You Need a Piccolo Snare. Here's Why.

Today I'm making the case that you need a piccolo snare.
The humble piccolo snare has gone mostly overlooked over the past decade or so, even as popular music has, ironically, started to lean into less traditional snare sounds.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, feel free to subscribe, and thanks for watching!
--------------------------------------
20% Off Soundbrenner products: soundbrenner.com/cole 20% off ALL Soundbrenner Products (Minuendo, Pulse, etc)
Soundbrenner.com/cole
Check out my book!
shoptly.com/si...
10% Off all WAVES plugins
www.waves.com/...
GEAR I USE
Favorite Snare - amzn.to/3AcIqzE
Favorite Cymbal - amzn.to/3tFIl6d
Or maybe this one - amzn.to/3qGyACL
Mic everyone needs - amzn.to/3IgSJW8
Great interface - amzn.to/3tDkbcF
Camera - amzn.to/3IhVTcb
Lav mic - amzn.to/3AlYmQ3
Cheapish lights - amzn.to/3nCcgZ1
You'll want a stand for that - amzn.to/32dwvoy
And a softbox - amzn.to/33CU9LM ---
HOW TO SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL:
20% off ALL Soundbrenner Products (Minuendo, Pulse, etc)
Soundbrenner.com/cole
or use coupon code COLESB
Check out my book and sample packs:
payhip.com/Col...
Tama Bell Brass Sample Packs
payhip.com/b/D...
Ultimate Black Beauty Sample Packs
payhip.com/b/F...
Cole's Vintage/Dry Drums Sample Pack
payhip.com/b/I...
Ultimate Indie Rock Sample Pack
payhip.com/b/2...
Brady Marri 16" Sample Pack
payhip.com/b/D...
My book:
payhip.com/b/A...

[@KalaschniKlown]

There is no way you can make a piccolo snare sound bad. Every tuning is this sounds like musical magic

[@CassiusH395]

i bet i can

[@NotYoung3592]

I beg to differ. This one sounds awful....

[@nikosucksatskating]

St Anger would like to disagree

[@upstateplumbing9995]

I'm here because minensounds bad

[@markmullen1852]

Bought a 90 dollar Mapex piccolo back in 2007. It's absolutely amazing. It cuts through everything live. So easy to tune and it stays in tune. Still has the stock bottom head on it.

[@starshiplazyboy475]

Jimmy Chamberlin's piccolo snare tone on the early Smashing Pumpkins albums was life changing. It was so aggressive, when compared to the ultra deep thuddy snare tones that were in fashion at the time.

[@OkieDokie-ft5pm]

I'm a guitar expert and I normally know things about those about the drums, but come to think of it, as a Smashing Pumpkins fan, I almost want to beat myself up for not noticing fact in my 20s in the 1990s. Update- this 50-year old dude, me, is going to JAIL for a second for not paying attention to that obvious detail that I should have recognized then PS--it was great during the peak and I actually saw the band at the Capitol Center (RIP) in 1996 where I GREW UP before moving to Arizona. That show I saw was just DAYS BEFORE they fired Jimmy for doing drugs with someone who overdosed as a LIVE keyboardist in the band. Billy never should have done that in my humble opinion. It was NEVER THE SAME afterwards!

[@searchiemusic]

THIS EXPLAINS SO MUCH

[@DrFuttbucker69]

WHAT?? WHICH ALBUMS OR SONGS FEATURE THIS? I've gotta look this up

[@starshiplazyboy475]

@@DrFuttbucker69 All the tunes on Gish. I seem to remember I Am One, Siva and Bury Me being good examples.

[@BrentLane1]

Great video. I totally agree! I’ve always had a piccolo on hand, and played tons of reggae gigs with it. Nice and tight sound that cuts through. Keep up the good work man. Just subscribed.

[@ColeParamore]

Thanks Brent, much appreciated!

[@danmaltby3271]

Sounds great , I on point that the snare has a samples’ish sort of sound , nice job by your Pops , cudos

[@drumgirl]

Wow, that is a great sound. Didn't know snares could sound like that without processing. Thanks for posting, I enjoy watching these reviews!

[@davidreidy5750]

Still got my steel Pearl piccolo almost 30yrs later,hundreds of gigs,toured twice around the states,been in studios,bled on,stolen,found and given back yrs later and cleaned up and given lots of TLC and man she barks like no other.Sounds great tuned medium low/muffled for solo recordings.🗽🛸🎧📼

[@enjoyevan]

Dude piccolo snares are the fucking shit. I feel like I hold a secret weapon.

