A percussion instrument comprising a polymeric material. Specifically, a polymeric shell body and a polymeric tensioning ring may be used to construct the percussion instrument. The polymeric tensioning ring may be configured to promote stiffness of the tensioning ring and reduce unwanted deflection when tensioning a drumhead using the tensioning ring. In an example, a composite polymeric material, including reinforcing fibers may be employed. The resulting percussion instrument may be lighter and provide increased dimensional stability, which may be particularly suited for percussion instruments to be used in harsh environmental conditions such as marching bands or the like.

A cable and pulley or guide apparatus for accurately tuning and securing a tunable vibrating membrane on a cylindrical shell by means of a plurality of either fixed-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, or adjustable-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, built into or attached to purpose built hoops, attached to hoops with protruding flanges through holes or slots, or attached to a claw or hook apparatus which secures over the edge of annular hoops, through which a cable is laced and fed into the tensioning mechanism(s) to increase or decrease the tension on the cable, thus tensioning the vibrating membrane or heads against the shell, the angles of the pulley or guide assemblies adjustable to conform to the natural angle of the cable traversing the circumference of the shell.

A cable and pulley or guide apparatus for accurately tuning and securing a tunable vibrating membrane on a cylindrical shell by means of a plurality of either fixed-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, or adjustable-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, built into or attached to purpose built hoops, attached to hoops with protruding flanges through holes or slots, or attached to a claw or hook apparatus which secures over the edge of annular hoops, through which a cable is laced and fed into the tensioning mechanism(s) to increase or decrease the tension on the cable, thus tensioning the vibrating membrane or heads against the shell, the angles of the pulley or guide assemblies adjustable to conform to the natural angle of the cable traversing the circumference of the shell.

An enhanced collapsible drum provides for a collapsible and expandable drum that in its collapsed state provides for improved portability and storage, while in its expanded state maintains the look, feel and playing quality of a drum having a traditional unibody shell or base design. The collapsible drum may be comprised of an elongated base or shell portion divided into two or more sections which may be nested in the collapsed position and can be extended and locked together by mating interlocking components to form an elongated drum base or shell in the expanded position. The collapsible drum may additionally include an internal lighting device and control responsive to sound. The collapsible drum may also include a case, handles and a strap for carrying or supporting the drum while playing or for securing the drum sections in the closed position.

An enhanced collapsible drum provides for a collapsible and expandable drum that in its collapsed state provides for improved portability and storage, while in its expanded state maintains the look, feel and playing quality of a drum having a traditional unibody shell or base design. The collapsible drum may be comprised of an elongated base or shell portion divided into two or more sections which may be nested in the collapsed position and can be extended and locked together by mating interlocking components to form an elongated drum base or shell in the expanded position. The collapsible drum may additionally include an internal lighting device and control responsive to sound. The collapsible drum may also include a case, handles and a strap for carrying or supporting the drum while playing or for securing the drum sections in the closed position.

A snare drum includes a tension adjusting device fixed to a strainer. The tension adjusting device includes a moving member that moves in a direction intersecting inner sound wires of the snare wire. A user can adjust tension of the snare wire by operating the tension adjusting device to cause the moving member to displace the inner sound wires.

A snare drum includes a tension adjusting device fixed to a strainer. The tension adjusting device includes a moving member that moves in a direction intersecting inner sound wires of the snare wire. A user can adjust tension of the snare wire by operating the tension adjusting device to cause the moving member to displace the inner sound wires.

Methods of making, and the resultant monolithic drum shell for a musical instrument, that include selecting one or more desired wood fibers, providing a resinous binder solution, and immersing the wood fibers within the resinous binder solution for a duration that saturates and covers the wood fibers with the resinous binder solution to form a drum shell liquid composition. The drum shell liquid composition is deposited into a mold, and then cured to form a monolithic composite drum shell. The monolithic composite drum shell is removed from the mold to provide a ready-to-use drum shell for assembling into a musical instrument.

Methods of making, and the resultant monolithic drum shell for a musical instrument, that include selecting one or more desired wood fibers, providing a resinous binder solution, and immersing the wood fibers within the resinous binder solution for a duration that saturates and covers the wood fibers with the resinous binder solution to form a drum shell liquid composition. The drum shell liquid composition is deposited into a mold, and then cured to form a monolithic composite drum shell. The monolithic composite drum shell is removed from the mold to provide a ready-to-use drum shell for assembling into a musical instrument.

A cable and pulley or guide apparatus for accurately tuning and securing a tunable vibrating membrane on a cylindrical shell by means of a plurality of either fixed-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, or adjustable-angle pulley or guide assemblies not parallel to the top-bottom axis of the shell, built into or attached to purpose built hoops, attached to hoops with protruding flanges through holes or slots, or attached to a claw or hook apparatus which secures over the edge of annular hoops, through which a cable is laced and fed into the tensioning mechanism(s) to increase or decrease the tension on the cable, thus tensioning the vibrating membrane or heads against the shell, the angles of the pulley or guide assemblies adjustable to conform to the natural angle of the cable traversing the circumference of the shell.