Drum vs. Ruffle — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 26, 2024
Drums are percussion instruments played by striking with sticks or hands, producing rhythmic sounds, while ruffles are fabric strips gathered or pleated to create a decorative frill on clothing.
Difference Between Drum and Ruffle
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Drums are musical instruments used primarily to keep time and add rhythm in various musical genres. They consist of a cylindrical body with a membrane stretched across it. When struck, the membrane vibrates to produce sound. In contrast, ruffles are design elements in fashion, added to garments to enhance texture and visual interest. They are made by gathering fabric into folds, creating a wavy appearance which adds a dynamic element to the attire.
Drumming can be performed as a solo or as part of an ensemble, adapting to diverse musical styles from rock to classical. It requires coordination and rhythm to master different techniques and rhythms. Conversely, ruffles are used in garment design and are often seen on dresses, blouses, and curtains, providing a feminine touch that can vary from subtle to dramatic, depending on the width and stiffness of the fabric used.
Drums have evolved over centuries, with variations such as snare drums, bass drums, and bongos, each offering different sounds and used in different cultural contexts. On the other hand, ruffles have their own historical significance in fashion, dating back to the 15th century, often associated with status and elegance in Western attire, and have evolved in the way they are used and styled.
The physical action of playing drums involves significant physical movement, especially with the use of foot pedals for bass drums or using multiple drums in a drum set. In contrast, ruffles, while static, play a crucial role in the dynamics of fashion design, influencing the movement and flow of the fabric, which can alter the overall silhouette and movement of a garment.
Drummers often need various accessories like sticks, brushes, and hardware to play effectively, emphasizing functionality in their craft. Ruffles, however, require careful selection of fabric and sewing technique to achieve the desired aesthetic effect, focusing more on the visual impact than on practical functionality.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A musical instrument for rhythm.
A decorative fabric frill.
Use
Musical performance.
Fashion and home décor.
Techniques
Striking, brushing, kicking.
Gathering, pleating, stitching.
Cultural Significance
Used worldwide in many cultures.
Historically signifies status.
Impact
Produces sound.
Enhances visual texture.
Compare with Definitions
Drum
A percussion instrument made from a hollow body with a membrane stretched over one or both ends.
He played the drum with such intensity that the crowd cheered louder.
Ruffle
A strip of fabric, often pleated or gathered, used as a decorative element on clothing.
The ruffle at the hem of her dress added a playful touch.
Drum
Comes in various types, such as snare, bass, and bongo.
She preferred the soft tone of the bongo drum in her acoustic set.
Ruffle
Common in both historical and contemporary fashion.
Ruffles were a prominent feature in Victorian fashion.
Drum
Often part of a larger drum set in modern bands.
His drum set includes three snares, each tuned differently for effect.
Ruffle
Can be made from various materials like silk, cotton, or polyester.
The silk ruffles on her blouse gave it an elegant flow.
Drum
Used rhythmically in most musical ensembles.
The drum beat provided the perfect tempo for the dance.
Ruffle
Can be applied to other decor items, like curtains or pillows.
The ruffled curtains in the living room created a romantic ambiance.
Drum
Can be played with hands, sticks, or mallets.
He switched from sticks to mallets to soften the drum sounds.
Ruffle
Used to add texture and volume to garments.
The designer used ruffles to make the simple skirt more voluminous.
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone.
Ruffle
Disorder or disarrange (someone's hair), typically by running one's hands through it
He ruffled her hair affectionately
Drum
A percussion instrument sounded by being struck with sticks or the hands, typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped, with a taut membrane over one or both ends
A shuffling dance to the beat of a drum
Ruffle
Ornament with or gather into a frill
A blouse with a high ruffled neck
Drum
A cylindrical container or receptacle
A drum of powdered bleach
Ruffle
An ornamental gathered or goffered frill of lace or other cloth on a garment, especially around the wrist or neck.
Drum
A house or flat.
Ruffle
A vibrating drum beat.
Drum
An evening or afternoon tea party of a kind that was popular in the late 18th and early 19th century
A drum at Lady Beresford's
Ruffle
A strip of frilled or closely pleated fabric used for trimming or decoration.
Drum
A piece of reliable inside information
He had got the drum that the police wouldn't lock us up
Ruffle
A ruff on a bird.
Drum
A long, narrow hill, especially one separating two parallel valleys.
Ruffle
An irregularity or a slight disturbance of a surface
The ruffle on the lake.
Drum
A fish that makes a drumming sound by vibrating its swim bladder, found mainly in estuarine and shallow coastal waters.
Ruffle
A beating or rustling sound
The ruffle of drums in the distance.
The ruffle of a skirt on the floor.
Drum
Play on a drum
He channelled his energies into drumming with local groups
Ruffle
A low continuous beating of a drum that is not as loud as a roll. Also called ruff4.