[@SPACEMAN_fkYT]

The closest I have to a piccolo snare is a Ludwig 3.7x14 Carl Palmer signature snare. I have it tuned high for that loud crack, but it's good at any tuning.

[@kausalschroed]

The Carl Palmer is rat🤟🤟🤟

[@morganix007]

I own the pearl steel piccolo and a Tama 3x12. Love them. I like 13" snares

[@jonnylawless6797]

Perfect slam snare sound right here.

[@SpawnIsSleepy]

Oh my god i wanna hear a blast beat on this snare

[@PedroPetracco]

Love the tuning! You never get to hear piccolos as low as they'll go in these videos...

[@ronniek7748]

I love my piccolo snares! I do not use the lower tuning for my sound. There are snares that deliver that fat sound better imo. I use the higher pitch with a slight bit of muffling it has extreme, cutting power and sounds ….crispy!

[@DavidMScott-cs8pp]

Same here. I have a Tama Club Pancake kit that has a 12 x 4 snare that is crisp just like that shown. Like you I prefer the higher tuning and a bit of muffling more to take out the ring. I keep the snares med for Jazz and tight for Rock. Just came home from a gig that was a benefit dinner and very, very noisy. My little snare cut right through and in a couple of instances I resorted to Rods to drop volume. I do a lot of brush work and there is no problem getting good sound and sweep. Plus the snare is super lightweight. Actually the whole Pancake kit is super light but has big sound. The 18 x 4 in kick has amazing boom. I’m guessing it could be called a Piccolo Bass drum. The rack tom is 10 x 3 in and the floor 13 x 3. Both are concert as in no bottom heads. But they have plenty of volume as well. And so a toast to Piccolo drums !

[@DynamicRockers]

Nice video! Your snare sounds really good! For the people looking to get an affordable shallow snare, the Pearl picollo 13x3 brass is awesome.

[@NorthernChev]

LOVE a piccolo snare. My personal preference.

[@jas_bataille]

My favorite snare was a Gretsch piccolo, very rare pewter stop-sign badge found for 100 bucks. Unfortunately it doesn't have any bed and is prone to reckless buzzing from the other drums and amps, wedges, etc so I didn't played it in awhile. My most played snare is a Tama 12x4... in a rock band! Silverstar. Came with their tiny cocktail kit, and oh boy is this one a keeper! And now? I've decided to treat myself to a Tama Artwood "caskwood" stave piccolo, that's like half-an-inch thick, the one with the Ludwig downbeat lugs. All those artwood are like 1K + per snare, but for some reasons, the piccolos over around 400 or 500. Best of all, it appreciates in value (the collector who sold it to me told me to not play it lol). Crazy good...!

[@Chiroman527]

Got a Cheapo, Griffin Piccolo 13 X 3.5 Snare for $40 !! Changed the batter head to a HD Dry (don't use any muffling) and use it everyday. Granted I don't do Gigs as a resurrected 71 yo Recreational player who resurged drumming after 50 Years. I play about an hour a day to My Music. I have another Mapex 13 X 3.5 Piccolo with a stock Remo batter head which produces a different sound that I have added them both to my kit. I do one weird thing : I have the Griffin Piccolo snare sitting atop of my DW Designer Series Brass 14 X 6.5 snare in the stand ....weird in that it delivers exactly the sound I look for.

[@ColeParamore]

Love it!

[@therevenants]

I've just got a brand new Mapex 13 x 3 steel picolo snare. Not expensive. I was wondering about changing the heads and wires. I've tuned it high so that there is a slight ring to the sound.

[@demonicsweaters]

They're super cool. I also really like small diameter snares these days, like 10"x5" or 12"x5". My 10"x5" tuned low sounds incredibly cool.

[@SeanD313]

Got a piccolo a few years back, absolutely love it!

[@ColeParamore]

Nice!

[@SuperheroJunior]

@@ColeParamore The piccolo snare drum is very good and I have one at home right now also my favorite other snare is the legendary Ludwig Supraphonic and the black beauty too.

[@niteshades_promise]

This sounds amazing. I have only one snare. A 13x3" remo piccolo. Maple i believe. Not a fan of deep loose snares or metal shells.🍻

[@traviskilroy3648]

I used a piccolo yamaha with a traditional sized Pearl reference kit. Ended up with a massive low end sound but the snare cutting through as well.

[@lizadiebelsparamore7392]

Great video Cole! Awesome sounding drum. Keep up the good work.

