UN BE LIEVABLE! Working in the shop today and listened to this. Took an el cheapo 8 rod Ludwig Accent 6 1/2" by 14 and took it from a drum that was tuned but meh and made it come alive. In 40 plus years, I never knew this. I then Took a 5x14 Pearl Masters that was tuned and made it sound Out of this world with articulation and tone. I can't believe it. I was always a guy that said "Even tension on all lugs. Bottom pretty darn tight. Top adjusted to your feel." This has opened the door to a whole new world. I have 5 snare drums at home. You know what I am doing tonight. Thank you! THE most important episode yet by far. And I have been gigging since 1979. Thanks for the coffee!
As a seasoned pro of 35 plus years I gotta say you really know your shit. Your understanding the voicing of a snare sound is really solid man. Inspiring! Cheers
As someone who has always been super focused on snare sounds as well as a fan of the channel from the beginning, I'd say this may possibly be the most useful video you guys have made. Can't wait to experiment with this new info!
Wow, i just did this, and a noticable change on my snare is that is, the overtone is less wild, less washy and less pingy and there's a little added articulation and as Cody said, I didn't touched the snare tension, just in the same spot when before and after I tweaked the snare side, here's what it sounded with my words: Before making small adjustments: Overtone: Waaawawawaooo (Wild and Pingy and sounded weird) Snares: Psssh (Still some good articulation but it's still washy) After Making Small adjustments: Overtone: Waaaaawaoo (More controlled, less washy and wild) Snares: Pssht (Little more articulate and less washy and more responsive) This video is perfect for those who are wanting articulation but not choking the snares and maintaining your snare tone. Thanks, Cody and this awesome channel!
Been playing drums for 20 years, thousands of shows, and I have never heard of or even thought of doing this... wow! Thank you for this awesome material!
Hey Cory, I stumbled upon this video while "surfing" the Interweb for an answer to a "weird" thing I experienced with a Metal DW Snare AND a PDP Maple Snare drum. I truly like the sound from your snare in the opening of this Video. The DW Design series Nickel over Brass Snare, 14 X 6.5 acquired Used in 2021 had a HD Dry Batter head installed by the previous owner. It was Cranked and I really liked the sound of the drum Right out of The Box. It was a big improvement over the PDP Maple Snare 14 X 5.5 with stock heads. I replaced the PDP batter head with a HD dry -which did improve the sound just a little. A few weeks ago, I replaced the DW's batter head with a new HD dry one, re-installed the reso head (cleaned and checked the bearing edges), re-installed the stock snare wires and retuned the drum. I could not get to the sound that I had Out of The Box. Last week, while playing along to some music (I'm a 71 yo retired guy who plays for recreation about 1 hour a day to My Music), I placed the Dw snare on top of the 16 inch Floor Tom to get it out of the way. I played the PDP snare in the stand. While doing a Fill, I hit the DW snare while sitting on the Floor Tom... BINGO! That was the sound I was Looking for (actually Hearing for). It played like a Ludwig Supraphonic , Jon Bonham sound !! Took the DW off the Floor Tom and it was NOT the same? Tried the PDP Maple snare and that Too Improved the sound !. I've posted this Phenom in a number of Drum Forums. Posters have advised of various observations. "you are playing 2 drums simultaneously.... getting the resonance from 2 Drums"; another poster said Kiddingly that I may have Invented a new Snare Stand :):) I have OCD about certain things. This is becoming one of them :(:(. I returned to playing drums after 50 Years [1969 at 18 years old], knew nothing of drum tuning and Drum heads back then. I'm learning much now. Tuning is an art. FYI, I have a G2 Coated batter head on my Floor Tom. Any ideas about this sound phenominum ?
I utilized this technique on my INDe Great Lakes copper snare last night during jazz rehearsal. I was amazed at the overall sound and feel of this snare. I actually ended up loosening the wires as a result. This info was very useful. Thanks!
I don't use tuning devices either, but I think you're missing another possible use case. They don't just allow you to apply the same tension to every tension rod. They also offer you a way of knowing how much tension you applied to each rod after you find a tuning you like, so you can record the numerical values and quickly/easily repeat them the next time you tune.
Oh absolutely! The key is that the quantification ignores a whole mess of variables so we find it best to deal with tuning on a case by case basis. Once you get accustomed to the process on a few different drums with different heads you can do it in just a few minutes. The knowledge gained through this approach has all sorts of added benefits when it comes to drum sounds and working with a given musical context.
I just refurbished an old Pearl Free Floater, 14 x 6.5 - beautiful drum. BIG sound with regular tuning, but once I did what's recommended here, it sounds much better - more articulate. Thank you for helping complete my understanding for optimizing this drum!
Always interesting to hear your take on this. Use the gear you have and learn how to get lots of sound out of it. I am guilty of gear accusition syndrome, but you have helped me really think more about what sound is missing, not the piece of equipment. As a result I focus more on hardware, heads, mounts, and with my wallet, and tones I just use the knowledge you, Beatdown Brown and others have shared. Thanks for your service to the living population of the world.
I'm still a bit astonished by how completely the snare sound dropped away when you took the side rods out. Not that I'd want to do it, but .. that was revelatory.
