snare drum

was originally called the side drum, because the player would carry it around his waist and played off to the side. The snare drum is shaped like a cylinder, with skin stretched over its top. The "snare"is a set of wires or strings strung across the bottom of the drum. This rattling helps to produce the snare drum's special sound.

Composer: Britten Piece: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra Conductor: Britten

	Snare drums are especially good at playing "rolls." They also play lots of other fancy rhythms. Sometimes the snare is turned off, to make a dull thud sound. Snare drums, like bass drums, do not have a definite pitch.