DRUMSTICK

Abstract: An implement (10) for playing a percussion instrument has a handle (14) and a head (12) at one end of the handle, the head having different sound-producing properties at different locations (18 and 20) on the head. In particular, the hardness and/or the diameter of the head vary relative the longitudinal axis of the handle, such that differing sounds dependent upon the orientation of the head relative the longitudinal axis of the handle can be obtained.

Description: DRUMSTICK This invention relates to drumsticks. Normal drumsticks have a uniformly round head and a round shaft so that they will produce the same sound when used on a drum irrespective of the orientation in which they are held relative their longitudinal axis. To produce a range of sounds, or mallet spectrum as it is often called, a range of different drumsticks is used. For example, those with a relatively smal-1 round, hard head will produce better staccato rhymic sounds; those with a larger, softer round felt or padded head produce, better legato or duration in single notes and roll sounds. A problem which a timpani player, or more generally any percussion instrument player, faces is therefore one of choosing the optimum drumsticks to play a passage containing a range of notes such as notes of differing duration, roll notes and staccato notes since he may not have the opportunity to change drumsticks in mid-passage. For example, he may have to try to produce the best staccato he can with a soft head or the best roll he can with a hard head or choose a medium head and get perfection for neither. To the best of my knowledge, this is a problem which has confronted all timpani players since the development of the orchestra. Also this is not just a problem with the timpani but in the playing of any percussion instrument. The invention has therefore been made with these points in mind and it is an object of the invention to provide a drumstick which is capable of giving a range of duration and timbre. According to the invention, there is provided an implement for playing a percussion instrument (such as a drumstick) having a handle and a head at one end of the handle, the head having differing sound-producing properties at* different locations on the head. Suitably, the head has differing sound-producing properties at differing orientations around or along the longitudinal axis of the handle. It seems that the sound-producing properties of a drum head depend, inter alia, on the hardness of the head, the diameter of the head and the weight of the head. Therefore in the drumstick according to the invention the hardness of the head and/or the diameter vary relative the longitudinal axis of the handle. In this way, the head can provide differing sounds dependent upon the orientation of the head relative the longitudinal axis of the handle and the player can change rapidly as between different required sounds by twisting the axis of the handle in some manner so changing the part of the head which contacts the drum face. This twisting can quickly and repeatedly be effected by twisting the handle between the thumb and the fingers or by ulna rotation. Previously the choice of one type of drumstick has limited the inherent timbre, projection, dynamic range, rhymic and pitch nuance, the ictus of sound and acoustical balance of multiple instruments of the same or different category, choir or band to the qualities inherent in the particular drumstick chosen by the player. However by using drumsticks according to the invention a player can produce from one pair of drumsticks shorter and longer sounds with increased spectrum of timbre, projection, dynamic range, rhymic and pitch nuance, ictus of sound, acoustical balance and contrast of balance. The change in the properties of the head can be a continuous change around the axis of the handle, e.g. the diameter of the head can progressively increase over a part of the periphery of the head and/or the type or thickness of the material covering a core can progressively change. Alternatively the change can be step-wise from one orientation to another. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the head is divided into segments relative the longitudinal axis of the handle. The segments can themselves be arranged in diametrically-opposed pairs of substantially identical hardness but differing pairs will be of differing hardness and/or diameter. There can, for example, be two or three or more diametrically-opposed pairs of segments. The differences in the hardnesses and/or diameters of differing parts or segments of the head can be provided by differing materials or coverings of the headcore and or by differing thicknesses, differing types and differing diameters of the covering material for the headcore. In this way one can regulate the surface area of contact of the head and.the hardness of. the contact. For example, the headcore can be made of wood, cork, cane, bamboo, aluminium, plastics material, hard rubber or tightly-wound chamois to provide harder regions for producing staccato-like sounds, whilst longer sounds can be provided by covering the headcore by one or more layers which may be of differing thickness of textile material, felt, leather, plastics material and/or chamois. In order to assist the player in determining the desired orientation of the head relative the drum face, the handle of a drumstick according to the invention preferably does not have a conventional round cross-section but instead is of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the head, e.g. for a head having two opposed pairs of segments - 4 segments in total - the cross-section of the handle is preferably rectangular or more desirably square. However when the head is of larger diameter and/or when the head has a continuous change in properties around the axis of the handle, it is possible for the handle to have a cross-section which mirrors the change in properties of the head, e.g. to have a cross-section which is hexagonal. In this way, the player is helped to feel through his hand a positive change in orientation of the handle, and so accordingly the head, when he wishes to change very quickly to use a differing part of the head in the middle of a continuous playing passage. According to another aspect of the invention therefore there is provided a drumstick having a head and a handle and the handle has a cross-section which is not circular. In order to assist a player in determining the orientation of the head by feel alone, the handle can be provided with strips or regions extending length-wise of the handle which have differing tactile properties. The invention is applicable to all types of drumsticks, mallets or hammers used in the playing of all types of wood, metal and membrane percussion instruments including drums of all types, chimes and xylophones. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of drumstick according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an elevation of a second embodiment of drumstick according to the invention; Figure 5 is an elevation of a third embodiment of drumstick according to the invention; and Figure 6 is an elevation of a fourth embodiment of drumstick according to the invention. A drumstick 10 according to the invention is shown in the drawings. It comprises a head 12 and a shaft or handle 14. The latter is made of wood and, as best shown in Figure 3, has a square cross-section. Integral with the shaft 14 and within the head is an enlarged wooden headcore 16 (see Figure 2) . This headcore forms the centre of the head 12. It is uniformly covered with a relatively thin layer or pouch of felt, baize or other textile material 18. Then superimposed over that material 18 is a strip 20 of thicker felt. The strip 20 and material 18 are both held in place by a tight tie 24. The strip 20 is of a width such that, as best shown in Figure 2, the material 18 extends width-wise to a greater extent than the strip 20 extends in the same width-wise sense. Also the strip 20 is orientated such that it is aligned with and mirrors opposed pairs of flat faces of the square shaped shaft 14, i.e. the faces 14a as shown in Figure 3. In order to assist in maintaining the strip 20 in the correct orientation, it may be sewn along its edges, stuck or otherwise joined to the material 18. The drumstick 10 can therefore be used in one of two orientations. Thus when a drum face is hit with the strip 20. i.e. by moving the head in the direction of the arrow 26 (Figure 3), a relatively long, more legato sound can be given, yet if the player twists the shaft 14 through 90° and so hits the drum face with the material 18, i.e. by moving the head in the direction of the arrow 28 (Figure 3), a relatively short, more staccato sound will result. As can be appreciated, this change in orientation can be effected very quickly and during the playing of a continuous passage. In order to distinguish to a player via touching of his fingers which face of the shaft is being held, strips 29 or regions extending length-wise of the handle 14 are provided having different tactile properties. For example, a rough strip 29a may be provided on face 14a to indicate potential striking of an instrument with material 18, while a smooth strip 29b may be provided on face 14b to indicate potential striking of an instrument with headcore 16. In addition some unique sounds can also be produced by using an edge rather than the flat strip, i.e. by hitting a drum from the direction of the arrow 30 (Figure 2) . The exact choice of material 18 and strip 20 can be varied widely to give a range of drumsticks with a range of differing possibilities depending upon the nature of the material 18 and of the material of the strip 20. Thus, one or more layers of material can comprise the material 18 and strip 20. Also, the material 18 could be omitted altogether and the wooden core 16 used in the orientation of the arrow 28 to provide precise staccato sounds. Further the material of the strip 20 need not be of a constant thickness but could var in a direction around the longitudinal axis of the handle rather like the hammer of a piano has a head of felt of varying thickness. An important advantage of the invention is that entirely conventional materials used currently in drumstick manufacturing can be used in the construction of the drumstick 10, i.e. the wooden shaft 14 and headcore 16, and the material 18 and material of the strip 20. Also, the fabrication of the drumstick 10 can be relatively straightforward. in Figure 4, a drumstick 32 is shown having a head 34 and handle 36, the head 34 being formed from two separate half segments 38 and 40 made from different materials. For example, the segment .38 could be made from wood, while the segment 40 could be made from either plastics or metal, and even though the segments 38 and 40 have an identical shape, the head 34 provides differing sound-producing properties at differing orientations around the head, due to the differing materials used for the segments 38 and 40. in Figure 5 meanwhile, a drumstick 42 is shown having a head 44 and handle 46, the head 44 being formed from two separate half segments 48. and 50 of identical material (such as wood, plastics, metal or nylon), but differing size and diameter in order to provide differing sound-producing properties at differing orientations around the head, due to differing diameters of the segments 48 and 50. Finally, in Figure 6 a drumstick 52 is shown having a head 54 and handle 56, the head 54 having two full segments 58 and 60 of identical material but differing size and diameter, the smaller segment 60 being provided at the outer end of the larger segment 58 in order to provide differing sound-producing properties at differing orientations along the head, due to the differing diameters of the segments 58 and 60.

