Making a Marching Drum from a regular Snare Drum

[SethJ]

Greetings,

Was given this snare drum from a friend. Completely free, but Completely by itself. Considering that reproduction drums cost... a lot.

So, I wondered if there was any way to make this look like a drum from that time period. I know, some people will be on me about the pack of historic accuracy in doing that, but for this project, It would be looks more than anything.

Attached are pictures of its measurements, as well as a very unfortunately placed lever. Is there is any way to hide it (perhaps positioned where it's up against my person so it's hidden).

There should be some way to do this. I'll figure it out, but if anybody has any ideas or advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Rum-pum-pum-pum
-Seth

 

[captaindrew]

Honestly I don't see any way you can make that look like this

 

[SethJ]

Honestly I don't see any way you can make that look like this View attachment 510573

Well.. suppose ill just have to give it a try.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Well.. suppose ill just have to give it a try.

The issue is that literally everything is wrong in design, materials, or both. You won't get anything close to the correct sound, look, or feel, and it would actually be misleading to present this drum to the public as anything close to period correct. Playing on an upturned bucket would be just as authentic with zero effort.

 

[SethJ]

The issue is that literally everything is wrong in design, materials, or both. You won't get anything close to the correct sound, look, or feel, and it would actually be misleading to present this drum to the public as anything close to period correct. Playing on an upturned bucket would be just as authentic with zero effort.

Fair point. Perhaps I'll just use it as a practice piece. Thank you.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Fair point. Perhaps I'll just use it as a practice piece. Thank you.

Do you play?

 

[SethJ]

Do you play?

I play full drums for my local church. As far as Marching pieces with a snare... well, I only know how to keep a decent beat. It's something I want to do sense my organizations fife and drum corps. basically disbanded.

(Edited)

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

I agree with @captaindrew and @The Ninth Ohio. By the time you modify your existing drum it probably would have been cheaper to buy one.

 

[SethJ]

I agree with @captaindrew and @The Ninth Ohio.

I believe I do now as well.

 

[captaindrew]

I believe I do now as well.

The good news is the price is right. And if that's something you want to get into you have something more compact you can practice on

 

[7thWisconsin]

No. You can´t convert a modern snare into a rope-tension drum. It´s not worth the effort and at the end of the day, it will still look f@rby. Snares are different on a modern drum, so it won´t have a period sound. So, I´d give up on that conversion project right out of the gate. On the other hand, you now have a drum. If you were ever interested in learning to play the drum, you have the starter pack. The first thing any drummer needs to learn is the roll. Think of it as your friend gave you a doorknob, now you want to buy a house!

 

[drezac]

If it was a tom, you might be able to do something. However, that's a concert snare, and is way too shallow to be able to do anything with it. Also, by the time you purchased the materials to do it right, you would likely have more in it than just buying a rope-tensioned drum. I have tried to make wood hoops for a drum repair - and it's not easy. I never was able to make a usable hoop.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

If it's in decent shape, why not sell it and put the money towards a period instrument?

 

[DixieRifles]

I play full drums for my local church. As far as Marching pieces with a snare... well, I only know how to keep a decent beat. It's something I want to do sense my organizations fife and drum corps. basically disbanded.

Then you know how much different a snare drum sounds than a large cowhide covered marching drum. The drum cadences were not hat hard. In my high school band we played a cadence we called "The Downfall of Paris", which we thought it came from WW2. May date back to 19th Century. Our version was simply played with 1/4 and 1/8 notes.

Checking Youtube some versions are more difficult. Ours was simple.

Here is one played by British reenactors: Downfall of Paris -- Medium Level

This is an easier version. Ours was even much easier; we didn't start with the roll. Downfall of Paris--- Low level

This is how it will sound on a snare drum. Downfall of Paris -- snare

 

[SethJ]

If it's in decent shape, why not sell it and put the money towards a period instrument?

I might be able to restore it. It's a bit old, but worn, but this is an idea I had yet to think of.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Then you know how much different a snare drum sounds than a large cowhide covered marching drum. The drum cadences were not hat hard. In my high school band we played a cadence we called "The Downfall of Paris", which we thought it came from WW2. May date back to 19th Century. Our version was simply played with 1/4 and 1/8 notes.

Checking Youtube some versions are more difficult. Ours was simple.

Here is one played by British reenactors: Downfall of Paris -- Medium Level

This is an easier version. Ours was even much easier; we didn't start with the roll. Downfall of Paris--- Low level

This is how it will sound on a snare drum. Downfall of Paris -- snare

¨Downfall of Paris¨ is a Napoleonic tune that appears around 1800. There are a lot of different versions of common fife tunes that are all Civil War period. The Army didn´t really have a ¨standard¨ manual, so all the publishers jumped in with different versions to fill the need. Some are very easy both to read and play. Others are hard to read in the period notation and take a very accomplished musician to play. The easiest versions I know are in the back of Casey´s drill book (I think - I have 3 or 4!) I´d point a beginner to that one.

 

[rebelatsea]

Then you know how much different a snare drum sounds than a large cowhide covered marching drum. The drum cadences were not hat hard. In my high school band we played a cadence we called "The Downfall of Paris", which we thought it came from WW2. May date back to 19th Century. Our version was simply played with 1/4 and 1/8 notes.

Checking Youtube some versions are more difficult. Ours was simple.

Here is one played by British reenactors: Downfall of Paris -- Medium Level

This is an easier version. Ours was even much easier; we didn't start with the roll. Downfall of Paris--- Low level

This is how it will sound on a snare drum. Downfall of Paris -- snare

I think the cadence Downfall of Paris dates from the Franco Prussian War, as does the cavalry march "Entry into Paris ". Currently on the banned list for Bundeswehr bands, but played by the Household Cavalry bands here in England LOL.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

I think the cadence Downfall of Paris dates from the Franco Prussian War, as does the cavalry march "Entry into Paris ". Currently on the banned list for Bundeswehr bands, but played by the Household Cavalry bands here in England LOL.

Pariser Einzugsmarsch was written prior to 1800 and has been on the AMS for a long time. My understanding is that it is not officially banned by current regulations, but is very seldom played.

 

[rebelatsea]

Pariser Einzugsmarsch was written prior to 1800 and has been on the AMS for a long time. My understanding is that it is not officially banned by current regulations, but is very seldom played.

Thank you for that update. My info came from a Director of music in the Bundeswehr, but as we know things change. It's not so long ago that "Prussian Glory" was only permitted as a fife and drum peace but it is now played by full bands. our Footguards still use it with fife and drum. I was interested to hear the Household Cavalry bands play the "Horsemans March of the Great Elector" as they moved from right to left to clear the exit from Horseguards at the Trooping.