These drums have two heads made of calf or goat skins, one side with a snare. Medieval and Renaissance style drums are adjusted by loosening or tightening the ropes. Renaissance drums feature wide tension hoops on the top and bottom drum heads.
Any drum accompanied by a a three-holed, one-handed, tabor-pipe is known as a tabor drum. When used as a tabor drum, the snare and its tension-adjusting peg(s) are traditionally on the top. The larger and longer size drums have been used for centuries to accompany the tabor pipe. The main advantage of smaller drums is their light weight and portability.
For drums used with Renaissance and Medieval ensemble music, such as Pavanes, the larger drums are preferable. They have a richer, deeper, more resonant sound.