[@simonkullberg]

Hell yes. I have two piccolos for different stuff. One Pearl free floating Maple that sounds fantastic, very versatile and great in the more ‘mid-range’, and then I have a Millenium steel piccolo 3,5x14” for Ska which sounds brilliant.

[@ColeParamore]

Nice!

[@JRR907]

sounds so good that's crazy

[@al1976-v7m]

Sounds excellent, and great playing!

[@thunderfan77]

I recently acquired my dream snare drum - a perfectly aged 1991 Noble & Cooley Solid Shell Classic Maple 3.875x14 piccolo in black finish (aka the Phil Collins snare). It wasn't cheap but worth every penny. This snare sounds like a literal firecracker going off when struck. I don't even need to do rimshots, it's that loud. But it is THE perfect snare sound I've been looking for. I have other deeper snare drums that I enjoy playing as well, but this is the Holy Grail of snare drums IMHO

[@ColeParamore]

Love it, congrats!

[@jarrahdrum]

I have a 14x4 snare drum and I like it very much,

[@jc3drums916]

I think that, in the 2-3" depth range, and especially 13" or smaller diameter, you're correct. In the arguably more common 14" x 3.5" or 4" sizes, piccolos sound more "normal." Either way, love them piccolos.

[@FreeRPGer]

I *love* some piccolo snares. I have 7 snares, 3 of which are favorites, & 1 of those faves happens to be my (cheaper) PDP Pacific Piccolo snare (which I actually like more than my pricier Pearl M-1330 piccolo). I *love* the snappy crack it has on all tunings. My 1st favorite is my '81 Acrolite. My 2nd fave is my 13" x 3.5" PDP piccolo. Then my 3rd fave is my 14" x 5.5" custom Wells steam-bent solid Cherry snare. I also like my Pearl piccolo, but seeing as it's Maple, it's a bit warmer than my PDP.

[@ryanwright2875]

I got one of these up in the closet. Might be time to bring it out lol I kinda miss it.

[@Am71919]

I have a griffin Maple piccolo 3 * 13 in, black Evans hydraulic heads on them, falam slam in the center

[@Coastline3563]

Will definitely get one

[@thomasmoje5926]

I have what might be termed a 'piccolo snare' of sorts: 3.7 x 14" Ludwig Venus Carl Palmer Signature model. I say 'piccolo' because it can be tuned to yield that high pitched dry crack if you want, yet it has enough tuning range that it is a very versatile instrument. My favorite snare drum.

[@mbaroneva76]

That’s a phenomenal drum. I absolutely love mine.

[@Batucada408]

Just got mine in and I absolutely love it.

[@thomasmoje5926]

@@Batucada408 Per advice from Carl Palmer himself at the 'ELP Legacy' concert where I bought the drum: replace the OEM batter head with a Remo coated Emperor, and replace the OEM snare attachment cords with fabric tape. Really woke that drum up.

[@Batucada408]

@@thomasmoje5926 awesome. I already swapped the heads out with a coated controlled sound on one and an Evans HD on the other. Definitely, planning on picking up a couple of coated emperors and straps in the next week or two.

[@jorymil]

I'm listening to Bell Biv Devoe right now, and the sampled snare has gotta be a piccolo. So ringy. I have a couple of things that could work for that sound, though temptation is high to buy a 13x3 Pearl, Yamaha, Ludwig, or Mapex, since they all go for $50 or so.

[@Juniscrazy]

I used to have that Pearl piccolo low end $ wise they still sell it. It was my go to for pop-salsa music. Maybe I’ll take your advice lol it was a cool sound

[@SeanD313]

The 13"x3" one? Those are killer!

[@Juniscrazy]

Yeah I believe it was steel. Was black 13x3

[@gregsnider2023]

Love the videos man. Keep it up

[@ColeParamore]

Thanks Greg, much appreciated!

[@danlc95]

There were two that I liked. First was the super cheap 4×13 Pacific steel shell, six lug drum. I don't know why or how, bit I always get compliments on it. The second is the cheap 3 1/4x 13 by Pearl. I had the brass, but now have the maple. I actually used a small drum set last Fridayfor a hard rock gig and that Pearl sounded great! Like a gun shot going off.

[@peytonmoss2433]

Just got a pacific one a few days back and it's amazing. I heard nothing but good stuff about it and bought one, most definitely worth it.

[@danlc95]

@@peytonmoss2433 The metal one, right? That is one hell of a nice little snare!

