The Eight Best Drum Heads for All Drummers

Good-quality drum heads are necessary for a great-sounding drum set. There’s nothing worse than a drum kit with the best setup and cymbals, with rattly and muddy heads.

The snare drum is one of the most critical parts of a drum kit and the drum that holds the most power and sound. The bass drum also needs to have an excellent drum head, as the bass drum is responsible for the depth and bass of your drum set. Good drum heads should have resistance, they should have good bounce-back, and they should be solid and resilient.

Below is a list of drum heads you should consider.

Best Drum Heads (Summary)

Remo Emperor X Coated Snare Drum Head 

Remo is one of the leading drum head manufacturers, producing some quality products for your kit. Their drum heads are incredibly popular, with high ratings from beginners and expert drummers.

Remo also makes drums, such as the Djembe, Tubano, Cajon, and percussion for children. They have a wide range of heads for standard drum kits, marching band drums, concert drums, hand percussion, and banjos. 

The Remo Emperor X drum head is one of the highest quality snare heads on the market, with a 13” option or a regular 14”. This drum head is inexpensive and very cost-efficient.

The Remo Emperor X drum head is mylar, a polyester film with great strength and stability, excellent for drumming. The drum head is made from two free-floating plies of 10-mil mylar film. So it is even better quality than usual. It has a 5-mil reverse black dot.

The central part of the drum head has focused warm tones from these multiple layers, giving it a great deep sound. This drum head is incredibly popular with rock drummers worldwide due to the noise it produces. It is ideal for those who are heavy hitters and softer styles. 

Pros

• We loved this drum head, and we liked the fact that it has a smooth, deep noise as you hit the center of the head. 
• This drum head comes in several sizes, from 10” to 14”. 
• Very cost-effective.

Cons

• Not the best for playing complex beats, as the sound does not linger for as long as we’d like

Evans EC1 Reverse Dot Snare Batter Drum Head

Evans is a highly reputable percussion brand specializing in drum heads and complete drum kits. The company is owned by D’Addario, which sells orchestral instruments, woodwind instruments, and guitars.

This 14” snare drum head is a 14 mil film, with a similarly revered dot to the Remo drum head. This reverse dot adds extra durability, perfect for hard-hitting rock beats. The center is ideal for focus and attack. 

This snare drum head has edge control technology, meaning it removes troublesome mid-range overtones that cause the snare drum to sound muddy and rattly.

These Evans heads are also available in 2-ply versions and without the reverse dot. All Evans drum heads are made and designed in the USA. When applying this drum head, you will find it easy to fit and tune with your drum key. 

Evans heads have level 360 drum head technology, extending the playing surface of the drum head 360 degrees around the drum.

This means that you will have balanced contact with the bearing edge of the drum shell with this drum head. It is easier to fit the drum head, with an extensive tuning range and sound quality. 

Pros

• Best quality sound. 
• More hitting surface area. 
• Made in the USA. 

Cons

• Sometimes it is difficult to control the unwanted overtones.

Evans Hydraulic Black Drum Head

This 12” black drum head is another solid choice from Evans. We chose this size and color because we love it, but the hydraulic drum head range has other colors and sizes.

These sizes include 6”, 8”, and 10” for toms, as well as regular options:

• 12″
• 13”
• 14”
• 15”
• 16”
• 18”
• 20”

These hydraulic drum heads come in black, blue, red, or white. 

These are beautiful and of excellent quality. The heads have a thin layer of oil between the two film layers, meaning that unwanted overtones and echoes are suppressed.

Additionally, this two-ply layer offers the consistency and durability to play your kit for long periods, harder.

The deep and short sound from this drum head was pioneered by early 70s rock, and this drum head produces that classic bass sound we all know and love. 

The hydraulic heads make tuning more manageable, as the layer of oil allows for a clearer and louder sound. This uncoated drum head makes it ideal for intricate drumming and defined attacks.

The drum head also produces an extended sound due to the oil in the hydraulic heads. This Evans branded drum head also features 360-degree technology, pushing the quality of this head to the absolute maximum. 

Pros

• Meticulously Designed. 
• Incredibly stylish and attractive. 
• Durable and Consistent.  

Cons 

• It scratched a lot easier than we would’ve liked

Ludwig Weather Master Batter Drum Head

Ludwig is a long-lasting and reliable drum kit manufacturer. The company produces drum kits, concert drums, marching drums, mallet instruments, drum hardware, and snare drums.