This info is gold! I’ve messed with the rods near the snares, but didn’t consider thinking of it this - sort of opposite - way. We forget that the tension pulls horizontally across the head, in every direction, not really vertically at each lug. This technique deals with the tension perpendicular to the wires, which I’d never have thought of. Well done!
I love your channel - even after 35+ years with this hobby there are gems of information in your videos that get me thinking about the nuances of my sound and the variables that affect them. This particular video one is one of the most thought provoking for my perspective. Even before finding your channel I had myself already experimented plenty on my snares with different heads, wires, muffling, head tension and the relatonships between snare-side and batter-side tensions. But for whatever reason I have always assumed that when it comes to snare-side tension I need to have the head more of less in tune with itself across all the lugs to get a good snare response. My only experiementation has been in sometimes leaving the 4 lugs either side of the snare beds slightly lower in pitch as of course they will naturally tend to be without tightenening them down more so the hoop conforms to the snare bed. Never have I thought to play with the tension of the other lugs. I can hear from this video there is a whole world to explore here! And will also be interesting to see how these findings translate to an 8-lug drum like my Acrolite. Anyway thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work! :-)
Oh wow!! this was incredibly helpful!! Getting away from the idea that every lug pitch has to be perfect with a tuner is very difficult to get away from. But it's very true. Any drum I've had my hands on that sounded great was definitely not perfect at every lug, especially at the reso sides.
@@j-davis7290 I definitely saw the effects they're describing here. Didn't have as much time to fiddle as I would've liked. But yh, I can see the "snap from above, sustain from below" thing they're presenting.
One of my favorite videos from you guys, and I've watched a ton of em! Absolutely mind blowing. I'd just bought an Acrolite and something about the snare wires (brand new Puresounds) and the articulation wasn't sounding as I wanted it to. Watched like 4 other snare wire related videos from you guys before coming across this one. This was the missing piece of the puzzle and now it sounds great plus I have a new drum tuning tool under my belt, so thanks!
I’ve never tried that myself, but you’re consistent in showing possibilities of all types of drums. Even when I tho I I have it figured out, you add more ideas. Thank you and keep up with the great ideas!
first of all, i'm surprised you didn't take it a step too far, just to show what happens. having said that, i've noticed before that lowering the tension on the snare side head widens the drum up, but i never thought to try it on just the rods that are not adjacent to the wires. i've seen videos with top guys (coughBennyGrebcough) who advocate cranking the bottom head, but he does say that he does this for articulation. bottom line: it is best, as you say, to experiment and see what your equipment can do. thanks so much for doing it in this video, because i'm lazy AF and haven't had the motivation to do it in my *%#% odd years of playing drums.
BEST. VIDEO. EVAR! Having said that, I have SO many questions: 1. What mil snare side head are you using? Does it matter? 2. Aren't you getting wrinkles in your snare side? Does that matter? 3. I was (mistakenly) under the impression that you treat a snare side like any other reso head. (ie. tuning it slightly slightly above or below batter. Keeping all lugs in tune.) SO, how do you tension the snare side head? Tight at the snare beds and then adjust the other lugs? Are those lugs under the same/ similar tension? Ok, I'm going to stop there. I have a TON more questions. I really feel like you could do an entire season on just this topic. Thanks!
so great, you already uppened my snare game with your other snare snide related videos! but that one seems like it'll solve my ongoing issue finding the sweet spot between articulation and choking 👍🏼
This is possibly the most important video I’ve watched. Thanks so much. I have multiple snare drums for different kinds of music etc, amd I feel like a have a new tool in my kit, to find sounds I need/want. Thanks
For some it also permits a more comfortable and controllable crosshand technique of snare and hi hat where the left hand is more out of the way of the right.
Your videos are excellent. Love the channel and the way you demonstrate the spectrum of impacts of different approach to the drum. Keep em coming please.
Thanks so much! We're viewer supported so please consider joining our Patreon to help ensure that we're able to keep producing these videos. You'll also gain access to Patreon-exclusive content like our latest series, Cymbal Sounds. sladl.ink/Patreon Cheers! -Ben
Awesome video! This was something I was wondering about, ie instead of touching the batter side, or the snare wires, just adjust the resonant/snare head. The huge impact of those side rods really surprised me! Now, wait until UK lockdown is over, and then experiment! I have a steel snare, and a maple snare, I believe both can sing, but each needs a different setup. You told me, it’s most likely not the equipment, it’s likely the snare side, and getting the right head tension. Thanks!
I use the outer tension rods on the snare side head to help remove sympathetic buzz. I wish you would have had a couple of toms in the mix to show how much difference that makes. It was demonstrated to me by lying a t-shirt on a table and pulling two sides to show how that makes the center rise. Can't remember where i got that though. Great video by the way. Thanks for all you do!
In over 40 years of drumming I found that it sometimes helps to loosen 1 or 2 tension rods a little. I choose those besides the snare be on one side. Improved snare sensitivity too.
