Drum tuning question

Steve01

Forgive the potential stupidity of this question but this is something I was never sure about. With regards to the bottom part of the snare/toms, i.e. the side that shouldn't be hit, does that require tuning as well? It seems I can never get a decent sound off my drums and I'm wondering is that the problem.

Doctor J

Yes, definitely. The top skin gives you the attack, but a lot of the meat of the sound of the drum and the percieved pitch comes from the bottom skin. They need to work together or it'll sound ****e.

My name is Mud

The resonant (bottom) head needs to be tuned and tensioned the same way as the batter (top) head.

As a guide:

Firstly, put both resonant and batter on the drum, and finger tighten all the lugs (screws).

Then goto the resonant head first, and use the drum key to tighten further. Turn the drum key a full 360 degrees on each lug, and alternate which lug you tighen. i.e if you tighen the one nearest you, the next lug to tighten after that would be the one farthest away from you. Repeat this procss for each lug in the same seqence to achieve an even tension right across the skin.

Once you get to the right pitch you are looking for, then you can fine tune to get the exact pitch, but dont over tighten one lug - try to evenly tighten all the lugs in the same pattern as above.

Once you are happy with the resonat head's pitch, repeat the process for the batter head, and then bobs your uncle.

Eoin Madsen

+1

You can vary the pitch a little between batter and resonant to deliberately get rising or falling tones from the drum, but start with both heads tuned the same. I generally find that a certain pitch usually hums better for a given drum (esp toms). It can take a while to find the right pitch for a given drum.

Baggio

Steve01......
I like to tune the resonant head (bottom head) lower than my batter head (top head) the batter head gives you the attack and resonant head gives the tone, its a classic style sound and the warmth of the toms comes through very well that way.

What type drums are you using?...the heads are all important of course, and have a huge bearing on the overall sound....I'd recomend Remo either Clear Emperors for larger toms on top or clear ambassadors on smaller toms to help them ring a bit, bottom heads should really be thin - so Remo clear Diplomats would be best. If it's a starter kit or low budget job then perhaps Remo Clear Pinstripes for larger toms on top.

goood luck with it amigo.... ciao.......Baggio....