A drum rim design for providing an increased variety of sounds while reducing a drummer's physical exertion comprises a rim on which three or more portions (12), (13), and (14) of the uppermost periphery of the upright section of the rim have respectively different heights. A user of the drum can rotate the drum to place the rim portion having the desired height adjacent the user. When the user wishes to play the drum in a conventional manner, the user can rotate the drum so that the portion of the rim having a relatively larger height is adjacent the user. This will provide rather conventional rim shot performance. When the user wishes a predictably different rim shot sound, or wishes to play rim shots at a reduced angle of performance, with the ergonomic benefit of placing correspondingly less strain on the shoulder and elbow, the user may then rotate the drum so that a portion of the rim having an uppermost rim of reduced height is adjacent the user. Or, for an intermediate sound, the user can rotate the drum so that a portion of the rim having a height in between the shortest and tallest rim heights is adjacent the user. This provides the user with considerably greater control and a greater variety of sounds, from higher and sharper to lower and deeper, to choose from during rim shot play.

An arcuate rim shot segment of plastics material is provided for attachment to a drum adjacent the metal hoop thereof to prevent damage to a wooden drum stick during rim shot. The rim shot segment has a semi-cylindrical cross-sectional configuration with the flat surface thereof adapted to engage and extend above the internal circumferential surface of the drum hoop. Flexible plastic strips of material extend about the arcuate segment in spaced relation and define tabs for securement between the drum hoop and the drum shell.

A drum stick wear pad assembly attachable to drum structure including an arcuate rim, comprising: a non-metallic relatively hard pad elongate with primary curvature in the length direction of the drum arcuate rim; a rigid mount for the pad to hold the pad presented otuwardly above the rim; and the mount configured to be attachable to the drum structure in space relation to the rim.

A device comprising a generally cylindrical shaped resilient cover with openings at opposite ends to receive in slidable relation the elongated rod component of a drum lug nut assembly. A slit is provided in combination with one of the openings to enable that end of the cover to expand and connect with the portion of the rod extending either below or above the nut component, as the situation requires. A portion of the back section of the cover is open to enable the cover to easily fit over and around the nut and the other components of the drum lug nut assembly that protrude beyond the surface of the drumshell.

A drum stick wear pad assembly associated with drum structure including an arcuate rim, comprising: a non-metallic relatively hard pad elongated with primary curvature in the length direction of the drum arcuate rim; a rigid mount for the pad to hold the pad presented outwardly above and adjacent the rim; and the mount configured to be attachable to the drum structure in spaced relation to the rim.