Now that is how a tutorial should be given: simpel, to the point, clearly and above all no shouting or wild advertising and so. Great video and great explaning. Never to old to learn some tricks and tips. For myself I always use a drumstick to check the tuning but never used two keys. Will be done from now on. Thanks. Greatings from the Netherlands.
Hi Ed, I've been floating my own tuning tutorial around the net for about 20-25 years now and this video presentation pretty much mimics those directions. Thanks for putting this out there.
Ed! I am a self-taught drummer of 2 years and I've watched countless videos on UA-cam of how to properly tune drums. Yours was by far the best and most useful. I love the way you explain as well. You'd make a great tutor. The way you spin the drum around, I've never seen that before. Definitely a good trick instead of bending over and hurting your back. And placing your hand in the centre and giving a tap with your finger around the edge... And placing the drum on the side and hearing bottom and top pitches without having to flip the drum. Wow, I've learnt so much. Sad to hear that you have closed your shop in Seattle. I will be sure to check out your website anywho and hope you keep posting videos on UA-cam. Thank you so much!
Thanks very much for the wonderful comment. I am glad this video has helped you. I learned about tuning in college a long time ago. I learned to tune timpani, which are very delicate, and pitch is very important. Anyway, I hope to grow this channel, and add a lot more videos. Thanks, and please pass the word!
This is the most informative and helpful approach to tuning that I have found. Thank you for this, it clears much of my overthinking and calms my ocd brain frequencies, as I have been struggling to figure out the how and what to do in effort to achieve the sound I'm looking for.
I'm happy it helped! In college, the rite of passage was to try to tune an out-of-round small timpani. It pretty much was impossible. I spent 5 hours on it. That drum taught me more about tuning than anything else. If you can tune a cheap drum, you can tune anything. Good luck!
I go by feel at first. Once I get it close all the way around the drum, I start to fine tune with tapping the edges. It will take some time to develop your ears and skills. If it doesn't work, detune and do it again. It's easier to tune than try to fix a tuning. Don't overthink it. Two keys get you started. Beyond that, it's all about your ears. Good luck and thanks for watching!@@tripledeluxedday
Cool stuff! Just like to add that it's not hard at all to actually CHOOSE the notes of each tom if you want to. There are simple formulas to follow depending on how much resonance you want but very easy to do. I use the Tunebot and all the instructions and even suggestions on different tunings are on the website. You do need a digital tuner that shows frequency but it doesn't have to be the Tunebot. A good mic with any tuner that displays frequency in numbers will do. It actually works really well if you follow the instructions. 2 years into using this method and I get lots of compliments on tuning and being easy to mix because they don't ring on and on lol. (I use the low resonance formula to get my chosen notes.) ***The math all changes if you use two ply batter heads**** Found that out the hard way lol. I was nowhere near the right note haha! Anyways, love the technique tips! I will definitely be using two keys from now on 👍 Cheers!
Thanks very much for watching. Yes, you can really get into pitch for your toms. I learned pitch relationships through ear training in college at Indiana University. You need that skill to tune timpani FAST (especially when the orchestra is playing in a different key!). My go-to tuning for 12-13-16 is a major or minor third between the high and middle, and a fourth between the 13 and 16. It's relative to the diameter. If you play floor-high-low, you will get something like the NBC chime. You are correct about both heads. Things do get crazy for sure. It's a science project, in any event! PS: Berlioz figured out the harmonics between 16 timpani in his "Requiem,." The fundamental pitch is really only the first part of tuning. Hearing the harmonics creates all sorts of new relationships between sounds.
@@edhartman1 Funny you mentioned 12-13 -16. I play a Sonor Force 3007 series. Those are the sizes lol. I'm also a full time FOH tech. I've learned over time that actually boosting the fundamental of a tom no matter the frequency, and then cutting the first two octaves above that fundamental very accurately, can make a huge difference in there presence with them going on and on. Less gating required too. Still see a lot of techs CUTTING the fundamental to calm things down. Sounds thin and boxy compared... Nice chatting with you mate!! Cheers
Yes. Drums are drums. They need to be tuned to themselves. Speed and repetition is the skill you want. That's really the point of two keys. The more you tune, the better you get at it! Good luck. @@Eduarddrum
Man, how nice it is to hear a guy just talkin facts. Clear, concise and with a guy who clearly has been in the craft a while and knows his stuff. Thank you for that tutorial. It was awesome and a refreshing break from all the production and unecessary commentary. Don't get me wrong, those thongs aren't bad but I just want a subject matter expert to tell me what they think I should do so I can get playing. God Bless you.
Rebound = feel - yes. Just saying equal tension is always a good idea for anything that has tension rods, IMO. You never know when you'll encounter an acoustic drum, too. I use these ideas for nearly any kind of drum, including congas, bongos, timbales, frame drums, etc. Thanks for watching!@@cbf63
Good video. Thanks for sharing. I agree on all except snare. Also check out Bob Gatzen videos on drum tuning, especially snare drum (which definitely needs to be tuned to pitch and different pitch for each head).
Agreed. Snares are unique and have different characteristics. The concept of tuning each head to itself is the same IMO. There are many other ideas too like de-tuning one lug. My point is to tune enough so it becomes a skill and isn't to be feared. Thanks for the additional ideas!
So the finger in the middle is to mute the drum. Ok... I see people do that and thought is was for additional tension and always wondered how that could be uniform across all the pegs. This makes sense now. Thanks Ed.
You are obviously a seasoned veteran when it comes to drums! Impressive sir! Fantastic tutorial! I've never really been good at tuning drums or really gotten the concept or "technique" down. But after seeing this video, I have a feeling that this is going to change.
Thanks very much! It's a skill that needs practice, just like playing. Until I ran my drumshop, and had to tune drums (and put them together) I was afraid of touching them! Tuning was intimidating. Just keep doing it. You can always retune a drum. Good luck, and ask questions. Support your local drumshop (if there is one). They can be an amazing resource of information.
Nice vid! As I’m not hitting the resonant head, I’ve never bothered stretching it. And be aware that if you are a hard hitter, the sound you get when playing will be higher in pitch because your hit is creating more tension. That will of course drop in pitch quickly, but it will be noticeable. For rock I tune the reso heads lower than the batter heads; for jazz, I tune the reso heads higher than the batters.
40 plus years as a player and tunner of drums, it's very important to note that die cast and flanged rims play a big role in the tunning aspect as well. Tunning drums with the entire kit is the only way to achieve good results. The resonance of the other drums needs to be considered when tuning individual drums.
Absolutely! Relative pitch can be an entire topic in itself. Size of shells, quality of wood, suspension mounts, room acoustics, type of music, etc. are all part of the art. This particular video is all about the individual head and drum tuned to itself. It's just a start. Thanks for the comment!
Easy Peasy Ed. Nice simple approach to tuning drums. I've viewed lots of YT vids about this topic. This one and the one by Rob Brown ( how to tune your toms) seem to be prolific. You should point out that much can reliant on which batter and reso heads are used. For my new ( purchased used at Guitar Center), pdp concept maple series kit, I replaced the stock pdp (Remo) clear batter heads for Evans G2 coated batters work best to achieve that Duuuu, Dooooo tom sound that I desire . I did need to apply 1 moongel which Gzff tape to the head to get there. The foor toms 12 x 14 and 16 x 14 [depth x width] are more of a challenge. The 2 key approach is great tip and timesaver. I'm a 69yo, current retiree forced by spinal arthritis conditions, who returned to this passion after a 50 Year Hiatus. I play for enjoyment to My Music for enjoyment. I Thank God for my wife who gifted me (xmas 2018) a starter kit - Gammon which I tweaked and tweaked to finally get to a acceptable sound. Then I saw this used 6 piece maple kit on line from pdp, and couldn't resist for $579.
Love the 2-key thing - makes sense possibly as a way of seating the head on the bearing edge and seating the hoop evenly with the rim as well (hoops sometimes go out of ‘sync’ with head/hoop and they get uneven over time. So maybe this helps even seating … if that makes any sense at all…
@@edhartman1 so it’s primarily for speed/efficiency? Makes sense. If I really want to move things along, are use a black and decker drill with a drum key bit. One has to be very careful using that method but it’s incredibly fast, like a pitstop/auto racing methodology.
I did use a drill on occasion, at least to take the lugs off. You do have to be extremely careful going the wrong direction! The "pit-stop" analogy is right! With an electric screwdriver, you can buy a standard lug bit. I cut a few from keys. In fact, even without any bit, it does work to take out the lugs!
What do you think of Drumdials, Ed? I’ve always just used my ears and I often get compliments for my drum sound, but a Drumdial might help with serious precision tuning and speed up the process.
I would think drum techs on tour with bands use them efficiently. Because of my timpani training, I've always used my ears. If you are tuning drums mounted on a set, a dial might have problems, too. It's just another tool! Thanks for watching.
Nice video! It seems to me that what you got by tuning both heads to similar pitch ( top head being half step lower) is overall pitch minor third higher from the bottom head but octave lower when you hear the tone through the shell.
Good ears! Any pitch is fine. I'm just interested in getting the drum head tuned to itself. Relative pitch from top to bottom, heads to shell resonance, drum to drum, is to the players taste. Mostly, it's about doing tuning enough to make it an actual skill, and not be afraid of it. Two keys seems to help. Thanks for the comment!
My tuning video is really about even tension. There are players that de-tune for special qualities. The pitch range is controlled by diameter. My guess is muffling is your best way to battle bass cancellation. I prefer Remo muffls. Any symmetrically muffling system works. The front head may need muffling too - felt strip, powerstroke head, etc. I think too much resonance would be the biggest issue with a bass player. Just my opinion.
For the video, you are correct. I check that side a little. The idea of tuning symmetrically is that you really only need to tune 1/2 the drum. The other side should be in tune! That's the theory, anyway. In real life, I would check everything carefully. Good eye!
Doulton Duck Sure. It can be called "setting the head" The head needs to be stretched a bit because as it gets tightened it may not stretch evenly. It can slip. You don't press until you have some tension. Then give it CPR! As you continue to tighten continue. The pitch will go down when you push on it. If you don't stretch it, you may find the head loosens considerably as you initially play. By stretching you are making it more stable. Tune often and it will become a skill. Good luck!
I tune by tension rod feel of each and the pitch I want. I don't tap the head just tune by even tension rod tightness. Do they all feel the same tension?
Any friction from oil, dirt, etc. can change the feel. For me, sound should always be the starting point. In the end, it depends on the drum and whether you really want perfectly even tension. Many don't. My point is to develop a skill that gives you options. Don't fear the drum. If the tuning doesn't work, do it again. Eventually, you will have a system that works for you. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Pay attention to the torque on your thumb as you tune. That is all that is needed. Go around the drum anyway you want. But always set the tension to the torque of your thumb. Experience will tell you what torque you want that to be.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. In my experience, cleaning the lugs (WD40, etc.) helps avoid feeling friction from dirt, etc. The two key idea is all about speed, and not getting lost. Experience and practice is the real KEY!
Yes. I've used mallets, sticks, etc. My college training on timpani taught me to use my fingers (especially the "snap", pushing your middle finger forward) to test pitch quietly. If you want to hear the higher harmonics, though you need a harder mallet.
Brian Lear yes. Harmonics are multiples of the fundamental. Some instruments have only odd harmonics. Its what makes the difference between a flute (more fundamental) and a string (many harmonics). Acoustics is the theory of the physics of sound. Check it out!
ED! What about the muddy low end BASS DRUM that screws up the sound for the bass player? I have actually played with drummers who have a big thick heavy low muddy sound to their bass drum that cancels out the bass guitar...Now which video addresses this problem? Many drummers have no idea about this. It has been a major concern of many a fine pro bass players!! What about getting a nice mid low tone? Your thoughts? Please do not tell me you have not heard of this being an issue before!
@@edhartman1 I was asking what size the drum was.... because I have a 12x8 and a 13x8....and I was curious what size it was for comparison against mine... thx
Your explanation of tuning is excellent. One key factor your missing for contemporary toms is the mounting systems. Almost all mounting systems affect the tuning of the drum. In other words, you can tune it on a flat surface, the way you demonstrated in the video, and it could sound completely different once mounted on the kit. Maybe if you set the tom in a snare basket, you would be fine. But once tension is applied to the shell, hoop, or tension rods, the tuning could change, and possibly sound out of tune.
You are correct. In our store we sell suspension mounting systems. This video was just about even tension. Certainly to get full resonance it's great to suspend the shell. Even snare drum stands can deaden a drum, especially if the drum is tightly fit in the stand (basket type). Maybe it's time for an updated video! Thanks for the feedback.
If you have a Pearl ISS mount (on lower end Pearl drums like the Export/Vision series), tune the drum on a flat surface, then mount tom on the kit... wait until you hear the difference.
I think the more I tuned my drums the less structure I implemented I havent actually checked the pitch of an individual lug in years. I just hear the pitch and depth I want and the tonal difference between one drum and another and when it all sounds good I'm done
The closest I get to pitch is the NBC chime. Low, High, Middle tom. It puts a 4th between the low and middle and a third between the high and middle. For most sets, it seems to work, or at least become a starting point.
Ed Hartman guitar tones are a good concept. I hear what a guitar sounds like in my head and the step seems pretty similar. Tommy Igoe explained the relationship between top and bottom head and how that controls the depth and pitch anymore I find that with a good set of drums and a good set of heads they get easier to tune and almost always tune themselves
Honestly, can't remember. The video is from a few years ago. They were whatever was on the drum. Bottom looks generic. Top might be Aquarian. I use all kinds of heads. thanks.
Thanks Ed. I did a little googling and from the looks of the logo, it appears the top head is an Aquariun Modern Vintage head. The top head is the one I was really curious about anyway. Thanks again.
I don't remember what type camera I used for this one. It's awhile back. I started with 8mm film as a kid in the 60s and 70s! I still have LPs. I did reel to reel recording in high school. Hopefully, the content works for you!
Now that is how a tutorial should be given: simpel, to the point, clearly and above all no shouting or wild advertising and so. Great video and great explaning. Never to old to learn some tricks and tips. For myself I always use a drumstick to check the tuning but never used two keys. Will be done from now on. Thanks. Greatings from the Netherlands.
Ed, I've been playing drums for almost 50 yrs. I can't thank you enough for this video. My drums sound better than they ever have.
+Michael Shur Thanks!!! Made my day...
Ed
Wow. That amazes me.
For the life of me I could never tune my drums well.
Hi Ed,
I've been floating my own tuning tutorial around the net for about 20-25 years now and this video presentation pretty much mimics those directions.
Thanks for putting this out there.
Happy that we're on the same page. Thanks.
Great video Ed!
Thanks very much!
Ed! I am a self-taught drummer of 2 years and I've watched countless videos on UA-cam of how to properly tune drums. Yours was by far the best and most useful. I love the way you explain as well. You'd make a great tutor. The way you spin the drum around, I've never seen that before. Definitely a good trick instead of bending over and hurting your back. And placing your hand in the centre and giving a tap with your finger around the edge... And placing the drum on the side and hearing bottom and top pitches without having to flip the drum. Wow, I've learnt so much. Sad to hear that you have closed your shop in Seattle. I will be sure to check out your website anywho and hope you keep posting videos on UA-cam. Thank you so much!
Thanks very much for the wonderful comment. I am glad this video has helped you. I learned about tuning in college a long time ago. I learned to tune timpani, which are very delicate, and pitch is very important. Anyway, I hope to grow this channel, and add a lot more videos. Thanks, and please pass the word!
Thanks Ed , I've been playing for 55 years and I'm always listening to good information like yours. Thanks again !!!!!!!!!
seriously the most comprehensive, concise video on tom tuning, this should be the reference for all. thanks Ed.
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.
This Ed is a drum jewel. Must be protected at all cost.
Thanks very much for the kind words!!
Great video...I already perform all of these steps, but I found it interesting how he got straight to the point...
This is one of the best tom tuning teaching technique ever.
Thank you very much! I'm glad your got something from it.
Excellent tip about tuning a drum head with two keys. I never thought about that. Thanks. 🥁
Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Excellent system for tuning any drum
Great vid. The 2 key approach improved my tuning results dramatically. Thanks!!
That's wonderful to hear. Thanks very much!
This is the most informative and helpful approach to tuning that I have found. Thank you for this, it clears much of my overthinking and calms my ocd brain frequencies, as I have been struggling to figure out the how and what to do in effort to achieve the sound I'm looking for.
Thanks very much. I'm glad it helped!
I've spent hours on a cheaper, stubborn floor tom. This video saved my sanity.
I'm happy it helped! In college, the rite of passage was to try to tune an out-of-round small timpani. It pretty much was impossible. I spent 5 hours on it. That drum taught me more about tuning than anything else. If you can tune a cheap drum, you can tune anything. Good luck!
Perfect video.
Thanks very much!
I go by feel at first. Once I get it close all the way around the drum, I start to fine tune with tapping the edges. It will take some time to develop your ears and skills. If it doesn't work, detune and do it again. It's easier to tune than try to fix a tuning. Don't overthink it. Two keys get you started. Beyond that, it's all about your ears. Good luck and thanks for watching!@@tripledeluxedday
@@edhartman1 Yes. Sounds good. Thank You!
Cool stuff! Just like to add that it's not hard at all to actually CHOOSE the notes of each tom if you want to.
There are simple formulas to follow depending on how much resonance you want but very easy to do. I use the Tunebot and all the instructions and even suggestions on different tunings are on the website. You do need a digital tuner that shows frequency but it doesn't have to be the Tunebot. A good mic with any tuner that displays frequency in numbers will do. It actually works really well if you follow the instructions. 2 years into using this method and I get lots of compliments on tuning and being easy to mix because they don't ring on and on lol. (I use the low resonance formula to get my chosen notes.) ***The math all changes if you use two ply batter heads**** Found that out the hard way lol. I was nowhere near the right note haha!
Anyways, love the technique tips! I will definitely be using two keys from now on 👍
Cheers!
Thanks very much for watching. Yes, you can really get into pitch for your toms. I learned pitch relationships through ear training in college at Indiana University. You need that skill to tune timpani FAST (especially when the orchestra is playing in a different key!). My go-to tuning for 12-13-16 is a major or minor third between the high and middle, and a fourth between the 13 and 16. It's relative to the diameter. If you play floor-high-low, you will get something like the NBC chime. You are correct about both heads. Things do get crazy for sure. It's a science project, in any event!
PS: Berlioz figured out the harmonics between 16 timpani in his "Requiem,." The fundamental pitch is really only the first part of tuning. Hearing the harmonics creates all sorts of new relationships between sounds.
@@edhartman1 Funny you mentioned 12-13 -16. I play a Sonor Force 3007 series. Those are the sizes lol. I'm also a full time FOH tech. I've learned over time that actually boosting the fundamental of a tom no matter the frequency, and then cutting the first two octaves above that fundamental very accurately, can make a huge difference in there presence with them going on and on. Less gating required too. Still see a lot of techs CUTTING the fundamental to calm things down. Sounds thin and boxy compared... Nice chatting with you mate!! Cheers
*without them going on and on.
Liked. To the point and agree with your synopsis on tuning.
Thanks very much.
Greaaaaaat. Fast , Easy and very usefull.
Thank you )))
Glad it helped. Thanks very much!
@@edhartman1and same method for floor toms ? Because this method is really great
Yes. Drums are drums. They need to be tuned to themselves. Speed and repetition is the skill you want. That's really the point of two keys. The more you tune, the better you get at it! Good luck. @@Eduarddrum
@@edhartman1 thank you again. 🙏🏻
Great video..very easy to follow!
Man, how nice it is to hear a guy just talkin facts. Clear, concise and with a guy who clearly has been in the craft a while and knows his stuff. Thank you for that tutorial. It was awesome and a refreshing break from all the production and unecessary commentary. Don't get me wrong, those thongs aren't bad but I just want a subject matter expert to tell me what they think I should do so I can get playing. God Bless you.
Thanks! I appreciate it very much.
I love this guy. Thanks
The voice of experience! Great video.
THANKS FOR THE SECRET ED HARTMAN!
Great tuning video and thank you for sharing Ed! Have been using 2 keys at a time for the last few years.
Great to hear. Thanks very much!
Best tuning video out! So you tune top head first and then the bottom
One of the best tuning videos I've watched. Thanks.
Thanks very much!
Great tutorial Ed. I've been playing for a long time but it's never too late to take good info on board.Thanks..
This is my go-to video for drum tuning. Thanks, Ed!
Blair: Thanks very much!
Best advice I've seen on youtube so far for beginners who wanna know about tuning drums!
Thanks for watching!
great👌🏻, thank you from munich!
quick n to the point
nice one
The secret is to play a edrum set...works every time and never goes out of tune 😊
Roland V-Drums are tuneable with tension rods (for rebound action). The concept still applies!
@@edhartman1 that's for the feel.. I'm not talking about feelings we were talking about tuning drums I thought? not the feel.
Rebound = feel - yes. Just saying equal tension is always a good idea for anything that has tension rods, IMO. You never know when you'll encounter an acoustic drum, too. I use these ideas for nearly any kind of drum, including congas, bongos, timbales, frame drums, etc. Thanks for watching!@@cbf63
One of the best tuning videos on UA-cam
Thanks!
Excellent video. Congrats.
great...drummer for 60 years, I had to figure all this out for myself.. you understand this subject in wonderful depth...cool
Thanks very much.
100K views! 100 comments! Thanks everyone for watching!
This is the best drum tuning video I have ever seen. Thanks Ed!
Thanks bud!
Thanks Ed.
Hey, nice tips. Thanks.
Thanks very much!
Nice choice for tutorial! Love them Rogers!
Great video!
Thanks!
Thank you! The best tutorial on UA-cam!
This guy knows what he is talking about!
Nice technique. Thanks for the time.
Excellent video man,you and I tune the same way👍
Great video. Spot on approach! Loving it!
My drums have never sounded better using Rob browns method and it’s dead easy
I've been doing his method ever since he uploaded that video. Same with his snare tuning video. So easy and fast.
I like this technic thank you!
Great video Ed. I like your concept about using 2 drum keys. Makes good sense, I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. Thanks for posting.
Good video. Thanks for sharing. I agree on all except snare. Also check out Bob Gatzen videos on drum tuning, especially snare drum (which definitely needs to be tuned to pitch and different pitch for each head).
Agreed. Snares are unique and have different characteristics. The concept of tuning each head to itself is the same IMO. There are many other ideas too like de-tuning one lug. My point is to tune enough so it becomes a skill and isn't to be feared. Thanks for the additional ideas!
So the finger in the middle is to mute the drum. Ok... I see people do that and thought is was for additional tension and always wondered how that could be uniform across all the pegs. This makes sense now. Thanks Ed.
Like a guitar player, you are muting the fundamental pitch and hearing the overtone. It takes practice. So do it a lot! Thanks!
very smart guy....nice video....nice approach
Most awesome lesson..ty
You are obviously a seasoned veteran when it comes to drums! Impressive sir! Fantastic tutorial! I've never really been good at tuning drums or really gotten the concept or "technique" down. But after seeing this video, I have a feeling that this is going to change.
Thanks very much! It's a skill that needs practice, just like playing. Until I ran my drumshop, and had to tune drums (and put them together) I was afraid of touching them! Tuning was intimidating. Just keep doing it. You can always retune a drum. Good luck, and ask questions. Support your local drumshop (if there is one). They can be an amazing resource of information.
Amazing brother
5:30 you answered my question on how to get that sound
Way to go Ed! 🥰🥰🥰
Nice vid! As I’m not hitting the resonant head, I’ve never bothered stretching it. And be aware that if you are a hard hitter, the sound you get when playing will be higher in pitch because your hit is creating more tension. That will of course drop in pitch quickly, but it will be noticeable. For rock I tune the reso heads lower than the batter heads; for jazz, I tune the reso heads higher than the batters.
Thanks. Good ideas!
63 and could not agree with you more!
excellent information
Great advice on how to tune drums.. this video is the genuine article
Thanks very much. I'm glad it is of help!
excellent advice, great lesson and tips. thank you ever so much!
Been a drummer for over fourty years - the last eight minutes were among the most interesting!
Familie Werner Glad to help! Good luck on the next 40!
40 plus years as a player and tunner of drums, it's very important to note that die cast and flanged rims play a big role in the tunning aspect as well. Tunning drums with the entire kit is the only way to achieve good results. The resonance of the other drums needs to be considered when tuning individual drums.
Absolutely! Relative pitch can be an entire topic in itself. Size of shells, quality of wood, suspension mounts, room acoustics, type of music, etc. are all part of the art. This particular video is all about the individual head and drum tuned to itself. It's just a start. Thanks for the comment!
@@edhartman1 well done!
@@rarefiedhermetic792 Thanks very much. PS: I beat you by 10 years.
@@edhartman1 merry Christmas!
Amazing video great lesson !
been using 2 keys since the 60's to tune these days I have added a drum dial for fine tuning
Easy Peasy Ed. Nice simple approach to tuning drums. I've viewed lots of YT vids about this topic. This one and the one by Rob Brown ( how to tune your toms) seem to be prolific. You should point out that much can reliant on which batter and reso heads are used. For my new ( purchased used at Guitar Center), pdp concept maple series kit, I replaced the stock pdp (Remo) clear batter heads for Evans G2 coated batters work best to achieve that Duuuu, Dooooo tom sound that I desire . I did need to apply 1 moongel which Gzff tape to the head to get there. The foor toms 12 x 14 and 16 x 14 [depth x width] are more of a challenge. The 2 key approach is great tip and timesaver. I'm a 69yo, current retiree forced by spinal arthritis conditions, who returned to this passion after a 50 Year Hiatus. I play for enjoyment to My Music for enjoyment. I Thank God for my wife who gifted me (xmas 2018) a starter kit - Gammon which I tweaked and tweaked to finally get to a acceptable sound. Then I saw this used 6 piece maple kit on line from pdp, and couldn't resist for $579.