Drum
Give (someone) reliable information or a warning
I'm drumming you, if they come I'm going
Ruffle
To disturb the smoothness or regularity of; ripple
The wind ruffled the water.
Drum
A percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder or hemisphere with a membrane stretched tightly over one or both ends, played by beating with the hands or sticks.
Ruffle
To pleat or gather (fabric) into a ruffle.
Drum
A sound produced by this instrument.
Ruffle
To put a ruffle on (a garment, for example).
Drum
Something resembling a drum in shape or structure, especially a barrellike metal container or a metal cylinder wound with cable, wire, or heavy rope.
Ruffle
To erect (the feathers). Used of birds.
Drum
A circular or polygonal wall supporting a dome or cupola. Also called tambour.
Ruffle
To discompose or annoy; fluster
A book that is bound to ruffle some people.
Drum
Any of the cylindrical stone blocks that are stacked to form the shaft of a column.
Ruffle
To flip through (the pages of a book).
Drum
Any of various marine and freshwater fishes of the family Sciaenidae that make a drumming sound by vibrating certain muscles attached to the swim bladder.
Ruffle
To shuffle (cards).
Drum
(Anatomy) The eardrum.
Ruffle
To become irregular or rough
His hair ruffled in the wind.
Drum
To play a drum or drums.
Ruffle
To become annoyed or flustered
What teacher doesn't ruffle when students act up in class?.
Drum
To thump or tap rhythmically or continually
Nervously drummed on the table.
Ruffle
To flip through the pages of a book
Ruffled through the book until I found the picture.
Drum
To produce a booming, reverberating sound by beating the wings, as certain birds do.
Ruffle
To search for something in a container
Ruffled in her bag looking for the keys.
Drum
To perform (a piece or tune) on or as if on a drum.
Ruffle
To make a beating or rustling sound.
Drum
To summon by or as if by beating a drum.
Ruffle
To beat a ruffle on (a drum).
Drum
To make known to or force upon (a person) by constant repetition
Drummed the answers into my head.
Ruffle
(Obsolete) To behave arrogantly or roughly; swagger.
Drum
To expel or dismiss in disgrace. Often used with out
Was drummed out of the army.
Ruffle
Any gathered or curled strip of fabric added as trim or decoration.
She loved the dress with the lace ruffle at the hem.
Drum
A percussive musical instrument spanned with a thin covering on at least one end for striking, forming an acoustic chamber; a membranophone.
Percussion instrument
Ruffle
Disturbance; agitation; commotion.
To put the mind in a ruffle
Drum
Any similar hollow, cylindrical object.
Replace the drum unit of your printer.
Ruffle
(military) A low, vibrating beat of a drum, quieter than a roll; a ruff.
Drum
A barrel or large cylindrical container for liquid transport and storage.
The restaurant ordered ketchup in 50-gallon drums.
Ruffle
(zoology) The connected series of large egg capsules, or oothecae, of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur.
Drum
(architecture) The encircling wall that supports a dome or cupola.
Ruffle
(transitive) To make a ruffle in; to curl or flute, as an edge of fabric.
Ruffle the end of the cuff.
Drum
(architecture) Any of the cylindrical blocks that make up the shaft of a pillar.
Ruffle
(transitive) To disturb; especially, to cause to flutter.
The wind ruffled the papers.
Her sudden volley of insults ruffled his composure.
Drum
A drumfish (family Sciaenidae).
Ruffle
(intransitive) To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
Drum
A tip; a piece of information.
Ruffle
(intransitive) To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
Drum
A small hill or ridge of hills.
Ruffle
(intransitive) To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
Drum
A social gathering or assembly held in the evening.
Ruffle
To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
Drum
A person's home; a house or other building, especially when insalubrious; a tavern, a brothel.
Ruffle
To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
Drum
(informal) A drumstick (of chicken, turkey, etc).
Ruffle
(military) To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
Drum
(intransitive) To beat a drum.
Ruffle
To throw together in a disorderly manner.
Drum
(ambitransitive) To beat with a rapid succession of strokes.
The ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
Ruffle
To make into a ruff; to draw or contract into puckers, plaits, or folds; to wrinkle.
Drum
(transitive) To drill or review in an attempt to establish memorization.
He’s still trying to drum Spanish verb conjugations into my head.
Ruffle
To furnish with ruffles; as, to ruffle a shirt.
Drum
To throb, as the heart.
Ruffle
To oughen or disturb the surface of; to make uneven by agitation or commotion.
The fantastic revelries . . . that so often ruffled the placid bosom of the Nile.
She smoothed the ruffled seas.
Drum
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc.; used with for.
Ruffle
To erect in a ruff, as feathers.
[the swan] ruffles her pure cold plume.
Drum
Of various animals, to make a vocalisation or mechanical sound that resembles drumming.
Ruffle
To beat with the ruff or ruffle, as a drum.
Drum
An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.
The drums cry bud-a-dub.
Ruffle
To discompose; to agitate; to disturb.