You guys do a job no-one else does this way and with this devotion. That is worth a Patreon membership. In this video, I thought Cody should work on his rolls. But then I remembered that any time I get away from an even and optimal tension and the optimal relationship in tension of the two drumheads, my rolls suck. No chance to fix it. The snare tension is not that important. On the other hand, having found the correct head tension, the sticks bounce almost effortless and evenly. Double-stroke as well as concert rolls (mainly triple-stroke rolls, as Rick Dior told). Try it. Maybe, that is also a tip for frustrated drum students who think they‘ll never learn to evenly roll on a snare drum.
I discovered this when i transformed my punsounding snare into a dry phat snare (like matt halperns) with just resoside adjustments and an expty pocket. Im everytime surprised when experiments turn out better than expected. Also learned some things from you;)
I tell you what first time I got a drum set that's exactly what I did is went out and bought one of those tension tuners. It literally took day and all night and they still didn't sound right I packed that thing away and then just sat there and banged on it a whole other day and then finally got it into something that I liked so after that I never tried to use a the tuning key
Between a radio king Dyna sonic. Cob and wood 5 snares 10 different strainers Remo vs bovid skins I can play with sound articulation Timbre and Resonance all day long and never get bored I follow masshoff technique on tuning bc I think he is brilliant as a drum maker bit as a sound theorist Good job on presenting an often important but often neglected science
Such amazing advice here, would never have thought to isolate the lugs by the snare wares and tune everything else, but I know how I will be spending my evening now haha Side note: that little fill you played around 2:07 was so spicy I went back and watched like 3 times. You give us so much great technical knowledge on this channel, but I don’t see a lot of comments on how well you play the drums and I think it’s worth mentioning!
Great video! I got a LOT of food for thought from this one. Looking forward to experimenting on my snares. Question - You’ve mentioned a couple of times that you don’t own as many snare drums now as you used to, thanks to your learnings about tuning. How many snares do you own now? At what point do you decide that you’re after a particular sound that one of your “versatile” snares in your collection doesn’t produce or won’t give you from alternate tuning?
You know im sitting here watching this video. I just ran into this to this channel this is the second video. And I think that it would help people specially beginners on tuning their drums if you showed them and they heard on just a couple of cheap drums instead of what do you got their Maple Maple in the video it looks like pure
Wow. I've just been educated. And I think I can now gain the most benefit out of my Yamaha SD 256 6 1/2 x 14. I've known how to tune my batter head well for a long time, but always felt there was more I could get out of the drum. On another note, would Sounds Like A Drum be able to confirm or disprove what I read once, that the Yamaha SD 255 is the snare that Steve Gadd based his signature model on?
Fascinating! I have a 1973 Ludwig Super Sensitive, which, as you know has a highly unorthodox method of raising and lowering the wires. In the near future I'm expecting a long-awaited new set of wires. When they arrive, I'll put a brand new Remo PowerStroke (my batter of choice) on top, then give this trick a try. If your experience with that (much deeper--does that have an effect as well?) lovely Acrolite hold true for me, I expect to find some sweet spots. Thanks for the cool tip!
This is great info, Cody. I LOVE experimentation. One thing that I'd love to see you do, is a snare side thickness shootout, using several drums. I did a bunch of experiments with all of my snares and I've dialed them in over the years using different wires, snare heads, batter heads. What I've found is that on one of my drums in particular... it sounds amazing with a 500 (5 mil) Evans head and Puresound Twisted wires. This is a hammered stainless steel Mapex "Precious Metal" with cast hoops. I use this for hard rock and metal, and it simply cuts through everything. It still has amazing tone though. It sounded completely different when I got it, and that goes to show you how much your sound can be effected with these relatively cheap components. Even the singer in my band stopped us after the first song and said "dude! that sounds amazing. What the heck did you do to get it cut through like that?". When a singer tells you that... it's not just an opinion ;-) LOL
I once auditioned a couple of brass snare drums for a change from my steel and maple snares, found I liked the shallow 14 by 5 but the singer said nice but no way your getting that, I won't be able to hear myself sing! Now I rock a birch 14 by 5 with a coated CS X head, Ambassador reso,great combo.
Thanks for this demo! Also, snare beds, snare beds, snare beds. I use your same method but the application is sooo dependent on the depth, width and taper of the bed. I will never get my Pearl Omar Hakim to sound like my Supraphonic. Which gives me an excuse to have more snares!
Don't know how I missed this video. Can you do a video on the sound difference using different strand snare wires? I have a snare with a 42-strand on it....super tough to get a right sound when micing from the bottom. Perhaps even ways to mic the bottom snare?
It sounds like you might be approaching this a little backwards. Are you getting the desired sound from the drum with 42-strand wires (and is that a good fit for the drum)? From there, capturing that sound is a whole other experience but start minimally (one or two overheads) and then experiment with supplemental close mics (the subtleties of choice and placement make a world of difference in the end). And if you’re miking from below, don’t forget to flip phase!
@@SoundsLikeADrum The 42-strand comes standard on the Gretsch USA COB (6.5 x 14) snare. It’s my first 42-strand snare so I’m trying to get that dialed in. Haven’t tried a different strand yet. With the bottom mic, it’s like, “super strands from hell” so I find myself bringing the fader way down on it.