Thanks very much. I'm glad you got something from the video. Good ideas on muffling. Keep playing!
Excellent system, great job.
LOVE YOUR VIDEO
Nicely done, thank you.
Nice job.
Good video
Excellent information..!
Love the 2-key thing - makes sense possibly as a way of seating the head on the bearing edge and seating the hoop evenly with the rim as well (hoops sometimes go out of ‘sync’ with head/hoop and they get uneven over time. So maybe this helps even seating … if that makes any sense at all…
Yes. You do want to get tension up a bit before seating it, though. In any event, 2 keys are a lot faster than one!
@@edhartman1 so it’s primarily for speed/efficiency? Makes sense.
If I really want to move things along, are use a black and decker drill with a drum key bit. One has to be very careful using that method but it’s incredibly fast, like a pitstop/auto racing methodology.
I did use a drill on occasion, at least to take the lugs off. You do have to be extremely careful going the wrong direction! The "pit-stop" analogy is right! With an electric screwdriver, you can buy a standard lug bit. I cut a few from keys. In fact, even without any bit, it does work to take out the lugs!
Brilliant. Smart man. Great video.
Thanks very much for your kind words.
Mate you know your shit.
Great video & tutorial ...thank you from London 👍
Thanks! Glad you like it.
What do you think of Drumdials, Ed? I’ve always just used my ears and I often get compliments for my drum sound, but a Drumdial might help with serious precision tuning and speed up the process.
I would think drum techs on tour with bands use them efficiently. Because of my timpani training, I've always used my ears. If you are tuning drums mounted on a set, a dial might have problems, too. It's just another tool! Thanks for watching.
Nice video! It seems to me that what you got by tuning both heads to similar pitch ( top head being half step lower) is overall pitch minor third higher from the bottom head but octave lower when you hear the tone through the shell.
Good ears! Any pitch is fine. I'm just interested in getting the drum head tuned to itself. Relative pitch from top to bottom, heads to shell resonance, drum to drum, is to the players taste. Mostly, it's about doing tuning enough to make it an actual skill, and not be afraid of it. Two keys seems to help. Thanks for the comment!
Thx ed great Advise .
Hi Did you a tutorial about snare tuning
Thanks ed, You da boss
My tuning video is really about even tension. There are players that de-tune for special qualities. The pitch range is controlled by diameter. My guess is muffling is your best way to battle bass cancellation. I prefer Remo muffls. Any symmetrically muffling system works. The front head may need muffling too - felt strip, powerstroke head, etc. I think too much resonance would be the biggest issue with a bass player. Just my opinion.
Great help, thanks. I really like your advice.. !! (p.s. respectfully. You did not test pich on your left hand side I noticed)
For the video, you are correct. I check that side a little. The idea of tuning symmetrically is that you really only need to tune 1/2 the drum. The other side should be in tune! That's the theory, anyway. In real life, I would check everything carefully. Good eye!
Can you tell me why stretching the head helps?
Doulton Duck Sure. It can be called "setting the head" The head needs to be stretched a bit because as it gets tightened it may not stretch evenly. It can slip. You don't press until you have some tension. Then give it CPR! As you continue to tighten continue. The pitch will go down when you push on it. If you don't stretch it, you may find the head loosens considerably as you initially play. By stretching you are making it more stable. Tune often and it will become a skill. Good luck!
Hey thanks! I use to think it was bad for the head! But now that you told me, I'm going to have to try it! Thanks A lot!
Just wait until you have about 1/2 tension on the head.
Ok! thanks:)!
Also, it helps to "break the glue" when sitting a new head, you will hear that cracking sound.
I tune by tension rod feel of each and the pitch I want. I don't tap the head just tune by even tension rod tightness. Do they all feel the same tension?
Any friction from oil, dirt, etc. can change the feel. For me, sound should always be the starting point. In the end, it depends on the drum and whether you really want perfectly even tension. Many don't. My point is to develop a skill that gives you options. Don't fear the drum. If the tuning doesn't work, do it again. Eventually, you will have a system that works for you. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Pay attention to the torque on your thumb as you tune. That is all that is needed. Go around the drum anyway you want. But always set the tension to the torque of your thumb. Experience will tell you what torque you want that to be.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing. In my experience, cleaning the lugs (WD40, etc.) helps avoid feeling friction from dirt, etc. The two key idea is all about speed, and not getting lost. Experience and practice is the real KEY!
