Snare Drum Sizes

Welcome to Part 1 of our How to Choose a Snare Drum Guide

Snare Drum Width or Diameter

There are three sizes for snare drums based on their diameter or width. The smallest diameter is 10 inches and these are called popcorn snare drums. The next range has a diameter ranging from 12 inches to 13 inches and these are called soprano snare drums. The third size has a diameter of 14 inches, and these are the standard snare drums.

Please take note that these three classifications are based on the diameter. There are also three categories based on the depth of the snare drums, so these could be confusing. However, it is the diameter or width that has the greatest effect on the drum's tone. Therefore, the popcorn snare drums have the highest pitch, the soprano snare drums have a lower pitch than the popcorn drums, and the standard snare drums have the lowest.

Snare Drum Depth

The depth of the snare drum also affects the tone in that a deeper drum will have a lower sound while a shallower one will have a higher pitch. However, depth affects not only the tone but also the strength and ability of the sound to project. On the other hand, a shallow snare drum will have a purer tone and better resonance. That is why the snare drums with stronger sounds are preferred for rock music while jazz music requires the shallower ones for their purer tones.

Based on depth, there are also three categories for snare drums: piccolo, standard, and deep. Piccolo snare drums have a depth ranging from three to 4.5 inches. These drums have less projection but they have cleaner tones. Standard drums have a depth ranging from five to 5.5 inches. Deep snare drums have a depth ranging from six to 10 inches, and are preferred for music that requires louder drum sounds. Deep snare drums provide the well-known back-beat pattern for popular music as well as marching bands.

Continue on to Part 2:  Snare Drum Materials

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