Whether you're looking for the best Ludwig, Pearl or Yamaha snare drum, one of the best places we often find deals are is the Amazon market place. Whether you want one of the best snare drums on the market or you are buying a beginner snare drum as a Christmas gift, they have millions of customers eager to leave reviews on products. This is a big advantage to you because it allows us to see clear trends which we can post for you.

How We Rated Them

No complex formulas here, sorry. What we've done is look at the top rated snare drums on Amazon that are priced under $300.00 and have more than 3 stars with at least two reviews. Then, we've consulted our own history with various drums and come up with a list of the top rated snare drums for 2011.

What we're looking for here is snare drums that have great value and reputation. We hope you'll look at all of them and let us know what you think.

Top Rated Snare Drums of 2011

List of the Top 5 Snare Drums of 2011, Read Reviews, Ratings, and Compare Prices.

• Mapex MPX 13x6 Birch Snare Drum **Our Pick** [Check Prices - Read Reviews]
• Pearl FCS1050 10x5 Steel FireCracker Snare [Check Prices - Read Reviews]
• Pearl S1330B 13x3 Steel Piccolo Snare Drum [Check Prices - Read Reviews]
• Pork Pie 6.5x14 Black Nickle Plated Snare Drum [Check Prices - Read Reviews]
• Pacific Drums by DW The Ace: 6.5X14 Black Chrome Over Beaded Brass Snare Drum [Check Prices - Read Reviews]

We realize we aren't the holy grail of reviewers, so check out these other web resources for top rated snare drums, reviews and more.

• Music Radar has a list of what it considers the best snare drums in the world! What do you think?
• MobTown Studio not only lists 10 great snare drums, but also has some nice little sound clips to let you experience the play.
• BestCovery shares a list of the top rated snare drums in its own opinion!

Keep in mind that when you click those links, you will be leaving our Snare Drum Reviews site and we cannot be responsible for the opinions and ratings of those sites.

Tell Us About Your Favorite Snare Drum

Is there a snare drum that's your favorite that's not on the top list? Do you have experience with any that are on the list? If so, leave us a comment below and sound off! We'd love to hear what you think of our list of the top rated snare drums!

You can read our complete review of Learn and Master Drums here.

Legacy Learning Systems is committed to helping people realize their dreams by providing high-quality, easy to follow instruction by professionals who have made a name for themselves in their fields. Their customer service is second to none.

Don't pass up this opportunity to get your hands on one(or two)of these great courses! Remember, Christmas will be here before you know it! Click the graphic below to learn more.

You can read our complete review of Learn and Master Drums here.

Legacy Learning Systems is committed to helping people realize their dreams by providing high-quality, easy to follow instruction by professionals who have made a name for themselves in their fields. Their customer service is second to none.

Don't pass up this opportunity to get your hands on one(or two)of these great courses! Remember, Christmas will be here before you know it! Click the graphic below to learn more.

Learn and Master Drums

The Learn and Master Drums DVD course is one we've done a complete review of here. Everybody from a newbie to a seasoned professional will learn something from this course. It's really that simple. If you or somebody you know has been struggling to afford private lessons, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. It's got a money back guarantee so you can't go wrong.

EarMaster Pro 5

One of the things I hear musicians of all kinds talking about is they wish they had a better understanding of music notation and theory. The EarMaster Pro course is another we've reviewed on our sister publication Ear Training Software and believe it's the course you need if you're having problems keeping up with the theory side of your music. It's laid out for beginner and pro alike so you can skip the stuff you already know and can get to the meaty stuff you need. It's got a free trial period, a guarantee and impeccable customer support.

Singorama

I know this one is going to sound like it's out of left field but let me point out a couple of things. First of all, part of my musical background is voice and I don't think any musician should be exclusive to only one instrument. Secondly, if you're playing in a band I'm sure you have a vocalist. Chances are they would like to continue growing just like you do musically. Maybe you do the Phil Collins thing and sing and drum. The Singorama course is one I was introduced to last year and had to give it a go. I was very impressed with the level and breadth of the instruction. Ear training, songwriting and vocal technique are all covered to name just a few. They too have a money back guarantee so you can buy with confidence.

Hope This Helps

I know how busy the holidays can become and how much more precious our time can be. That's why we wanted to give you a quick guide you can use to check out some excellent programs and get back to your life with time to spare. Enjoy your holiday season and keep it real.

Here they are in no particular order.

