drummer
instrumentsDRUM-er
A musician who plays drums or percussion instruments.
A drummer provides the rhythmic foundation for a musical ensemble, most commonly playing a drum kit consisting of a bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and tom-toms. In rock, pop music, funk, and jazz, the drummer works closely with the bass player to form the rhythm section, establishing the groove, tempo, and feel of the music. Drumming techniques include the backbeat, rim shot, drum fill, ghost note, and cross-rhythm. Jazz drummers use swing feel and brush techniques, while funk drummers emphasise syncopation and ghost notes. In orchestral music, the percussionist plays timpani, snare drum, cymbals, triangle, and other percussion instruments. Drumming traditions exist in virtually every culture, from West African djembe ensembles to Japanese taiko.
The drum is one of the oldest known instruments — drums dating back over 8,000 years have been found in China and the Middle East.