The small drums of various ethnic groups have different shapes due to different popular regions and occasions. They are mostly used in traditional ethnic festivals, weddings and funerals, and folk instrumental ensembles and opera accompaniment.

Zhuang drum

The small drum of the Zhuang nationality is popular in all parts of Guangxi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The drum frame is made of Chinese fir or miscellaneous wood. It is flat and round. The drum waist is slightly arched. Both sides are covered with cowhide. The leather surface is fixed with a single row of big hat copper nails. . The outer surface of the drum frame is painted with red lacquer, and three copper drum rings are placed around the drum waist. When playing, place the drum on a drum stand or a wooden bench, and play with a wooden drum in each hand. The pronunciation is short and the timbre is crisp. It is often used in the ensemble of eight music groups or as the accompaniment of Zhuang opera. It is an inseparable rhythm instrument. . It is also used in national festival celebrations or folk weddings and funerals.

Tujia small drum

The small drum of the Tujia people, also known as the chess drum. It is popular in Hubei Province and Western Hubei Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and Hunan Province in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. The drum frame is hollowed out from a whole section of sycamore or pine. Flat round. One or both sides are covered with cowhide or sheepskin, and the edges of the leather are fixed with drum nails. There are different specifications. The drum with single-sided skin has a drum surface diameter of 27 cm and a drum height of 15 cm; the double-sided skinned drum has a drum surface diameter of 35 cm and a drum height of 18 cm. There is a drum ring on each side of the drum frame. The two rings are connected by drum belts. The drum is made of wood, and the drum is 20 cm long and in the shape of a straight rod. When playing, the player hangs the drum belt around the neck, so that the drum surface is flat in front of the abdomen, and each hand holds a chime to play. In order to facilitate the performance during the march, a long bamboo piece is also surrounded on the outside of the drum frame, and the two ends of the bamboo piece are clamped on both sides of the player's waist to make the drum body stable. It is often used in traditional Tujia national festivals and folk weddings and funerals to form a percussion ensemble with hook gongs, liuzi gongs, winter gongs, head cymbals, two cymbals and other instruments, called flower gongs and drums, such as adding a suona To play, it is called playing gongs and drums. The chess piece drum plays a leading role in the above two ensembles, and is an important rhythm instrument of the Tujia people.

snare drum

The snare drum, also known as the "snare drum", has the same importance as the bass drum in various bands and is often used at the same time as the bass drum. However, the small drum is not used to strengthen the upbeat like the big drum, but to strike a small rhythm on the upbeat to harmonize the timbre and enhance the rhythm of the music. The sound of the snare drum has strong sound penetration, and the intensity changes greatly. You can also change the timbre by covering the drum surface with flannel, or using drumsticks of different hardness, which can play various atmospheres and is very expressive.