| Below are general tuning tips that will lead you in the right direction to get the best sound and feel out of your drum kit. |
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| * Drum Tips * |
| "Your One Shop Talent Stop" |
Preparation:
Step 1. Remove the drumhead.
Step 2. Use a dry, clean cloth to wipe off the hoop and bearing edge, removing
any build-up that may have formed. Be sure to remove any debris that
may have fallen into the drum.
Tuning Sequence:
To seat the drumhead, use the tuning sequence that corresponds to the number of
tension rods on your drum.
Technique:
Follow the 4 steps below:
Step 1. Finger-tighten each tension rod until it touches the counter hoop.
Step 2. Using your drum key, tension each rod by 1/4 turn increments until the
head begins to
resonate freely. Continue tensioning the head by small increments until you reach a
pitch SLIGHTLY higher than you desire. Excessive tensioning is not necessary and
can often damage the head.
sequence or in clockwise movement until you reach the pitch you desire.
Step 4. Continue to "tweak" each key rod by striking the head, then quickly
turning the drum key counter-clockwise and then clockwise, up to
pitch. Re-strike the head in the center and continue tweaking until you
hear the clearest possible pitch The ultimate goal is to make the head
vibrate evenly. At this point, tune below, then upwards to the pitch
you desire.
TOMS: Batter and resonant heads should be relatively close in pitch.
SNARE: Batter head equal or higher pitched than resonant (snare side) head.
BASS DRUM: Batter and resonant heads close to the same pitch. In most cases,
this should be the lowest possible pitch just before the head begins to "wrinkle."
Slight changes in tension of the bass drum batter head will make big differences in
the sound and feel of the bass drum pedal action.
MARCHING TUNING TIPS:
Below are general tuning tips that will lead you in the right direction to equal the
best-sound and feel out of your marching drum.
*****ATTENTION*****
Improper installation can permanently damage a new drumhead. Please, carefully
follow this procedure to ensure maximum performance and extended playing life of
the head.
STEP 1: PREPARATION
STEP 2: MOUNTING THE HEAD
STEP 3: FINE-TUNING
SNARE DRUM:
TENOR DRUMS:
OVERALL CONSIDERATIONS:
Find the right pitch for your drum and keep it there. Avoid tightening the drumhead
every-time you play. It is better to check the head daily and make small
adjustments in tension rather than waiting and making large adjustments all at once.
Even though new heads require a short break-in period, modern materials are
extremely resilient and tend to hold pitch longer if they are always re-tuned to the
original pitch at every session. Stay consistent.
Step 1. Remove the drumhead.
Step 2. Use a dry, clean cloth to wipe off the hoop and bearing edge, removing
any build-up that may have formed. Be sure to remove any debris that
may have fallen into the drum.
Tuning Sequence:
To seat the drumhead, use the tuning sequence that corresponds to the number of
tension rods on your drum.
Technique:
Follow the 4 steps below:
Step 1. Finger-tighten each tension rod until it touches the counter hoop.
Step 2. Using your drum key, tension each rod by 1/4 turn increments until the
head begins to
resonate freely. Continue tensioning the head by small increments until you reach a
pitch SLIGHTLY higher than you desire. Excessive tensioning is not necessary and
can often damage the head.
sequence or in clockwise movement until you reach the pitch you desire.
Step 4. Continue to "tweak" each key rod by striking the head, then quickly
turning the drum key counter-clockwise and then clockwise, up to
pitch. Re-strike the head in the center and continue tweaking until you
hear the clearest possible pitch The ultimate goal is to make the head
vibrate evenly. At this point, tune below, then upwards to the pitch
you desire.
TOMS: Batter and resonant heads should be relatively close in pitch.
SNARE: Batter head equal or higher pitched than resonant (snare side) head.
BASS DRUM: Batter and resonant heads close to the same pitch. In most cases,
this should be the lowest possible pitch just before the head begins to "wrinkle."
