How To Tune A Tom Drum

[erl158]

everyone thats bashing this video, get a goddamn life 

[Thefateofskate]

i followed the instructions and geuss what? they are ringing twice as much as before.

[XDrummerSteve]

Watch him whack the bearing edge 2:51. 

[pingastan]

Once again, douchebags go onto a video that is designed to be helpful to people who don't know how to tune toms properly and slate the person trying to help!

If you already know how to tune your toms, don't watch the video!

Besides, the guy works for Evans ffs - I'm sure he is prob a more reliable source on tuning drums than someone who sites at home all day slating videos on youtube!

Anyway - as I am a fairly new drummer and am not experienced in tuning toms, I found this video very useful!

[pingastan]

Once again, douchebags go onto a video that is designed to be helpful to people who don't know how to tune toms properly and slate the person trying to help!

If you already know how to tune your toms, don't watch the video!

Besides, the guy works for Evans ffs - I'm sure he is prob a more reliable source on tuning drums than someone who sites at home all day slating videos on youtube!

Anyway - as I am a fairly new drummer and am not experienced in tuning toms, I found this video very useful!

[MrPandaJoi326]

240p... We meet again

[TheMatadrum]

He's probably one of these guys who uses a tension gauge regularly... Because he failed at using his ears.

[TheMatadrum]

Crappy video aside... What brand drum is it?

[dandrumsbrito]

how bout hitting the fuckn drum to hear wwhat it sounds like! thanks, what a big fn help jack off!

[seanslingerland]

1st my sound quality , skeptical ?

Then u use you`re drum key to tap the head , scratching head ?

bottom heads 20 yrs old too . Remo Starfire , they`re chrome , no drum key tapping on these !

I wish the Dave Weckyl vid wasn`t screwed up!!!

end resullt sounded like s#^^t I just wasted 4:31

pinch technique ? lmfao

[seanslingerland]

I`ve had remo pin stripes , 20 trs old , still sound great ? Any comments , advice ?

[crAshN4L]

shut the hell up already damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stating your opinions as facts and shit. first you dont need to replace ur bottom heads its not too important of course hes gonna say that so we buy more evans heads. second just follow the 1-8 (depending on how many lugs) steps and youl be fine

[EvilN00ber]

OMG these top comments are so rebellious XD

[drummerandy1991]

You should not really be hitting the edge of the drum with a drum key as this can damage the bearing edge. Ideally this should be done with a stick. Typical yank

[Gamesheep11]

I havnt changed my heads in 4 years! XD

[ajcf1995]

@Gamesheep11 what kind are they?

[cxmb]

@Gamesheep11 depending on the heads, the style you play and many other factors, old ones are better, out there are great drummers who use the same heads for over a decade

[Gamesheep11]

@cxmb daayum

[ThePhenom22]

does this technique works for rototoms ? ;)

[BubbleWrapPerson]

yes this camera sucks. Everyone commenting NEEDS TO GROW UP!!!!!!

[xXPH4GGaTr0n5o0oXx]

FUCKING LOVE THIS GUY'S CAMERA

(the quality is hairy cock in a dog's rectum)

[floouk]

You should never use your drum key to tap on your heads while tuning your drum. Use a stick instead.

[abney317]

MY BASS SOUNDS LIKE GOD NOW

[zysilveria]

I used this vid to replace my Evans heads with nice new Remos.

[supersawneekfan]

@zysilveria Excelent!

[MrDoofDoofHead]

@zysilveria woo!



[MrWinterSniper]

first you want to do is buy two of our over expensive shitty drumheads and replace the good ones you have and put them away and put our shitty ones on your drums and fuck your shit up

[DrumTone3DHDsound]

Who enjoys tuning drums? NOBODY!

How about clear acoustic pitch setting or change of any drum head in Real Time?

Like timpany, only both batter & reson stay in Perfect Harmony?

...even While Changing Your Pitch to Whatever You Want?

Take a look at my videos... Out - of - this - World!

[stehbenss]

what a fuckin tool at 329 he goes from one rod to the one right beside it.. step one when tuning drum heads dont do what the evans guy says to do

[huse92]

That was not in tune:L

[xalevedi]

NEVER NEVER NEVER hit it with your tuning key, you dumb ass ! Go back to the drawing board and learn the basics !