Rogers Dynasonic Snare Drum

The Rogers Dynasonic Snare is one of those rare drums that can be the mainstay of your set as well as a great investment. While the prices can vary widely, it's still a great snare to have in your arsenal. Check Prices

DW Edge Snare Drum

The DW Edge Snare will satisfy the old school drummer in all of us. The DW attention to detail and superior craftsmanship makes this drum simply stunning to look at and pleasure to play. Check Prices

Ludwig Acrolite Snare Drum

The Ludwig Acrolite Snare is the real bargain in the lot. While it may not have the most commanding sound and there are some concerns regarding the consistent quality of the line through the years, the price point and durability make it a great choice for smaller venue players. Check Prices

Pearl Sensitone Snare Drum

The Pearl Sensitone Snare rounds out our Christmas buying guide with a bang. This snare has incredible versatility, a low price point and a minor complaint about the stock heads that come with it. It would make a great gift for the drummer on your list that has everything. Check Prices

There you have it. We hope you'll find our Christmas buying guide helpful and that you'll share it with your friends if you do. Happy shopping!

Additional Resources

Snare Drum Review's Buying Guides

Snare Drum Reviews's Complete Reviews

Buying A Used Snare Drum On Ebay

Musician's Friend

Guitar Center

Do you know of somebody who would like to learn to play the drums? Or maybe they've played for years and feel stuck in a rut? Either way, the holiday season is a great time to give somebody the gift of music. We here at Snare Drum Reviews believe the best way to do this is to get them Learn and Master Drums by Legacy Learning Systems.

You can read our complete review of the Learn and Master Drums DVD course here

Great For All Levels

This beautifully packaged course is the exact step by step approach a beginner needs. But it's not just a beginner's course. The content is broken down so that the professional can get right to what they need to work on and start from there.

If you know of anybody who wants to learn to play the drums or to take their playing to the next level, now would be a great time to get them Learn and Master Drums.

Is it:

• Great training
• Regular practice
• Incredible imagination
• Innate ability

Great Training

There is no doubt that receiving top notch drum instruction from one or many dedicated teachers is a foundational element. A beginning student needs a teacher that loves what they do and can impart this enthusiasm on their young charges. Initially, it's got to be fun or the youngster won't enjoy what they are doing. How many promising musical careers have been quashed by an instructor who is rigid and insists on hard work above all else? True, to ultimately be successful a lot of hard work is necessary. However, if the beginning student sees lessons as a sentence instead of a reward they will avoid them at all costs. Oddly enough, this is also true of adult students that are beginning to learn a musical instrument. They already have a long list of things they must do. They need more things they want to do. If musical lessons don't become that, they will be abandoned.

As the student progresses, it becomes much more important that their instructors are of a high technical level. This is why veteran drummers looking to constantly improve their skills will seek out popular drummers for lessons. The combination of a new perspective and the rush of learning from a legend is hard to pass up even if the lessons are expensive.

Where do you feel great training fits into this equation?

Regular Practice

This may seem to some to be a no-brainer and I agree to an extent. The reason I put this up here is because there are many drummers who can't stand to practice other than whatever their bands are currently playing. In other words, there are really two kinds of practice. Drills to build the rudiments and simply devoting regular time to work on your bands set list.

Which type of practice do you believe is more important in making a great drummer?

Incredible Imagination

How many times have you been listening to music where the drummer was good but maybe not great. What really caught your ear was the unusual way they either felt or articulated a phrase. Maybe the choice of meter or the orchestration of their set elements into a phrase. It was just so cool but you couldn't put your finger on it. You come away wondering how the hell they came up with that. Neil Peart is a perfect example of this. He spends a lot of time deciding exactly how he wants to use his set and it really shows in his final product.

Do you think if you took two drummers with the exact same ability and gave one of them better creative ability that they would stand out easily next to their counterpart?

Innate Ability

Finally, do you think there are genetic factors that just make one drummer better than another all other things being equal? Just like an IQ that makes one potentially a better scientist do you think this same innate ability exists for musical ability? It's the whole right brain, left brain thing I know but it bears examining. Is it possible that this one quality could be the reason some drummers seem to be great without the benefit of great training, regular practice or much imagination? Or could this innate ability be the thing that makes all the other elements produce a better drummer?

Where Do You Stand On This?

What does make a great drummer in your mind? Is it one thing? Many? What combination and degree of these elements?

Leave a comment below and let's talk about it. Be sure to tweet this to your drummer buddies so we can hear what they say too.

