Abstract: A snare assembly tensioning and locking mechanism for holding snare wires in either a contact or non-contact position against a bottom drum head of a snare drum. The mechanism uses a lever mounted horseshoe shaped clip including surface bumps or protrusions that, when the lever is in an upward and locked position, engage a set of complementary notches on a surrounding peripheral surface of a snare wire tension adjusting knob. In alternate embodiments, the locking lever may pivot toward the drum or in a direction tangential to the drum. In this manner, the snare wires are held in tension against inadvertent loosening of the tension adjusting knob while the drum is played.

Abstract: A foot-operated, bass drum pedal assembly is provided with a series of interchangeable cam members selectively disposed on a sprocket hub mounted on the rotating axle disposed between the two upright posts. The interchangeable cam system permits a user to alter the performance characteristics or playing response of the drum pedal system by changing the cam profile for that pedal. The user need not disassemble the entire sprocket and hub assembly; rather, the cam profile is changed by selectively changing a detachable cam member with one of a series of cam members.