# Free snare samples

> Free snare drum samples, from tight acoustic snares and rimshots to crunchy drum machine hits, with a playable preview and a licence verdict on each.

36 samples from 5 sources (Strudel sample banks 12, Wikimedia Commons 11, Openverse 10, OpenGameArt 2, SoundBible 1), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=snare&category=drums.snare&form=one-shot
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=snare&category=drums.snare&form=one-shot"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## What to listen for

A snare has three parts: the stick attack, the tone of the drum head, and the rattle of the snare wires. Tight, dry snares suit funk, boom bap and modern pop; roomy snares with a long tail suit rock and ballads; bright, compressed drum machine snares suit house and electro.

Tune the snare to your track. Pitching a sample up a semitone or two often brings it forward without extra EQ, while pitching down makes it fatter and slower. Watch the tail: on fast tempos a long ring will overlap the next hit.

## Where these come from

The list mixes field-recorded acoustic kits from Creative Commons archives with classic machine hits from drum machine banks and free sample packs. The verdict on each card tells you whether you can release a track with it, and whether you need to credit the author.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Snare 4.wav](https://freesound.org/people/VEXST/sounds/26903) | `openverse:03fa3080-bcb3-423f-a781-47dc20bedd59` | Snare, One-shot, 0.38 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Snare Drum, Single Hit, A (H1).wav](https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/410514) | `openverse:e43d1972-6c6c-44be-a6f7-1eea6cda842f` | Snare, One-shot, 1.6 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [8-bit/Lo-Fi Snare Drum Sound](https://opengameart.org/content/8-bitlo-fi-snare-drum-sound) | `opengameart:8-bitlo-fi-snare-drum-sound` | Snare | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [SNARE HIT.wav](https://freesound.org/people/djfroyd/sounds/381982) | `openverse:e28d4cff-95c2-4cb1-9205-d454752d9afa` | Snare, One-shot, 2.0 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [An Interesting Snare Drum Sound](https://opengameart.org/content/an-interesting-snare-drum-sound) | `opengameart:an-interesting-snare-drum-sound` | Snare | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Reverse Snare 3.wav](https://freesound.org/people/VEXST/sounds/26893) | `openverse:03a091fa-4014-4331-a3fc-9e19a5fbf7ac` | Snare, One-shot, 0.36 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Civil War Drummer](https://soundbible.com/1512-Civil-War-Drummer-.html) | `soundbible:1512-Civil-War-Drummer-` | Snare | SoundBible | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [PLT SNARE 01.wav](https://freesound.org/people/sandyrb/sounds/38927) | `openverse:0fdbbb0a-c710-4271-9c5e-d15d0aeb706a` | Snare, One-shot, 0.4 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Snare Drum, Multi Hits, A (H1).wav](https://freesound.org/people/InspectorJ/sounds/410516) | `openverse:4f57446c-0ed2-4c95-9149-43caf813afb2` | Snare, One-shot, 2.7 s | Openverse | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Snare DnB 1.aif](https://freesound.org/people/kaonaya/sounds/131363) | `openverse:56f44219-4cc3-4ab5-abca-d8dae98f0b08` | Snare, One-shot, 1.4 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [snare](https://freesound.org/people/ojirio/sounds/181321) | `openverse:891d1ec7-d815-4055-aa23-333043ea2f2e` | Snare, One-shot, 0.3 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare Drum.wav](https://freesound.org/people/KEVOY/sounds/82238) | `openverse:9e34fbe3-ec02-4710-992c-9d5ff6933010` | Snare, One-shot, 0.39 s | Openverse | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare 3.wav](https://freesound.org/people/VEXST/sounds/26902) | `openverse:fda626f4-8cc2-4f58-98cc-6dbaf7678221` | Snare, One-shot, 0.37 s | Openverse | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 0](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v2_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/0` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare (1) Sample](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_(1)_Sample.wav) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_(1)_Sample.wav` | Snare, One-shot, 0.29 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 1](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v2_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/1` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare spill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_spill.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_spill.ogg` | Snare, 8.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 2](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v4_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/2` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Kick snare (Gravity Sound)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kick_snare_(Gravity_Sound).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Kick_snare_(Gravity_Sound).wav` | Snare, One-shot, 0.5 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 3](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v4_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/3` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare com reverb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_com_reverb.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_com_reverb.ogg` | Snare, One-shot, 3.7 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 4](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v5_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/4` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare spill gated](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_spill_gated.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_spill_gated.ogg` | Snare, 8.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 5](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v5_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/5` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare drum muffled](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_drum_muffled.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_drum_muffled.ogg` | Snare, 4.2 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 6](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v6_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/6` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare sem reverb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_sem_reverb.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_sem_reverb.ogg` | Snare, One-shot, 0.93 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 7](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitNS_v6_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/7` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare com eco](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_com_eco.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_com_eco.ogg` | Snare, One-shot, 3.7 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 8](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitSN_v3_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/8` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare (Gravity Sound)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_(Gravity_Sound).wav) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_(Gravity_Sound).wav` | Snare, 14 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 9](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitSN_v3_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/9` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare drum unmuffled](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_drum_unmuffled.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_drum_unmuffled.ogg` | Snare, 4.8 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 10](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitSN_v5_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/10` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Snare drum rim](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snare_drum_rim.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Snare_drum_rim.ogg` | Snare, 5.0 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · snare_modern · 11](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Snare%20Drum%2C%20Modern%201/Snare2_HitSN_v5_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/snare_modern/11` | Snare, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |

## Questions

**What is the difference between a snare and a rimshot?**

A snare hit sounds the drum head and the wires underneath it, giving a bright, noisy crack. A rimshot strikes the head and the rim at once for a sharper, louder accent, and a cross-stick (side stick) gives the quiet click often heard in ballads and reggae.

**Should I layer a clap with my snare?**

It is a common trick in pop, trap and house. The snare gives body and the clap adds width and a softer attack. Nudge one of them a few milliseconds later for a looser feel.

## Related collections

- [Free clap samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-clap-samples.md): Free hand clap and snap samples, from stacked crowd claps to tight drum machine claps, ready to layer with snares, each with a licence verdict and preview.
- [Free kick samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-kick-samples.md): Free kick drum samples for any genre, from punchy acoustic kicks to drum machine thumps, each with a preview and a verdict on commercial use.
- [Free hi-hat samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-hi-hat-samples.md): Free closed and open hi-hat samples for programming grooves, from crisp drum machine hats to acoustic cymbals, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free breakbeats and drum breaks](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-breakbeats.md): Free drum breaks and breakbeat loops for jungle, drum and bass, hip hop and breaks, with tempo where known and a licence verdict, including cleared breaks.
- [Free crash cymbal samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-crash-cymbal-samples.md): Free crash cymbal one-shots, from short trashy splashes to long cinematic crashes, to mark the start of a section, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free LinnDrum and Linn drum machine samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-linndrum-samples.md): Free LinnDrum and Linn LM-1 drum machine samples: the tight 1980s kicks, snares, claps, toms and percussion behind classic pop records, with licence verdicts.

---
Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-snare-samples