Make a kick drum trigger from items found around the house.
If you've listened to, or purchased, music over the last 30 years, you've probably heard a drum trigger in action. Kick drum triggers are usually felt, foam or fabric mesh covers that attach to the drum head of an acoustic drum. The trigger is then connected to a synthesizer or drum module that produces prerecorded percussion sounds. This allows drummers to a produce a set drum sound no matter where they are performing. While you can purchase drum triggers from a music store, many triggers are homemade.
Instructions
Building the Drum Trigger
1. Lay the kick drum face down with the drum's beater head facing upward. Loosen the drum head's tightening clamps by turning them in the counterclockwise direction. Lift the drum hoop from the kick drum to reveal the bass drum head. Remove the head from the drum.
2. Lay a large sheet of foam padding on a flat work table. Place the kick drum head on top of the foam. Use a permanent marker to trace the outside edge of the kick drum on the foam pad. Repeat this to mark out the drum head's edge on a large sheet of cardboard and onion paper.
3. Cut out the marked paper with a pair of scissors and cut the marked foam and cardboard sheets with a utility knife.
4. Use cellophane tape to tape the onion paper followed by the cardboard to the bottom side of the foam pad.
5. Place the drum head back onto the bass drum. Position the drum hoop on onto the drum so it sits tightly on the drum head. Fasten the drum hoop to the drum shell by turning the tightening knobs in the clockwise direction.
Installing the Drum Trigger
6. Cut two long pieces of speaker cable, preferably at about 5 feet to 10 feet with a pair of wire cutters. Use a pair of wire strippers to strip the insulation from each wire's end at 1/8 inch.
7. Purchase an electric guitar pickup. Locate the wire connectors on the bottom of the pickup. Plug in your soldering iron and let it heat up for a few minutes. Lay the pickup face down on your flat work table.
8. Grasp one of the speaker wires and touch the bear end of the wire to one of the connectors on the pickup. Touch a piece of fresh solder to the wire connector and heat the solder with the soldering iron until the solder melts and absorbs the wire to the connector. Repeat this to attach the other speaker cable to the opposite connector on the pickup.
9. Solder the opposite ends of the speaker wire to an RCA audio jack using the soldering method used in Step 3. Let the solder settle for about 10 minutes. Pull the speaker wires taut and wrap the wires tightly with a roll of electrical tape. Lay the pickup face down on the cardboard side of the drum trigger. Position the pickup about 3/4 inches from the top edge of the trigger.
10. Place the trigger onto the bass drum's beater head with the cardboard side facing down. Attach the pickup to the trigger with a strip of duct tape. Cut several more strips of duct tape. Fold the strips into loops and place them strategically on the cardboard side of the trigger. Position the trigger onto the beater side of the bass drum. Press down on the drum until the trigger firmly attaches to the drum head.
Tags: drum head, kick drum, bass drum, cardboard side, drum hoop, drum trigger, face down