I've been getting more and more into the muscian's scene in New York City lately. The great thing about living near a big city like NYC is they offer things you might not find anywhere else. One of those things is the Muscians Club and rehearsal studios at The Studio in NYC. I joined the club last year and ended up participating in one of their showcases. It's a great way to get out and play live without the hassle of finding all the musicians and then scheduling and everything thing else that goes with putting a band together. They take care of everything...for a price. That's the catch. You have to pay for it. But they do handle everything. They provide the where and they have a coordinator who is in charge of the rehearsals. You have to do your homework and learn the set list, reahearse three times for approx 10 hours and they provide the equipment at the club. You just show up and play. If you have a band, you can also take part in this. One other way they have to meet other musicians is their saturday nite jams....it's from 7pm-11pm and they have 5 rooms available....usually a beginner room...one intermediate rock room....intermediate-advanced blues room....you go pick a room and play...it's alot of fun.

• Best High Priced Snare Drum
• Best Mid-Priced Snare Drum
• Best Beginner Snare Drum

So, sit back and take a quick look at our picks. Leave us a comment and tell us your favorites. We value your input and realize the very subjective nature of picking favorite musical instruments,especially snare drums.

Best High Priced Snare Drum

DW Edge Snare Drum

The DW Edge snare drum has been a favorite of both newbies and pros for a long time. Beginners like that is has a sound that sings to them while the pros appreciate the attention to detail, wide range of sizes available and the extended hardware options. The quality of construction and richness of sound are what make this snare drum a 5 star winner for our readers. The price can be a bit off-putting for drummers on a budget but those that take the plunge have rarely reported regretting it.

Read The Complete Review Here

Best Mid-Priced Snare Drum

Ahead Black On Brass Snare Drum

The Ahead Black On Brass snare drum is a relative newcomer to the party. Ahead's sticks have been a standby for many drummers when they need an extra trick in their bag. Now, both drummers and reviewers are finding a lot to like about these drums. There's no doubt the materials they've used for these drums have made them absolutely beautiful. But the real surprise is that the engineering has produced a drum that is both warm and loud enough to punch through any performance. We gave the Ahead Black On Brass snare drum a 4 star rating due to its huge sound, critics praise and Ahead's reputation for quality.

Read The Complete Review Here

Best Beginner Snare Drum

Pork Pie Little Squealer Snare Drum

The Pork Pie Little Squealer earns a 5 star rating because it's built to take a beating and sound great doing it. Pros like that it has a great tuning range that allows them to get just the sound they're looking for. But there's more. It's a great drum for a beginner because it has a great price point and the volume to get them enthused about playing and practicing. In fact, the beginner probably won't care about the stock heads which most pros say they want to change very soon after buying the drum. All around, the Little Squealer has a lot to offer pros and beginners with a price point that makes it ideal for a first time player.

Read The Complete Review Here

Be Sure About What You Want

This is true at the local music store and it is true when purchasing from any online location. You don’t want to have to return the drum unless it is defective. At the local store you may have to pay a restocking fee. Online, you’ll have to pay shipping to return something unless it is defective and the defect was not listed in the description. Some sellers won’t accept returns while others will within a certain time period – 5, 10, 21 or 30 days are most common. Have a good idea ahead of time about size, brand, model, and age you want the snare drum to be.

Be Flexible for the Best Deal

If you have to have a DW Edge and nothing else will do, then you may have to pay top dollar to get it. But if you can be just as satisfied with used snare drums of comparable quality, then you’ll find better deals. Will a Ludwig Black Magic or a Tama Metalworks snare drum also give you the sound you want? The more options you’re willing to consider, the more likely you are to find a great bargain.

Stick to your Size Choice

Size is the exception. Know what size snare drum you want and stick with it. This will save you from making a purchase you regret. For example, let’s say you want a 5x14.5 drum but you spot a tremendous deal on a 4x14 Mapex Black Panther. Is that a good purchase? It may be for someone but not for you. You won’t be happy with it when it doesn’t suit your needs because it’s the wrong size.

Research the Series or Model

Manufacturers make many different collections, as you know. A Pearl Reference Series drum is better than a Pearl Firecracker by a long shot. Pearl Signature models are somewhere in the middle. Spending $250 on a Pearl Reference would be a bargain. That price would be about right for a Joey Jordison Signature and it would be way too much to spend for a Firecracker. It’s the same with all brands; know how their different series stack up in terms of quality.

Ask Questions

Most sellers have a contact form or a phone number to use to ask specific questions. They are typically very responsive to the questions of potential buyers because they want to sell the product. Ask all your questions. If you don’t get good answers or they aren’t responded to, move on to another used snare drum. There are a bunch of good ones available on eBay.

Summary

These tips for buying a used snare drum on eBay will guide you in your purchase. You will find good deals on snare drums that will work for you and you’ll be satisfied with the sound and quality of the model you select.