I was having trouble with tuning a particular Tom once. No matter what I was doing it sounded bad. I stumbled across this video and did exactly as Russ states at the beginning. I finger tightened the bottom head and the top head. Then equally turned all the lugs. It immediately sounded bigger, sustained better and all I then had to do, was slightly tweak a few lugs and boom! The drum sounded great.
Tuning the bottom head higher than the top makes the sound too thin.. i dont quite like it.. maybe to jazz drummers they do coz of the thin overtone.. I like my bottom to be 1/2 lower than my top to create a deep resonating tone.. I feel it gives me the "Ooomph" when i play..
Drummers need to be careful when the tension rods are equal on top and bottom. If you're using coated on top and clear on bottom, generally the coated head will be thicker so although you think that you've tuned the tension rods the same on the top and bottom and think that the heads are at the same pitch, chances are the heads wont sound the same unless they are the same on top and bottom. I like to tune the heads to the same pitch, this doesn't mean the tension rods are the same on top and bottom, i generally find the rods on the resonant side are slightly tighter than the rods on the batter side but the heads sound the same :). nice video!!
Leighton Watkins Just tuned them until you get the same pitch from both (if that's what you're going for).I tune both heads to the same pitch, and I always start with the reso head first. Even though they are the same pitch, depending on the head choice, I usually have more turns on the batter head (unless they're the same head top and bottom).
I actually thought for many years that tuning the bottom head a different tension only affects projection i.e. tighter top = higher projection, looser top = warmer sound/less projection. Equal top and bottom (tight or loose) = longest resonance. I usually achieve pitch bends by detuning one or two lugs. Each to their own I guess, give it a try though.
After all these years, this guy explained tuning far better than anyone I have listened to since I was 15 years old. I'm 48 years old, but I have been away from drums for over 20 years.
@drummermitchelldamen keep using them, coating always comes off, that doesn't mean they won't sound good anymore. The thing is if you play a lot like gigs and shows, plus rehearsing with your band, etc you should change your drum heads regularly because they start to lose their attack and overall pitch
It does sound like it does it slightly, but watch the John Good tuning video uploaded by DW, he does the opposite and the drum pitches down much more obviously. Not to mention it's more logical that tuning the bottom head lower causes a pitch bend down.
@Jakelikesxbox try taking of your head and see if the bearing edges are even. If that isnt the case then visit your local music store and ask an expert for help.
The relation between the heads isn't what makes the drum resonate more or less. The tighter a head is, the less it will resonate, as it doesn't flex as much. The looser a head is, the more it will resonate.
I use Remo heads and use the Evans Magnetic key as well. It's actually a really good key. It doesn't get lost and it doesn't make any noise if you keep it on the tension rods.
***** I recently bought two of them and they were both oversized and have way too much slop. Glad to read it seems I just got a bad batch. They even slipped completely on my snare strainer tension rods.
***** Well he's still with Remo, he's just using an Evans product. He did leave Yamaha for Mapex though. Mapex is really just a great company all around.
After playing for 30 years I have concluded, any drum brand sounds good if you put good heads on and tune them up correctly. don't know why exactly, the reasons pro drummers jump ship so often.
I am able to tune both snare and tom and kick to a solid pitch without any pitch bending. The key is to get something like a tunebot or other tuner and tune the fundamental of the drum as well as the lugs to specific pitches. I tune the res head of my tom (I only use one simply because it takes time to keep it in tune, but sounds much better and in harmony with the tonic of the song) higher, but it still does not bend. Bending only occurs with inaccurate tuning, and most drummers don't care about being in tune with the other instruments. Also it does not help if you are doing multiple songs in different keys or modulations, but if you are doing one key, it makes the drums sound amazing and harmonious. It's a tradeoff, but if you want the best possible sound for a given song you have to tune them to notes.
I need new drum heads but I tried tuning mine with the ones I'm playing now and the floor Tom kinda swells but the others sound good. How do you get rid of a swell.
I was having trouble with tuning a particular Tom once. No matter what I was doing it sounded bad. I stumbled across this video and did exactly as Russ states at the beginning. I finger tightened the bottom head and the top head. Then equally turned all the lugs. It immediately sounded bigger, sustained better and all I then had to do, was slightly tweak a few lugs and boom! The drum sounded great.
I appreciate that you didn't record the tom with a compressed mic, like a lot of other channels do. Makes it easier to tell what i want to hear.
Tuning the bottom head higher than the top makes the sound too thin.. i dont quite like it.. maybe to jazz drummers they do coz of the thin overtone.. I like my bottom to be 1/2 lower than my top to create a deep resonating tone.. I feel it gives me the "Ooomph" when i play..
@markgoslim45 PITCH PROBLEM. The batter head might be too loose compared to the reso. I suggest you try and tune your drum to a new pitch.
goddamn that thing sounds HUGE when he first hits it :O
evans key hahaha thats hilarious XD
you can tune this head terribly...its still gonna sound great on a Pheonix kit. lol
You've got your tightenings backwards. It pitch bends down if the top head is tighter and the bottom is looser, not the other way around.
Good lesson. But could you release the snare?..
