Tuning the Bass Drum (Bonham style) (preview)

[TheColbles2009]

Awesome video man! And the the way you said the word "coated" makes me think you're from florida lol :P

[XxStrongDrums1996xX]

Lol, I'm trying to save up for these videos through one of those survey sites. I've almost got ten bucks!

[XxStrongDrums1996xX]

I think I might try this on my 20" bass drum.

[MotorheadDrew]

Hey have you Ever Tried Evans drumheads if so how would u compare them to remo when trying to get that vintage tone ?

[GrooveDrummin]

@MotorheadDrew

I have only tried an Evans on my snare and it sounded good. I think the Evans are very close to Remo. Maybe someone else can shed some more light on this subject. I've always used Remo.

[tambodrum]

@GrooveDrummin evans and remo are a little bit different. the main difference is that evans use the same techniques aquarian use on the construction of the metal hoops of the head. this makes the sound a bit different, their better for mid range tuning were as i find remos fit for that as well as lower tunings

[ruben79670]

Hi mate,

Can you tell me where i can get the same felt strips as you

cause mine are very cheap and thin i'm searching for a thicker felt

[GrooveDrummin]

@ruben79670

Hey, both the felts came with the kits when I bought them. One is a TAMA the other is the one I got with my Ludwig kit. BUT i've seen some nice ones (similar) at my local music shop. I think Gibraltar sells one very close.

[ruben79670]

@GrooveDrummin oh thanks

can you give me a website where i can buy the ones from gibraltar ? :)

[pjones8404]

@ruben79670 Hey..the best felt strips are made by a company called "Slug". They are wider and heavier fabric. They are just amazing. Check them out at slugdrum.com.

[biribikan]

hey groovedrummin, you are the man. You are the only who really know some secrets of the vintage rock drumming. You sure make this bass drum sound well and vintage too. But if you use this same bass drum and a speed king pedal you need to tune it higher or else you cannot get velocity and dynamics, right? I mean, Bonzos bass head was much higer than yours. Am I right?

[biribikan]

@biribikan In other words, the speed king pedal changes the relation of the head and the spring . Speed King - specially when you play fast divisions (like Bonzo) - needs more rebound.

[GrooveDrummin]

@biribikan

Actually, i find if the head is too tight there is way too much rebound.

[GrooveDrummin]

@biribikan

You know, i really believe that Bonzo had the tighter bass drum head only on the vistalites, not the maple. IMO.

Thanks for watching bro!

[Slammintone]

All I can say is IT WORKED!!! In 15yrs of playing drums and learning to tune them I never could nail the best bass sounds. Good info on bass tuning does not abound on the internet or anywhere else. I couldn't even get close to a decent bass drum tone unless I used fancy premuffled heads. Now my Ludwig is dialed in as never before and has an amazing character it NEVER had as well as being physically more play-responsive and gives a much better pedal feel as a bonus. Best $4.75 I ever spent!

[GrooveDrummin]

@Slammintone

Very cool!!! You finally got the "sound"....This is what I LOVE to hear!!!

[Slammintone]

Hey Dan, I just recieved the download from you for this tuning lesson. Looks great. Got to wait till later to try it on my 26" Ludwig Classic Maple from my 2011 Green Sparkle Zep kit. So far I have a coated Ludwig Heavy reso head and a new Emperor I just got but honestly I must be doing something wrong because instead of deep and boomy it sounds flat an papery! Which, of course is why I ordered your download. I'll let you know how I made out after doing your method of tuning.

[TheChillster97]

Thanks

[TheChillster97]

Hey I was wondering, do you cut the excess off the felt?

[GrooveDrummin]

@TheChillster97

yes

[bumjmm]

I recently bought a 60s 28" Ludwig kick, and it still has the original heads which are single ply. These are making it too concert drum sounding and not enough rock sounding.... Would getting double ply's give it a better classic rock sound and less of a concert sound?

[GrooveDrummin]

@bumjmm

yes, it sure will. Do the felt strip on either side, don't tune too high and you should be good to go. If you find it still doesn't sound to your liking then you may want to try an offset port the size of a cd. Let me know how you make out.

[bumjmm]

@GrooveDrummin Man thanks so much for the advise! My kick now sounds monstrous! I found that because the kick is 2" bigger than a regular 26'', it requires just a tad more muffling.... but the sound is unbelievable. Thanks again!

[PirateTravisJohnson1]

Step 1: use a mic

Step 2: plug for Remo

[GrooveDrummin]

@PirateTravisJohnson1

tuning doesn't need the use of a mic and step 2 is wrong too, i only wish i had a sponsorship with remo...

[JakeAmack]

Do you put the felt on both heads or no?