[shaytan1313]

this was a waste

[singingfeces]

what a useless video... is this guy deaf?

[paistekid]

Dude, stop tapping the head with the drum key! It will damage the bearing edge. You know the rule -

[djmdkdbo1]

@paistekid thank you for pointing that out

[malarbusto]

He hardly touched the thing with the key (maybe he should have pointed that out). Compare those taps with the beating from sticks. Even taking into account that the key is metal, no way does it match anything like the bashing the heads get with sticks (albeit with wooden ones). That's what commons sense tells me but I'm pretty new to drums

[faustoodilon]

Most people tune by simply earing, but nobody knows that real notes user are still very important. My professor said, in example, that simple drums could bu tunned in 3th our 4th notes scale, from one ton to the other. Of course, it depends on the number of tons. Basicaly, in a 2 tons and 1 "bass tone" (sorry, I dont know the name in english) , a good tuning is in 3th descendent notes. But you need to have a real tuned note on each one.

[chickenbeforeegg]

I do this, but I always get a faint noise from my snare whilst hitting it. Is there any way to fix this?

[mattlikesdrumming]

he was hitting it pretty lightly with the key, does even that ruin it?

[Radiocaw]

Name this vid how to spoil your drumhead with the tuning key. And the bloody Tom sounds like shit. IF you use that in your studio you are screwed

[ryhad155]

The key will only dent your drum head if you are beating the hell out of it with the drum key. I still don't recommend using the key like that, but still. I use the eraser end of a pencil. It is more controlled.

[Hannibu]

@TheirFromBrampton

And what is even worse is, that you can ruin the bearing edge too.

[DuNordavind]

@Hannibu A drum's worst nightmare...

[AStealA8]

Now how do you tune a drum to not sound like shit like that one does?

[furankuno1]

is this method works? coz i saw many pros n contras about this video >.< .. n i m newbie on Tuning . please help..

[gungor1985]

sounds like shit

[wyantizer89]

yeah I tried your "pinch technique" and my finger came off :[

[Oopsmyleg]

@feperepe Yup, the bottom is the "resonant"

[thedrumminmaniac]

@feperepe Yepp batter=beat or hit :D

[joeybbbbbz]

thanks man, ill go do this now

[SmurfDrums310]

dave weckl said not hit the head with the key

[MrDROPSHOT9]

dont hit the head with the drum key. it puts dents in it.

[drummerdude7318]

@MrDROPSHOT9 So does drumming on it...

[MrDROPSHOT9]

@drummerdude7318 yea but it puts useless dents in it..... and can ruin the head.

[Punchinrocksintheeye]

no matter what i just cant understand the concept of tuning toms, its so frustrating because i dont know what sound i want >.< any suggestions?

[nevermoregg]

@Punchinrocksintheeye Then just like go see ur favorite drummer or like a testing drum vid. Listen to the toms and decide if u like that sound. If you do, then try to copy that sound to ur toms. Usually for beginners, just tune the top and bottom to the same pitch. what u need to be able to do is know if the pitch is higher or lower than the pitch you'd want, and that will improve as u keep practising tuning.

[Punchinrocksintheeye]

@nevermoregg thanks man i love the sound of danny careys toms in his parabola solo! its just whenever i tune the toms high it feels like im tightening them to much? and i have a problem with my 8 inch tom where the lugs keep loosening when i hit it, could you have a look at that video? i would much appreciate it :D

[manhuntruler2]

I tried the whole finger thing and my finger did get pinched so i didn't know how much 2 tighten.

[drag0n3y31]

i spent like 5 hours trying to tune my drums and after watching this video i can say that tuning the reso lower than the batter really does cut down on the sustain. thanks evans

[Andrizzle4040]

@drag0n3y31 the video says to tune the resonant head higher, not lower

[drag0n3y31]

@Andrizzle4040 yeah thats what i meant. it works

[chopzmasta07]

and also Bob Gatzen's tuning system is much better than this.

