bass drummer
Marching band anchor
A bass drummer is a musician who plays the bass drum—the large, low-pitched drum that provides the rhythmic foundation in marching bands, orchestras, and drum corps.
In a marching band, the bass drummer carries the instrument vertically against the body and strikes it with a large padded mallet: The bass drummers kept the cadence as the band paraded down Main Street.
Marching band percussionists
- paradeCeremonial public procession
- corpsMilitary unit or group
- formationCreation or arrangement
- halftimeMidpoint break in games
field show · uniform · precision · competition · choreography · harness · carrier · marching band
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- tempoRate of musical performance
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- downbeatNegatively toned or dispirited
- backbeatAccent on weak beats
groove · syncopation · timekeeping · pulse · meter · swing · polyrhythm · count
Large instrumental ensemble
- bandGroup playing music together
- percussion sectionStruck instrument players
- rhythm sectionTimekeeping instrumentalists in ensemble
- jazz ensembleGroup performing improvised music
rock band · concert · gig · performance · pit orchestra · symphony · big band · funk band
Foot-operated lever
- beaterTool for mixing
- malletSoft-headed striking tool
- drumheadTaut membrane over cylinder
- shellHard outer covering
hoop · tension rods · double pedal · throne · dampening
drumline
Marching band percussionists
halftime · field show · uniform · precision · competition · choreography · harness · carrier · marching band · military band
cadence
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
backbeat · groove · syncopation · timekeeping · pulse · meter · swing · polyrhythm · count · measure
orchestra
Large instrumental ensemble
- bandGroup playing music together
- percussion sectionStruck instrument players
- rhythm sectionTimekeeping instrumentalists in ensemble
jazz ensemble · rock band · concert · gig · performance · pit orchestra · symphony · big band · funk band
pedal
Foot-operated lever
shell · hoop · tension rods · double pedal · throne · dampening
- DrummersBuddy Rich, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl
- parade performersmajorette, baton twirler, color guard, flag bearer, trumpeter
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms