If you play well and you know how to tune drums, the rest is all gravy. Great drums, microphones, and mixing techniques will improve your sound, but if the drums aren’t tuned well, you’re not a player in the game.
Drum tuning is about properly seating a drum head so it is in harmony with itself, the drum shell, and the resonant head. When the tension rods are tightened, they use the rim to bring the head down onto the drum’s bearing edge. Although drums can vary in terms of how this needs to be done, most drums benefit from standard techniques.
This article explains the drum tuning process, including the parts of the drum, equipment needed, the process of tuning, and a few hacks to help you along the way.
Quick Steps – How to Tune Drums
The steps below are further explained in the article sections that follow.
1. Tighten each tension rod a full turn, starting with any rod and proceeding to the most opposite rod on the other side of the drum.
2. Reduce the amount of turning to a half or quarter turn as the head becomes more taut.
3. Check the intonation by tapping the drum head near each tension rod to compare the pitch.
4. Compare the batter head to the resonant head.
5. Revisit these steps as needed to balance the drum tuning in the context of the whole drum set.
Parts of a Drum
Modern drums are built based on relatively standard designs from one manufacturer to another. Although dimensions and materials can vary, most drums are similar.
The basic parts of a drum include the batter head, resonant head, top and bottom rims, tension rods, lug casings, shell, and mounting hardware.
What are the best drum head brands?
The top drum head brands include Remo, Evans, and Aquarian. All of these brands make great heads which can vary from one production year to another as they come out with new models or adjust the existing ones.
Choosing the Right Drum Heads
Not all drum heads are created equally. Some heads are clear while others are coated. A drum head can be thick or it can be thin. These differences, among a few others, contribute to the sound produced when you play your drums.
Certain styles of music lean toward types of drum heads. For example, a heavy metal drummer who hits hard may need a thicker head. Rock and metal drummers often also prefer a clear head because of the clarity in the attack.
If you’re looking for a warmer sound, try coated drum heads. The coating cancels out some of the higher overtones without compromising the attack too much. If you want both attack and warmth in your sound, try a single ply coated head like the Remo Coated Ambassador.
Different situations also call for different heads. You may use double ply heads while playing live but the recording process isn’t capturing the drums with the same heads. I always use single-ply heads while recording and change them the rehearsal before the sessions so they are broken in and ready for laying down tracks.
Drum Tuning Tools
Tuning drums only requires a few tools. The drum key is the most critical tool because you can’t tune or change heads without it. Other tools include small hand tools, towels, and tuning machines.
Drum Keys
A drum key is a special tool used to tighten and loosen the tension rods. It comes in a variety of different designs like the following.
Standard key
This is the key that comes with most new drums. It’s a simple T-shaped design.
Remo Quicktech
I’m a huge fan of this key because of its versatility. You can use it as a standard key, twist on tension rods with the finger tight feature, and it attaches to the end of a drill or driver for a quick change of drum heads.
Ratchet Bit
The ratchet bit can be used with any ratchet that matches the drive dimension — usually 1/4 inch.
Torque Key
These keys are designed to release tightening capabilities once a set torque value is achieved. This way, all of the rods are set to the same tension. This can be problematic if the lugs are corroded or dirty, restricting the torque key and providing a false release of the key.
High Tension Key
Some drums, like marching snares or tenors, require more leverage to achieve the required tension to tune the drums. The high tension designs usually extend the T-handle arms twice as far (or more) than the standard drum key.
Drum Tuning Machines
Some drummers use tools to measure the tension of the head. Examples of these tools include Drum Dial and the Tama Tension Watch.
Most drummers don’t use a tool to tune their drums. It’s my personal preference to listen to the drums to make adjustments accordingly. When you’re learning how to tune drums, however, it’s not a bad tool to have.
Preparation for Tuning New Drum Heads
Getting everything ready for the new drum heads is critical to the task at hand.
1. Remove the old drum heads, and save them for later.
The old heads can be used in a variety of ways, such as muffling. Consider using them for sound effects, like a snare topper for a fatter sound.