Drummers need to be careful when the tension rods are equal on top and bottom. If you're using coated on top and clear on bottom, generally the coated head will be thicker so although you think that you've tuned the tension rods the same on the top and bottom and think that the heads are at the same pitch, chances are the heads wont sound the same unless they are the same on top and bottom. I like to tune the heads to the same pitch, this doesn't mean the tension rods are the same on top and bottom, i generally find the rods on the resonant side are slightly tighter than the rods on the batter side but the heads sound the same :). nice video!!
Leighton Watkins Just tuned them until you get the same pitch from both (if that's what you're going for).I tune both heads to the same pitch, and I always start with the reso head first. Even though they are the same pitch, depending on the head choice, I usually have more turns on the batter head (unless they're the same head top and bottom).
Leighton Watkins Technically yes, more turns on the top tension rods but the heads will end up at the same pitch
chopzmasta07 Good comment.
I also prefer matching pitch batter & bottom head. I think it gets the best tone out of the shell.
those are some cool drums. love the dark bursts on drums.
Thanks for listening
I actually thought for many years that tuning the bottom head a different tension only affects projection i.e. tighter top = higher projection, looser top = warmer sound/less projection. Equal top and bottom (tight or loose) = longest resonance. I usually achieve pitch bends by detuning one or two lugs. Each to their own I guess, give it a try though.
After all these years, this guy explained tuning far better than anyone I have listened to since I was 15 years old. I'm 48 years old, but I have been away from drums for over 20 years.
Great video Russ! Thanks for your personal insight. Great job!
David Curtis Drumming
you tune your drums in the key of ( E )
@aatefmagic well i dont have triggers and i have a tama with maple and they sound amazing look at my new video at my drum off... u will see =-D
god vid, however, and I could be wrong here, but wouldn't tuning the bottom head lower make a pitch bend lower and vise versa?
@drummermitchelldamen keep using them, coating always comes off, that doesn't mean they won't sound good anymore. The thing is if you play a lot like gigs and shows, plus rehearsing with your band, etc you should change your drum heads regularly because they start to lose their attack and overall pitch
It does sound like it does it slightly, but watch the John Good tuning video uploaded by DW, he does the opposite and the drum pitches down much more obviously. Not to mention it's more logical that tuning the bottom head lower causes a pitch bend down.
@Jakelikesxbox try taking of your head and see if the bearing edges are even. If that isnt the case then visit your local music store and ask an expert for help.
The relation between the heads isn't what makes the drum resonate more or less. The tighter a head is, the less it will resonate, as it doesn't flex as much. The looser a head is, the more it will resonate.
endorses Remo but he's using an Evans drum key hehe.
I use Remo heads and use the Evans Magnetic key as well. It's actually a really good key. It doesn't get lost and it doesn't make any noise if you keep it on the tension rods.
***** I recently bought two of them and they were both oversized and have way too much slop. Glad to read it seems I just got a bad batch. They even slipped completely on my snare strainer tension rods.
and not with Yamaha anymore i think.
***** Well he's still with Remo, he's just using an Evans product. He did leave Yamaha for Mapex though. Mapex is really just a great company all around.
After playing for 30 years I have concluded, any drum brand sounds good if you put good heads on and tune them up correctly. don't know why exactly, the reasons pro drummers jump ship so often.
So, which is it? Bottom tighter = more resonance, or bottom looser = more resonance?
I am able to tune both snare and tom and kick to a solid pitch without any pitch bending. The key is to get something like a tunebot or other tuner and tune the fundamental of the drum as well as the lugs to specific pitches. I tune the res head of my tom (I only use one simply because it takes time to keep it in tune, but sounds much better and in harmony with the tonic of the song) higher, but it still does not bend. Bending only occurs with inaccurate tuning, and most drummers don't care about being in tune with the other instruments. Also it does not help if you are doing multiple songs in different keys or modulations, but if you are doing one key, it makes the drums sound amazing and harmonious. It's a tradeoff, but if you want the best possible sound for a given song you have to tune them to notes.
It won't let me post the link, just search it and watch slightly before the 4 minute mark.
BUT: As closer the heads are in relation, the more they will resonate TOGHETER = Longer Tone !!!
listen at 4.42 and you can hear it pitch bend down when he has the resonate head tighter.
I need new drum heads but I tried tuning mine with the ones I'm playing now and the floor Tom kinda swells but the others sound good. How do you get rid of a swell.
my fingers must be pretty strong because i get an actual pitch at finger tight
why did you remove the older vid? that was realy helpfull to me.
Ainda bem que não tocou os outros tambores. Kkkk
amazing tips love that" warm" sound on your toms, and you" snap" snare sound
yeah his methods of tuning are quick and easy
No. You're wrong. He's exactly right.
I think Russ is all set man!
First thing is, why did you ditch this phx kit?
@McQuads87 Yeah man thats what i thought
It sounded like shut when he was done.
wats up with all the clocks?
damn snare man
cheers nice easy tips works a treat
a 3rd is not a 3rd of an octave
Great humming tip thanks.
You are a legend. Thanks
thats what i thought
Really helpfull :)
Try 4:20 - 4:45
thanks !
OH MY F CHRIST it's awesome
Watch Rob Brown videos on tuning
nothing new here!
Some people should not be allowed to post videos on UA-cam