Abstract: A snare assembly for use with a snare drum has a series of generally parallel snare wires extending between terminal plates secured at opposite ends of an elongate mounting frame. The snare strands are secured in a bowed configuration, projecting upwardly from the mounting frame beyond the terminal plates, the snare wires being pretensioned. Thus when the snare assembly is pressed against the lower drum head by the conventional strainer mechanism neither the mounting frame, the terminal plates, nor those parts of the snare strands directly attached to the terminal plates, come into contact with the drum head. Thus the snare strands by virtue of their bowed configuration are at all times resiliently pressed against the drum head and provide great sensitivity and response to the vibrations of the drum head providing a high degree of definition and tonal quality even at very large volumes.