Tuning help and Tips

Drum Animal · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 11:42 AM

I could really use any tips you guys might have for tuning my set. Got home last night with my brand new 6 piece Tama Superstar Kit about 8pm. Took me till about 1am to get it all assembled and together. I spent a lot of time tuning them and trying to get rid of the ringing. I got a set of Remo Pinstripes and a Drum Dial. Is it just one of those things I'm going to have to play around with to get the sound I want? Should the bottom head be tighter than the top? Top tighter than the bottom? Will I possibly need some dampeners? When I stopped at Guitar Center to get the heads and dial, the guy told me I shouldn't need to dampen it at all. Any tips or general rules of thumb will greatly be appreciated. I wanna start rippin this thing up and droppin beats!

**Tainojim** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 12:32 PM

Patients is a virtue grass hopper.

If you take a close look at the tuning chart that comes with the "Drum Dial", you will notice that the batter is tuned at a higher tension than the resonator head.

If you don't have the chart, you can download it at:,

Tuning Chart

This tool will get you within the tuning spectrum but you need to fine tune by ear to get the results your looking for.

I have a 9pcs. kit and it would take me days to get them tuned without the Drum Dial.

As for resonance (Ringing), I use resonator rings. Resonator Gel works well also.

Muffling the bass drum if needed, there are muffling pillows and straps. I prefer the strap, being old fashion, if you get my meaning.

When it comes to tuning drums, take your time with it. I also use pinstripe heads on my kit.

Drum Animal · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:07 PM

Thanks for the tip. Been watching tuning videos off youtube for the last few hours. Well, trying I should say. I have dial up and MAN IS IT SLOW!

Takes a half hour just to download a ten minute video! So in four hours I think I've been able to see three. Anywho, so far no one has used the dial in any of the videos I've seen. Was wondering if it was worth the money? Seems like I got a better sound and closer to what I want by going around the drum near the edge at the lugs and getting them all to sound the same like the videos show. Answer me this if you can. Lets say you want a tention of 70 and there's one lug that reads 75 and you can't get it any lower cause there isn't any tension on the lug to begin with. Do ya just keep going around it till it balances out? Or start over cause the head wasn't seated properly?

**Tainojim** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 04:19 PM

The Drum Dial is a tool used to get within a certain spectrum. The tool is used about an inch away from the edge of the rim.

The fine tuning is up to you.

Now if one lug screw is still loose, there may be a warped rim or bearing edge that may need to be looked into as the problem.

Also the type of heads being used could be the problem.

**Tainojim** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2010, 03:04 PM

When one lug in particular can't be tuned equally, you can add a washer or spacer to achieve equal tuning around the rim.

Some drum companies send this part with the drum kit, when ordered new.

Nsra65 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 06:40 PM

If you know to look for and the sound that you want out of the drum .....Don't have to do all of that .

Tune it by hear ..Get the ringing out of your head''s .....Old white Remo {w} pinstripe ...

What i use ...Good head's to tune ..Stay in tune for a long time ..

Never use a drum tune dial ...For any thing "

Just don't tune them real tight.YOu will mess up the head's on them ....

For the bottom's heads ....Tune them last .So the top head sound like the bottom head ..Little deeper .Not much

Drum Animal · #7 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 08:53 PM

Well, I've been using both the dial and my ear. Watched a few tuning videos on youtube as well. Kinda tryin to use a little bit of each technic I learn I guess. Seem to have the best luck with the dial though I must say. Cant seem to really tighten them much anyways cause they start to get that Boing sound to them and ring for a few seconds. About 70 on the dial is it. I pretty much got the toms sounding ok, but they don't feel the way I'd like. Not much bounce or response to em. When I get the response and feel I like, thats when they get the ringing sound. I'm guessing some dampening rings or other type of dampener would be pretty helpful as well? I Absolutey Love my snare. Sounds and feels like a marching drum. How bout the hole I see in a lot of front bass drum heads? Is that just for adding a mic, or does it help with the sound as well? My bass drum is what I'm having a hard time getting to feel and sound the way I'd like right now. I did the wrinkle thing to get the lowest possible tone and then ended up putting a pillow inside, but it just doesn't have a solid feel to it. Kinda rubbery so to speak. Especially when I'm on the double pedal. Thats when I really start to feel the rubbery rebound. I want the beaters to hit the head, go thud and stop.

Nsra65 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 09:07 PM

Buddy "

Get the bottom head to just right ....

Then

Go to your top head .Tune them little bit higher ..Not much ....

Then buye some of the Remoe drum cut out's then place them on the drum heads .See how that sound's to you ....

I use them ...Really work out pretty good for my Old 1980 pearl drum's that i have ??

Dead Remo Ringer's drum cut out's ..get them all in diffrent size's .Best bet ...

LOL .YOu watch video's on how to tune your drums .....Man " I never watch them .never had to .i been playing off and on about over 20 year's .I play and by ear ! Never had any lesson's either ....

Drum Animal · #9 (**permalink**) 03-15-2010, 11:03 PM

Ok, I'll admit it.

I watched some videos on youtube about tuning. I played for a while myself, been out of it for a while too though. AND not to mention. The set I had to play on as a kid through jr high and high school was a cheap Remo PTS set. PTS standing for Pree Tuned Set. Just snap the heads on and go. NO bottom resonant heads, front bass head, or fancy clear oil filled heads either. And getting the ring out of the ONE option they offered was no easy task either, Believe Me! So not only am I getting back into my

love and passion of DRUMS. But I dont know Jack

about this tunin! I catch on quick though.

Drum Master 1 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2010, 12:20 AM

How best to tune your drums has been an age old problem for drummers for ever... Everyone's got an opinion on it, but questions still persist.

What I do know, is that much of the advice out they will damage your new skins and destroy the sound of your drums. For example; one piece of very bad advice I often hear is: "You got to press down hard in the center to bed them in"... I have even heard drum shops suggesting you sit on them, and bounce up and down.

No .No. No... Do that, and you risk destroying the sound of those skins forever.

Instead of me trying to explain, I'll suggest you check out the following link: YouTube - Drum Tuning Tom Lesson
Trust me... this the correct way to get the best from your tuning endeavors.

Good luck.