Rototom

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Rototoms are drums which have no shell. They consist of a single head in a die-cast zinc or aluminum frame. Unlike most other drums, they have a variable definite pitch. Composers are known to write for them as tuned instruments, demanding specific pitches. Rototoms are often used to extend the tom range of a standard drum kit. They were invented by Remo.

They can be tuned quickly by rotating the head, which sits in a threaded metal ring. Rotation raises or lowers the head relative to the rim, which increases or decreases the pitch of the drum by increasing or decreasing the tension of the drum head.

Master James Holland, former percussionist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, highly recommends them in his book "Percussion",^[1] which is part of the Yehudi Menuhin Music Guides series. Rototoms are often used as a training substitute for timpani students, as they have a very similar sound, are not as loud and expensive as timpani, and do not require as much room space. Roger Taylor of Queen uses them in the cover of "Let There Be Drums" on the Return Of The Champions DVD.

A few drumming greats who used rototoms were Bill Bruford and Terry Bozzio. Bev Bevan, the drummer for the Electric Light Orchestra also used rototoms, most notably on the albums Discovery and Secret Messages. Nick Mason of Pink Floyd used rototoms to record the distinct introduction to "Time" on the 1973 album "The Dark Side of the Moon".