[GrooveDrummin]

@JakeAmack

yes

[artistgmg]

sounds great! Thats actually how we used to muffle our bass drums in marching band.

[Ambrosious128d]

what would you suggest as a substitute for the felt strip?

[GrooveDrummin]

@Ambrosious128d

You could try a strip cut from a cotton shirt. Actually, this is what I did long ago when I couldn't find a real felt. Or a little duct tape.

[skippyskatestuff]

dude im afraid like if i put pressure im gonna break the head D:

[blica1]

@skippyskatestuff that's highly unlikely.. i once put my entire weight with my knee while stretching the bass drum head and nothing happened..heads are made from a very strong material called kevlar or mylar , a highly resilient plastic !..so no worried on breaking the head..unless you're the incredible hulk !!!

[skippyskatestuff]

@blica1 haha thankkssss :D

[oskit2]

Yeah, so now I know. Put on a felt stripe, push with both your fists on the kick head and I'm done. Nice

[MuffinSpecial]

see i got a shortcut to get that big fat sound...... its call put on an aquarian supper kick 2..... done

[GrooveDrummin]

@MuffinSpecial

No, won't sound the same, that head adds way to much dampening. If you put two identical bass drums side by side one with an aquarian sk2 and the other a coated emperor (with felt strips), I can tell you which one will sound bigger because I tried this with a Remo PS3.

[yoshiskato]

with porthole will sound f***** awesome dude

[ChroniclesOfSpring]

Dan, your snare video is great. My snare sounds amazing now. I'm buying this video in a week or two. You replied to someone's comment about making a tom video. Any chance that will be available soon?

[GrooveDrummin]

@ChroniclesOfSpring

That's really cool to hear the results! The tom video is in the works, maybe a month or two.

[joaoa13portugal]

I need someone to answer to my question...really

Why did he use a felt strip???

What does it change????

[GrooveDrummin]

@joaoa13portugal

it's to dampen the sound, so it doesn't ring too much

[guitarslaveee]

@joaoa13portugal ammmm the felt strip in not onley for the bonham sound also is for kill the exess of sound (eco)

la franela no solo es para tener el sonido de bonham tambien es para matar el exeso de sonido (el eco) :D

[blackwash]

Sounds great! Where do you get the felt strips you use? Are they actually made for drums or are they something you can find anywhere?

[GrooveDrummin]

@blackwash

Thank you! Your local music shop carries them; yes, specifically for drums.

[Bonzotriplets1]

So does it matter which the outside head is?

[GrooveDrummin]

@Bonzotriplets1

No, so long as it's a single ply.

[CloudOfDarkness9999]

@GrooveDrummin

does it matter if my base drum isn't that big?

And should I put blankets in my bass drum?

[GrooveDrummin]

@CloudOfDarkness9999

No, any size. I don't like putting anything inside the shell except a felt strip on either side. If you have a port then no felt strip on the reso.

[RFRCR]

@CloudOfDarkness9999 the dimensions of the drum were a key part to Bonham's sound but you can get pretty close if you tune it right, I would avoid putting anything inside the drum though.

[drumsludwig]

This is the same set up I use-

-Emperor Coated batter

-Ambassador -front head

-felt strips front and back

-front head tuned high ( listen to Tea for One on Presence)

-batter head tuned about a third step lower than the front.

[vintageboom]

Is the front head an Ambassador or do you use Emperor's both sides? 

[GrooveDrummin]

@vintageboom

Front head is the stock ludwig head that came with it. Similar to a smooth ambassador. The reso head should always be a lighter or thinner head than the batter.

[MYNAMETAYLA]

Sweet! One question though: What brand and model mics are you using?

[GrooveDrummin]

@MYNAMETAYLA

thanks, mixed brands, see my profile for complete list.

[scott111193]

Hey man

Could you tell me when your snare drum video is going to be out?

Thanks

[GrooveDrummin]

@scott111193

Yeah, sorry it's taking so long, after 5 takes, the filming is finally complete including the voice-over. All I have to do is the editing (40% done) and I should be able to finish it probably within the next week or two at the most. Thanks for your interest :)

[MarkusGronroos]

HEY! someone here that likes vintage drums? like bonzos zep set or just vintage drums. please contact me on youtube (-: I really wanna have a "drum-friend"... I don't know many people that likes old drums. :/

[GrooveDrummin]

@MarkusGronroos

My kit was made in 2001 but look vintage.

[MarkusGronroos]

@GrooveDrummin I know :D in my opinion vintage drums have better sound but... ok agreed your classic maple kit really sounds SICK :-----)

[GrooveDrummin]

@MarkusGronroos

Thank you

[neelyjohns]

@MarkusGronroos A buddy of mine plays a '74 Ludwig 6 piece with a 24 inch kick. They sound petter and hit the tape better every year that passes...

