History of the Drums

As a quick overview, I thought I would add a timeline history of the drums and approximate dates when various percussion instruments were thought to have emerged. For a more in depth discussion of drums history, check out the drums history page (link at bottom of this page).

B.C.E.

6000 – This is the farthest back that drums have been dated too.

500- Taiko drums are brought to Japan from China.

204 – African drums are found by both the Greeks and Romans.

C.E.

1200 – A 13th century legend credits an Indian poet with inventing the Tabla.

1500 – African drums arrive in the Americas along with African slaves.

1623 – The first Zildjian cymbal is created.

1650 – Around the middle of the 1600s, the “first draft” of the snare drum is invented.

1800s – Bongos are used in the eastern portion of Cuba in folklore music and won’t come to western Cuba until the turn of the century.

1890 – Musicians began using foot pedals giving birth to the idea of a drum set.

1904 – First foot pedal was patented.

1909 – Ludwig patents the first workable pedal from which the rest of the set was built around.

1920s- Hi hat stands began to appear in drum kits.

1930s – The basic four piece kit was born.

1940s – The first double bass drum kit was seen, used by jazz drummer Louie Bellson.

1950s – Conga music swept through the U.S. and the conga quickly became well known in America.

1960s-80s – Drummers began experimenting with bigger and bigger drum sets. Think Neil Peart.

1980s – The first electronic drum sets, although crude, have begun to appear.

1981 – A Zildjian family feud leads to the birth of the Sabian cymbal company.

1999 – The world’s largest drum is designed. Ireland’s Millenium Drums.

2002 – The World’s Fastest Drummer competitions become a biannual affair thanks in part to recognition from previous competitor’s like 2001’s Mike Mangini.

2004 – Record for the longest drum marathon is set by Australia’s Arulanantham Suresh Joachim.

Want to Add To The Timeline?

This is by no means an exhaustive history of the drums. It’s not even an in-depth list. If there is something you would like to add to this timeline, just contact me and I’d be glad to add to it. For a more in depth history, check out these books on a History of the Drums.