The Instruction des tambours (Instruction des Tambours et Diverse Batteries de l’Ordonnance), published in 1754 and promulgated by royal ordinance in 1755, was the first official, standardized drum manual of the French Army. It unified military drum signals and established a fixed marching tempo of 60 beats per minute, creating consistent communication and movement across all regiments. Using clear musical notation and early up-down sticking indicators (it’s the earliest known manual to do so), the manual marked a major advance in military music pedagogy. Its influence endured through the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and helped shape later British and American military drumming traditions.

This invaluable manual has been added to the Historical Documents resource page for your continued research into our drumming heritage.