The drum kit, as we now know it, first began to emerge in the 1950’s due to the growing global popularity of rock and roll. The role of the drummer became more prevalent due to the smaller ensemble found in rock and roll music than that of earlier big band music.

The importance of the drummer in rock music increased  through the sixties, as did the drum kit’s popularity. The drum kit began to establish itself as an iconic symbol due to the popularity of bands such as The Beatles.

The drums began to often take the role of more of a lead instrument, as opposed to solely accompaniment, thanks to drummers such as Keith Moon of The Who. Simultaneously, drum kits began to increase in size, and popular drummers began to use more cymbals and two bass drums. This trend continued into the 1970’s, highlighted by drummers such as Rush’s Neil Peart.

Also, the advancement of technology meant the incorporaration of electronic drum kits, sound modules and loops, a trend which continued particularly through the 1980’s and into the present day, opening huge possibilites as to the capabilities of the drum kit.

However, since the 1990’s, a trend has emerged for the simplification of music, and as such many drummers in popular modern bands tend to use smaller drum kits and avoid technologically-based drum sounds, making it easier for people taking up the drums to emulate popular drummers.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Beginner Drum Kits, Glossary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.