# Free tom drum samples

> Free tom drum one-shots, from high rack toms to deep floor toms and electronic toms, for fills and tribal grooves, each with a licence verdict and preview.

31 samples from 3 sources (Strudel sample banks 14, Wikimedia Commons 14, OpenGameArt 3), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=tom&category=drums.tom
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=tom&category=drums.tom"`
- 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

## Toms in a production

Toms are the pitched drums between the snare and the kick. A kit usually has one or two rack toms above the kick drum and a floor tom on legs. In pop and rock they mostly play fills; in afrobeat, tribal house and film music they can carry the whole groove.

Because toms have a clear pitch, they react to the key of your track. Tune each one to a note of your scale and fills will sound intentional rather than random. Acoustic tom samples often include the resonance of the head, which rings into the next beat: shorten it with the amp envelope, or keep it for a big, open sound.

## Acoustic or electronic

Recorded toms from free kits sound natural and dynamic and work best with velocity layers. Drum machine toms, from the 808's soft boops to the punchy LinnDrum toms, are cleaner and easier to tune, which suits electronic music. Check each card's verdict: drum machine samples shared in community banks vary in licence.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Tom Kenny The SpongeBob Musical interview](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Kenny_The_SpongeBob_Musical_interview.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Kenny_The_SpongeBob_Musical_interview.ogg` | Tom, 1:23 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [WGS Music #40 - vs Tom #2 [Loops]](https://opengameart.org/content/wgs-music-40-vs-tom-2-loops) | `opengameart:wgs-music-40-vs-tom-2-loops` | Tom, Loop | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Tom Scott - TEDx Liverpool](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Scott_-_TEDx_Liverpool.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Scott_-_TEDx_Liverpool.ogg` | Tom, 13 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Sequential Circuits Tom · ht · 0](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/SequentialCircuitsTom/sequentialcircuitstom-ht/Tom-01.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/SequentialCircuitsTom_ht/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [WGS Music #41 - vs Tom #3 [Loops]](https://opengameart.org/content/wgs-music-41-vs-tom-3-loops) | `opengameart:wgs-music-41-vs-tom-3-loops` | Tom, Loop | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Tom Suozzi speaks on recognizing victims of the Iran Hostage Crisis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Suozzi_speaks_on_recognizing_victims_of_the_Iran_Hostage_Crisis.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Suozzi_speaks_on_recognizing_victims_of_the_Iran_Hostage_Crisis.ogg` | Tom, 1:44 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [WGS Music #43 - vs Tom #4 [Loops]](https://opengameart.org/content/wgs-music-43-vs-tom-4-loops) | `opengameart:wgs-music-43-vs-tom-4-loops` | Tom, Loop | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom,_Tom,_the_Piper%27s_Son.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom,_Tom,_the_Piper's_Son.ogg` | Tom, 8.0 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Sequential Circuits Tom · ht · 1](https://github.com/ritchse/tidal-drum-machines/blob/main/machines/SequentialCircuitsTom/sequentialcircuitstom-ht/Tom-02.wav) | `strudel:tidal-drum-machines/SequentialCircuitsTom_ht/1` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Tom Tugendhat on the War in Afghanistan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Tugendhat_on_the_War_in_Afghanistan.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Tugendhat_on_the_War_in_Afghanistan.ogg` | Tom, 1:11 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Tom Turpin - Bowery Buck (1899)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Turpin_-_Bowery_Buck_(1899).ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Turpin_-_Bowery_Buck_(1899).ogg` | Tom, 2:21 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tom Medio](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Medio.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Medio.ogg` | Tom, One-shot, 0.82 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Tom Turpin - The Buffalo Rag (1904)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Turpin_-_The_Buffalo_Rag_(1904).ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Turpin_-_The_Buffalo_Rag_(1904).ogg` | Tom, 2:18 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tom Vilsack speaks on free school meals for students and declining hunger rates](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Vilsack_speaks_on_free_school_meals_for_students_and_declining_hunger_rates.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Vilsack_speaks_on_free_school_meals_for_students_and_declining_hunger_rates.ogg` | Tom, 3:49 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tom Agudo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Agudo.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Agudo.ogg` | Tom, One-shot, 0.87 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 0](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v2_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tom Cotton on his bill to mandate compony disclosure of foreign subsidies prior to merger](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Cotton_on_his_bill_to_mandate_compony_disclosure_of_foreign_subsidies_prior_to_merger.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Cotton_on_his_bill_to_mandate_compony_disclosure_of_foreign_subsidies_prior_to_merger.ogg` | Tom, 58 s | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 1](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v2_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/1` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle on Confirming Tom Ridge and Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Senate_Minority_Leader_Tom_Daschle_on_Confirming_Tom_Ridge_and_Challenges_Facing_the_Department_of_Homeland_Security.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Senate_Minority_Leader_Tom_Daschle_on_Confirming_Tom_Ridge_and_Challenges_Facing_the_Department_of_Homeland_Security.ogg` | Tom, 7:47 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 2](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v3_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/2` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Tom Grave](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Grave.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Tom_Grave.ogg` | Tom, One-shot, 0.89 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 3](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v3_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/3` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Rep. Tom Lantos on the Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and Human Rights in Myanmar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rep._Tom_Lantos_on_the_Detention_of_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_and_Human_Rights_in_Myanmar.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Rep._Tom_Lantos_on_the_Detention_of_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_and_Human_Rights_in_Myanmar.ogg` | Tom, 7:15 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 4](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v4_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/4` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 5](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_HitS_v4_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/5` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 6](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_RollS_v1_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/6` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_stick · 7](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/Stick/TomH_RollS_v2_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_stick/7` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_rim · 0](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/TomH_rimFLS_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_rim/0` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_rim · 1](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/TomH_rimFLS_rr4_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_rim/1` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_rim · 2](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/TomH_rimS_v2_rr1_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_rim/2` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · tom_rim · 3](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Membranophones/Struck%20Membranophones/Tom%201/TomH_rimS_v2_rr2_Mid.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/tom_rim/3` | Tom, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |

## Questions

**How do I build a tom fill from one-shots?**

Use two or three toms tuned a few semitones apart, high to low, and play them as sixteenth notes into the next downbeat. If you only have one tom sample, pitch copies of it down by three to five semitones for the lower drums.

**Why do 1980s toms sound so big?**

Many records of that era used electronic toms such as the Simmons or the LinnDrum's, often with gated reverb: a large room sound that is cut off abruptly. You can recreate it with a short reverb and a noise gate on the tom bus.

## Related collections

- [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 snare samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-snare-samples.md): 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.
- [Free percussion samples](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-percussion-samples.md): Free percussion one-shots and hits: congas, bongos, cowbells, tambourines, woodblocks and more, for Latin, afro, house and hip hop, with licence verdicts.
- [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.
- [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 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.

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