Rototom

For the reggae festival, see Rototom Sunsplash.
Rototom on a standard mounting bar

Rototoms are a drum developed by Al Payson and Michael Colgrass[1][2] that have no shell and are tuned by rotating. 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 commercialized by the drumhead company Remo.[3]

Tuning

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

Timpani training

Master James Holland, former percussionist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, highly recommends them in his book "Percussion",[4] 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.

Notable Rototom Users

Three small rototoms on a mounting bar

A few drumming greats who used rototoms were Bill Bruford (of King Crimson and U.K.) and Terry Bozzio (of Frank Zappa's band and U.K.). Roger Taylor of Duran Duran used rototoms extensively on their self-titled debut album Duran Duran of 1981. Roger Taylor of Queen has used rototoms since the early 1970s most recently in the cover of "Let There Be Drums" on the Return of the Champions DVD and album. Bev Bevan, the drummer for the Electric Light Orchestra also used rototoms, most notably on the albums Discovery (1979) and Secret Messages (1983). Nick Mason of Pink Floyd used rototoms to record the distinctive introduction to "Time" on the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. The intro to Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman", heard on the Superfly soundtrack, makes prominent use of the drum's pitch-sliding feature. Phil Collins of Genesis and Brand X used rototoms earlier in his career. Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters uses several rototoms in his kit as well. Alex Van Halen of Van Halen has used rototoms throughout his career, both in live performances and studio work, including during recording of the album 1984.

Other Rototom Users

References

  1. ↑ Matt Dean (29 December 2011). The Drum: A History. Scarecrow Press. pp. 322–. ISBN 978-0-8108-8171-6. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  2. ↑ John Beck (1995). Encyclopedia of Percussion. Taylor & Francis. pp. 79–. ISBN 978-0-8240-4788-7. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Robert M. McCormick (1 March 1985). Percussion for Musicians: A Complete, Fundamental Literature and Technique Method for Percussion. Alfred Music Publishing. pp. 40–. ISBN 978-0-7692-3365-9. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Percussion", Kahn & Averill Publishers; New Ed edition (June 1, 2001), ISBN 1-871082-39-0
  5. ↑ "Emil Richards instruments". Emil Richards. Retrieved 19 July 2012.

External links