A snare drum is a drum whose metal wires on the underside create its distinctive rattling sound. In pop and rock it plays the central role of marking the divisions of the beat.
The basic idea
In 4/4 it is most often placed on beats 2 and 4, functioning like the backbone of the song. How you strike it and its tone change how powerful or light it feels.
Using it in performance and programming
Build a basic beat with just kick and snare, then add hi-hat on top. Putting a short fill-in at the end of a section creates movement.
How it differs from related terms
A snare hit is a normal strike on the head, while a rimshot is a stronger sound made by hitting the rim and the head at the same time.
When a song feels weak, check the placement and the strength of the snare before adding more parts.