[chopzmasta07]

you never tap the drum with your drum key when tuning....EVER! either lightly tap it with your sticks or fingers.

[joeyhoeyca]

@chopzmasta07  why not ?

[chopzmasta07]

@joeyhoeyca Hey, because tapping the head with a key can damage it, no matter how lightly you may do it, in the long run it'll not only damage the head, but also the rim of the shell. The key is metal after all and its just not the wise thing to do. If you want to check tones, do so by lightly tapping with your middle finger or a stick, I find for me that using my finger is a lot better.

[FolkMetalManiac]

Thank you.... Ive had my kit for about 3 years... and I finally found a video that teaches me something useful.

[punk9999643]

More pleasing to the ear? That tom sounds dead as hell.

[TSIMonster]

@punk9999643 I agree 100%. Why would you want a dead tom with zero sustain! (studio techs will have way less to work with, and it'll get lost in the mix to easily!)

[toxicwaltz89]

0;43 what if it doesent

[HuricaneBriii]

@toxicwaltz89 then you need new shells

[bat830]

Aquarians sucks !!!

[DrumKiller2]

@VolfGang1000, yea dude, aquarian is the shit! they are a bit pricey though, but i have an 8 piece drum set, so everything is pricey haha

[Bsblob]

@DaKingOfLol

how it that recking it , last time i checked I hit my drum heads when I play them. looks like I play the drums wrong then

[DrumKiller2]

Aquarian and Remo!

[earthlyinfodotcom]

watch bob gatzen, this guy doesn't know what he's doing.

[kentworth100]

I feel a sleep, what happened? Did e talk about scratching the table?

[kentworth100]

I feel a sleep, what happened?

[ToweringFilth]

step 1: buy our shit

[RRingo123]

Replace the both hoops, both skins, and tension rods? How about just buying a new drum?

[machew100]

For about 4-5 months now I've been using Remos and they like to fight me in terms of tuning.. Switching to evans to give it a shot--I'm not brand loyal, just great product loyal.

[skaterchico]

Im gay

[theSEVENFOLDisLIFE]

@skaterchico Hurray!

[KidNCState]

hey thank you alot man, this was really helpful

[Orcashmorca69]

Y is every one sayin fuck evans depending on what evan heads you get and what remo heads you get some will be good some will suck ive used both and they both have ups and downs

[YourTooob]

lol he tapped the drum..

[wolloolloo]

you dont tap with your drumkey, damn!

[WeReallyNeedaSinger]

Im not saying that you guys are wrong about the bad sound of the tom drum afterwards, but anyone with an elementary knowledge of audio engineering would know that the sound coming through a regular camera is gonna suck, so the tom probably didn't sound that bad

[DrumKiller2]

Why does he say to replace the heads everytime you tune them? Thats BullShit. I have had my Remo's on for a year, yet the still sound fucking perfect unlike shitty Evans. But thats my opinion. Otherwise, this guy is just being payed to say that you should get new heads for tuning, because I change mine yearly yet they dont affect the drum.

[ultimate0death]

@DrumKiller2 I spend a bit of money changing the top heads quite often, maybe every month or two at the latest, and it really does help, but I re tune my drums all the time, and you're right. He's being payed to say that.

I used my first resonance heads that came with the kit for two years, (I was YOUNG and didn't think about replacing them), and they never wore out. I had remo heads, and they were wonderfully clear. hahaha.

[DrumKiller2]

@ultimate0death, I guess you can do that too. Most recording artists replace their top heads every few times they play. But, yea, Remo's I find last longer than Evans too, and I would change mine monthly too, but unfortunately its very pricey since I have a 8 piece drum set.

[1000Records]

What is that tool hes using to tune with?

[ultimate0death]

@1000Records Its called several things.....most commonly a "drum key," but I've heard "drum torque wrench," and "tuning wrench."

You can find them at any music store for like $1.50.

[ArcticWolfSl17]

Correction. You only need to change your top drum head once a month, and that is only if you are constantly practicing and playing live gigs. Bottom head once every 6 months again only if you are playing constantly. And yes Evans sucks. Go with Remo or Aquarion. I personally love my Aquarion base drum head.