Iv got an original snare from an 85 Tama Swingstar set, and its got next to or zero snare beds. Iv tried everything from your channel to change it and have found that even a seemingly mid tier drum with no snare beds has awesome sounds to offer but possible just as many terrible ones lol.
One question: which thing is it exactly that had the reso hoop “flat on the floor”? It’s unclear whether you were referring to the demo after you made the comment or the one before the comment. Thanks very much!
Cool, video. I kinda agree... I've never heard of anyone focusing on just the outside tension rods. Its almost always the four around there snare beds. Very interesting take. I just got a new Ludwig raw copperphonic snare and I'm definitely going to play around with this.
Cody you had mentioned the throw-off having "clicks" in the turns. Please name and describe the throw-off, and are the snare wires the standard Ludwig that came with the drum. Thanks and Blessings Cody!
So then if working with a drum dial would you suggest the lugs adjacent to the snare to stay at recommended tension and the other six lugs adjust as needed?
Question? Does the pitch on each lug still have to be even when you do this? Or are you just getting the rods are toying with in tune with each other? I'm a bit confused. I wouldn't wanna do it the wrong way.
Hej :) do you maybe have a good advice on how to make a hole into your basedrum reso-head without damaging it? Im very nervous about cutting it and maybe ruin it that way
Interesting take on snarehead tension, Cody. Have u done, or considered a video on snare wires and the effect on sound? I use 24 strand puresound wires on my 6½ deep drums and a 20 strand set on a "cheap" drum. Puresound don't seem to go more than 24 wires in their "cotter-pin" attached wires. I fancy trying 42 strands on my 14 × 6½ Arbiter Advanced Tuning maple drum, but how much better can it get than with 24? (WHAT a drum, by the way! (I swapped the original hoops with hoops from an Arbiter FLATS 14" snare and vastly improved the ease of tuning. One bolt per head. How easy do you want?). ).
Is the throw off on your Ludwig the original? I saw a Rick Beato video, in which he said he changed his Black Beauty’s throw-off with a Trick. He also stated that stock Ludwig throw-offs aren’t that good. I’ve got a new Venus picolo, here at the studio. A friend of mine pummelled it with rimshots for a few days...the strainer definitely needed to be tightened regularly. Thanks for the info! Stay safe :)
you are loosening the tension on the three on each side, correct? (not the ones on were the snares are) You are basically doing the old rocker trick the other way around, instead of loosening the 2 beside the snares; you are instead tightening the other ones, correct?
This is my favorite part of Tuesdays
UN BE LIEVABLE! Working in the shop today and listened to this. Took an el cheapo 8 rod Ludwig Accent 6 1/2" by 14 and took it from a drum that was tuned but meh and made it come alive. In 40 plus years, I never knew this. I then Took a 5x14 Pearl Masters that was tuned and made it sound Out of this world with articulation and tone. I can't believe it. I was always a guy that said "Even tension on all lugs. Bottom pretty darn tight. Top adjusted to your feel."
This has opened the door to a whole new world. I have 5 snare drums at home. You know what I am doing tonight.
Thank you!
THE most important episode yet by far. And I have been gigging since 1979. Thanks for the coffee!
I was just thinking "I wonder if this will get my old Ludwig Accent snare to sound good" lol
@@joedoherty1062 did it?
As a seasoned pro of 35 plus years I gotta say you really know your shit. Your understanding the voicing of a snare sound is really solid man. Inspiring! Cheers
As someone who has always been super focused on snare sounds as well as a fan of the channel from the beginning, I'd say this may possibly be the most useful video you guys have made. Can't wait to experiment with this new info!
Wow, i just did this, and a noticable change on my snare is that is, the overtone is less wild, less washy and less pingy and there's a little added articulation and as Cody said, I didn't touched the snare tension, just in the same spot when before and after I tweaked the snare side, here's what it sounded with my words:
Before making small adjustments:
Overtone: Waaawawawaooo
(Wild and Pingy and sounded weird)
Snares: Psssh (Still some good articulation but it's still washy)
After Making Small adjustments:
Overtone: Waaaaawaoo (More controlled, less washy and wild)
Snares: Pssht (Little more articulate and less washy and more responsive)
This video is perfect for those who are wanting articulation but not choking the snares and maintaining your snare tone.
Thanks, Cody and this awesome channel!
"Not stepping on possibilities," very solid credo for your channel.
Thanks so much for these wonderfully produced, well explained & very informative video sessions.
Been playing drums for 20 years, thousands of shows, and I have never heard of or even thought of doing this... wow! Thank you for this awesome material!
You showed this old geezer something new. Nice goin'.
