There are several ways to shape the tone of bass drum heads. Commonly, modern drum heads are made out of one or two ply plastic. A single ply head would produce a thinner warm sound while a double ply head creates a fatter sound. There are some double ply skins, which have oil filling in between them. It was said that the filling increases the roundness of the sound and further fattens the instrument’s timbre.

Another variation of a drum head would be the clear and coated type. The clear type heads sound very lively and full and are preferred by drummers to be used in live settings. Coated heads usually muffle the resonance while at the same time maintain the same sound. The purpose is to reduce overtones, which are normally used in studio and recording sessions where the kit is situated in a small closed room.

Always remember that having good wood for a bass drum is only half the battle. Making the instrument sound good requires quality drum heads and resonant woods.

Bass drum heads: Setting the Tone is a post from: Drum Kit - Drum Sets