[theDRUMMERDUDE100]

FUCK EVANS GO FOR REMO!!!!

[bassmasta1626]

umm you dont need too get new heads everytime..beginners, thats a lie

[stormyouthpastor1351]

Well, for all of you guys who just think you know it all.....I've been playing drums EXTREMEMLY OFTEN for 26 years now and I learned something from this video......why do 95% of drummers seem to think they know it all.....just nuts!

[mistahmaxi]

@stormyouthpastor1351 can't say that I've played more than a year... But anyways; Thank you.

[AC1060]

I am completely tone deaf. :-(

[mattday86]

so funny how all these stupid ppl with drum related user names are just hating on this guy for trying to show ppl how to tune. i am a drummer. and i say without reserve: drummers are the worst type of ppl.

[MYNAMETAYLA]

He's gonna break the bearing edges on that drum tapping them with the drum key...

[dHANNESd]

fucked up

[kurtiskoppdotcom]

In his defense, by getting new heads he meant in case your used heads are worn out. but fella teacher guy.... You are a horrible teacher! EVANS DRUM HEADS!!! PLEASE USE A BETTER BUDGET AND HIRE A PRO SO I LEARN SOMETHING VALUABLE.

[PapaKenny777]

What a crappy sounding tom!

[Sebbek95]

LOL, Evans Percussion has 666 vids :S

[FOSSIL13drums]

@Sebbek95 no...more like 750 vids

[1y9b9b]

@FOSSIL13drums

more like 755 vids

LOL

[FOSSIL13drums]

@1y9b9b F you man lolol

[1y9b9b]

@FOSSIL13drums

lolololololOL

[drummingtothesky]

Wow the end the end sound, sounds awful

[lawliet1414]

thanks so much,before i saw this video,my toms sounded like crap,but now, they sound MUCH better! thanks! P.S. does it matter that much if i have an evans head on top and a pdp head on the bottom??

[spartan4226]

@lawliet1414 i have pdp on bottom and remo on top

[soicanspeak]

sorry, but that DOESNT SOUND VERY GOOD!

???

[cjmst3k]

@soicanspeak I think it might sound much better on the batter size. When I hear people play my kit, and I'm in front, it sounds bad, but then when I'm on the batter side, it sounds good. Now I put microphones on the batter side, so all I hear is the good tone, and the other bandmates also wear headphones to hear everything correctly too.

[soicanspeak]

@cjmst3k

What are you talking about my man? I didnt ask you how you tuned your drums. I said "sorry, but that DOESNT SOUND VERY GOOD! ???"

Are you ok? lol

This video is 4 min and 31 seconds long. This guy tuning only demonstrates how it sounds at the very end of the video for 1-2 seconds... He hits it twice and it doesnt sound very good. @4:27 hit hit, then again @ 4:28 hit hit. Sorry but that drum isnt sounding so good!

I like EVANS drum heads, but this guy isnt doing em justice

[Kelnosha]

How much are new heads?

[ItsAFirefightBuffalo]

GO REMO

[xXxMiiCkEyxXx]

wow i can't tune that well but at least my tom doesn't sound that horrible =]

[DavidChoiDrumz]

What cracked me up is how fucking awful that tom sounded at the end hahahahaha

[chodge3]

Dont check the tone using your drum key, idiot...

[thomascottle123]

the drum sounds terrible man. i suck at tuning, but mine sound so much better than yours.

[bam090507]

did any one hear the drum? it sounded like boo boo

[jonesn4drums]

FYI - using a drum key to "tap" on the drum head while tuning is NEVER a good idea.

[xXxIFORSAKENxXx]

@jonesn4drums and whoever says its a good idea is completely ruining their bearing edge:)

[anarcy7777u]

so thats what i was doing wrong, ill just get out my enheritade millions and buy a new set of heads on my 300 piece kit. Seriously, i know no one who can afford new heads everytime they tune. I would have to buy new heads every 5 seconds if that was true.

[whophead007]

bob gatzen said for a tom the reso and the batter need to be the same tuning.

[jonathanrobertcalver]

Very helpful video. Gets you a good understanding of the basics, but playing around with the tension of the batter and resonence heads so you know what you like it also good

[JaminJ2000]

u never wanna tune the res head higher than the batter.