Hey Cory, I stumbled upon this video while "surfing" the Interweb for an answer to a "weird" thing I experienced with a Metal DW Snare AND a PDP Maple Snare drum. I truly like the sound from your snare in the opening of this Video. The DW Design series Nickel over Brass Snare, 14 X 6.5 acquired Used in 2021 had a HD Dry Batter head installed by the previous owner. It was Cranked and I really liked the sound of the drum Right out of The Box. It was a big improvement over the PDP Maple Snare 14 X 5.5 with stock heads. I replaced the PDP batter head with a HD dry -which did improve the sound just a little. A few weeks ago, I replaced the DW's batter head with a new HD dry one, re-installed the reso head (cleaned and checked the bearing edges), re-installed the stock snare wires and retuned the drum. I could not get to the sound that I had Out of The Box. Last week, while playing along to some music (I'm a 71 yo retired guy who plays for recreation about 1 hour a day to My Music), I placed the Dw snare on top of the 16 inch Floor Tom to get it out of the way. I played the PDP snare in the stand. While doing a Fill, I hit the DW snare while sitting on the Floor Tom... BINGO! That was the sound I was Looking for (actually Hearing for). It played like a Ludwig Supraphonic , Jon Bonham sound !! Took the DW off the Floor Tom and it was NOT the same? Tried the PDP Maple snare and that Too Improved the sound !. I've posted this Phenom in a number of Drum Forums. Posters have advised of various observations. "you are playing 2 drums simultaneously.... getting the resonance from 2 Drums"; another poster said Kiddingly that I may have Invented a new Snare Stand :):) I have OCD about certain things. This is becoming one of them :(:(. I returned to playing drums after 50 Years [1969 at 18 years old], knew nothing of drum tuning and Drum heads back then. I'm learning much now. Tuning is an art. FYI, I have a G2 Coated batter head on my Floor Tom. Any ideas about this sound phenominum ?
This sounds really interesting; would love to hear / see an example if you ever make a video of it!
I utilized this technique on my INDe Great Lakes copper snare last night during jazz rehearsal. I was amazed at the overall sound and feel of this snare. I actually ended up loosening the wires as a result. This info was very useful. Thanks!
Totally agree, most drums have way more range than players realize. Good stuff👍
I don't use tuning devices either, but I think you're missing another possible use case. They don't just allow you to apply the same tension to every tension rod. They also offer you a way of knowing how much tension you applied to each rod after you find a tuning you like, so you can record the numerical values and quickly/easily repeat them the next time you tune.
Oh absolutely! The key is that the quantification ignores a whole mess of variables so we find it best to deal with tuning on a case by case basis. Once you get accustomed to the process on a few different drums with different heads you can do it in just a few minutes. The knowledge gained through this approach has all sorts of added benefits when it comes to drum sounds and working with a given musical context.
Great content again. Learned so much the last few months cause of "sounds like a drum". Thank you. Cheers.
I just refurbished an old Pearl Free Floater, 14 x 6.5 - beautiful drum. BIG sound with regular tuning, but once I did what's recommended here, it sounds much better - more articulate. Thank you for helping complete my understanding for optimizing this drum!
This channel is so damn awesome. Time to become a patron :)
Always interesting to hear your take on this. Use the gear you have and learn how to get lots of sound out of it. I am guilty of gear accusition syndrome, but you have helped me really think more about what sound is missing, not the piece of equipment. As a result I focus more on hardware, heads, mounts, and with my wallet, and tones I just use the knowledge you, Beatdown Brown and others have shared. Thanks for your service to the living population of the world.
I'm still a bit astonished by how completely the snare sound dropped away when you took the side rods out. Not that I'd want to do it, but .. that was revelatory.
Dude, this tip transformed all of my snares in the best possible way! Thanks a lot and keep up the good work :)
Great video clip again.
Thanks for all You doo.
Gretings from Zagreb ,Croatia.
This info is gold! I’ve messed with the rods near the snares, but didn’t consider thinking of it this - sort of opposite - way. We forget that the tension pulls horizontally across the head, in every direction, not really vertically at each lug. This technique deals with the tension perpendicular to the wires, which I’d never have thought of. Well done!
I love your channel - even after 35+ years with this hobby there are gems of information in your videos that get me thinking about the nuances of my sound and the variables that affect them. This particular video one is one of the most thought provoking for my perspective. Even before finding your channel I had myself already experimented plenty on my snares with different heads, wires, muffling, head tension and the relatonships between snare-side and batter-side tensions. But for whatever reason I have always assumed that when it comes to snare-side tension I need to have the head more of less in tune with itself across all the lugs to get a good snare response. My only experiementation has been in sometimes leaving the 4 lugs either side of the snare beds slightly lower in pitch as of course they will naturally tend to be without tightenening them down more so the hoop conforms to the snare bed. Never have I thought to play with the tension of the other lugs. I can hear from this video there is a whole world to explore here! And will also be interesting to see how these findings translate to an 8-lug drum like my Acrolite. Anyway thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work! :-)
I tried it and ..............wow!! I now have a drum that has more versatility. Thank you.
I love what you guys are doing for young and old drummers alike! if you ever feel redundant there is always LP
Those last two tunings sounded so good! Teach me the ways
Oh wow!! this was incredibly helpful!! Getting away from the idea that every lug pitch has to be perfect with a tuner is very difficult to get away from. But it's very true. Any drum I've had my hands on that sounded great was definitely not perfect at every lug, especially at the reso sides.
dude, you are the best. greetings from argentina.
I'm definitely trying this with my own snare drum tomorrow. Stricking results!
