This contributed to the creation of the drum set by developing techniques and devices that would enable one person to replace multiple percussionists.ĭouble-drumming was developed to enable one person to play both bass and snare drums with sticks, while the cymbals could be played by tapping the foot on a 'low-boy'. Drummers in musical theater appeared in stage shows, where the budget for pit orchestras was often limited due to an insufficient amount of money able to purchase a full percussionist team. The bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, and other percussion instruments were all struck with hand-held drumsticks. By the 1860s, percussionists started combining multiple drums into a set. In the 1840s, percussionists began to experiment with foot pedals as a way to enable them to play more than one instrument, but these devices would not be mass-produced for another 75 years. ( July 2019) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)īefore the development of the classic drum set, drums and cymbals used in military and orchestral music settings were played separately by different percussionists. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification.