I have been using this method for the past 3+ years playing different Gigs every night and I really Love it. Its a very easy way to Quick change the tune of your Drum in a drop of a Stick... Thanks for sharing and God Bless...
DirectCurrent Have you experienced any warping in the hoops or shells? Have you tried this method with standard triple flange, die cast or plywood hoops?
@@vincedelapena I have never had any problem with my hoops or shells warping using this method.It works really well for me. I have never used plywood hoops. I don't think it would work well with plywood hoops. I am sure it can very from kit to kit. I am playing a 1976 Rogers eight piece kit with two snare drums. I hope this helps...
My husband, Howie Gilbert, has been playing professionally for 70 years! Jazz, Opera, Ballet, Symphony, Greek Weddings, Country Western, German Bands, Recordings, the works. I showed him your video about tuning the snare drum and he loved it! Your method is great for creating different types of sounds on the snare for different gigs. The methodical approach you developed gives the drummer quick control over the snare drum sound and allows you to manipulate that sound with intention. Nice work!
I sincerely want to extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to you for this. This has literally solved hours upon hours of frustration from my snare. It recently got so bad that I had to step away from the drums entirely, simply because I couldn't get any sort of decent snare sound/tone. You have brought new life into drumming through me. Again, thank you so incredibly much!
That's a great little trick. I have been studio engineer for 20 yrs and used similar trick where after "tuning" the snare I would loosen 1 lug completely to eliminate overtones and deaden snare....thank you Mr. Funk drummer. Your trick is quicker and does what you say. I will change my method to yours, I like what I hear on my snare drum here. Thank you!
+Tony Tuite I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out: www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
The tricks indeed can help a lot. For almost 5 months, I have been waiting for this kind of hooking sound in a drum set especially on a snare because I know that playing drums is not just banging every cymbals or popping every snares or tom-toms but to play it with conviction and with enjoyment.
I watched this video awhile ago and tried your method at a gig. It worked GREAT. I've watched many videos on tuning a snare but none of them were useful in helping me realize how to do it. This method is easy and actually helped me conceptualize this problem better. I've been tuning my snare since I was a kid, many hours of frustration spent in my room. Thank you! I had to come back to tell you that this really is the best way to tune a snare.
+Masshoff Drums Even if someone isn't switching tones much, it seems like a better method to kill undesired sounds and zone in on the aspects and tone one wants. Looks like complete control of the snare.
You are a drum wizard! I have been trying to get this snare to stop ringing/singing for a long time and that muffled it better than ANY product I have ever put on a head. Thank you!!!
Been using this method on my TAMA StarClassic 14x6.5 with REMO Ambassador X & Emperor X in recording session & LIVE shows almost 2years now... It really works. Try understand the method & mixed it with your needs (Head/Snare), DON'T OVER DO IT. Million thanks man..
If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.com
I've watched all sorts of tuning videos... reso tuned higher v lower, raw sound v mic'd, tape/gel v no tuning assist. THIS is the method I have stuck with since discovering it 8 years ago. Especially recently when changing the heads on my gigging kit. It's quick, easy, versatile and always sounds great.
Awesome video. I am always looking to improve my tuning abilities. A few questions. 1) Will this tuning hold over an entire gig or session, or do you recommend going over the lugs between every song? 2) I am also concerned about hoop or shell warping with this method. Is this save over the long term? 3) You don't find a need to fine tune either the bottom or top? I noticed you did go around the bottom head once (and it sounded pretty damn even), but is there ever a time when you would modify them beyond all one (or two) turns past just gripping on the bottom? 4) I would also love to see a video for how you tune a kick, rack, and floor toms. Thanks for posting this!!!
WOW! I tried this on the snare I play at Church. Made it sound so good, that now I tune this way on my own 2 snares. Thank you for this tip, I love it!
Terrence Smith Hi Terrence, the snare drum trick is an extract of my new DVD "The Ultimate Drumtuning Revolution". If you like to see more, check ou my new DVD at www.masshoffdrums.com. On that DVD you will find tuning tricks that allow you to tune Toms and Bassdrum in less then 2 minutes, control the pitch of every drum very easily or to control the low end on your bassdrum with just a drumkey! cheers Udo
Works perfectly. Grab a spare snare to have set up this way. Who wouldn't want VERY DIFFERENT snare sounds from song to song? No overtones for the sound man to have to gate and compress the hell out of. Everybody of any worth carries 2 snares to the gig.....why not take one that is proven to work for MANY PEOPLE over many years without warpage of the hoops nor the shell? Most drummers that insist on live and open drums end up with your kit simply being triggered out front to get great sounds in 2 seconds. SOMEONE has to do it.
Everything I have learned about tuning a snare just went out the window with this video! Nicely done. It just goes to show that you don't have to conform to the norm!
I just wanted to thank you for putting this video on...Genius idea....I just tuned my snare according to the video and it sounds FANTASTIC...This saved me so much time, now going to a new venue, my time in tuning my snare is nill....Thanks again, Stephen I've been playing over forty years, with this tuning method I could have saved myself so much time and frustration....WOW.
Wow !! This works. Nice, fat sound. No muffling required. Seems to get a bit less snare buzz on tom tom hits too. Can more or less control the pitch on the fly with the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock lugs. Sweet. I have a Drumdial and was using it while I made these adjustments. Here's the Drumdial before-and-after values in case anyone is interested. I have 2 snare drums. The first is a 90s vintage Pearl 6-1/2x14 with only 8 lugs. In the past, I've set the snare head to 81 and the batter to 89 .. Using Udo's video as a guide I cranked the snare head from 81 up to 83. On the batter head, I left the 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock (side) lugs at 89. I cranked the 11o'clock lug and 1o'clock lugs up to 93. Dropped the 5 and 7 o'clock lugs totally loose and adjusted up just enough to get rid of the the wrinkles which showed at 83 on the Drumdial. Also have a 70s vintage Ludwig Supraphonic 5x14, 10 lugs. Again, my usual Drumdial numbers are snare 81, batter 89. Kicked the snare head up from 81 to 84. I left the side lugs at 89, same as the Pearl. Cranked 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock to 92. Loosened 5 and 7 o'clock all the way loose then tightened up just enough to get rid of the wrinkles, Drumdial = 84
I love this, but I’m also concerned about the fact that people might try this on not so premium drums and they might bend their ring, is that an actual issue here? 😮
Thanks man! If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.com
Thank you for taking the time to share this technique. Snare drum tuning can be tough and really comes down to personal feel, sound and the gig you're on. I do wish, however that us drummers could support ideas instead of all the critical comments, which are not feed back nor helpful at all. Thanks Again.
I've seen a Lot of screwed up ways to tune a drum, but this one takes the cake. Take a little pride and caution tuning your drums. I actually had to watch the first of this video again to make sure he actually started out cranking the first tension rod 4-1/2 turns! Unbelievable
I actually have 42 snares as well, and table-tight bottom didn't work for me. Snares resonated too much. But what helper, was loosing four screws around snares on the bottom! Top scheme works great though!
@@toofarpunk it was a high pitch metalic decay in the end that was driving me nuts, so I had to dry my sound. Yes, I do records and that sounded nasty in mics. but for all the other snare drum i had the method is perfect!
Genius. I meticulously maintained a drum set in my home studio for several years - ready to play at any moment. I wish I would have known this system back then.
+Fusion Church I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out on: www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
+Masshoff Drums Works good on my Pork Pie drum not so much on my Ludwig Supraphonic. Maybe the thread pattern is different on the ludwig I just couldn't get the pitch to go even near as high with the same amount of turns.
Hey exitplan2, I'm way out of my depth here, being a mere guitar player trying to be a good drummer. I'm so envious of your Supraphonic. Regardless of the model, it's sure to have cost more than my whole kit! I just bought a Ludwig Breakbeat kit. I know it's childsplay compared to a real kit, but it does sound like it may have some potential. Do you have any suggestions on tuning, setup etc? That's a bit broad, sorry. Really any tips would be most appreciated. Out of curiosity, what's your Supraphonic like? Thanks man.
Hey man. This video was so helpful to me, thank you! I previously asked another commenter the question I'll pose to you, as I didn't realize you were on here responding/your comment was hidden. Anyway, I only have a little Ludwig Breakbeats kit. Is it possible, using your techniques, to get this baby to sound like a right proper kit? Not that it's terrible, but far from my dream kit, you know what I mean. Also, I'm new here but how can I purchase your DVD? Thanks!
Andy Trullinger My Supraphonic is crome over steel 6.5x14 LM402 model late 90's early 2000's model I bought it from a backline company on a gig I was doing. It was part of a rental kick I was using. I asked if they would sell it because it sounded flipping amazing and they gave it to me for practically free . That was around 2003 and i've probably used it on around 200 recordings since then. As to your other question yes you can get just about any drum kit to sound amazing with the right heads tuning, mic placement, room acoustics and of course great playing.
This method may work. But I can guarantee it is NOT good for your shell and hoops. You will twist your hoops and eventually warp your shell. Follow this guy at your own risk...
Tune the bottom three back up at the end of your show, practice, recording session, whatever. Probably won’t eliminate the possibility of warping anything, but you’ll probably still get years out of your drum as apposed to leaving it detuned at the bottom.
+Mathijs Ignoul i had this doubt too... but i don't think so... it actually looks like your hoop will be a little inclined but not bent... it still have a type of symmetry...
+Lucas Gonzaga usually tight to death one lug at a time with 2 turns like shown is the best way to bend the rim and damage the head, it's really preferible to use two lugs and go with smoother steps.
+pdwalker2 believe me, i've bought some snare tuned (by other people) with this method and the diecast hoops bend too, because when you make 2 or 3 turns on one lug, and then on another, you are not sitting the hoop correctly, and it will bend, no matter which one you are using. And you will bend the shell too.
OK, have to admit I'm amazed. I'm a Libra and am OBSESSED with balance, including equal tension on lugs, BUT I witnessed with my own eyes and definitely EARS how powerful and sonicallly beautiful this technique really is. Yes, the effects SEEMS to go from a muffled to an almost empty drum (i.e. no hardware, pads, etc.) with a couple of strategic turns of lugs. WOW. I'm so impressed and can't wait to play with this method. Thanks for trusting your "Einsteinness". :)
I tried this twice and kept it setup this way for a few gigs and one recording session. Verdict? It's a very creative and cool way to control the tone and pitch of your snare drum very quick and easily. HOWEVER... If you play hard rock music and you severely abuse your snare with power like I do "a la Dave Grohl", then this setup is not for you. That bottom lug is just going to keep loosening every time you hit your snare, which is already a problem I have with normal tuning, it just happens even more so and much faster using this method. I can imagine this tuning would work great for a softer player or a style of music, like jazz or funk, but for Rock I hate to say that this just doesn't last. Not unless you plan on having some sort of tuning lock/mechanism of some kind. Also... This "Tuning Trick" puts a lot of uneven and unnecessary stress on the head, warping it in different directions with drastically different tensions. Don't expect it to last very long if you do this to it. Want a dryer sound? Just buy the proper head for your style of play and genre of music. I love a dry/cracky Nirvana/STP type snare so I use an Evans Genera Dry with vents that kill overtones, and then I tighten it to shit everywhere and voila. The perfect snare sound.
How does this affect the wear and tear of the heads? Seems like they would have significantly worse durability with uneven tuning like that. Definitely sounds good though.
+Sigmund Barø I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out on: www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
+Masshoff Drums Please stop spreading this bad tuning technique. It will bend the rim of your snare drum and cost a lot of people a lot of money. The least you could do is use a snare head that isn't notoriously easy to tune. Any idiot can tune a 360 head. Not to mention that snare sounds like cardboard and would never cut through in a mix. Shame on you for spreading bad information.
+Chad Haines At the 4:40 I just start to think that is greatest bulshit tunning I ever seen... not to mention the fact that you're bending your rims doing that, this is a lazy lazy way to tunning a snare only to reach poor results... As Chad says, Shame on you for spreading bad information.
Actually, you are wrong about the mix. This same tuning technique is used by Spectre Studios. He has a very popular video on it, and it doesn't have any ring in the mix whatsoever.
Congrats Udo on having the only 'snare drum tuning method' video on UA-cam that is a precise repeatable sequence of tuning moves, a.k.a. an actual METHOD, and not some vague 'tune it til it feels good' bullshit that isn't repeatable/scientific in any way like all the other tuning 'methods' which I have seen on UA-cam. Also, your tuning here that eliminates the ringing and overtone from the snare completely is absolutely mind-blowing. That is the holy grail sound for studio recording: a nice dry snare with a fast decay and no unnecessary bullshit ring or overtone that you have to fight to get rid of in the mix. Your method also eliminates the need for the embarrassing amateurism that is putting a wallet or duct tape on the snare drum head to get a usable sound.. I don't know how so many drummers are willing to put up with this, but I used to have to resort to this 'solution' myself back in the day because I knew nothing else I could do about it, and I am so glad to see that someone realized this was intolerable and came up with an actual methodical tuning fix for it. Buying an amazing snare drum that costs over a thousand dollars and then having to put pieces of gaffer tape on it to make it not sound like a horrible ringing piece of shit! How embarrassing. You sir are a genius!
What you are saying in 5:22 is wrong. You say we tension the 11-12-1 o'clock screw so the hoop is lifted at the 5 o'clock and there is "kind of more tension"... Well if the hoop is *lifted* that would actually loosen the pressure of the hoop on the head rim underneath it.
Let me put it in a way you can understand; Picture a see-saw. You put weight on one end, and it lays on the ground under the pressure. You put force down on the other side of the see-saw, and the more force you push down, the higher the other end lifts. That end of the board is seeing equal downward force from the weight on it, but the board itself is feeling more tension. In the drum example, picture the same see-saw, but instead of a weight, put a big structure, like a building, a few feet off the ground directly above that seat; an immovable object as it were. The object is not intrinsically pushing down on the end of the see-saw, but it stops the see-saw from going any higher. As you put force down on the other end, eventually the see-saw will be stopped by the immovable object. As you put more force down on one side, the other side experiences more and more pressure, and the "tension" increases. When you turn the lugs to a desired spot, they don't allow the drum head to move above that height. So as you apply a downward force opposite them, the head lifts into the hoop, and gets stopped. As the pressure on the other end increases, so does the tension on this side. It legit works the exact same way a fulcrum does. It does not loosen the pressure of the hoop, the hoop stays where it is, because it is locked down with the lug. The lug is the "immovable object" from before. If the lug wasn't tightened to begin with, yes, it would lift too high. But with the lug tightened ahead of time, you can let the pressure off to produce a rippled snare effect.
Worked for me on a pearl export snare and coated drumhead. This tip is amazing! Will recommend! For snares with only 8 lugs, just use the two lateral ones for tone instead of the four he said.
I have a Pearl Signature Joey Jordison snare 13x6.5" snare, and i tried you method Sir, and it seems it didn't work put quite a bit.. Could you kindly make a demo for 8 lug snare please.. Thanks in advance..
I´m glad that you like it ;) If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.de/dvd.html
It makes sense. I already do all that on the bottom but the batter tuning is quite unorthodox. Gonna try it. Notice he has a forty strand wire. I highly recommend that, especially for deeper drums. That's a deep one.
The evidence that there is audio "tampering" here it at 7:26. Listen to the 2 snare hits how they buzz just like a "normal" snare drum, even though there are wrinkles. Then listen how the sound changes at 7:32 even though nothing on the drum changed since 7:26. So obvious.
All he has done is shut off the room vocal mic that he uses for his voice. The only mic you hear at this point is the 57 on the snare. No other mics. No room ambience. That's why it sounds different! Cheers!
+Mr Tupins Room mics are used all the time to capture ambience. And the sound change is the single mic used to capture attack. You can physically see the mic to the right of our screen over his left shoulder. He's using that to speak in to (and it also captures room ambience when left on). Rawk on!
Just figured out how to make this work with an 8 lug snare +1.5 on the top two -1.5 on the bottom two left and right pairs can be used for tone Awesome video!
I can't be the only one that doesn't think this sounds good. I've never heard a complaint about a equal tension tuning done right. Muffled drums can still have high end if you use the right kind and the right amount of it. This teaches people to try something that could warp their heads and unfortunately I know too many people that have done that.
could not agree more.. this is a stupid video that states things that are time-proven as wrong.. stupid.. muffling a drum is a tool.. not a problem.. and the sounds in this video .. well.. my snare drums sound better.. lets leave it at that.
Yeah, and the thing with drums nowadays is that good tuning is purely subjective(Except in some cases when the drum isn't tuned at all and objectively sound like shit)
+Pat Orlowski i tihnk and i could be wrong so im not attacking, but i think he means when he said do for example 2 full turns (4 actual turns) sometimes you can clearly see him doing a turn or half turn or full turn before he counts
48 in 6 days. I am done with air drums. Going to get a snare today. First video I watched and I don’t know who this fine very interesting and intelligent man is, but I am very elated to get my snare. I hope he he is well in this world! Thank you kind man. 🧝🏼♀️✌🏼
+KushAudio uneven tension destroys the heads shoulder. Uneven tension can warp the shell or crack lugs. Uneven tension is the worst thing to do to a drum. It's relatively common knowledge.
So... no data then, just an appeal to 'common knowledge'. Here's a competing theory: the vast majority of drums out there have moderately to wildly uneven tension, because the vast majority of drummers don't know how to tune drums. And the vast majority of those drums, hoops, and lugs are fine.
After bottom head +2,0 and tophead +1,0, top-most +1,0; top-side +0,5, and release of bottom 3 screws ("tunelugs", 4 of them in a 10-lug snare) sidelug screws+1,0; bottom 2 screws of the top head on either side of the bottom-most, overtune/dampening screw +1,0; dampening screw + 1,0 (which makes all 3 bottom screws +1,0 after loosening them up) -> you have the optimal rock/heavy metal/punchy snare that has great sounding rimshots because the low 3 screws are relatively tight. Also snares pretty loose, it sound Fabulous. This made my day.
I understood the following: 1st turn snare upside down, put stick under snare strings, screw it tight in steps of 4 turns, always switch screws to opposite side 2nd turn back in normal position, loosen all screws, same procedure, but turn it back, till it grabs, then 1 turn only. 3rd 12 o clock screw 1 more turn, 1 and 11 o clock half a turn 4th 5 an 7 o clock screw 1.5 turns back, 6 o clock loose 5th with 3 and 9 o clock tune the sound as you want By loosing 5, 6 and 7 o clock, you can edit the sound from damped to Funk. Right?
I have been using this method for the past 3+ years playing different Gigs every night and I really Love it. Its a very easy way to Quick change the tune of your Drum in a drop of a Stick... Thanks for sharing and God Bless...
DirectCurrent Have you experienced any warping in the hoops or shells? Have you tried this method with standard triple flange, die cast or plywood hoops?
@@vincedelapena I have never had any problem with my hoops or shells warping using this method.It works really well for me. I have never used plywood hoops. I don't think it would work well with plywood hoops. I am sure it can very from kit to kit. I am playing a 1976 Rogers eight piece kit with two snare drums. I hope this helps...
Thanks.
do you use this on a Dynasonic snare drum (if you have one?)
tbonziron Yes! I am using a Rogers Dynasonic snare drum. And it works great!!!
dude, this is the greatest snare drum trick I have ever heard. and I am a freakin keyboard player!
+Marcusmiller you're not a bass player ? ^^
+ChelouWolf Dude Marcus Miller! Sweet Bass lines man..
Marcusmiller And thats why youre a keyboard player.
Thanks Serj Tankian
My husband, Howie Gilbert, has been playing professionally for 70 years! Jazz, Opera, Ballet, Symphony, Greek Weddings, Country Western, German Bands, Recordings, the works. I showed him your video about tuning the snare drum and he loved it! Your method is great for creating different types of sounds on the snare for different gigs. The methodical approach you developed gives the drummer quick control over the snare drum sound and allows you to manipulate that sound with intention. Nice work!
This completely goes against what I have been told previously. And it works. Nice trick :)
+apinakapinastorba I believe Simon Phillips habitually cranked up the top two lugs starting in the early 80s.
This guy has saved me in many many situations. This is hands down the easiest method or live performance drumming.
Gettin' a little too fancy for AC/DC there.
LOL came back a year later and had the same thought this time. Had to like my own comment.
xD Awesome
I sincerely want to extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to you for this. This has literally solved hours upon hours of frustration from my snare. It recently got so bad that I had to step away from the drums entirely, simply because I couldn't get any sort of decent snare sound/tone. You have brought new life into drumming through me. Again, thank you so incredibly much!
God bless this beautiful Serj Tankian Borat drummer 🙌
Thank you Serj Tankian for that weird Technique. Works tho.
Dhee Majumder So true 😂
Soad reference. Good comment.
my god. hahhaha
Dhee Majumder i don't get the joke
The part when he says "Einstineish" is still hands down the best part of this video.
That's a great little trick. I have been studio engineer for 20 yrs and used similar trick where after "tuning" the snare I would loosen 1 lug completely to eliminate overtones and deaden snare....thank you Mr. Funk drummer. Your trick is quicker and does what you say. I will change my method to yours, I like what I hear on my snare drum here. Thank you!
This is the greatest snare drum trick ever, and I'm a culinary student!
+partykrew666....and you should totally look into tuning your drums in a healthier way.
Jacob Matteson i was making a joke about the guitarists who are all saying the same thing..... -_-
Oh! Get those men some ice then!
Ba dum crash
Well, it doesn't work with cooking pots unfortunately. You'll have to use 12 sets of sticks or forks in stead.
This is nuts! Love it....
+Tony Tuite I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out: www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
+Masshoff Drums Hope you thinked about selling a digital (online) version, because DVDs mate... We're in 2015.
+Robin Labadie I still refer to my DVDs. Hell, if its full of good information, I don't mind popping it into my DVD drive at all......
james woody I don't have an optical drive onto my computer, and i hate using them even on my TV :)
Haha I get it
The tricks indeed can help a lot. For almost 5 months, I have been waiting for this kind of hooking sound in a drum set especially on a snare because I know that playing drums is not just banging every cymbals or popping every snares or tom-toms but to play it with conviction and with enjoyment.
I watched this video awhile ago and tried your method at a gig. It worked GREAT. I've watched many videos on tuning a snare but none of them were useful in helping me realize how to do it. This method is easy and actually helped me conceptualize this problem better. I've been tuning my snare since I was a kid, many hours of frustration spent in my room. Thank you! I had to come back to tell you that this really is the best way to tune a snare.
Wow, I thought you were crazy when you loosened those lugs, but it actually looks like it's a great idea. Thanks, I'm gonna give it a try.
+Jim Dooley try it, it`s great!
+Masshoff Drums I will.
+Jim Dooley Yeah, what he said! Gonna try this!
+Masshoff Drums Even if someone isn't switching tones much, it seems like a better method to kill undesired sounds and zone in on the aspects and tone one wants. Looks like complete control of the snare.
You are a drum wizard! I have been trying to get this snare to stop ringing/singing for a long time and that muffled it better than ANY product I have ever put on a head. Thank you!!!
Been using this method on my TAMA StarClassic 14x6.5 with REMO Ambassador X & Emperor X in recording session & LIVE shows almost 2years now... It really works.
Try understand the method & mixed it with your needs (Head/Snare), DON'T OVER DO IT.
Million thanks man..
It is a useful trick & i would have loved to know it 25 years & 5 snare drums ago.
If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.com
This has helped me learn to tune my drum finally
How did you live without it??
I was a professional drummer for over 35 years. Why have I never seen this before? BRILLIANT! Mind officially blown.
Nicely done! Bravo, sir!
+SpectreSoundStudios Hey hey look who it is! :P
Hey man, maybe he should show us how to tune a bassist too right?
+Peter Petrov No-one can do THAT...
Ed Gein
99,9% of pop music proves you wrong.
+Ed Gein obviously went over your head mate he was talking about auto tune ;)
That is fantastic! I just tuned my snare and playing hell’s bells. Sounds great. Thanks
I've watched all sorts of tuning videos... reso tuned higher v lower, raw sound v mic'd, tape/gel v no tuning assist. THIS is the method I have stuck with since discovering it 8 years ago. Especially recently when changing the heads on my gigging kit. It's quick, easy, versatile and always sounds great.
Awesome video. I am always looking to improve my tuning abilities. A few questions.
1) Will this tuning hold over an entire gig or session, or do you recommend going over the lugs between every song?
2) I am also concerned about hoop or shell warping with this method. Is this save over the long term?
3) You don't find a need to fine tune either the bottom or top? I noticed you did go around the bottom head once (and it sounded pretty damn even), but is there ever a time when you would modify them beyond all one (or two) turns past just gripping on the bottom?
4) I would also love to see a video for how you tune a kick, rack, and floor toms.
Thanks for posting this!!!
I don't even own a kit and still watched this video
You are the only one who will benefit from this!
RAZR Same here man
RAZR
I'm like that too I do not
I have a kit but it’s electric yet I can’t stop watching
same
WOW! I tried this on the snare I play at Church. Made it sound so good, that now I tune this way on my own 2 snares.
Thank you for this tip, I love it!
Well my snare is still ringing like hell, need to use dampers but still using this technique it's very easy to quickly get various tones... Nice one!
update, when I replaced the heads on the same snare, the technique works like a charm...
since when does serj from SOAD make drum lesson video's???
LOL TRUEEE
its exactly what i tought^^
Exactly what I was thinking lol
Exactly what i asked myself..great minds think alike
+Water Boy that sounds like soad xD
I was very skeptical at first but staying patient and watching the whole thing proved to be worth it. Thank you!
IT WORKED AMAZINGLY! Billie Jean's snare revealed!!!
This is how I tuned my snare when I was 12 years old and still do it the same way now at 37
I have never ever heard of this in all my years of playing. This is the coolest trick ever.!! Man...this is great!
Can you make a video on tuning your Tom-Toms and Bass Drum?
Terrence Smith Hi Terrence,
the snare drum trick is an extract of my new DVD "The Ultimate Drumtuning Revolution".
If you like to see more, check ou my new DVD at www.masshoffdrums.com.
On that DVD you will find tuning tricks that allow you to tune Toms and Bassdrum in less then 2 minutes, control the pitch of every drum very
easily or to control the low end on your bassdrum with just a drumkey! cheers Udo
Terrence Smith was
lol!
Works perfectly. Grab a spare snare to have set up this way. Who wouldn't want VERY DIFFERENT snare sounds from song to song? No overtones for the sound man to have to gate and compress the hell out of. Everybody of any worth carries 2 snares to the gig.....why not take one that is proven to work for MANY PEOPLE over many years without warpage of the hoops nor the shell? Most drummers that insist on live and open drums end up with your kit simply being triggered out front to get great sounds in 2 seconds. SOMEONE has to do it.
mind.blown. I've been tuning/thinking about snare tuning all wrong for YEARS...such a good method.
This is the greatest snare drum tuning trick, and I'm a guitar player!
+LUckybones25 no wonder !
You look like if Serj Tankien played drums 😄 great job man. You made my snare sound so much better
Everything I have learned about tuning a snare just went out the window with this video! Nicely done. It just goes to show that you don't have to conform to the norm!
I just wanted to thank you for putting this video on...Genius idea....I just tuned my snare according to the video and it sounds FANTASTIC...This saved me so much time, now going to a new venue, my time in tuning my snare is nill....Thanks again, Stephen I've been playing over forty years, with this tuning method I could have saved myself so much time and frustration....WOW.
At first I was thinking yeah yeah right... and by the end of the video I was amazed at how well this works lol!
Wow !! This works. Nice, fat sound. No muffling required. Seems to get a bit less snare buzz on tom tom hits too.
Can more or less control the pitch on the fly with the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock lugs. Sweet.
I have a Drumdial and was using it while I made these adjustments. Here's the Drumdial before-and-after values in case anyone is interested. I have 2 snare drums.
The first is a 90s vintage Pearl 6-1/2x14 with only 8 lugs. In the past, I've set the snare head to 81 and the batter to 89 .. Using Udo's video as a guide I cranked the snare head from 81 up to 83. On the batter head, I left the 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock (side) lugs at 89. I cranked the 11o'clock lug and 1o'clock lugs up to 93. Dropped the 5 and 7 o'clock lugs totally loose and adjusted up just enough to get rid of the the wrinkles which showed at 83 on the Drumdial.
Also have a 70s vintage Ludwig Supraphonic 5x14, 10 lugs. Again, my usual Drumdial numbers are snare 81, batter 89.
Kicked the snare head up from 81 to 84. I left the side lugs at 89, same as the Pearl. Cranked 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock to 92. Loosened 5 and 7 o'clock all the way loose then tightened up just enough to get rid of the wrinkles, Drumdial = 84
From your thumbnail, I thought you were Serj Tankian for a sec 😜
I love this, but I’m also concerned about the fact that people might try this on not so premium drums and they might bend their ring, is that an actual issue here? 😮
Yes. This is not a good trick imo. You will warp your drum and/or hoop eventually
used this technique on a friend's snare a few weeks ago, was tuning his whole kit.
it sounded fucking phenomenal!
this is genius!
bloody genius.
Thanks man! If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.com
Oh man those hi-hats are massive.
haha like it
Edward F. Pignataro IV ikr
lmao
Thank you for taking the time to share this technique. Snare drum tuning can be tough and really comes down to personal feel, sound and the gig you're on. I do wish, however that us drummers could support ideas instead of all the critical comments, which are not feed back nor helpful at all. Thanks Again.
Thank you Serj Tankian. I thought you were full time vocalist for System of a Down
lol
I'm actually so glad I watched the video before I ruined my snare drum and heads!
I've seen a Lot of screwed up ways to tune a drum, but this one takes the cake. Take a little pride and caution tuning your drums. I actually had to watch the first of this video again to make sure he actually started out cranking the first tension rod 4-1/2 turns! Unbelievable
I actually have 42 snares as well, and table-tight bottom didn't work for me. Snares resonated too much. But what helper, was loosing four screws around snares on the bottom! Top scheme works great though!
Pavel Vilchytski did they really resonate too much? If you are a bedroom warrior maybe. If you play for people and record, not an issue.
@@toofarpunk it was a high pitch metalic decay in the end that was driving me nuts, so I had to dry my sound. Yes, I do records and that sounded nasty in mics. but for all the other snare drum i had the method is perfect!
How could I use this technique with an 8-lug snare?
Genius. I meticulously maintained a drum set in my home studio for several years - ready to play at any moment. I wish I would have known this system back then.
Amazing
+Fusion Church I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all
my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little
extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out on:
www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
+Masshoff Drums Works good on my Pork Pie drum not so much on my Ludwig Supraphonic. Maybe the thread pattern is different on the ludwig I just couldn't get the pitch to go even near as high with the same amount of turns.
Hey exitplan2, I'm way out of my depth here, being a mere guitar player trying to be a good drummer. I'm so envious of your Supraphonic. Regardless of the model, it's sure to have cost more than my whole kit! I just bought a Ludwig Breakbeat kit. I know it's childsplay compared to a real kit, but it does sound like it may have some potential. Do you have any suggestions on tuning, setup etc? That's a bit broad, sorry. Really any tips would be most appreciated. Out of curiosity, what's your Supraphonic like? Thanks man.
Hey man. This video was so helpful to me, thank you! I previously asked another commenter the question I'll pose to you, as I didn't realize you were on here responding/your comment was hidden. Anyway, I only have a little Ludwig Breakbeats kit. Is it possible, using your techniques, to get this baby to sound like a right proper kit? Not that it's terrible, but far from my dream kit, you know what I mean. Also, I'm new here but how can I purchase your DVD? Thanks!
Andy Trullinger My Supraphonic is crome over steel 6.5x14 LM402 model late 90's early 2000's model I bought it from a backline company on a gig I was doing. It was part of a rental kick I was using. I asked if they would sell it because it sounded flipping amazing and they gave it to me for practically free . That was around 2003 and i've probably used it on around 200 recordings since then. As to your other question yes you can get just about any drum kit to sound amazing with the right heads tuning, mic placement, room acoustics and of course great playing.
This is totally insane
I run two snares on my kit, Tried this with 42 strand and it sounds awesome. really like that fat sound...Thanks
This method may work. But I can guarantee it is NOT good for your shell and hoops. You will twist your hoops and eventually warp your shell. Follow this guy at your own risk...
Matt N. lol!!
Tune the bottom three back up at the end of your show, practice, recording session, whatever. Probably won’t eliminate the possibility of warping anything, but you’ll probably still get years out of your drum as apposed to leaving it detuned at the bottom.
EXACTLY
Matt Nes'heim I mean my snare is all metal so it should be fine for me
Matt
I agree totaly. I try it. It kills both heads. After 3 days your snare sound only one way: shitty
Doesn't this damage the hoop?
+Mathijs Ignoul
i had this doubt too... but i don't think so... it actually looks like your hoop will be a little inclined but not bent... it still have a type of symmetry...
+Lucas Gonzaga usually tight to death one lug at a time with 2 turns like shown is the best way to bend the rim and damage the head, it's really preferible to use two lugs and go with smoother steps.
+Mathijs Ignoul yes, if you happen to have hoops made of tin.
+pdwalker2 believe me, i've bought some snare tuned (by other people) with this method and the diecast hoops bend too, because when you make 2 or 3 turns on one lug, and then on another, you are not sitting the hoop correctly, and it will bend, no matter which one you are using. And you will bend the shell too.
+baorozzo yep
OK, have to admit I'm amazed. I'm a Libra and am OBSESSED with balance, including equal tension on lugs, BUT I witnessed with my own eyes and definitely EARS how powerful and sonicallly beautiful this technique really is. Yes, the effects SEEMS to go from a muffled to an almost empty drum (i.e. no hardware, pads, etc.) with a couple of strategic turns of lugs. WOW. I'm so impressed and can't wait to play with this method. Thanks for trusting your "Einsteinness". :)
I tried this twice and kept it setup this way for a few gigs and one recording session. Verdict? It's a very creative and cool way to control the tone and pitch of your snare drum very quick and easily.
HOWEVER... If you play hard rock music and you severely abuse your snare with power like I do "a la Dave Grohl", then this setup is not for you. That bottom lug is just going to keep loosening every time you hit your snare, which is already a problem I have with normal tuning, it just happens even more so and much faster using this method.
I can imagine this tuning would work great for a softer player or a style of music, like jazz or funk, but for Rock I hate to say that this just doesn't last. Not unless you plan on having some sort of tuning lock/mechanism of some kind.
Also... This "Tuning Trick" puts a lot of uneven and unnecessary stress on the head, warping it in different directions with drastically different tensions. Don't expect it to last very long if you do this to it. Want a dryer sound? Just buy the proper head for your style of play and genre of music. I love a dry/cracky Nirvana/STP type snare so I use an Evans Genera Dry with vents that kill overtones, and then I tighten it to shit everywhere and voila. The perfect snare sound.
How does this affect the wear and tear of the heads? Seems like they would have significantly worse durability with uneven tuning like that. Definitely sounds good though.