Let us know how it goes 👀
@@j-davis7290 I definitely saw the effects they're describing here. Didn't have as much time to fiddle as I would've liked. But yh, I can see the "snap from above, sustain from below" thing they're presenting.
One of my favorite videos from you guys, and I've watched a ton of em! Absolutely mind blowing. I'd just bought an Acrolite and something about the snare wires (brand new Puresounds) and the articulation wasn't sounding as I wanted it to. Watched like 4 other snare wire related videos from you guys before coming across this one. This was the missing piece of the puzzle and now it sounds great plus I have a new drum tuning tool under my belt, so thanks!
I’ve never tried that myself, but you’re consistent in showing possibilities of all types of drums. Even when I tho I I have it figured out, you add more ideas. Thank you and keep up with the great ideas!
first of all, i'm surprised you didn't take it a step too far, just to show what happens.
having said that, i've noticed before that lowering the tension on the snare side head widens the drum up, but i never thought to try it on just the rods that are not adjacent to the wires. i've seen videos with top guys (coughBennyGrebcough) who advocate cranking the bottom head, but he does say that he does this for articulation.
bottom line: it is best, as you say, to experiment and see what your equipment can do. thanks so much for doing it in this video, because i'm lazy AF and haven't had the motivation to do it in my *%#% odd years of playing drums.
thanks, Cody! I'm definitely going to try this on my two snare drums.
So much to take in here. Great video, great info. Thanks for putting this together!
BEST. VIDEO. EVAR!
Having said that, I have SO many questions:
1. What mil snare side head are you using? Does it matter?
2. Aren't you getting wrinkles in your snare side? Does that matter?
3. I was (mistakenly) under the impression that you treat a snare side like any other reso head. (ie. tuning it slightly slightly above or below batter. Keeping all lugs in tune.) SO, how do you tension the snare side head? Tight at the snare beds and then adjust the other lugs? Are those lugs under the same/ similar tension?
Ok, I'm going to stop there. I have a TON more questions. I really feel like you could do an entire season on just this topic.
Thanks!
Excellent. Saved it to my watch later so I can come back when I'm in the studio! Great video!
so great, you already uppened my snare game with your other snare snide related videos! but that one seems like it'll solve my ongoing issue finding the sweet spot between articulation and choking 👍🏼
amazing sound here.
This is possibly the most important video I’ve watched. Thanks so much. I have multiple snare drums for different kinds of music etc, amd I feel like a have a new tool in my kit, to find sounds I need/want. Thanks
This is one of your best videos so far, great stuff!
Thanks again for all you do!!!
Thank you very much, Cody! What is the "basic" tension (or tuning) of the snare side rods, especially of the 4 rods near the snares? Best, Daniel
Tried it, worked SO well 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you Cody & Ben 👍🏻
The INDe throw off is awesome!
We're big fans! We actually did an episode specifically on retrofitting this drum with the INDe system: ua-cam.com/video/9gNwnwFssXw/v-deo.html
I’m curious as to why you use the traditional grip. That grip was used to get around marching snare harnesses.
For some it also permits a more comfortable and controllable crosshand technique of snare and hi hat where the left hand is more out of the way of the right.
Your videos are excellent. Love the channel and the way you demonstrate the spectrum of impacts of different approach to the drum. Keep em coming please.
Thanks so much! We're viewer supported so please consider joining our Patreon to help ensure that we're able to keep producing these videos. You'll also gain access to Patreon-exclusive content like our latest series, Cymbal Sounds. sladl.ink/Patreon Cheers! -Ben
Great video once again. Your set and production are the best!
My fave video i think so far
Incredible video yet again! Congrats and thanks much!
You just taught me something. Thanks bro.
Happy sticks to you.
11:45 I was waiting for Innuendo (Queen) to start
Awesome video! This was something I was wondering about, ie instead of touching the batter side, or the snare wires, just adjust the resonant/snare head. The huge impact of those side rods really surprised me! Now, wait until UK lockdown is over, and then experiment! I have a steel snare, and a maple snare, I believe both can sing, but each needs a different setup. You told me, it’s most likely not the equipment, it’s likely the snare side, and getting the right head tension. Thanks!
You guys should do a Q&A type video where you diagnose viewers’ drum tunings that they send in
We do more of that sort of thing via our Patreon community.
Sounds Like A Drum i’ve never messed around with patreon before but i just might
Thanks for the video
This was an eye opener! Great episode 👍
I use the outer tension rods on the snare side head to help remove sympathetic buzz. I wish you would have had a couple of toms in the mix to show how much difference that makes. It was demonstrated to me by lying a t-shirt on a table and pulling two sides to show how that makes the center rise. Can't remember where i got that though. Great video by the way. Thanks for all you do!
Such a great episode! I have a new brass snare coming this week that’s going to get A LOT of experimenting done to it!
In over 40 years of drumming I found that it sometimes helps to loosen 1 or 2 tension rods a little. I choose those besides the snare be on one side. Improved snare sensitivity too.
