Floor tom
Encyclopedia
A floor tom is a double-headed tom-tom drum
which usually stands on the floor on three legs. However, they can also be attached to a cymbal
stand with a drum clamp.
Not all drum kits include floor toms, but when used they are the largest and lowest tuned tom-toms in the kit. A common size for a floor tom is 16 by 16 in (40.6 by 40.6 cm); that is, 16 inches (40.6 cm) in both depth and diameter. Other common sizes are 14 by 14 in (35.6 by 35.6 cm) (e.g. for jazz
kits) and 18 by 16 in (45.7 by 40.6 cm).
Floor toms can be of one of two designs. Quite simply, floor toms with legs and 'floating' floor toms; usually attached to either a drum rack or a cymbal stand by means of a clamp. It is uncommon to see a floor tom at 16 × 16 using the "floating" system, however, and is more commonly seen on "fusion" or jazz setups whereby the floor tom is of a 14 inches diameter.
The floor tom was popularised by Gene Krupa
in the 1950s, using a 16 × 16. At first he placed it between his two bass drums, on the far side of his snare drum
, but quickly moved it to its now traditional position to the right of his right leg. A second 16 × 18 floor tom, to the right of the 16 × 16, appeared in the late 1960s and was popularised as part of the extended kits used by progressive rock
bands in the 1970s. In kits used by rock
and metal
drummers, it is very common to find more than one floor tom. Roger Taylor
of Queen
uses two floor toms that are 16 × 16 and 16 × 18 while Lars Ulrich
of Metallica
uses two floor toms that are 16 × 14 and 16 × 16.
The floor tom is also used as a small bass drum by some (mostly jazz) drummers. In that case it is mounted horizontally on a specially designed rack system. More recently, companies such as Pearl
have come out with "floor tom to bass drum conversion sets". These commonly consist of strategically shaped rods that one can put in place of the floor tom legs in order to stand it up horizontally. Under this method, it is fairly common that a drummer get appropriately sized bass drum hoops to complete the conversion process.
Tom-tom drum
A tom-tom drum is a cylindrical drum with no snare.Although "tom-tom" is the British term for a child's toy drum, the name came originally from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala; the tom-tom itself comes from Asian or Native American cultures...
which usually stands on the floor on three legs. However, they can also be attached to a cymbal
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
stand with a drum clamp.
Not all drum kits include floor toms, but when used they are the largest and lowest tuned tom-toms in the kit. A common size for a floor tom is 16 by 16 in (40.6 by 40.6 cm); that is, 16 inches (40.6 cm) in both depth and diameter. Other common sizes are 14 by 14 in (35.6 by 35.6 cm) (e.g. for jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
kits) and 18 by 16 in (45.7 by 40.6 cm).
Floor toms can be of one of two designs. Quite simply, floor toms with legs and 'floating' floor toms; usually attached to either a drum rack or a cymbal stand by means of a clamp. It is uncommon to see a floor tom at 16 × 16 using the "floating" system, however, and is more commonly seen on "fusion" or jazz setups whereby the floor tom is of a 14 inches diameter.
The floor tom was popularised by Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
in the 1950s, using a 16 × 16. At first he placed it between his two bass drums, on the far side of his snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
, but quickly moved it to its now traditional position to the right of his right leg. A second 16 × 18 floor tom, to the right of the 16 × 16, appeared in the late 1960s and was popularised as part of the extended kits used by progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands in the 1970s. In kits used by rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
drummers, it is very common to find more than one floor tom. Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
uses two floor toms that are 16 × 16 and 16 × 18 while Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
uses two floor toms that are 16 × 14 and 16 × 16.
The floor tom is also used as a small bass drum by some (mostly jazz) drummers. In that case it is mounted horizontally on a specially designed rack system. More recently, companies such as Pearl
Pearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
have come out with "floor tom to bass drum conversion sets". These commonly consist of strategically shaped rods that one can put in place of the floor tom legs in order to stand it up horizontally. Under this method, it is fairly common that a drummer get appropriately sized bass drum hoops to complete the conversion process.