side drum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical, Musical
Quick answer
What does “side drum” mean?
A small, double-headed cylindrical drum, typically played with two sticks and held by a strap over the shoulder, used particularly in marching bands and orchestras.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, double-headed cylindrical drum, typically played with two sticks and held by a strap over the shoulder, used particularly in marching bands and orchestras.
It can also refer to the snare drum in a drum kit, though this usage is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is standard in both varieties within musical contexts.
Connotations
Connotes military bands, marching bands, and traditional orchestral percussion sections.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used only within specific musical and marching contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “side drum” in a Sentence
[Subject] plays [the] side drum.The [band] features a side drum.[Sound] of [a/the] side drum.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in musicology, ethnomusicology, and historical studies of military music.
Everyday
Rarely used outside of specific conversations about marching bands or orchestral music.
Technical
Standard term in percussion notation, band organisation, and instrument classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “side drum”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “side drum”
- Confusing it with a 'tenor drum' (which is larger and has no snares).
- Using 'side drum' to refer to any drum positioned to the side in a drum kit.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern terminology, they refer to the same instrument. 'Side drum' is the traditional name, especially in marching contexts, while 'snare drum' is more general.
Historically, it was worn at the player's side, suspended from a shoulder strap, as opposed to a bass drum carried in front.
Primarily in marching bands (military, civilian, and school), pipe bands, and in the percussion section of symphony orchestras and wind ensembles.
Rarely. The drum in a kit is almost universally called the 'snare drum'. 'Side drum' would sound archaic or very British in a rock/pop context.
A small, double-headed cylindrical drum, typically played with two sticks and held by a strap over the shoulder, used particularly in marching bands and orchestras.
Side drum is usually technical, musical in register.
Side drum: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd drʌm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd drʌm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “tight as a side drum (variant of 'tight as a drum')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a drummer marching at the SIDE of a band, carrying this drum.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYTHM IS A MARCHING SOLDIER (the side drum provides the disciplined, steady rhythm for a procession).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most distinctive feature of a traditional side drum?