I was very skeptical at first but amazed at the end. Great way to tune your snare !
Thanks Serj!
I'm not even a drummer and I'm watching this :D Great thing to know
i ve been looking at a few different ways and surprised on how many but i really like the control of this one and no muffle required
Dude! That's impressive!! Will try asap! ;D
+Sigmund Barø I´m glad you like it! I have a new drumtuning DVD with all
my revolutionary tuning systems out now.This trick is only a little
extract of it! If you like to learn more check it out on:
www.masshoffdrums.com/shop
+Masshoff Drums Please stop spreading this bad tuning technique. It will bend the rim of your snare drum and cost a lot of people a lot of money. The least you could do is use a snare head that isn't notoriously easy to tune. Any idiot can tune a 360 head. Not to mention that snare sounds like cardboard and would never cut through in a mix. Shame on you for spreading bad information.
***** Im so glad Im not the only one who had a problem with this technique.
+Chad Haines At the 4:40 I just start to think that is greatest bulshit tunning I ever seen... not to mention the fact that you're bending your rims doing that, this is a lazy lazy way to tunning a snare only to reach poor results... As Chad says, Shame on you for spreading bad information.
Actually, you are wrong about the mix. This same tuning technique is used by Spectre Studios. He has a very popular video on it, and it doesn't have any ring in the mix whatsoever.
dang he’s like super stoked
you would be too
if you were wearing
a giant thumb ring
Congrats Udo on having the only 'snare drum tuning method' video on UA-cam that is a precise repeatable sequence of tuning moves, a.k.a. an actual METHOD, and not some vague 'tune it til it feels good' bullshit that isn't repeatable/scientific in any way like all the other tuning 'methods' which I have seen on UA-cam.
Also, your tuning here that eliminates the ringing and overtone from the snare completely is absolutely mind-blowing. That is the holy grail sound for studio recording: a nice dry snare with a fast decay and no unnecessary bullshit ring or overtone that you have to fight to get rid of in the mix.
Your method also eliminates the need for the embarrassing amateurism that is putting a wallet or duct tape on the snare drum head to get a usable sound.. I don't know how so many drummers are willing to put up with this, but I used to have to resort to this 'solution' myself back in the day because I knew nothing else I could do about it, and I am so glad to see that someone realized this was intolerable and came up with an actual methodical tuning fix for it. Buying an amazing snare drum that costs over a thousand dollars and then having to put pieces of gaffer tape on it to make it not sound like a horrible ringing piece of shit! How embarrassing.
You sir are a genius!
Throwing a tea towel over the snare has a similar effect.
What you are saying in 5:22 is wrong. You say we tension the 11-12-1 o'clock screw so the hoop is lifted at the 5 o'clock and there is "kind of more tension"... Well if the hoop is *lifted* that would actually loosen the pressure of the hoop on the head rim underneath it.
It's hard to take you seriously when your profile pic is a trollface.
Let me put it in a way you can understand;
Picture a see-saw. You put weight on one end, and it lays on the ground under the pressure. You put force down on the other side of the see-saw, and the more force you push down, the higher the other end lifts. That end of the board is seeing equal downward force from the weight on it, but the board itself is feeling more tension.
In the drum example, picture the same see-saw, but instead of a weight, put a big structure, like a building, a few feet off the ground directly above that seat; an immovable object as it were. The object is not intrinsically pushing down on the end of the see-saw, but it stops the see-saw from going any higher. As you put force down on the other end, eventually the see-saw will be stopped by the immovable object. As you put more force down on one side, the other side experiences more and more pressure, and the "tension" increases.
When you turn the lugs to a desired spot, they don't allow the drum head to move above that height. So as you apply a downward force opposite them, the head lifts into the hoop, and gets stopped. As the pressure on the other end increases, so does the tension on this side.
It legit works the exact same way a fulcrum does. It does not loosen the pressure of the hoop, the hoop stays where it is, because it is locked down with the lug. The lug is the "immovable object" from before. If the lug wasn't tightened to begin with, yes, it would lift too high. But with the lug tightened ahead of time, you can let the pressure off to produce a rippled snare effect.
Worked for me on a pearl export snare and coated drumhead. This tip is amazing! Will recommend! For snares with only 8 lugs, just use the two lateral ones for tone instead of the four he said.
I have a Pearl Signature Joey Jordison snare 13x6.5" snare, and i tried you method Sir, and it seems it didn't work put quite a bit.. Could you kindly make a demo for 8 lug snare please.. Thanks in advance..
i have the same problem.
I have that same snare im Gona give it a try.
I have a 8 lock too , it works not bad but I think it can be better .
Wow, great ingenuity! probably the single most effective tuning tip I have found to date. Fucking great indeed!
Tried this my DW 8x14 steel snare drum, and yes, it worked. Thank you!
3:49 it sounded just fine like that. I wouldn't do this to a snare.
I agree, very fusion-ish. If I had a set list with both fusion/funk songs and hard rock songs I would just have two snares and tune one up very high
In days of old, you'd have been burned at the stake for such sorcery. This is truly amazing! Thank You kind Sir!
I´m glad that you like it ;) If you like to learn more about drumtuning check out my whole drumtuning
DVD. The snare trick is only a little extract of it. On the DVD are many
more lessons. For example my Masshoff Tuning Method, which allows you
to tune every drum perfectly in less than 2 minutes. You will find more
information about it on my website: www.masshoffdrums.de/dvd.html
i was kinda thinking the same... also i was thinking WTF!! while he was doing it, but it ended up sounding amazing
no drawing on my daughter's drums! i'll get shot
This actually WORKED!!!! My snare was ringing like crazy and now it's PHAT!
Is it possible for 8lugged snares?
I just did it, basically I only have 2 middle lugs instead of four to adjust the sound of it.
+Josh Carroll right!
Absolutely in love with how my snare sounds! You are a wizard!
thank you for the compliment +Josh Carroll
7:11 Zoidberg?