Ludwig has been a reliable and efficient drum maker since the early 1900s. They started producing black beauty snare drums that proved to be one of the most sought-after snare drum sounds in music history, and they are still incredibly sought after now. 

This particular drum head is 14” and will fit most snare drums. This drum head is relatively inexpensive for the brand’s quality, and you can even get a multipack for less than double the price of this drum head.

The Weather Master drum heads have been newly redesigned, offering some of the best sound quality, durability, and response to an attack. These heads are perfect for rock, concert, jazz, and marching bands. 

These Ludwig drum heads have a unique mechanical headlock system, which is guaranteed not to pull out. Many regular drum heads are in epoxy, which can crack.

These Ludwig heads completely fix this issue with a patented headlock counter-leverage system, meaning these heads are permanently locked into place. This ensures you will get the best quality sound every time you play on these heads. 

Pros

• We thought this drum head had a pristine and crisp sound. 
• Perfect for all kinds of drumming. 
• Cost-efficient. 

Cons

• We thought that this drum head did not have as much of a loud effect as others. 

Remo Powerstroke 77 Colortone Yellow Drum Head

This Remo Powerstroke yellow drum head is a great and vibrant drum head for those who love to have fun with their drum kit.

This drum head comes in several colors, ranging from this beautiful yellow to a vibrant purple. There are also red, orange, and blue versions of these heads. 

These drum heads have a central inlay ring, allowing excellent punchy hitting. The two-ply 7-mil transparent film has this 5-mil dot with a 7-mil inlay ring. The “Skyndeep” imaging technology will enable you to play on this drum head accurately and loudly. 

This drum head produces a powerful, projected, and focused attack, with a beautiful look to it, too. These drum heads come in a 13” size, as well as a 14″ size, making them perfect for the snare. 

Pros

• We loved how eye-catching these yellow heads were.
• Great drumming experience. 
• Powerful and focused.

Cons

• These did not have the crispest sounding attack, and we wished they were a little more honed. 

Remo Emperor Black Suede Drum Head 

This 14” drum head from Remo is a great, unique drum head for those who love to dabble in all musical genres. Although you may think a suede drum head is odd, it is great to play on, and it produces an incredibly unique and rich sound. These drum heads are perfect for pop, rock, and R&B, with a clear, powerful, and sharp-cutting snare sound. 

As we know, Remo is one of the leading percussion instrument manufacturers, and this drum head never fails in quality. They make it with high-quality materials, in an excellent process.

These can take a good beating and are excellent for finding that loud attack spot. They can withstand long-term hitting without appearing worn due to the suede material on the actual drum head.

These heads also feature Remo’s texturing process, producing a matte black, non-reflective appearance. 

This drum head produces some warm, focused, and short tones, with a deeper sounding attack than some other heads on the market.

This drum head also has an underside dot, which is more durable. It will also help focus the sound, as well as reduce overtones.

This drum head can handle a lot of hitting and wear and tear, and you can barely see the damage. The semi-muted deep tone makes an excellent option for those dabbling in the pop or R&B genres of drumming. 

Pros

• This drum head was super unique. 
• We loved the look of this drum head.
• Super deep and loud sound.

Cons

• The drum head changed pitch significantly when we tightened it.

Evans EMAD System 2PC Drum Head

This pack of drum heads includes a bass drum head for the pedal side, as well as the output side of the drum. These heads are of excellent quality and just what you need for your bass drum for the brand and price.

These drum heads are externally mounted to your drum and adjustable, so you can alter how the attack of the bass drum reacts. 

The EMAD system refers to the adjustable dampening system, meaning you can control the attack, focus, and depth of the drum head by choosing one of two removable foam rings.

These bass heads feature a single ply of 10-mil film, which produces an outstanding balance of punch, sharpness, and power for your bass drum. 

Much like many Evans heads, these have splendid 360-level technology. This technology allows the bass drum heads to sit appropriately in the frame.

They are also easier to tune and find their optimal range. These heads have an adjusted focus and amplified sound. The pedal will hit the drum head, creating a concise attack and focus sound. 

Pros

• These drum heads were simple and effective.
• Punchy and clean sound.
• Easy to tune. 

Cons

• These drum heads were good but pretty basic. 

Aquarian Drum Heads

These Aquarian drum heads come in 10” sizes or 14” sizes. Aquarian is an excellent drum brand, producing some quality drum heads and percussion instruments.

Their drum heads sound better and more musical than many other heads. 