You guys do a job no-one else does this way and with this devotion. That is worth a Patreon membership. In this video, I thought Cody should work on his rolls. But then I remembered that any time I get away from an even and optimal tension and the optimal relationship in tension of the two drumheads, my rolls suck. No chance to fix it. The snare tension is not that important. On the other hand, having found the correct head tension, the sticks bounce almost effortless and evenly. Double-stroke as well as concert rolls (mainly triple-stroke rolls, as Rick Dior told). Try it. Maybe, that is also a tip for frustrated drum students who think they‘ll never learn to evenly roll on a snare drum.
I discovered this when i transformed my punsounding snare into a dry phat snare (like matt halperns) with just resoside adjustments and an expty pocket. Im everytime surprised when experiments turn out better than expected. Also learned some things from you;)
I tell you what first time I got a drum set that's exactly what I did is went out and bought one of those tension tuners. It literally took day and all night and they still didn't sound right I packed that thing away and then just sat there and banged on it a whole other day and then finally got it into something that I liked so after that I never tried to use a the tuning key
Between a radio king
Dyna sonic.
Cob and wood
5 snares
10 different strainers
Remo vs bovid skins
I can play with sound articulation
Timbre and Resonance all day long and never get bored
I follow masshoff technique on tuning bc I think he is brilliant as a drum maker bit as a sound theorist
Good job on presenting an often important but often neglected science
cool man. definitely gonna try it out.
Very helpful video!
Such amazing advice here, would never have thought to isolate the lugs by the snare wares and tune everything else, but I know how I will be spending my evening now haha
Side note: that little fill you played around 2:07 was so spicy I went back and watched like 3 times. You give us so much great technical knowledge on this channel, but I don’t see a lot of comments on how well you play the drums and I think it’s worth mentioning!
Oh thanks so much! Yeah we’re pretty focused on the tuning/tone world but it’s nice to get some chops out too :) -Cody
Sooooo useful ! Best tip ever !! Thanks 😎
I love these videos so much
Brilliant!!!
Justo lo que necesitaba aprender!
Great video! I got a LOT of food for thought from this one. Looking forward to experimenting on my snares.
Question - You’ve mentioned a couple of times that you don’t own as many snare drums now as you used to, thanks to your learnings about tuning. How many snares do you own now? At what point do you decide that you’re after a particular sound that one of your “versatile” snares in your collection doesn’t produce or won’t give you from alternate tuning?
You know im sitting here watching this video. I just ran into this to this channel this is the second video. And I think that it would help people specially beginners on tuning their drums if you showed them and they heard on just a couple of cheap drums instead of what do you got their Maple Maple in the video it looks like pure
Very interesting
Great video !
Wow. I've just been educated. And I think I can now gain the most benefit out of my Yamaha SD 256 6 1/2 x 14. I've known how to tune my batter head well for a long time, but always felt there was more I could get out of the drum.
On another note, would Sounds Like A Drum be able to confirm or disprove what I read once, that the Yamaha SD 255 is the snare that Steve Gadd based his signature model on?
Fascinating! I have a 1973 Ludwig Super Sensitive, which, as you know has a highly unorthodox method of raising and lowering the wires. In the near future I'm expecting a long-awaited new set of wires. When they arrive, I'll put a brand new Remo PowerStroke (my batter of choice) on top, then give this trick a try. If your experience with that (much deeper--does that have an effect as well?) lovely Acrolite hold true for me, I expect to find some sweet spots. Thanks for the cool tip!
Great insight!
I’ve watched this episode like 3 times 😄. I love your teaching. Where can I get the indi throw off you were talking about? Is it universal?
This is great info, Cody. I LOVE experimentation. One thing that I'd love to see you do, is a snare side thickness shootout, using several drums. I did a bunch of experiments with all of my snares and I've dialed them in over the years using different wires, snare heads, batter heads. What I've found is that on one of my drums in particular... it sounds amazing with a 500 (5 mil) Evans head and Puresound Twisted wires. This is a hammered stainless steel Mapex "Precious Metal" with cast hoops. I use this for hard rock and metal, and it simply cuts through everything. It still has amazing tone though. It sounded completely different when I got it, and that goes to show you how much your sound can be effected with these relatively cheap components. Even the singer in my band stopped us after the first song and said "dude! that sounds amazing. What the heck did you do to get it cut through like that?". When a singer tells you that... it's not just an opinion ;-) LOL
I once auditioned a couple of brass snare drums for a change from my steel and maple snares, found I liked the shallow 14 by 5 but the singer said nice but no way your getting that, I won't be able to hear myself sing!
Now I rock a birch 14 by 5 with a coated CS X head, Ambassador reso,great combo.
Thanks for this demo! Also, snare beds, snare beds, snare beds. I use your same method but the application is sooo dependent on the depth, width and taper of the bed. I will never get my Pearl Omar Hakim to sound like my Supraphonic. Which gives me an excuse to have more snares!
Is it actually the topography or the surface tension which changes on the membrane ? Thanks for the great video
Hey Cody? I’m tuning an 80’s Yamaha SD075, with very shallow snare beds. Any tips on snare wires and tuning?
Don't know how I missed this video. Can you do a video on the sound difference using different strand snare wires? I have a snare with a 42-strand on it....super tough to get a right sound when micing from the bottom. Perhaps even ways to mic the bottom snare?