Claims: C L I M S : - 1. An implement for playing a percussion instrument having a handle and a head at one end of the handle, the head having differing sound-producing properties at different locations on the head. 2. An implement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the head has differing sound-producing properties at differing orientations around or along the longitudinal axis of the handle. 3. An implement as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the diameter of the head varies around or along the longitudinal axis of the handle. 4. An implement as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the diameter of the head progressively increases over a part of the periphery of the head. 5. An implement as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the change in diameter of the head is step-wise from one orientation to another. 6. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the hardness of the head varies around or along the longitudinal axis of the handle. 7. An implement as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the head has a core, and wherein type or thickness of the material covering the core progressively changes. - 12 - 8. An implement as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the change in hardness of the head is step-wise from one orientation to another. 9. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the head is divided into a plurality of segments around the longitudinal axis of the handle. 10. An implement as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the segments are arranged in diametrically-opposed pairs of substantially identical diameter, and wherein differing pairs are of differing diameter. 11. An implement as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the differences in the diameters of differing pairs of segments of the head are provided by differing thicknesses, differing types and/or differing diameters of the covering material for the headcore. 12. An implement as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 11 wherein the segments are arranged in diametrically-opposed pairs of substantially identical hardness, and wherein differing pairs are of differing hardness. 13. An implement as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the differences in the hardnesses of differing pairs of segments of the head are provided by differing materials or coverings for the headcore. 14. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the head has a headcore which is made of either wood, cork, cane, bamboo, aluminium, plastics material, hard rubber or tightly-wound chamois, and wherein the headcore is covered by one or more layers of either textile material, felt, leather, plastics material and/or chamois. 15. An implement for playing a percussion instrument having a handle and a head at one end of the handle, the head having at least two different component parts, and the handle having a cross-sectional shape which mirrors the different parts of the head. 16. An implement as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the head has a continuous change in properties around the axis of the handle, and wherein the handle has a cross-section which mirrors the continuous change in properties of the head. 17. An implement for playing a percussion instrument having a head and a handle, the handle having strips or regions extending length-wise of the handle which have differing tactile properties. 18. An implement as claimed in any preceding Claim which is a drumstick, mallet or hammer.

Inventors: PHILLIPS KRISTAN BOWERS, PHILLIPS, KRISTAN, BOWERS
Applicants: PHILLIPS KRISTAN BOWERS, PHILLIPS, KRISTAN, BOWERS
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G10D13
IPC codes: G10D13