Wellington Scottish Pipes and Drums

WSPD Virtual Pipe Band Tour
Introduction / Drum Major / Pipe Major / Pipers / Bass Drummer / Tenor Drummers / Side Drummers

Bass Drummer:
The bass drummer is easy to pick out in the band because he is the big guy with the big drum! The bass drum is the heart of a pipe band both physically and musically. The bass drummer walks in the middle of the band in front of the other drummers. Often the bass drummer will wear a leopard skin over the shoulders in the manner of the standard bearers of the Roman legions, and the drum will be emblazoned with the Regimental Battle Honours if it is a military band.

The function of the bass drum is to keep the beat on the march and when playing. For this reason the bass drummer, more than any other player in the band, must have a good sense of rhythm and tempo. A beat is usually played on each crotchet value ("quarter-note") of a tune which equates to one beat per footstep when marching. For variety the bass drummer may add in some extra beats or leave beats out, and will play with different combinations of the left and right hands.

Today most players use big fluffy sticks which produce a warm, full sound, but it is not as punchy or loud as the sticks with smaller and harder heads used in former times (and still used by military brass and woodwind bands).

Bass Drum

In part this reflects greater emphasis on "musicality" (especially for competitions and recordings) and less emphasis on the traditional function of a pipe band of playing music to march to. The choice of sticks is very much an individual matter however.

Although less common nowdays, some bass drummers may also "flourish" the drum sticks while playing. The sticks have a loop of cord attached to the end which is wound through the player's fingers. In this way the sticks can be spun around in between beats. This is quite spectacular to watch, especially in conjunction with the flourishing of the tenor drummers.

Tenor Drummers

WSPD Virtual Pipe Band Tour
Introduction / Drum Major / Pipe Major / Pipers / Bass Drummer / Tenor Drummers / Side Drummers