It sounds like you might be approaching this a little backwards. Are you getting the desired sound from the drum with 42-strand wires (and is that a good fit for the drum)? From there, capturing that sound is a whole other experience but start minimally (one or two overheads) and then experiment with supplemental close mics (the subtleties of choice and placement make a world of difference in the end). And if you’re miking from below, don’t forget to flip phase!
@@SoundsLikeADrum The 42-strand comes standard on the Gretsch USA COB (6.5 x 14) snare. It’s my first 42-strand snare so I’m trying to get that dialed in. Haven’t tried a different strand yet. With the bottom mic, it’s like, “super strands from hell” so I find myself bringing the fader way down on it.
Iv got an original snare from an 85 Tama Swingstar set, and its got next to or zero snare beds. Iv tried everything from your channel to change it and have found that even a seemingly mid tier drum with no snare beds has awesome sounds to offer but possible just as many terrible ones lol.
One question: which thing is it exactly that had the reso hoop “flat on the floor”? It’s unclear whether you were referring to the demo after you made the comment or the one before the comment. Thanks very much!
Cool, video. I kinda agree... I've never heard of anyone focusing on just the outside tension rods. Its almost always the four around there snare beds. Very interesting take.
I just got a new Ludwig raw copperphonic snare and I'm definitely going to play around with this.
Cody you had mentioned the throw-off having "clicks" in the turns. Please name and describe the throw-off, and are the snare wires the standard Ludwig that came with the drum. Thanks and Blessings Cody!
Hey there! It’s the mechanism from INDe Drum Co, excellent upgrade to the P83. wires are Puresound Blasters, 20 strand 👍🏻 -Cody
@@SoundsLikeADrum thank you!
Here’s the episode em where we went into the specifics of this particular mechanism and used it on this drum: ua-cam.com/video/9gNwnwFssXw/v-deo.html
@@SoundsLikeADrum thanks again I appreciate it!
So then if working with a drum dial would you suggest the lugs adjacent to the snare to stay at recommended tension and the other six lugs adjust as needed?
Would it be too much (or dumb of me) to ask to see a chart detailing the different tunings?
Because this is VERY useful.
GOLD!
"...especially classic rock guys..." 😂 #represent
Nice.
I'd like to see a diagram of which lugs you are adjusting. I'm pretty sure I know what you're talking about but not totally.
There are the four lugs adjacent to the snare bed (2 on each side)- we’re talking about all of the other ones.
You might have covered this in another video but is this tuning technique less effective if you have die cast rims ?
Question? Does the pitch on each lug still have to be even when you do this? Or are you just getting the rods are toying with in tune with each other? I'm a bit confused. I wouldn't wanna do it the wrong way.
Hej :) do you maybe have a good advice on how to make a hole into your basedrum reso-head without damaging it? Im very nervous about cutting it and maybe ruin it that way
Yep! We’ve covered this in a previous episode. ua-cam.com/video/oTCaIXNctAk/v-deo.html
@@SoundsLikeADrum thank's for the answer! Gonna check it out :)
Interesting take on snarehead tension, Cody. Have u done, or considered a video on snare wires and the effect on sound?
I use 24 strand puresound wires on my 6½ deep drums and a 20 strand set on a "cheap" drum. Puresound don't seem to go more than 24 wires in their "cotter-pin" attached wires.
I fancy trying 42 strands on my 14 × 6½ Arbiter Advanced Tuning maple drum, but how much better can it get than with 24? (WHAT a drum, by the way! (I swapped the original hoops with hoops from an Arbiter FLATS 14" snare and vastly improved the ease of tuning. One bolt per head. How easy do you want?). ).
Let it Go the guy just mentioned it about the sound varying from the material product
Is the throw off on your Ludwig the original? I saw a Rick Beato video, in which he said he changed his Black Beauty’s throw-off with a Trick. He also stated that stock Ludwig throw-offs aren’t that good. I’ve got a new Venus picolo, here at the studio. A friend of mine pummelled it with rimshots for a few days...the strainer definitely needed to be tightened regularly. Thanks for the info! Stay safe :)
No I'm pretty sure he said he's using a throw off made by Inde drums. I'm thinking about getting one for my snare as well.
He said it's an INDe throw-off.
Thanks guys! I’ll check them out.
We did an episode on this specific modification: ua-cam.com/video/9gNwnwFssXw/v-deo.html
@@SoundsLikeADrum Thanks guys!
you are loosening the tension on the three on each side, correct? (not the ones on were the snares are)
You are basically doing the old rocker trick the other way around, instead of loosening the 2 beside the snares; you are instead tightening the other ones, correct?
I noticed most of your posts about snare drums are used w/a Ludwig😎🤘🔥
This was done for the sake of consistency and since these vintage drums are some of the best drums out there for the price.
@@SoundsLikeADrum
I really enjoyed the 13” snare bed on 14” drums. I tried it out, got good results. Thank you guys!
What Cymbals are you guys using? :P
Details in the description
Sorry I didn‘t notice that! Anyway, Thank you guys you are doing an amazing job here! Keep it up! xD