bass drum
instrumentsbays drum
The largest drum in an orchestra or drum kit, producing a deep, resonant boom.
In an orchestra, the bass drum (or gran cassa) is a large, cylindrical drum played on its side and struck with a large, soft-headed beater. It produces the deepest, most powerful percussion sound in the ensemble. In a drum kit, the bass drum sits on the floor and is played with a foot pedal.
The orchestral bass drum can create effects ranging from a barely audible rumble to an earth-shaking fortissimo stroke. Verdi and Tchaikovsky used it for climactic moments of maximum power. In pop and rock, the bass drum provides the fundamental pulse — the kick pattern is the rhythmic foundation of virtually every song.
John Bonham of Led Zeppelin played a 26-inch bass drum — larger than most rock drummers — which gave his kick drum its legendary thunderous sound that defined hard rock drumming.