Welcome back to the Chops blog! In our last post we discussed several popular practice pads. Today we’re going to focus on practice pads designed specifically for marching drummers.

Vic Firth Heavy Hitter Pads

Vic Firth offers a complete line of practice pads for marching drummers with their Heavy Hitter pads. Last time we introduced the Stock Pad, which we recommend for all drummers, and the Slim Pad, which we recommend for marching drummers. The thin rubber surface of the Slim Pad is designed to imitate high tension marching snare drums.

For tenor (or quad) drummers, the Heavy Hitter Quadropad is a popular choice. Like the Slim and Stock Pads, the Quadropad features gum rubber pads on a durable wood surface. Two sizes, small and large, are available to match common tenor drum configurations. The small Quadropad mimics 8, 10, 12, and 13 inch tenor drums, while the large pad replicates the more common 10, 12, 13, and 14 inch sets. Both sets include two unattached, adhesive backed pads for the “shot” or “spock” drums that the player can set according to their preference. Each set also includes a complete set of laminates, an adhesive backed piece of plastic that increases articulation and simulates the feel of marching tenors.

The Heavy Hitter series also includes a bass drum practice pad. Like the Slim, Stock, and Quadropads, the bass pad features gum rubber surface. The purple metal frame can be mounted on a cymbal stand for practice while standing. The stand is sold separately.

Tenor drummers should also consider the ProLogix Percussion Zonix tenor practice pads. Available in five and six drum configurations, the Zonix pads feature gum rubber playing surfaces and white plastic laminates. The Zonix pads have been popular with tenor drummers thanks to their “Poly Tech Rims”, which replicate the rims of a real tenor set.

The Vic Firth Quadropad and the ProLogix Zonix pad can be played while set on level surface, such as a table or countertop, but we recommend purchasing a stand.

For those focused primarily on marching snare drum, the Offworld practice pads are a great choice. The Invader V3 practice pad is Offworld’s premier product. It is 13.5 inches in diameter and includes a raised rim to better emulate the feel of playing rim shots on a snare and avoid the dreaded “pad hands”. The playing surface is Offworld’s unique “Darkmatter™ liquid polymer”. Several different sizes and colors are available.

Whether you are a snare, tenor, or bass drummer, developing technique and learning music quietly at home has never been easier. We recommend each of the products described above. Contact us to purchase any of them!

Welcome back to the Chops blog! Today we’ll be discussing practice pads.

A practice pad is a device that replicates the feel and sound of a drum, but is much quieter. They make practice easy, quiet, and most importantly, bearable for others.

You have many different options when selecting a practice pad, but with so many choices it can be difficult to select an appropriate pad. Choose a pad based on way it will be used, or the type of music you play. Some pads are versatile and can be used by all percussionists, while others are designed for specific activities such as marching music.

We offer many different practice pads, each with their own features and design. Today we’ll highlight a few or our favorites.

Remo Tunable Practice Pad

Remo has been making their Tunable Practice Pad for several decades. Available in six, eight, and ten inch diameters, it features a real Remo drum head over a foam surface. You can easily adjust the tension on the plastic rim with a flat head screwdriver to change feel of the pad. The bottom of the pad is covered with rubber for use on surfaces and includes a nut for mounting on a stand.

We recommend the Remo Tunable Practice Pad for drum set drummers, orchestral/concert percussionists, and beginners.

Vic Firth 12” Double Sided Pad

Vic Firth’s 12” Double Sided Pad features two different rubber surfaces. The soft rubber side is for quiet practice, while the louder, hard rubber side is useful for strength development. With its twelve inch wood frame the pad can be set on a snare drum during use.

We recommend the Vic Firth 12” Double Sided Pad for all drummers and percussionists.

Vic Firth Heavy Hitter Stockpad and Slimpad

For marching drummers, Vic Firth offers the Heavy Hitter Stockpad and Slimpad. Both are twelve inches in diameter and have a single rubber surface. The Stockpad’s rubber surface is 3/16” thick, while the thinner, 1/8” thick surface of the Slimpad is designed to feel more like a high tension marching snare. Consider adding a laminate, an adhesive backed piece of plastic, to both pads to increase their articulation and simulate the response and feel of marching drums.

We recommend the Stockpad for all drummers, and the Slimpad for marching drummers.

Evans/RealFeel 12” 2-sided Speed & Workout Pad

Evans’ RealFeel 12” 2-sided Speed & Workout Pad also features two rubber surfaces. The soft gum rubber surface is coated with a unique dark gray fabric finish to increase its durability. The other side is a hard, black rubber.

We recommend the Evans’ RealFeel 12” 2-sided Speed & Workout Pad for all drummers and percussionists.

Ahead 10” Snare Pad and Corps Snare Pad

Marching drummers should also consider the Ahead 10” Snare Pad and Corps Snare Pad. Both are ten inches in diameter and include a unique mechanism that quietly simulates the sound of a marching drum.

The Snare Pad features a soft, grey gum rubber playing surface. The Corps Snare Pad features the same gum rubber, but with a hard coating to replicate the feel of a marching snare.

We recommend the Snare Pad for all drummers, and the Corps Pad for marching drummers.

With so many choices, it can be confusing to find the right practice pad. We hope this will help you make an informed decision.

Need more guidance, or are you ready to make a choice, contact us!