The snare drum has a crisp untuned sound that is used by the military and in marching bands. Sometimes called the side drum, the snare drum has two heads made of skin stretched over a hollow metal frame.

The top head is struck with wooden drumsticks, and is called the batter-head. The bottom head, or snare-head, has catgut or metal strings called snares stretched tightly across it.

The snares produce a rattling sound as they vibrate against the head. The snare drum joined the orchestra nearly 200 years ago in the early 19th century.