How to Tune Your Drum Set

Tuning Drum Set

Tuning your drum set is one of the most important maintenance activities as a drummer. Even before the drummer starts playing or recording he has to ensure that the drum is well tuned and ready to sound good. A general drum kit consists of bass drum, cymbal, snare, hi-hats and toms.So while tuning your drum set, you can start by tuning the snare drums.

Tune the top head at the very start. Turn each lug clockwise to increase the tension of the head and to increase the drum pitch. You can also, tune one lug and then tune the lug on its opposite side preferably 180 degrees away. The drums are bound to sound better when you do not tune these lugs in a circular sequence.

While tuning your drum set test the pitch of each lug when finished by lightly playing about one inch away from the lug with a drumstick. Also, make sure while tuning your drum set that all lugs have equal pitch. At this point your drum should be tuned.

The next step in tuning your drum set is by tuning the toms. You can start by tuning the bottom head of each tom-tom. After tuning the bottom move to the head. Tune it to the pitch you want.

After tuning your toms, the next step in tuning your drum set is the bass drums.

Start by tuning the head at first. After you have spend time tuning the head, you can start tuning the lug of the back head in the same manner as you tune the toms and snare. You should make sure your drum is tuned neither too high nor too low. Bass drum sounds really depend on the style of music you’re playing and how much impact the drum has with the group you play with.

While tuning your drum set look closely at your snare drum and try to decide exactly what factors most affect the tonal quality.

Notice the square headed screws around the top and bottom rims of the drum. Adjustments to the tension screws with a drum key will affect the tension on the drumhead, which will raise or lower the pitch of the drum. However, tuning your drum set depends more on your ear and the tone you want.***