Equipment Care

Instrument Care & Maintenance

Just like any other instrument, the snare drum and drumsticks need need regular maintenance and care. Whenever the instrument is put together, there needs to be an inspection of the drum's condition to make sure that is playable and in good condition.

Watch the video below for some general maintenance tips for the snare drum!

items to Check on the Snare Drum:

Snare Strainer

The strainer activates the snares on the bottom of the drum. The tension on the snares can also be adjusted with the knob on the top of the strainer.

Cleanliness

Cleaning your snare drum often is crucial to maintaing the quality of the drum. As with anything, when you use the drum, dust and dirt can become lodged between the snare and drum heads, and it can affect the sound of your drum. Clean the shell and tension casings with a dry cloth every once in a while. To clean the snares, throw the snare strainer off and use a dry cloth on the snares, taking care not to damage them. Also, be sure to clean the snare head when you do this.

Drum Heads

To clean your drum heads, use a damp cloth to carefully clean the top. If it needs more thorough cleaning, take the drum head off and scrub the head to remove dirt and film. This can be down with a stiff brush, warm water and kitchen cleanser. Dry the head immediately after with a towel and then put the head back on the drum.

Over time, the drum heads will naturally lose their resiliance and tone and will need to be replaced. When this time comes, make sure your replacement heads are top quality and you buy the correct type of head for each side (batter & snare). Drumheads are most commonly damaged by mishandling and careless treatment. Keep this in mind to prolong the life of your drum heads:


  1. Do not write on your heads.

  2. Do not store your drums close to a heat source.

  3. Be mindful of how you load your percussion kit into the car or onto the bus.

  4. Only use drumsticks to play your drum.

  5. Do not over tension the drum heads.

  6. Do not place sharp, pointed, or heavy objects on your drums.

  7. Clean your heads only when necessary.

  8. Cover your drums when not in use.

  9. Make certain that your drum, as well as drum stand, is properly locked and in the correct position when you're playing.