The design and integrity of Aquarian drum heads are unmatched, with some of the best possible sound quality. Aquarian’s heads are incredibly responsive and resonant, with a clear, warm, and sharp tone.

Their drum heads have a texture-coated ply surface that is strong, with a beatable surface. The drum heads are versatile, with a rounded sound that is great for those who play different genres. 

Pros

• These drum heads were simple and clear.
• Sustainable and robust sound. 
• Very versatile.

Cons

• We thought these drum heads lacked the excitement of some other drum heads on the market. 

Buyer’s Guide

If you are changing drum heads, you probably have old, worn-out drum heads or fancy a different sound. When buying a new drum head for your kit, there are several factors to consider. Below are those factors

Types Of Drum Heads

When investing in a drum head, you should know what you are looking for. You need to know the differences between the drum heads and what will sound best for your particular kit. 

Single-Ply

Single-ply drum heads are some of the most basic heads, and usually the thinnest. They have a single layer of 10-mil mylar. Single-ply heads resonate better, and they are bright, bringing out the overtones of a drum. They are good heads for jazz, rock, and lighter genres of music.

Double-Ply. 

Double-ply drum heads are slightly more durable than single-ply heads. They can take more attacks from your sticks, reduce the overtones, and have a shorter sustain.

Double-ply heads are excellent for harder drumming styles, such as rock, where longevity is essential. Some double-ply heads have a ring on the outer side of the head, allowing them to control the overtones even more. 

Coated or Clear

Clear and coated heads produce incredibly different sounds. Coated drum heads create a slight muffled effect. However, clear drum heads have a brighter and sharper sound.

Coated or clear heads are a choice depending on your style. Coated heads are ideal for playing with brushes (jazz drumming). Clear heads are great for punchy, clear, and solid drumming. 

Sound

Think about what kind of sound you desire from your heads. This should be the most significant factor for you, and it is one of the most critical aspects.

The sound of a drum head comes down to the tone, and the amount of ringing and overtone. 

Drum heads can sound bright and punchy or warm and deep with an elongated attack. The ringing from hitting a drum head is a mix of the sustain and the overtones.

Sustains are the focused ringings, and overtone is referred to as the ringing frequency around the drum head’s exterior. 

If you want something essential for all kinds of playing, something thick with no dampening would be perfect.

This will give you the broadest range of options. Look for central dotted heads and inlay rings if you do not want your drum to ring out. 

Durability

Durability is another incredibly influential part of buying a drumhead. If you are a heavy hitter, use thick drumsticks, or tend to play harder genres, you will likely need a more durable drum head, which should be more than a single-ply.

Thicker drum heads are great for loud drummers, as thinner single-ply heads may break or become highly worn out. 

It would be best to buy a slightly thinner drum head for softer playing, as a thick head will not sound as good at a low volume. 

Ply

The ply is the number of layers of film in the drum head. Some are made with a single layer, and some are made with two layers. Single-ply drum heads have more color and character, producing a sharper and brighter sound.

They are great for quiet and medium playing. They are usually used for jazz, pop, and acoustic playing, and they are responsive and straightforward. 

Double-ply or two-ply drum heads are the best for harder and louder playing. They will give a better attack and are excellent for the rock, metal, and punk genres. They are ideal for those who play harder, and they are less likely to become worn out as quickly. 

Clear Or Coated

As we know, clear and coated heads produce a different sound. Clear heads have a brighter sound and will hold more sustain and attack. Coated heads have a thin coating on top of the ply, and they sound slightly more dampened. 

FAQs 

What Is The Difference Between A Clear Drum Head And A Coated Drum Head? 

Coated drum heads have a more dampened and deeper sound, whereas clear drum heads have a bright and punchy sound. 

What Is The Best Brand For Drum Heads? 

The best brand for drum heads depends on the type of drum head and playing that you like. It is highly speculated that Remo and Evans are the best drum head brands, with Remo seemingly more popular. 

How Big Are Snare Drum Heads? 

Snare drum heads are usually sized from 12” to 16” but are most commonly 13”.

What is the History Of Drum Heads?

Drum heads were made from calfskin before the 1950s, and it was pretty tough to use, install, tune, and create. Calfskin would come as a dried disc and soak in water.

Then, this would be stretched over the drum shell and connected to a hoop so that you could tune it. These heads would also expand and contract due to them being skin. 

Nowadays, manufacturers create heads from plastic or =mylar polyester, which are easier to make, tune, and more durable!