Loving your video, Ed! :)
check for pitch with a soft mallet, much easier to hear the fundamental pitch
Yes. I've used mallets, sticks, etc. My college training on timpani taught me to use my fingers (especially the "snap", pushing your middle finger forward) to test pitch quietly. If you want to hear the higher harmonics, though you need a harder mallet.
So are the harmonics always "higher" than the fundamental pitch?
Brian Lear yes. Harmonics are multiples of the fundamental. Some instruments have only odd harmonics. Its what makes the difference between a flute (more fundamental) and a string (many harmonics). Acoustics is the theory of the physics of sound. Check it out!
We never got a snare/bass drum video 😢
ED! What about the muddy low end BASS DRUM that screws up the sound for the bass player? I have actually played with drummers who have a big thick heavy low muddy sound to their bass drum that cancels out the bass guitar...Now which video addresses this problem? Many drummers have no idea about this. It has been a major concern of many a fine pro bass players!! What about getting a nice mid low tone? Your thoughts? Please do not tell me you have not heard of this being an issue before!
is this a 12" or a 13" drum?
thx
Sorry, drum is long gone. Great Rogers shell.
@@edhartman1 I was asking what size the drum was.... because I have a 12x8 and a 13x8....and I was curious what size it was for comparison against mine... thx
@@SOLDbyYOU Honestly I don't remember. My guess is a 12.
@@SOLDbyYOU I saw the SOLD. That's why I thought you were interested! :)
@@edhartman1 thank you for the reply
thanks
I use a mallet to tune my drums.I prefer open tones big and bold.
Whatever works! I learned timpani tuning so you have to be very quiet with your finger.
Your explanation of tuning is excellent. One key factor your missing for contemporary toms is the mounting systems. Almost all mounting systems affect the tuning of the drum. In other words, you can tune it on a flat surface, the way you demonstrated in the video, and it could sound completely different once mounted on the kit. Maybe if you set the tom in a snare basket, you would be fine. But once tension is applied to the shell, hoop, or tension rods, the tuning could change, and possibly sound out of tune.
You are correct. In our store we sell suspension mounting systems. This video was just about even tension. Certainly to get full resonance it's great to suspend the shell. Even snare drum stands can deaden a drum, especially if the drum is tightly fit in the stand (basket type). Maybe it's time for an updated video! Thanks for the feedback.
If you have a Pearl ISS mount (on lower end Pearl drums like the Export/Vision series), tune the drum on a flat surface, then mount tom on the kit... wait until you hear the difference.
Matt Flacche p
Yess mounting system....lol
To use 2 keys I gotta buy like 10 lol good video
I think the more I tuned my drums the less structure I implemented I havent actually checked the pitch of an individual lug in years. I just hear the pitch and depth I want and the tonal difference between one drum and another and when it all sounds good I'm done
The closest I get to pitch is the NBC chime. Low, High, Middle tom. It puts a 4th between the low and middle and a third between the high and middle. For most sets, it seems to work, or at least become a starting point.
Ed Hartman guitar tones are a good concept. I hear what a guitar sounds like in my head and the step seems pretty similar. Tommy Igoe explained the relationship between top and bottom head and how that controls the depth and pitch anymore I find that with a good set of drums and a good set of heads they get easier to tune and almost always tune themselves
Especially
Hi Ed, what heads are you using on that drum?
Honestly, can't remember. The video is from a few years ago. They were whatever was on the drum. Bottom looks generic. Top might be Aquarian. I use all kinds of heads. thanks.
Thanks Ed. I did a little googling and from the looks of the logo, it appears the top head is an Aquariun Modern Vintage head. The top head is the one I was really curious about anyway. Thanks again.
Makes sense. It was an old Rogers drum. The Modern Vintage are slightly larger and fit on older drums. Good call!
200K views! Thanks everyone.
I Dig the 10.80 P video qual. ;)
I don't remember what type camera I used for this one. It's awhile back. I started with 8mm film as a kid in the 60s and 70s! I still have LPs. I did reel to reel recording in high school. Hopefully, the content works for you!
Eveness yeah🥁🥁🇨🇦🇨🇦