[c0d3x001]

@JaminJ2000 i guess that's not a fact...but more likely a matter of taste

[MegaDrumBudge3000]

his video isnt the best way to do it. btw you dont have to replace your bottom heads. john bonham once said a really old head will sound better than a new head.

[lfcanishlfc]

What two heads were used in this video?

[ExhaustedPenguin]

i got tinnitus after playing drums without earplugs

[tamaman35]

listen at 2:52, dum dum, dum dum, dum dum, whaaack, whaaack, dum dum. no sir, chipped the bearing edge. erase video and throw away your knock off dw tom, it's trash now! this guy must work at guitar center cause they dont know anything either, this guy is spitballin the entire video

[bindingflame1]

@tamaman35 uhhh i wouldnt exactly say youre right about what you said. The hammer thing is also irrelevant, because tapping a key does absolutely nothing...

[tamaman35]

wouldn't want you dingin up my edges and expensive new drum heads with your terrific drum key, use your drum sticks guys, that's what the heads are made for, you wouldn't pound a screw with a hammer would you, think about it!!

[AGould45]

Lol, new heads EVERY time? Someone has too much money. But.. whatever.

[KingsofComedy]

@AGould45 I know man when I was a kid my mom and dad wouldn't even replace my heads even if tore through them.

[rudeboyjohn]

my girlfriend is finger tight

[441greenleaf]

@rudeboyjohn Roflmaaaooooo

[helixraf]

@rudeboyjohn niiiice >:)

[kbodrum]

@rudeboyjohn does that mean your penis is smaller than your finger?

[metalliclark]

@rudeboyjohn lawl its funny because you have no girlfriend.

[m0nkb0y]

@rudeboyjohn

sounds like you have a fair bit of respect for your girlfriend.

[HoboCabbage]

@rudeboyjohn i dont get it

[Egillboy]

My toms always sound like echo :( What should i do ? PLZ HELP

[asianantibully]

@Egillboy try to tight more the bottom heads.. don't exagg tho

[bradzdestroyer]

I use the same head on both sides, so when i need a new batter head, i just take the res off. You can get deeper sounds without the thin res head. But its hard to get use to after playing with the normal head setup for year.

[MrBluntsworth420]

is it just me or did that kinda sound shitty at the end...

[jdw19932006]

i think it sounded pretty good, just too high for my liking. unless of course you had a bunch of toms.

[guitar112796]

how do u tune it for like metal

[robotron17]

Don't tap with the drum key. One stray tap and you'll ding the bearing edge. They you will be very sad.

[xPeTeRwAnGx]

if your top head is way tighter than your bottom head, would that sound really good?

[vgl19]

Depends...

[aliisthedrummaster]

it'll make the pitch bend in a doppler-effect sort of way.

since the top head is tuned much higher, it produces a unique, high pitch upon hitting it.

the bottom head, which then resonates after you hit the drum, will produce a low tone.

so what you end up hearing is a scoop from the high to low pitch

[ooohhhshiny]

how do you get the tight kinda tenor sounding tom?

[drummerryan1994]

how much did you get payed to say you need to get new skins everytime you tune your drums?

[BryanNhisLP]

i know right :P LMAO

[omg1a1kitten]

@drummerryan1994

he never said that.

[wolframoxid]

@drummerryan1994

in yourface! nice comment!

[masterdrummer19]

@drummerryan1994 its actually true.. i dont cuz i dont have the money always, but when i do i get new heads.. everything affects the heads.. playing on them to haveing sunlight hit them. new heads havent had tension on them before either, so they will tune better and easier.

[nephilim13x]

@drummerryan1994 its true if they are stretched out beyond the certain sound

[iishxc]

@drummerryan1994

*paid.

[Jackwell1029384756]

@drummerryan1994 depends on how much you play and how hard you hit the drums...you should be able to feel and hear if you need new heads

[fatcat363]

so for tunnning it u needad u cant use the one u already have?

 to buy a new head?

[TomMark182]

you don't have to buy a new head but it will greatly help in getting it sound good.