Snare Drum Heads

The snare carries more of the feel of a band than any other drum, and its batter head takes more punishment than anything else on the kit. Everything in this section is a 14″ Evans head: five batter options and one snare-side head.

On the batter side, the G1 Coated and UV1 Coated are the open, lively choices, with plenty of ring and the sensitivity for ghost notes and brush work. The G2 Coated is thicker and fatter, a dependable head for rock and pop that copes with heavy playing. HD Dry is aimed at a dry, controlled crack with fewer overtones, and the EC Reverse Dot puts its dot on the underside, so it tames ring and adds durability while keeping a smooth coated playing surface.

Underneath, the Hazy 300 Snare Side is the thin resonant head that drives the snare wires. Replace it if it is dented or the wires have stopped responding cleanly, and it is worth doing at the same time as new wires. Wires are in Drum Accessories, and Snare Wires Explained covers strand counts.

Snare Drum Heads FAQs

What is a snare side head for? It is the thin bottom head that vibrates against the snare wires. It needs to be much thinner than a batter head so the wires respond to quiet playing.

Which head gives a dry, fat snare sound? The HD Dry and EC Reverse Dot are the controlled options here, while the G2 Coated gives a fatter sound with a little more ring.