[MarkusGronroos]

@neelyjohns oh really? thats cool! I have a -63 Downbeat kit (check my channel) and the kick is only 20" but the sound is very deep and yeah, "vintage sound"

[foolishmaggot]

thanks man!!! *subscribed*

[jofujenkins]

the biggest "obstacle" i had to overcome was realizing that the physics involved with a 26" bass drum are much different than those of a 22" drum. for the first 3 or 4 months i was playing on a 26" drum, i still tried my damndest to tune it like a 22" drum, and it sounded like ass - especially in outdoor venues, where it was really slappy and synthetic sounding.

once i cranked up the batter head (superkick 1) and tuned the res head (coated ambassador) slightly lower, it sounded MUCH better.

[pedrolarrompe]

hi Dan, i have the 26 Gretsch catalina rock bass drum whit the remo fiberskin head, i try to tune it same like your video, but the sound its very very opened, i try to put one small pillow inside maybe? the front head have a small hole for the mic

[GrooveDrummin]

@pedrolarrompe

I don't recommend the fiberskin and that's probably the problem but keep in mind the sound is meant to be open. If it's too much for you cut a port the size of a cd in the reso and you won't need a pillow inside, but I don't recommend this for the vintage sound. Make sure you use good quality felts on both sides. Get a coated emperor also.

[pedrolarrompe]

@GrooveDrummin thanks a lot Dan, in my place in 26 only have the coated ambassador i buy it and the result it´s good. i have the reso opened with a little hole like a cd. thanks for your coment. you rock!!!!!!!!

[pedrolarrompe]

hi Dan, i have the 26 Gretsch catalina rock bass drum whit the remo fiberskin head, i try to tune it same like your video, but the sound its very very opened, i try to put one small pillow inside maybe? the front head have a small hole for the mic

[MarkusGronroos]

THANKS! btw, your my favorite youtube drummer (: your Bonham 2

[guzylad5]

I think its allright that you have a fee on it its the best tunning of a bass its Bonzo's for god sakes

[GrooveDrummin]

@guzylad5

Thank you, i needed to hear that.

[technobeat]

Great vids and great kit sound.....but can't believe your charging money on your site for a vid on kick drum tuning. Its not that big a secret, everyone knows Bonham tuned his kick (and toms) tighter than most drummers to get that projection, and with very little damping....

[GrooveDrummin]

@technobeat

Correct, everyone who emails me usually says they know how Bonham tuned his shells, way up, but they can't seem to understand why their drums don't sound the same. I've received hundreds of emails asking how to do it ...must be some kind of overlooked technique one would think. I show how I do it from beginning to end. You know, I put a lot of work into a vid such as this and I didn't think asking a small fee or donation was so insulting, no offence intended, sorry.

[technobeat]

@GrooveDrummin ...... Yeah, you're vids are great quality.... so if you get a bit back I guess that's fair enough.

[GrooveDrummin]

@technobeat

Thank you...more coming.

[trentgood]

man, you are seriously my favorite drummer on the tube. keep rippin'

[pachopavan]

gene krupa use 24' and 26 bass drum too.

[overdriven56]

Where do you get these felt strips?

[GrooveDrummin]

@overdriven56

any music store

[RuberHammer]

You miss the part where you tune the drum D:

[PantaZampa]

26" bassdrum...the best! :D

[HolandesFrito]

Fantastic!

[ebdrummer07]

Love you sound!  How do the felt strips work? could doing something like that work for my 18x24 bass?

[GrooveDrummin]

@ebdrummer07

The felt strips add just enough dampening but not too much to kill the sound. My tuning technique will work for all bass drums but when you have a port, no felt is required on the reso. Thanks!

[ebdrummer07]

@GrooveDrummin Ok, i always thought that the felt strips were to help focus the sound of the drum. Mine has a 4 or 5 inch hole in it. Im going to check out your website for the rest of the video.

[GrooveDrummin]

@ebdrummer07

Yes, correct. When you dampen you help to focus the sound because the overtones that mud up the sound are removed. I suggest that you don't need a strip on the reso just the batter.

[ebdrummer07]

@GrooveDrummin Ok, so your not gonna be using a pillow to muffle anything. Thats what came with my drum, but I'd like to experiment.

[stainwalk]

haha u need to relax when recording the VO... ur like, get a VINTAGE SOUND!!!!!! but seriously ur awesome, thanx again

[GrooveDrummin]

@stainwalk

hehe, thanks.

[LukeSnyderMusic]

Sounds great man! I usually don't like that open sound, but yours sounds very good.