Slight changes in tension of the bass drum batter head will make big differences in
the sound and feel of the bass drum pedal action.
MARCHING TUNING TIPS:
Below are general tuning tips that will lead you in the right direction to equal the
best-sound and feel out of your marching drum.
*****ATTENTION*****
Improper installation can permanently damage a new drumhead. Please, carefully
follow this procedure to ensure maximum performance and extended playing life of
the head.
STEP 1: PREPARATION
- Remove the old head and completely clean the entire drum shell and hoop
(rim). Make sure that the bearing edge (lip) is smooth and clean at the point
of contact with the head. Remove dirt and old lubricant from the tension
rods and apply a lithium grease.
STEP 2: MOUNTING THE HEAD
- Place the new head on the drum and replace the hoop. Finger-tighten the
tensions rods until they make contact with the hoop. Do not apply pressure
to the head yet.
Following the "cross lug sequence," begin tensioning by turning each rod
one (1) complete revolution. Repeat this procedure, then continue the
tensioning sequence using smaller increments (1/2 turn) until the drum is
brought into its desired range. It may take several days until a new head
begins to sound its best. Some adjustment may be necessary during this
break-in period.
STEP 3: FINE-TUNING
SNARE DRUM:
- MX Snare Side Head: For maximum resonance and articulation, the MX
Snare Side Head should be tuned to the relative pitch of the batter head.
Check often for loose tension rods on the snare side of the drums. Normal
head stretching may cause some rods to spin out and drop off the drum.
Tune each individual gut strand to a uniform pitch by adjusting the individual
strands at the butt plate with a screwdriver. Use the vertical control knobs
to get the snares flush with the bottom head at the bearing edge. Then, use
the horizontal control knob to gradually tension the entire snare unit to a
crisp articulation.
TENOR DRUMS:
- To properly tune the Evans MX Tenor Head, follow the cross lug sequence,
match the pitch at each tension point as you would with timpani. Balancing
the head is probably the most important factor in achieving a clear tone with
maximum projection. Marching tenors in a set are usually tuned a minor
third apart to give a feeling of melodic movement between drums.
OVERALL CONSIDERATIONS:
Find the right pitch for your drum and keep it there. Avoid tightening the drumhead
every-time you play. It is better to check the head daily and make small
adjustments in tension rather than waiting and making large adjustments all at once.
Even though new heads require a short break-in period, modern materials are
extremely resilient and tend to hold pitch longer if they are always re-tuned to the
original pitch at every session. Stay consistent.
| Tuning relationship between the batter (top) head and resonant (bottom) head. |
| Super Key |
| Music Studios |
| Microphone Placement |
PLACEMENT: For best results, try and position the head of the mic
approximately 2 inches above the drum head and two inches inside the rim aimed
towards the center of the drum (usually about a 45 degree angle). Depending on
the size and type of microphone you are using, you have to adjust the height of the
microphone stand and/or rim mount mic holder. If you have a mic stand or holder
with a gooseneck then bend it into the proper position, then tighten. The gooseneck
can also be angled in any direction to help you achieve the right position.
Microphone placement is not an exact science it depends on the instrument, the
player's style, the type of music, the loudness of the music, the room acoustics,
the should system, the engineer, and of course, the microphone itself.
The bottom line is that experimentation is ultimately the key to achieving the best
results for your application.
approximately 2 inches above the drum head and two inches inside the rim aimed
towards the center of the drum (usually about a 45 degree angle). Depending on
the size and type of microphone you are using, you have to adjust the height of the
microphone stand and/or rim mount mic holder. If you have a mic stand or holder
with a gooseneck then bend it into the proper position, then tighten. The gooseneck
can also be angled in any direction to help you achieve the right position.
Microphone placement is not an exact science it depends on the instrument, the
player's style, the type of music, the loudness of the music, the room acoustics,
the should system, the engineer, and of course, the microphone itself.
The bottom line is that experimentation is ultimately the key to achieving the best
results for your application.