As with brass, a drumkit can produce very high peak sound levels. Levels in excess of 120 dB at a distance of one meter and at a few cm from a drum or cymbal head 140 dB or more are not unusual. It's obvious that the microphones must be able to handle these levels without clipping, which is not always the case in many recording situations.
A cardioid microphone 4011-TL or 4021 placed at the rim of the upper skin is a good position. If you take notice and care with your top placement you will not find the need to place a mic on the bottom of the drum to intensify the "snares". The 4011-TL or 4021, due to incredible resolution, can pick up all the snare sound from the top without the phase shift problem caused by over/under miking techniques.
A 4015-TL Wide Caridoid or a 4027 compact version reveals a little more low frequency energy than the 4011-TL/4021 at the same position. The wide cardioid pattern is less directional and will pickup the entire drum's timbre and reproduce more of the snare surroundings.
A 4006 or 4007 omni can for jazz/folk genres be placed strategically between the snare and the hi-hat. Please refer to the hi-hat section.
Want the microphone to be out of sight? Tired of fighting with placing a mic stand in the jungle of drum stands? Try the IMK4061 miniature microphone solution. Easy and fast to fix, and with a very "punchy" and fast sound. Not much EQ is needed. You won't believe what this little mic is able to do.