Denis Loncaric
Although drums can be tuned to specific pitches, however they require tuning to give clear tones.
Understanding how to tune your drums can make your sound more natural and will inspire you to perform more frequently. With proper tuning, even a basic drum set can sound fantastic.
What you need to know before tuning your drums?
The process of tuning drums only requires two basic things:
A drum key – The first item you’ll need for tuning your drums will be drum keys. The drum key can be described as a tiny instrument utilized to adjust the tension rod that regulates how the drum’s pitch is controlled.
The tension rods are tightened, which causes the drum’s pitch to increase while loosening the rods can lower the pitch. Drum keys are also employed to adjust the hardware, like hi-hat stands or the kick pedals.
A drum stick – Drumsticks are needed to tap on heads while you adjust them. But, it’s fine to only use your fingers.
Before I dive into old school method, I want to point out two useful tools for drum tuning:
- Tune app like – Drumtune PRO
- Tension watch like – Tama tension watch
These tools will help you out and speed up the drum tuning process. In the meantime, let’s dive into the old-fashioned way of drum tunning.
Parts of the drum set that control the pitch
Rods for tension
The tension rods are inserted between the hoops and then tightened or relaxed to produce your desired sound. As you would expect, the tensioned rods provide tension to the drumheads.
The tension rod is threaded, and the other side is an elongated head. When tuning drumheads, you’ll have to adjust the tension evenly across all tension rods. If one area of your drum has a loose tension and another is tightly pressed, the drum won’t make a sound.
Drum lug
The lugs are attached to the drum’s shell, and the threaded portion of the rod goes inside the drum.
The majority of drums contain eight or ten lugs. Specific older drums could include six lugs. This number could influence the stability of tuning and the tone that the drum produces.
Bottom (resonant) drumhead
The head at the bottom of the drum can be known as the Resonant Head. The resonant heads shape the resonance or overtones in the drum. Resonant heads that are thinner are more sensitive, whereas thicker head resonants have a deeper sound.
Because the resonant head doesn’t get hit directly, it will be more durable than the top heads; however, eventually, they’ll wear out and require replacement.
Top (batter) drumhead
The top head is known as”the batter’s head. It controls the attack as well as the “ring” (the unwelcome tones) that the drum produces.
The heads of the batter can be double or single-ply. Batter heads can be coated or not. Heads that are coated generally sound slightly “drier” and are darker.
Vents
Vents are often ignored, but they’re essential when considering the way drums function.
These tiny air holes are built into drums to let air escape from the drum shell once the drums hit. The drums can “breathe” in response to the sounds of the heads are reflected. Vents can also enhance the stick’s fee
Drum Tuning Methods
There isn’t a single universal method to tune the drum set. Much of it boils to personal taste and the type of music you perform. Here are some techniques and suggestions to aid you in creating your ideal drum sound:
Try drum dampenning or muffling
Drum dampening can be accomplished by adding something to the head of the batter to eliminate the unwelcome “ring”.
Small pieces of plastic soft called gels can be attached to drumheads, or even small strips of gaff tape can be used.
Older drums usually had Mufflers inside the drum and, when activated, pushed an elongated disc on the bottom of the head. This gave the drum a softer sound and less attack, and more sustain.
In what order do you tune drums?
STEP 1
Begin with a fresh start. If you already have the drumhead installed, fully adjust to it, loosening each of the lugs.
Get rid of any dust, drumstick fragments or other things if you remove the drumhead off completely! It will yield better results when you start in this manner.
STEP 2
Tune your batter (top) drumhead first. Make sure that the resonant drumhead isn’t blocking the sound by placing it on the stand.
The same procedure applies if you’re tuning your resonance (bottom) drumhead. Make sure you keep your batter’s side from disrupting by putting your drum upside down on the stand.
To tune a resonant snare drum, take off the wires off, preventing it from touching your head that is resonant.
STEP 3
Seat the head of the drum. Push the center and along the edge to ensure that the head is comfortably against the edge of the bearing.
Be assured that the head is making noises that crackle. It is normal! If the drumhead isn’t making good contact with the bearing edge, it will be difficult (or even impossible) to adjust.
STEP 4
A uniform tension across the drumhead is crucial to proper drum tuning! Make sure to tighten each tuning rod (screw it to the tightest possible position using only your fingers).
Make sure you double-check the ones you’ve completed (they are usually tightened up more). This ensures that every rod starts at the exact tension.
STEP 5
The rods should be tightened a quarter turn using a drum.
The drum you are using may have an alternative number of rods. Remember to move towards the opposite part of the drum while tightening each rod.
STEP 6
Keep tightening each rod. 1/2 turns if you’re away from the sound you want; otherwise, you can tighten 1/4 to 1/8 turn when you’re closer to the sound you’re looking for.
STEP 7
Make sure to check your rod’s pitch after you’ve got the tone you’d like to hear. Dampen the middle of the drumhead by using your fingers and then lightly tap the head a couple of inches out of every rod. You’ll notice that certain ones are lower or higher in pitch.
STEP 8
If your drum seems too low or high in pitch, you can adjust the rods by tightening or loosening them. Make sure that you turn each rod in identical amounts.
What are the notes to tune drums to?
The head that resonates on the 14-inch snare drum is tuned to a frequency range of 391 to 330 in Hz (E 4 to G 4), depending on the tuning overall to the instrument.
The head can be damaged if tightened too much, and the maximum recommended frequency limit is 400 Hz.
What note should a snare drum be tuned to?
The majority of fourteen inch snare drums sound great with an essential pitch that ranges from 3E-3A#.
Some drummers prefer having the snare drum’s sound in the same interval as their toms, while others prefer to set it separately, and it’s all an issue of personal preference.
How do I make my bass drum sound deeper?
Set out the cotton pillow, and then tune the heads to a low pitch. Both heads should be tuned to similar tension.
It would help if you had a resonant head that does not have the bass hole to get a genuinely bassy sound.
That’s great. If your drum produces excessive overtones, you should consider a muffled ring. This is the best method to dampen the bass drum without losing the bass response.
My name is Denis. I am a drummer, percussionist, music enthusiast, and blogger. Drums have been my passion for 15 years now. My idea is to write about the things I like and I am interested in. I want to share my drum passion with fellow musicians who walk, talk, and breathe drums.