[@peytonmoss2433]

@@danlc95 Yep its the metal one, I got it super cheap too man. It's a great snare for the price

[@danlc95]

@@peytonmoss2433 - Excellent! What heads do you like on it so far?

[@peytonmoss2433]

@@danlc95 I put a remo ambassador coated on it and I tried an ambassador clear on it and I love the clear, it gives that ping sound I've been looking for

[@byrdman_drums]

Thanks for the video. I think it's about time to break out my little Tama brass piccolo

[@DoubleD_93]

Fantastic video and sound but I must ask...why is the hoop not evenly tightened? Looks like more of the lugs are cranked down to where the batter hoop touches the lug casings except one that's immediately left of the scroll @ 1:52...

[@randymaizland9662]

I hate when I watch videos like this and the snare sounds phenomenal. Then you by one and it sounds nothing like the video in person un-mic'ed. Processing and mixing do magic.

[@ColeParamore]

Hey Randy, want to stop by my studio and hear it in person? It's possible your issue lies in tuning/setup.

[@randymaizland9662]

@@ColeParamore That would be fantastic but unless you are within an hour or so of Fort Collins Colorado, not likely to happen. I think I am reasonably good at tuning. Always room for im provement though right?

[@ColeParamore]

@@randymaizland9662 Hit me up next time you're in WA. One of the cool things about piccolos is the ability to get sounds acoustically that seem processed. Shoot me a video of where your snare is at and I'd be happy to give some suggestions on how to get either of these sounds.

[@janmalec7349]

Peace/Millenium 12 lug 14x3.5 steel piccolo is around 70 USD and it's absolute steal for the price!

[@xetradax2679]

i wish i had a father like his

[@BeesWaxMinder]

You are a truly amazing drummer!! I hope you give Lessons…

[@ColeParamore]

I do! Thanks for the kind words.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@ColeParamore t r u e! So are these one-to-one lessons or online or video recordings or what please?

[@ColeParamore]

@@BeesWaxMinder I can do any and all of those.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@ColeParamore do you have any tutorial videos online..?

[@ColeParamore]

@@BeesWaxMinder Yep! Over 200 videos on this channel, as well as my book found here: shoptly.com/sixteenparadiddles

[@duel2k7]

The top hoop is nearly bottoming out on some of those lugs. Really sat unevenly on the drum. Unless the lugs are wonky instead. Hard to tell. Hard cool regardless

[@rglickdrums]

Dude great video

[@ColeParamore]

Thanks Ryan!

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

This is what you need for slam, deathgrind, goregrind, mincecore, etc.

[@ColeParamore]

Yes.

[@ddeboy002]

best snare is between the reg and pic. 4.5 inch.

[@StuartJrBarrett]

Killer videos, Cole! Keep it up. What cameras 🎥 are you using??

[@marscounty]

How can you get veneer from DW? They wouldn't make that available online.

[@ColeParamore]

You're right - this was a highly anomalous situation where they offered it to my dad and I while we were down at the factory touring. Definitely not something that would regularly be on the menu!

[@northernliving2387]

Question... What kind of Musice can you use a piccolo snare drum on?

[@ColeParamore]

Reggae, ska, rock, hip hop, lo fi, funk, R&B, jazz etc. Wallflowers, Steely Dan, No Doubt, Spin Doctors, Chick Corea, Slayer... we could go on!

[@northernliving2387]

@@ColeParamore Thank you for the info..

[@willardmsuttonjr3093]

I have one but it is a Mapex signature

[@ColeParamore]

Nice!

[@vandavis000]

I often get upset when snare drums are technically a saprano snare instead lableled a piccolo snare drum.

[@ColeParamore]

You might want to try meditation. 😅

[@walterhammond290]

Soprano.

[@Soggy5271]

What hi-hat is that?

[@ColeParamore]

That is a 16" Byzance Traditional Medium Thin crash over a 16" Extra Dry Thin crash. Thanks for watching!

[@Soggy5271]

@@ColeParamore thank you

[@kaybhee6]

brushes

[@MechaAkuma]

Please for the love of god stop muffling your snare to the point where you cant even hear the shell ring. What's the point in buying a snare with different dimensions with unique sounds when all you do is muffle it to the point where it sounds like a dead fart

[@lucho8274]

Suena horrible

[@ColeParamore]

Lol

[@CymbalVault]

I'll never go shallower than a 14x4.5 Gretsch USA. I'd rather get a smaller diameter drum if I want the pop.