It makes sense. I already do all that on the bottom but the batter tuning is quite unorthodox. Gonna try it. Notice he has a forty strand wire. I highly recommend that, especially for deeper drums. That's a deep one.
Wow - that works like a charm! I'm going to try that tomorrow. Does it work with toms?
Joe Lonsdale My guess is no because the reso head shouldn’t be cranked like a snare head
@@jonathonstewart1436 Agreed.
A normal friday evening: playing the drums on stage, crowd goes insane. next song...OH NOO its a funk song, im screwed :O
^^
+Matze xD
Danke Udo Masshoff!
Zum ersten Mal habe ich genau den Snaresound, den ich will!
One two tree forrrrr
The evidence that there is audio "tampering" here it at 7:26. Listen to the 2 snare hits how they buzz just like a "normal" snare drum, even though there are wrinkles. Then listen how the sound changes at 7:32 even though nothing on the drum changed since 7:26. So obvious.
+David James I thought something about that part felt weird.
All he has done is shut off the room vocal mic that he uses for his voice. The only mic you hear at this point is the 57 on the snare. No other mics. No room ambience. That's why it sounds different! Cheers!
That's why you don't hear any movement, his shirt rubbing. That sorta stuff.
+Mr Tupins Room mics are used all the time to capture ambience. And the sound change is the single mic used to capture attack. You can physically see the mic to the right of our screen over his left shoulder. He's using that to speak in to (and it also captures room ambience when left on). Rawk on!
Actually he's wearing a lavalier mic on his shirt collar.... that mic is getting muted for the sound samples.
Thanks for increasing my knowledge, the way you can tune for both high and dry and low tones. My Ludwig 402 has never sounded so good. Thanks.
Does it matter how the wires are positioned in relation to the top head?
EINSTEINISCH? richtiger Deutscher ^^ real German
Masshoff heisst Udo. Ja, richtiger Deutscher.
Enrico is wirklich so
is mir bei 0:20 auf gefallen...wie er das gesagt hat "so"... xD
Ja :D
haha isso ich dachte mir auch nur wtf
Just figured out how to make this work with an 8 lug snare
+1.5 on the top two
-1.5 on the bottom two
left and right pairs can be used for tone
Awesome video!
I can't be the only one that doesn't think this sounds good. I've never heard a complaint about a equal tension tuning done right. Muffled drums can still have high end if you use the right kind and the right amount of it. This teaches people to try something that could warp their heads and unfortunately I know too many people that have done that.
could not agree more.. this is a stupid video that states things that are time-proven as wrong.. stupid.. muffling a drum is a tool.. not a problem.. and the sounds in this video .. well.. my snare drums sound better.. lets leave it at that.
Yeah, and the thing with drums nowadays is that good tuning is purely subjective(Except in some cases when the drum isn't tuned at all and objectively sound like shit)
"Let's do one turn"
+Does 3, 4 or 5 turns randomly
+Sergio Jiménez 1 full turn equates to 360 degrees.
If you can do a 360 degree turn in one shot, post vids pls
+Pat Orlowski i tihnk and i could be wrong so im not attacking, but i think he means when he said do for example 2 full turns (4 actual turns) sometimes you can clearly see him doing a turn or half turn or full turn before he counts
+Michael James But even with that, the guy in the vid explains that he does the extra turns to get the bolts to grip the rim first.
+Sergio Jiménez "ONCE IT STARTS TO GRIP...let's do one turn"
+Pat Orlowski South Bay
Lightning the same
48 in 6 days. I am done with air drums. Going to get a snare today. First video I watched and I don’t know who this fine very interesting and intelligent man is, but I am very elated to get my snare. I hope he he is well in this world! Thank you kind man. 🧝🏼♀️✌🏼
This will 100% decrease your drumheads lifetime also may damage your drum edges although it sounds cool.
Nice theory, makes total sense. Now show me the data.
+KushAudio uneven tension destroys the heads shoulder. Uneven tension can warp the shell or crack lugs. Uneven tension is the worst thing to do to a drum. It's relatively common knowledge.
+KushAudio I forgot the warped hoops as well. It's just a bad idea all around.
So... no data then, just an appeal to 'common knowledge'. Here's a competing theory: the vast majority of drums out there have moderately to wildly uneven tension, because the vast majority of drummers don't know how to tune drums. And the vast majority of those drums, hoops, and lugs are fine.
KushAudio Well done sir
Can you remove the marker from the heads?
Juan Vargas Im pretty sure you can wipe it with a damp paper towel.
Juan Vargas yes. White magic Wipe sponge will make them look brand new. Believe it !
Maybe use dry erase instead of a Sharpie
Clorox wipes work well
I used to write the set list in sharpie on my heads, it wore off after a couple of gigs.
After bottom head +2,0 and tophead +1,0, top-most +1,0; top-side +0,5, and release of bottom 3 screws ("tunelugs", 4 of them in a 10-lug snare) sidelug screws+1,0; bottom 2 screws of the top head on either side of the bottom-most, overtune/dampening screw +1,0; dampening screw + 1,0 (which makes all 3 bottom screws +1,0 after loosening them up) -> you have the optimal rock/heavy metal/punchy snare that has great sounding rimshots because the low 3 screws are relatively tight. Also snares pretty loose, it sound Fabulous. This made my day.
I bet he goes through snare heads like no tomorrow..
how about 8lugs snare?
I understood the following:
1st turn snare upside down, put stick under snare strings, screw it tight in steps of 4 turns, always switch screws to opposite side
2nd turn back in normal position, loosen all screws, same procedure, but turn it back, till it grabs, then 1 turn only.
3rd 12 o clock screw 1 more turn, 1 and 11 o clock half a turn
4th 5 an 7 o clock screw 1.5 turns back, 6 o clock loose
5th with 3 and 9 o clock tune the sound as you want
By loosing 5, 6 and 7 o clock, you can edit the sound from damped to Funk.
Right?
This should be titled, “How to Ruin a Snarehead in 10:07”. Bloody tune it right, and use muffling (or not) for desired tone.