It is one of the central pieces in a drum set, a collection of percussion instruments designed to be played by a seated drummer and used in many genres of music.

The snare drum is a versatile and expressive percussion instrument due to its sensitivity and responsiveness.

The sensitivity of the snare drum allows it to respond audibly to the softest strokes, even with a wire brush.

Its high dynamic range allows the player to produce powerful accents with vigorous strokes and a loud metallic click when rimshots are used.

The snare drum is easily recognizable by its loud cracking sound when struck firmly with a drumstick or mallet.

The snares can be thrown off (disengaged) with a lever on the strainer so that the drum produces a sound reminiscent of a tom-tom.

A commonly used alternative way to play the snare drum is known as "cross-stick", "rim click", or "side-stick".

[3] This produces a dry high-pitched click, similar to a set of claves, and is especially common in Latin and jazz music.

The snares are a fundamental ingredient in the pressed (buzz) drum roll, as they help to blend together distinct strokes that are then perceived as a single, sustained sound.

[4] Snare drums may be made from various wood, metal, acrylic, or composite, e.g., fiberglass materials.

Soprano, popcorn, and firecracker snare drums have diameters as small as 8 in (20 cm) and are often used for higher-pitched special effects.

[2] Most wooden snare drum shells are constructed in plies (layers) that are heat- and compression-moulded into a cylinder.

Steam-bent shells consist of one ply of wood that is gradually rounded into a cylinder and glued at one seam.

Reinforcement rings, so-called "re-rings", are often incorporated on the inside surface of the drum shell to keep it perfectly round.

Similarly, stave shells are constructed of vertically glued pieces of wood into a cylinder (much like a barrel) that is also rounded out by a lathe.

Pipe band requirements have led to the development of a Kevlar-based head, enabling very high tuning, thus producing a very high-pitched cracking snare sound.

A new technique used to improve the sound quality during snare drum construction is symmetrical venting.

In contrast to a standard single vent hole, air can easily travel through and around the instrument without getting caught.

American troops were woken up by drum and fife playing about five minutes of music, for example, the well-known Three Camps.

[12] Moeller furthermore states that "No matter how well a drummer can read, if he does not know the rudimental system of drumming, it is impossible for him to play 'The Three Camps', 'Breakfast Call', or in fact any of the Duty except the simple beats such as 'The Troop'.

[16] Rudiments with familiar names—such as the single paradiddle, flam, drag, ratamacue, and double stroke roll, also called the "ma-ma da-da" roll—are listed in Charles Ashworth's book in 1812.

[21] Many marching snares are built to withstand high amounts of tension, tightened by a drum key.

It is a double-headed drum with a single snare strand, and was often played along with the three-holed pipe flute.

Made from aluminum or steel with the snare wires on top, it can be played from a sling or "em cima" – on the shoulder to project the sound.