Drum Tuning Series Pt. 3 TOMS

This is Pt 3. of a 4 part drum tuning series Bob filmed for Evans Drumheads. It covers Bass drum, Snare and Toms. Bob demonstrates his signature techniques in an effort to help drummers develop their own sound.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Drum
• lessons
• drumset
• performance
• Evans
• drum
• heads
• Alfred
• Publishing

[bloopDS21]

Great vids Bob, Hey what drumheads do you use ? And Why ?

[bobgatzen]

@bloopDS21 I constantly change my head set-ups, if for nothing else... it keeps my interest peaked, takes the boredom out of practicing and recording. Also, I rerely use the same style head on all the toms. See attached pic.

[bobgatzen]

You're not alone!! Concentrate, focus exclusively on your "EARS". Pick up a simple inexpensive instrument that produces pitches. I suggest the "Hohner Melodica". It has a piano-like keyboard that you blow into like a trumpet. I use it all the time when I feel the need to indentify pitches. Great learning tool for well under 100 dollars. Every drummer should have a Melodica. Please let me know how you make out.

[Lesstra]

Hi Bob,

I'm a guitarist, but recently, (because I love playing drums) I bought some cheap kit, force 507 I think. I also have Tama's Tension Watch. I tried tuning it by ear and with TW. The kit still has stock heads. I experimented with different tensions from lower to higher, and always the same thing was happening: when tuned with TW with equal tension on each lug, the pitches were different on each lug, and otherwise, by ear, close pitches - different tension.

Any experiences in this area?

[bobgatzen]

@Lesstra If you followed the tuning techniques on my channel but continue to struggle with tuning, you might have some issues with the drum itself. Best to check the shell for "roundness" (concentricity), also check the counter hoops. Reassemble the drum and try tunin g the head from several different positions... i.e 12:00 > 3:00> 6:oo and 8:00 o clock. Let me know if this helps

Bob

[Civitify]

Hey Bob!

I just have a simple question; Should you remove the bottom head when tuning the top head? I have tried to tune my tom with both heads on but the drum just sounds so dead so i can't really hear a pitch, so would it make it easier if i remove the bottom head when tuning the top head and do you have any tips on how to make the drum sound more alive with a clearer tone?

[bobgatzen]

@Civitify Hi C...simple question...simple answer. Remove the drum from the holder and place it on a flat surface (carpet, floor, table, etc) Tune the exposed head than flip the drum over & tune the other.

[dominiccss]

even with this video I'm still absolutely shit at tuning. I honestly regret ever picking up this damned instrument.

[Lesstra]

@XxStrongDrums1996xX Thanks for the reply. What you said is the only logical explanation that I could think of for this phenomenon. I'll be replacing stock heads soon, I guess, so I'll use the opportunity to check the shells for roundness and bearing edges for flatness. And what I ended up doing in this case is use the TW to bring the head up to some "numerical" tension, and then retune it by ear :) Because I'd been playing guitar for so long, I guess I like to have a frame of reference.

[XxStrongDrums1996xX]

@Lesstra It's important to remember that Tension Watches, Drum Dials, etc. are nothing more than gimmicks. Having equal tension at every lug doesn't mean much. Like Bob said, your drum may be slightly out of round, but every drum/head will have slight imperfections that cause this problem. If the lugs SOUND similar, then the drum is in tune. If they have the same tension, then they have the same tension. Nothing more.

[NotableJInx2]

Bob, you're a great tutor! It's good to get some clues from the pros :D

[DjHouse6]

@DXpac20 yea that would really suck I would be broke every time I re-head my set lol