Pro Tip: Work from a comfortable position. Place the drum on a table or a drum throne so you can spin the drum easily to access the different parts.
2. Keep the tension rods off the floor and clear of dust or dirt.
Place the tension rods and washers in a cup or on a clean surface. If dirt clings to the rods, it can get into the lug and make it difficult to fine tune the drum.
Pro Tip: Apply a light oil or grease to the end of a dry tension rod. Avoid applying more than the first thread or two because too much can get messy and draw dirt into the lugs. Some drummers Vaseline.
3. Wipe away all of the dirt on the rims, bearing edge, and the drum shell.
Cleaning your drums is critical to their longevity. The oil from your hands gets on the drums and dirt and dust are attracted and cling. This can lead to degradation of the finish and hardware over time.
So have a rag on hand to wipe the drums as you replace the heads and tune. This wasn’t something that was intuitive to me when I first learned how to tune drums or replace heads. Since then, I’ve come to enjoy the opportunity to care my instruments.
4. Place the new drum head on the bearing edge, and place the rim on the head.
Make sure that the head is evenly place on the shell. Look closely to ensure that the rim isn’t pulling the head to one side or the other. The slightest difference and impact the way the head seats with the rim and bearing edge.
Pro Tip: Start with the batter head, and tune it to the pitch of the drum shell.
5. Screw in all of the tension rods finger tight.
Unless you have a drum key specifically designed to simulate a finger tight torque, like the Remo key explained above, you’ll need to tighten the rods from the threads. This works great especially because you can do two at a time.
But don’t forget to double check each rod after you’ve finished tightening them with your fingers. As rods are tightened, the initial rods become loose again. Make sure they are all finger tight before moving forward with the tuning process.
How to Tune Drums
Each batter drum head must be in tune with itself, in relation to the resonant head, and with the rest of the drum kit. This means you’ll need to revisit the tuning process explained below several times before all of these goals are achieved.
It can be frustrating when you’re first learning how to tune drums, so go easy on yourself. Sometimes you have to go through the variables several times before dialing it in the way you want it.
1. Tighten each tension rod a full turn in a diagonal pattern.
Choose a rod to tighten. Then, tighten one diagonally across from it on the other side of the drum. Skip a rod moving clockwise and continue the pattern.
2. Push down on the head (or rim) to ensure it seats properly.
As you tighten the rods evenly, work out the wrinkles in the head. You can use a combination of wiping the head to even them out and pushing down on it.
3. Reduce the amount of turning to a half or quarter turn as the head becomes more taut.
As the tension of the head approaches the pitch of the shell, tap the shell and the head to reference how much you need to continue to raise the pitch of the head. This is also the point at which you’ll want to check the pitches of the head near each tension rod.
4. Check the intonation by tapping the drum head near each tension rod to compare the pitch.
Find the lower pitches to determine which rods to tighten first. It’s important to not over tighten because it’s harder to tune down. If you need to tune down, go below the target pitch and tune back up to it.
If you are having trouble hearing the difference between one pitch near a tension rod to another, gently place one finger in the center of the drum. This will isolate the pitch near each tension rod. I’ve found that this technique is not always necessary, especially on new heads.
It’s important to check diagonally across the drum head because a tension rod across the head can affect the other side of the head.
Pro Tip: Tap the head near each tension rod with your finger. Strike the drum so the tip contacts the head and your knuckle contacts the rim. This will ensure that you are striking the drum at the same distance from the edge near each rod. – John Good (source)
5. Compare the batter head to the resonant head.
If you are going for an even sound that stays the same, tune the batter and resonant heads to the same pitch. Tuning the batter head higher on a tom, for example, will bend the sound. Some drummers like the bent sound on the toms, but it’s all about your taste.
Pro Tip: Crank the snare side head higher than the batter head to achieve more attack in a lower sounding drum. This especially works well with a 6.5 inch deep snare.
6. Revisit these steps as needed to balance the drum tuning in the context of the whole drum set.
Some drummers spend a lot of time with the specific intervals from one tom to the next. If you have a lot of drums, like Simon Phillips, you may need to be more specific with your tom tuning intervals.
But if its a rack and a floor, or even two racks and two floors, you can get away with tuning the to the shell. Make adjustments on the intervals so each drum has a unique pitch.
Pro Tip: Consider referencing intervals like major or minor thirds on the piano. The toms don’t need to be exact, so simply get the relative interval in your head and adjust the drums until you like the sound.
Tuning a Snare Drum
Start with the snare side head. This head can be tightened a lot, so you may want to start off with 4 or 5 turns on the drum key to get to a pitch for tuning. Raise the snares off the head while you tap near the tension rods to determine which ones need to be raised or lowered.
Adjust the tension on the snare strainer to allow for more or less vibration of the snares. Your preference may change from one song to another, one room to another, or from one drum to another. It doesn’t affect really the tuning, but it’s important to check because the tuning can affect the snare response.
Pro Tip: The two tension rods closest to you can be used to change the snare significantly. Don’t be afraid to completely detune those two rods to get a fat low dead sound. – Benny Greb (source)
Related: What Makes a Good Snare Drum Sound?
Tuning a Kick Drum
Most kick drum batter side rims have a protector where the pedal attaches to the rim. Make sure that this is in the right position before diving into the tuning process.
Kick drums are almost always muffled in some way. We generally want a low dead sound, unless you’re playing bebop jazz or it’s an orchestral drum. Try tuning the drum without the muffling and then check it with the muffling to ensure it’s ready for the sound you’re trying to achieve.
Tuning a Rack or Floor Tom
Rack toms can bend up, down, or stay straight — both heads are the same pitch. I like my rack and floor toms straight, but this isn’t to say it’s the best way or the only way to make good sounds. Floor toms, however, are better when they are straight.
Drum Dampening Techniques
Knowing how to tune drums is an important part of the sound. Dampening is another important aspect of creating the drum sounds you’re trying to achieve.
Effective methods of dampening drums include using products you can purchase as well as common items you have at home or on the stage.
Related: “Drum Dampening – 5 Ways to Control Your Snare Sound”
Sticky Gels
Moongels are rectangular sticky gels that can be placed on a drum for dampening. They last two to four years and almost never fall off. The Moongel case is particularly useful for storing the gels in a cymbal or stick bag.
TruTones are another brand of sticky gel. The package comes in different sizes, and you can wash them to regain the stickiness. It also comes in a case.
Gaffer Tape (3 levels)
I’ve used gaffer tape for dampening drums because it’s usually available on stage. Most production companies use it to tape lines to the floor and other surfaces.
You could use any tape that makes the drum sound the way you want. If the tape is thin, like masking tape, use more layers to build up some mass.
T-Shirt
Lay a short over your snare drum. This creates an extremely dampened sound, but the shirt comes with a few options.
- You could lay it down so it’s double layered,
- Fold it to be extra thick, or
- Arrange it so the opening where the head comes out allows access to the drum head.
This last one is cool because some of the head is still covered by the T-Shirt, giving you two different snare sounds.
Wallet
Place a wallet near the edge of your snare drum. The weight and material will dampen the drum in a unique way. It’s sometimes a quick fix when the snare is too loud for the room or song. If you play with too much force, however, the wallet is likely to move around the drum.
Drum Toppers
The Big Fat Snare Drum is a company that makes drum dampening toppers. They come in a variety of designs, including models with jingles.
You can make your own drum toppers with old heads. Try making different designs like one that covers the entire head and others with various degrees of an open center. The open center leaves the drum head exposed, creating a different attack sound.
Final Thoughts
Tuning drums is one of the most important skills drummers develop. To make great sounds it’s only second to good gear and, of course, good playing. It’s a skill set that takes experience to develop, so follow these steps for how to tune drums to gain positive results sooner than later.