the snare drum or side drum is a percussion instrument. it has strands of "snares" made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords. they are stretched across the skin on the bottom of the drum. pipe and tabor and some military snare drums can have a second set of snares on the bottom side of the top head. this is used to make a "brighter" sound. the snare drum is considered one of the most important drums of the drum kit.