and many military, concert, marching and other bands. Although added in later part of the history of the drum kit, yet the most basic drum kit usually contains at least one suspended cymbal and a pair of hi hat cymbals. The role of cymbals in drum kit has become that much invincible.

Usually a typical cymbal is made from two large, somewhat concave brass plates. Cymbals are integrated with leather hand straps and is built and shaped in a way that when they are crashed together, only the edges touch and not the interior. Basically, cymbals are untuned instruments but they are used to produce a wide range of sound effects.

Cymbals come in lots of size and shape. There are types so small that they are played with the fingers only. Drumsticks or mallets are also struck to make the cymbals sound while it is suspended on a string or stand.

The role of cymbals in drum kit depends largely on the type of service they provide. The prominent types of cymbals available today are: orchestral cymbals, crash cymbals, suspended cymbal and ancient cymbals.

Orchestral cymbals
The chief role of cymbals in drum kit is to make the rhythm and to create bizarre, extraordinary effects or adding military color. The shrill notes make a hue impact against a full orchestra playing fortissimo. Cymbals are particularly suited for signifying frenzy, fury or bacchanalian revels.

Crash cymbals
The role of cymbals in drum kit has customarily been gone along with the bass drum playing an identical part. There are instances that during the composition of older music the composer at times provided just one part for this pair of instruments. When the bass drum remained silent they bypassed it with writing senza piatti or piatti soli (Italian, without cymbals or cymbals only).

The modern rule is for the instruments to have self determining parts. When this combination is played loudly, it is an effective way to highlight a note as the two instruments playing together put in both very low and very high frequency ranges and provide a satisfying crash-bang-wallop.

Suspended cymbal
The role of cymbals in drum kit has the ability to produce bright and slicing tones when vehemently struck, and present a creepy clear windy sound when played quietly. A tremolo or roll (played with couple of mallets swapping and striking on other sides of the cymbal) can be used to build in volume from nearly inaudible to an irresistible climax.

Ancient cymbals
The role for cymbals in drum kit is sedate. Their use is rarely called for in modern composition. The timbre used is completely different as it resembles small hand bells or of the notes of the keyed harmonica.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, drums, cymbals, drum kits, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com