These ruffle the tranquillity of the mind.
But, ever after, the small violence doneRankled in him and ruffled all his heart.
Drum
Anything resembling a drum in form
Ruffle
To throw into disorder or confusion.
Where bestHe might the ruffled foe infest.
Drum
See Drumfish.
Ruffle
To throw together in a disorderly manner.
I ruffled up falen leaves in heap.
Drum
A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout.
Not unaptly styled a drum, from the noise and emptiness of the entertainment.
Ruffle
To grow rough, boisterous, or turbulent.
The night comes on, and the bleak windsDo sorely ruffle.
Drum
A tea party; a kettledrum.
Ruffle
To become disordered; to play loosely; to flutter.
On his right shoulder his thick mane reclined,Ruffles at speed, and dances in the wind.
Drum
To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
Ruffle
To be rough; to jar; to be in contention; hence, to put on airs; to swagger.
They would ruffle with jurors.
Gallants who ruffled in silk and embroidery.
Drum
To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum; as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
Drumming with his fingers on the arm of his chair.
Ruffle
That which is ruffled; specifically, a strip of lace, cambric, or other fine cloth, plaited or gathered on one edge or in the middle, and used as a trimming; a frill.
Drum
To throb, as the heart.
Ruffle
A state of being ruffled or disturbed; disturbance; agitation; commotion; as, to put the mind in a ruffle.
Drum
To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; - with for.
Ruffle
A low, vibrating beat of a drum, not so loud as a roll; - called also ruff.
Drum
To execute on a drum, as a tune.
Ruffle
The connected series of large egg capsules, or oöthecæ, of any one of several species of American marine gastropods of the genus Fulgur. See Oötheca.
Drum
With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
Ruffle
A strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
Drum
With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up customers.
Ruffle
A high tight collar
Drum
A musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretch across each end
Ruffle
A noisy fight
Drum
The sound of a drum;
He could hear the drums before he heard the fifes
Ruffle
Stir up (water) so as to form ripples
Drum
A bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
Ruffle
Trouble or vex;
Ruffle somebody's composure
Drum
A cylindrical metal container used for shipping or storage of liquids
Ruffle
To walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others;
He struts around like a rooster in a hen house
Drum
A hollow cast-iron cylinder attached to the wheel that forms part of the brakes
Ruffle
Discompose;
This play is going to ruffle some people
She has a way of ruffling feathers among her colleagues
Drum
Small to medium-sized bottom-dwelling food and game fishes of shallow coastal and fresh waters that make a drumming noise
Ruffle
Twitch or flutter;
The paper flicked
Drum
Make a rhythmic sound;
Rain drummed against the windshield
The drums beat all night
Ruffle
Mix so as to make a random order or arrangement;
Shuffle the cards
Drum
Play a percussion instrument
Ruffle
Erect or fluff up;
The bird ruffled its feathers
Drum
Study intensively, as before an exam;
I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
Ruffle
Disturb the smoothness of;
Ruffle the surface of the water
Ruffle
Pleat or gather into a ruffle;
Ruffle the curtain fabric
Common Curiosities
What materials are used to make drum heads?
Drum heads are typically made from animal skin or synthetic materials like polyester or mylar.
What is the significance of drum tuning?
Drum tuning is crucial for controlling the pitch and tone of the drum, allowing it to blend well with other instruments in an ensemble.
How do the styles of ruffles vary?
Styles of ruffles vary from knife-pleated to box-pleated and can range from tightly gathered to loosely flowing, affecting the garment's overall look.
Can ruffles be used in menswear?
Yes, ruffles can be used in menswear, often seen in historical garments and modern avant-garde fashion.
What is the historical origin of ruffles?
Ruffles originated in the Renaissance period in Europe as a status symbol and have evolved through various fashion eras.
How do drummers contribute to a band?
Drummers provide the rhythmic foundation and tempo, driving the music and supporting the band's cohesion and energy.
What skills are necessary to play drums effectively?
Effective drumming requires rhythm, timing, coordination, and dynamic control.
What considerations are important when designing with ruffles?
Key considerations include the fabric's weight and stiffness, the garment's overall design, and the placement and scale of the ruffles.
How are drums maintained?
Drum maintenance includes regular tuning, cleaning, and replacing worn heads and sticks to ensure optimal sound quality.
How can ruffles impact the perceived formality of an outfit?
Ruffles can significantly increase an outfit's formality, especially when made from luxurious fabrics or detailed in elaborate designs.
Are electronic drums different from acoustic drums?
Yes, electronic drums use digital sampling to mimic the sound of acoustic drums and can be adjusted for volume, tone, and sound variety, suitable for practice or electronic music.
Do ruffles have a functional purpose besides aesthetics?
While primarily decorative, ruffles can also function to disguise or accentuate body lines and shapes in clothing.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Road vs. Pavement
Next Comparison
Mock vs. CopyAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
